Paul Writes Letters to his Friends

Attributed to Valentin de Boulogne, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

READ: The Apostle Paul traveled to many different places as he shared the stories of Jesus and of God’s love for the whole world. He would spend time in a town, making friends and teaching about the kingdom of God. When he left a town, there would be a group of people who continued to meet together, worshiping and learning about Jesus. Traveling took time in Paul’s day. There were no airplanes to make travel fast, and no phones or email. To keep up with the friends he had made and the new churches who were meeting in each town, sometimes Paul would write a letter to them. He would answer questions they may have had, or try to help them with a problem, or share a concern with them. When a church received one of Paul’s letters, they would read the letter aloud in their worship, just like a sermon.
In our Bibles we have a letter written by Paul to a church he had started in a town called Galatia. After he left, they had questions. Some people were claiming that in order to be a part of the church there were many steps that a person had to follow, and those that didn’t do everything weren’t fully a part of the church. Paul explained that this was not what he had taught them. When a person was baptized, that meant they were now all part of the same family, God’s family, the church. It didn’t matter where they were from, what language they spoke, what job they may have had, whether they were female or male--they belonged to Christ now. And that was all that mattered. (Galatians 3:23-29)

WONDER: I wonder what it was like to receive a letter from Paul?
I wonder what it is like to be baptized in water?
I wonder how it felt to be told you weren’t fully part of God’s family, the church?
I wonder how Paul felt when he heard some people were being left out of the church in Galatia?
I wonder what it feels like to be a part of the family of families, God’s family?

SAY: Paul loved the church in Galatia, and he wanted them to be a place that welcomed everyone. His letter to the church is an important part of our Scripture and helps us know more about God’s love for all people.

PRAY: Let’s pray. Thank you, God, for giving us a church to belong to, with people who love and care for us. Help us to share your love with one another. Amen.
EXTEND

• Paul wrote to churches made up of people he loved. Who is someone you love? Take some time to write a letter to them or draw them a picture. Get help mailing your letter or delivering your letter to them. How does it feel to send a letter to someone you love? 
  
• ​Read Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Matchev and illustrated by Taeeun Yoo. In the book a young boy who has a tiny pet elephant is not allowed to join a local pet club, because his pet is different. He meets a young girl who has a pet skunk and also hasn’t been allowed in the pet club. The two decide to start their own club of pet owners, a club open to everyone with a pet, no matter what kind of pet it might be. “All are welcome” in their pet club. What makes a group open to others? What keeps some people outside of a group? How can we welcome those who are different?

---