Sunday School for Teachers: Jesus Welcomes the Children
The narrative "Jesus Welcomes the Children," derived from Matthew 19:14, serves as the cornerstone of our discourse in this inaugural episode of Sunday School for Teachers. This poignant account underscores the imperative that children should not be perceived as mere interruptions; rather, they embody the essence of our vocation. Mr. Funky Teacher elucidates how Jesus's profound act of pausing to bless the children exemplifies the critical role educators play in nurturing young minds. In articulating his gratitude, he acknowledges his faith in Jesus, the power of his voice to effect positive change, and his fervent passion for teaching. We invite listeners to reflect upon these themes, fostering a renewed understanding that teaching is a sacred endeavor, vital to the fabric of our communities.
The inaugural episode of Sunday School for Teachers introduces a profound exploration of the biblical narrative where Jesus welcomes children, as depicted in Matthew 19:14. Mr. Funky Teacher, the host, articulates a heartfelt message that resonates deeply with educators, emphasizing that children are not mere interruptions to the educational process, but rather, they embody the essence of the work itself. In this reflective discourse, he sheds light on the significance of recognizing the inherent value of each child, irrespective of their unique characteristics or challenges they may present.
The episode invites listeners to contemplate the manner in which the disciples, in their attempt to protect Jesus's time, inadvertently dismissed the children, revealing a common pitfall for educators today. In the hustle and bustle of daily teaching, it is all too easy to overlook the individual needs of students. Mr. Funky Teacher poignantly reminds us that every child holds intrinsic worth and deserves our attention and compassion. He extends this reflection into practical classroom applications, encouraging educators to foster a welcoming environment by making eye contact, greeting students by name, and providing intentional encouragement to those who might otherwise remain unnoticed.
In the culmination of this enriching episode, the host expresses his gratitude for his faith, his voice, and his passion for teaching, reinforcing the notion that education is not merely a profession but a calling imbued with divine significance. This episode serves not only as an encouragement for Christian educators but as a clarion call to all who teach to view their vocation through the lens of love, grace, and the transformative power of connection with their students.
Takeaways:
- In the narrative presented in Matthew 19:14, Jesus exemplifies the profound significance of children in our lives, emphasizing that they are not mere distractions but rather the very essence of our purpose as educators.
- I reflect on the necessity for educators to cultivate an environment where each child feels valued and accepted, ensuring that they recognize their intrinsic worth in the classroom setting.
- We must draw inspiration from Jesus' approach, which encourages us to embrace humility and openness, qualities that we, as teachers, should embody in our interactions with our students.
- It is imperative that we remain vigilant against the tendency to prioritize administrative tasks over the individual needs of our students, as this may lead to overlooking those who require our attention the most.
Links referenced in this episode:
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- Be a Funky Teacher
Transcript
Yeah, he's Mr. Funky.
Speaker A:He's Mr. Funky Teacher.
Speaker A:Mr. Funky Teacher inspires greatness, makes you feel good like your favorite playlist.
Speaker A:Keeping that fresh and funky.
Speaker A:Yes, he does.
Speaker A:He got some funky cool ideas to share for all you teachers.
Speaker A:He can empower others, students and teachers.
Speaker A:It's all about hard work and creativity.
Speaker A:He brings out the kindness in everyone.
Speaker A:He's got the passion to teach.
Speaker A:You hear it when he speaks.
Speaker A:He knows how to build strong relationships.
Speaker A:If you're seeking the best bunkiest, he is it.
Speaker A:He will empower you to improve.
Speaker A:He'll be helping others and loving it too.
Speaker A:He's Mr. Funky Teacher.
Speaker A:Yeah, he's Mr. Funky Teacher.
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:This is Mr. Funky Teacher with Be a Funky Teacher dot com.
Speaker B:I'm coming to you with another Be a Funky Teacher podcast.
Speaker B:Welcome back, everyone.
Speaker B:Before we jump into today's episode, I want to share a little bit about what this new Sunday series is all about.
Speaker B:It is called Sunday School for Teachers.
Speaker B:Now, Sunday School for Teachers is a weekly reflection for my Christian teacher friends out there.
Speaker B:Whether you teach in a public school or a private one, this is about our shared teacher faith.
Speaker B:How Jesus shapes the way we love kids, leads classrooms, and show grace in the middle of the chaos.
Speaker B:Now, I have a deep respect for all educators, including those who aren't Christian, but I wanted to dedicate one episode each week to sharing my faith openly.
Speaker B:How it grounds me, how it challenges me, and it.
Speaker B:How it reminds me of why I do what I do.
Speaker B:Now, I'm not a preacher, but like my favorite singer, Toby Mack, always says through his music, I just want to use my mic to shine a little light.
Speaker B:My hope is that these Sunday episodes encourage your spirit.
Speaker B:You refocus your heart and remind you that teaching is holy work.
