"Do all the good you can..."

I teach the Youth Sunday School at our church and have had the summer off from lesson planning in favor of some hands-on mission work. Today is my first Sunday back in full out teaching mode and I'm pretty excited for the topic this week: the relationship between faith and works.


Many would say that middle and high schoolers are not ready to discuss the complex theological issue of faith vs. works. Some of the great Christian theologians have debated this very topic over the years and come to varying conclusions. Monergism vs. Synergism, Calvin vs. Luther, Predestination vs. Prevenient Grace...these are all deep, deep topics. For help breaking some of these down, I would encourage you to check out The Wesley Bros web comic and blog found on our "Blogs We Love" page.

Here's the short answer, Methodist theology states that faith alone justifies man to God (Romans 3:28-30 but that faith without works in response is dead (James 2:26). More simply, loving God is what is needed but when I love God, I want to do good things to please Him. Get it? Yeah, I think the youth will too.

We're going to learn this lesson today by taking a page out of RA training and playing a simulation game. I've cut up lots of funny money and I'm giving the youth a list of the good things they can do with their fake money. They can combine their money together to do bigger things if they'd like. All of it will be in an attempt to "win" in whatever way they define it. Here's the trick, none of them will win. I won't let them no matter what. After all, nothing they can do will work out their salvation. It is faith alone. Hopefully, one of the kids will be able to get to this conclusion and the light bulbs will go off all around. If not, well, then that leads to more discussion during processing.

Obviously, we are called to do good in the world, end injustice, and restore dignity to the children of God (everyone) all around us. It's important for us to keep in mind, though, that our motivation for these things is not to rack up the most points on a heavenly score board but to demonstrate the love of God in this world. I'll end my morning theological reflection and Sunday School lesson planning with a very famous quote from the founder of Methodism, John Wesley:

"Do all the good you can.

By all the means you can. 

In all the ways you can. 

In all the places you can. 

At all the times you can. 

To all the people you can. 

As long as ever you can."