I can still hear the grey-haired lady in the front of the room shrill, “who remembers the memory verse? I have something special for you.” This always struck fear into my heart. She would go around the room having each child recite the memory verse individually. I never knew it. But that didn’t get me out of it. The teacher would help me along, sounding out the first couple of letters prompting me to say the word.
“Th.. Th…. Th….” She would repeat.
Oh “the,” I would say.
“Good Job, BJ.” “L…. L… Lo…” was next.
“L..Lord,” I replied sheepishly.
“Yes!” she exclaimed. “The Lord, what….?”
“Is?”
“Good. The Lord is…. what?” she prompted.
“G…good?”
“Here is your sticker, BJ” she rewarded.
My gut wrenches as I recall it. It happened every Sunday. Pure torture. I couldn’t figure out why I had to know this stuff anyway. Everyone knows that “the Lord is good” (Psalm 100:5).
If it wasn’t the verses, it was all the people. I never did understand who came first. All those Old Testament guys were a blur. Relief always came when we got to the New Testament because “Jesus” was the answer to every question. Why do we have to know all this stuff anyway?
I would bet that Stephen was a committed Sunday School student. He spent the time and energy required to develop a full understanding of the Bible. He knew the characters by name. He knew what they did and he knew when they did it. More importantly, he was able to understand God’s work through each person. This all happens in Acts 7. Stephen was arrested and put on trial. Do you know what he did? He didn’t preach a sermon or tell an elaborate tale. He did not make threats, or accuse others. He didn’t even defend himself. Stephen did one simple thing that he had been preparing his whole life for. He told God’s story. In telling God’s story, he illustrated his provision, his deliverance, his salvation, and his love. I think Stephen deserves a sticker.
God’s story is worth knowing. Its even worth memorizing.