These are the commands, decrees, and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all His decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.

A group of students were asked in geography class to list what they considered The Seven Wonders of the World. Though there were some disagreements the following received the most votes: Egypt’s Great Pyramids, the Taj Mahal, the Grand Canyon, the New York Trade Center, St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome’s Colussium and the Great Wall of China.

What wonders might you suggest for the list?

Well as the teacher was gathering up the papers he noted that one girl, a quiet introspective girl, was still pondering her list. He asked if she was having trouble. “A little,” she replied. “There are so many that I can’t make up my mind.”

“Let me see what you have,” asked the teacher.

“I think that The Seven Wonders of the world are: to touch, to taste, to see, to hear, to run, to laugh…..and of course,” it dawned on her, “to love.”

This led me to wonder, if I were asked, what might be the “Seven Wonders of our Christian Faith”? It is after all Christian Education Sunday. As teachers, I hope you’ll be engaging learners in the wonders of our faith.

So, what might those wonders be? There are so many. After some pondering I believe each of you could, have a list of seven wonders. I’d like to share one of my lists of “Seven Wonders”. I need to tell you once you start down this path your mind may be flooded with wonders.

My first wonder is His creation. I look to the rock wall behind the altar and realize that God created these rocks with just a word. They were witness to The Flood. I wonder at the power of a God who could created energy and matter with just a word and then organize it in apparently self-regenerating patterns. I stand in awe of DNA, photosynthesis, and wind. I wonder at a God who would put a universe in place so vast that we wouldn’t see a large part of it until the Hubble telescope but it has been there.

Let us marvel along with our children at a God who with a Word made roly-poly bugs, butterflies, and humpback whales. Let them hear that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. They need to know that the more the scientists know, the more they realize they don’t know! Let us teach in such a fashion that we marvel not our theories and limited understandings, but at a God who created and sustains all we see and don’t see. For by Him all things were created thing in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible… He is before all things and in Him all things hold together. (Col 1.16-17)

My second wonder is The Bible. It is a unique book whereby we come to know God- His holiness, His mercy, His justice and His love. In it are life changing and sustaining Words. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. (2 Tim 3.16-17) Share it with awe, passion, and delight.

I encourage you to share God at work in the Old Testament. Tell them how God led Gideon to defeat an army as countless as a swarm of locust with just three hundred men, some torches, and trumpets. (Judges 7) Let us tell them of the perseverance God worked in Joseph while he was a captive in Egypt, and of Joshua’s victories in the Holy Land.

There is so much wonder in the New Testament: This God who created and fought for His people became flesh and dwelt among us. Let us take our students to the manager to see the baby Jesus; let us follow Him along the Galilean seashore and courts of the temple as He teaches; let us never grow complacent at His miracles; let us go and ponder the ramifications of the empty tomb to believers and judgment day to unbelievers, and let us bring to life the streets of Jerusalem at Pentecost as 3,000 were added to their number that day. (Acts 2:41)

Our students live in a time when an unbelieving world will seek to discount and downplay the stories and teaching of the Bible as - that was then and this is now. No, No. No! The God of THEN is the God of NOW. He is just as interested, concerned, and involved today as He was then. Remember, all that was written that we might believe, and by believing have comfort, direction, and eternal life. (John 20.31) It is by the words of Scripture that faith is created and sustained. (Romans 10.17)

My third wonder is the church, God could have chosen many places to meet with us, and I most definitely see His handy work when I’m outdoors, but it is to this place that we have been beckoned. It is in this place where God meets with us that He might forgive us, renew us and refresh us. It is here where He can use us to strengthen each other. This place isn’t about what we do for God, but a place where we learn what He has done and He is still doing for us. …. There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a holy day, a Sabbath day of rest, a day of sacred assembly. (Lev 23.3)

People will be tempted to treat this third wonder like they did a certain rich man from Matthew Gospel (22.1-13) who held a feast and sent invitations to his neighbors far and wide. When the feast was ready all his neighbors replied, I cannot come: I have soccer games and homework, it is my day to sleep in, and I have chores. It is too hot, too long, and takes too much of my day. Sadly, those that were invited and declined found themselves left out, left behind and there was weeping and gnashing of teeth

My fourth wonder is baptism. How can it be that by and through the washing with water and saying of a few words that my sins are forgiven, that the Holy Spirit is poured out upon me, and I’m made an heir of heaven, a child of the heavenly father? It can be so and is because Jesus, the risen Savior, to whom all authority in heaven and earth had been given, declared it to be so. Go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Matt 28.19)

Oh, to the world it won’t look like much. Many will try to empty this sacrament of its power by making it a work or declaration of man, but let us take Jesus at His Word- baptism now saves you. This gift is for you and your children.

My fifth wonder is communion. All that is God comes to us in a real way. Not merely bread and wine eaten in remembrance of Jesus but the Son of God coming to us in a real and tangible way, a unique and sacramental way taking hold of us. For just a moment all that is God is there in, with and under the bread and wine taking hold of us that we might be forgiven and that our faith made strong. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? (1 Cor 10.16)

One of my greatest wonders is the cross. We live in a world that seeks to be saved by its works, to them the cross is unnecessary and foolishness. Why would God who owes us nothing and who is infinitely holy come to save us who mired in sin? Why would God set such a high price for the atonement of sin, knowing that we could never pay it and then pay it for us? (God declared) without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. (Heb 9.22b)We all, teachers and students, need to spend time at the foot of the cross pondering, marveling and in awe of what the cross is: the justice of God- sin carries a great price, a price that must be paid. It is the love and mercy of God in that He willingly paid that price, giving up His life to save ours. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only ours but also the for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2.2) When we confess our sins that forgiveness is poured out upon us through the words of absolution. For Jesus declared that If you forgive anyone his sins they are forgiven. (John 20.23)

That about wraps it up. There are my six wonders…. I hope someone is saying, Wait a minute that is only six you said seven wonders…As a teacher I did that on purpose. I didn’t list a seventh wonder because I wanted you to put down your wonder. What makes you stand in awe of God. Or maybe, your wonder is a question. I encourage you whether you are a teacher or student to spend time with God in wonder. May He use your wonder, your study and mediation upon those wonders to draw you closer to Him.

All around us are people who live in awe of their human reason and accomplishments. Apart from the working of the Holy Spirit so would we. They need to hear as we have of the wonders of almighty and eternal God, but how will they hear if no one tells them. Amen