Virgil Anderson Sunday School Munsey Memorial UMC

The Hard Sayings of Jesus: Laborers in the Vineyard

Sunday, May 29, 2016 - Matthew 20 - "A fair day's wages for a fair day's work" is not a phrase that fits cleanly into this parable about the absolute enormity of God's grace.

The Hard Sayings of Jesus: The Dishonest Steward

Sunday, May 22, 2016 - Luke 16:1-9.  In one of the most puzzling and perhaps disturbing parables, it appears that Jesus is condoning dishonesty.  What is it that the dishonest steward teaches us?

The Hard Sayings of Jesus: The Unforgivable Sin

Sunday, May 8, 2016 - Matthew 12; Since childhood we have been both curious and a bit frightened by the notion of 'the unforgivable sin'.  What is it exactly?   

The Hard Sayings of Jesus: Why did Jesus Curse the Fig Tree

Sunday, May 1, 2016 - Mark 11; Luke 13 - Was Jesus cursing the Fig tree merely a capricious act or a deeper lesson in how to live lives as fruitful Christians.

The Hard Sayings of Jesus: Discipleship - Leaving Family Behind?

Sunday, April 24, 2016.  Luke 14:25-33.  One of the most difficult scriptures in the New Testament seems to say that to be a Disciple of Christ, you must leave your family behind.  How do we reconcile that with what we know about the Love that Jesus calls us to show to each other?

The Hard Sayings of Jesus: A lesson learned...

Sunday, April 17, 2016 - Exploring one of the more perplexing passages in the Gospel, perhaps Jesus is using a Canaanite woman as an object lesson to help his Disciples understand the breadth of Christ' mission to all the world.  Matthew 25: 21-28 - "Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon.  Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon."  After failing to respond to repeated pleas, Jesus finally said 'I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel....It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs.'  "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table".  Then Jesus answered her, 'Woman great is your faith!  Let it be done for you as you wish'.  And her daughter was healed instantly.

The Hard Sayings of Jesus: Clinging, Letting Go & the Gift

Sunday, April 10, 2016 - Jesus says to Mary: "Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father."  John 20:11 - 18.  Perhaps Jesus understands that there is something even better ahead than what we can imagine.

Jesus Isn't Someone Just Peddling 'Conventional Wisdom'

Sunday, April 3, 2016 - As a prelude to the upcoming Sunday School lesson series that wrestles with the difficult words of Jesus, Dr. Kenneson invites us to consider those passages in Scripture that are difficult to understand - vexing in their meaning - and those passages which challenge us to understand and do the difficult things Christ asks of us.

Palm Sunday 2016

Sunday, March 20, 2016 - Rehearsing the story of Holy Week in a meaningful way sometimes means embracing the radical qualities of Jesus Christ.

Life on the Vine - 'Hope' & Conclusion

Sunday, March 13, 2016 - In this concluding lesson in the 'Life on the Vine' series, we look to Hope - grounded in Love - to bring us full-circle to what Paul envisioned for the Christian life, even in the culture in which we live today.