I forgot them. That’s right. Forgot them. Saturday night at 8:30pm, and I remembered that the ONE thing I absolutely needed to do this week was pick up Bibles for our graduating third graders. And in the middle of finishing my sermon preparation for the following morning, I was fantasizing about what size crowbar it would take to break into the Christian bookstore and get them out from under the counter.

Yet worship still happened. People still sang praises to God. The kids were still prayed for and celebrated, and my apologies were graciously accepted. I have my moments wondering whether third grade bibles is the way to go. Because while personal study of scripture is important, it is in the life of community where we discover grace, forgiveness, and our humanity. It is in the life of community where God shines light on His word and on our lives in a way that helps us see Him and the world in a new way.

My prayer for our third graders is that they will always grow in an ever deepening love for the word. And at the same time, that they will always choose to live a life woven into a community. A place where they will experience the love of God for them through worship, fellowship, and forgiveness. Even when they forget to bring their Bible…