Speaker B:It is.
Speaker B:It's.
Speaker B:It's holy work.
Speaker B:It's.
Speaker B:It's the work of God, no matter where your classroom is.
Speaker B:Now, before we go any further, let's talk about three things that I'm thankful for.
Speaker B:My late mom.
Speaker B:Believe strongly in giving gratitude for what you have.
Speaker B:And I will.
Speaker B:I do that all on all of my other episodes that I do, my teaching episodes, and I'm going to continue it here as well.
Speaker B:It's a type of way of documenting on a regular basis what I'm thankful for.
Speaker B:First thing that I'm thankful for, I'm so thankful for my faith in Jesus.
Speaker B:It's the foundation of everything that I do.
Speaker B:Second thing I'm thankful for the ability to use my voice for good, to speak life, to Speak truth and to speak encouragement.
Speaker B:And the third thing that I'm thankful for, I'm thankful for my love, for teaching the, the joy of shaping lives through learning and compassion.
Speaker B:All right, today's episode, y', all, today's Sunday School for Teachers episode is Jesus welcomes the children.
Speaker B:Let's jump right in.
Speaker B:So I'm going to share a little scripture here.
Speaker B:And as I said, I'm no preacher, so I, I, and I'm not, I'm not some expert in the Bible either, so I, I, I have to be fully transparent here.
Speaker B:I'm learning right along with y' all here.
Speaker B:You, you might be listening, saying, oh, he got it wrong.
Speaker B:You know, I, I, I'm doing the best I can with how I'm connecting to the Bible, how I'm connecting to the word of God and, and how it, how it helps fuel what I do on a daily basis.
Speaker B:So I do want to share some scripture and connect that to the teaching.
Speaker B:So some scripture here.
Speaker B:Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.
Speaker B: So Matthew: Speaker B:So I think about the scripture there, you know, to, to connecting that with the story of Jesus.
Speaker B:You know, one day, as Jesus was, was teaching and healing, parents began bringing their, their children to him and he could place his hand on them.
Speaker B:Because Jesus was, was teaching and healing parents brought their children to him and, and he, they wanted him to put his hand on them, to bless them.
Speaker B:Now the disciples, thinking they were protecting Jesus's time and energy, scolded the parents and tried to send them away.
Speaker B:In their eyes, you see, children weren't important enough to interrupt the work of the teacher.
Speaker B:Isn't it interesting?
Speaker B:But Jesus, Jesus stopped them immediately, y'.
Speaker B:All, he became indignant not at the children.
Speaker B:He wasn't up, you know, he wasn't upset with the children, but at his own disciples.
Speaker B:He told them clearly, let the children come to me and do not hinder them.
Speaker B:Then he went further, explaining that the kingdom of God actually belongs to the people who come with the same openness and humility as children.
Speaker B:He gathered the children close, placed his hands on them, and blessed them, y'.
Speaker B:All.
Speaker B:This small scene is striking.
Speaker B:While others dismiss children as distractions, Jesus welcomed them as examples of what it means to belong in God's family.
Speaker B:And so a little reflection for educators here, y', all, the disciples missed, they missed it because they were focused on the big things.
Speaker B:And as teachers, we can fall into the same trap, can't we?
Speaker B:Right?
Speaker B:You know, pressing through the schedule or worrying about test prep or being consumed by management.
Speaker B:In that rush, we risk overlooking the small moments and the students who need us the most.
Speaker B:Jesus reminds us that children aren't interruptions to the work.
Speaker B:They are the work.
Speaker B:And every single one matters.
Speaker B:Every single child matters.
Speaker B:Whether they're.
Speaker B:They're outgoing or shy, thriving or struggling, each and every one of them matters.
Speaker B:So I want to share some practical classroom connections, y'.
Speaker B:All.
Speaker B:When we're working with children, when we're working with students, make that eye contact with students.
Speaker B:Greet each student by name regularly at the start of class.
Speaker B:Let them know you're glad to see them.
Speaker B:Look for.
Speaker B:Also, y'.
Speaker B:All, look for the children who tend to slip under their radar and give them intentional encouragement this week.
Speaker B:And when frustration.
Speaker B:When you have frustrations rise, pause and remember that Jesus never treated children as a burden.
Speaker B:I'd like to end in a prayer if I could.
Speaker B:All right.
Speaker B:Lord, give me your eyes to see every child's worth.
Speaker B:Help me never to overlook the quiet ones or grow impatient with the challenging ones.
Speaker B:May my classroom be a place where all children feel welcomed and blessed.
Speaker B:Amen.
Speaker B:Thank you for being here with me on this Sunday School for Teachers.
Speaker B:Remember to inspire greatness in young people.
Speaker B:And don't forget to be a funky teacher.
Speaker B:Bye, now.
Speaker A:He's Mr. Funky Teacher yeah he's Mr. Funky Teacher yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:Sam.
