You find some strange things sorting through store rooms and filing cabinets in old Anglican churches. Recently, I came across a decades old scrapbook with Bible stories for children glued into it. Instead of recycling the crumbling book, I brought it home with the intention of cutting out the images for art projects.
As I pulled the pages out, I discovered that each picture had the conclusion to some sort of creepy lesson/story on the other side. Just the conclusion. I have no idea how each story started.
Scroll down for some bone-chilling Sunday School propaganda!
belong to the *Someone* family. We want all the people of Pine Hill to learn and remember God’s Word.“
So they put on old clothes and got their friends to help them. Soon the new church was ready. On that first Sunday the people thanked God with all their hearts. But no one was as thankful as the *Someone* family that now Pine Hill had a church where people could learn God’s Word and obey Him.
keep working so well.“
And on one very special day David worked for almost a half hour on his words. When he had finished, he told his teacher that he knew how to spell a hard word. It was a word that even the other boys and girls in his grade might miss.
Her eyes almost popped out when David spelled “h-i-p-p-o-p-o-t-a-m-u-s!”
was so happy for Libby.
Susan ran up on the porch and took Mother’s hand. “Mother, I am trying to think which was the best – to learn how to ride, or to help Libby. She looks so happy! And, you know, she said thank you to me.”
“Yes,” answered Mother. “You are finding that what the Bible says is right. It is more blessed to give than it is to receive. You are happy because you have given Libby the help she needed. Someday Libby may want to teach Jimmy how to ride.
As though he knew all about it, Baby Jimmy clapped his hands. He said, “Thank you! Thank you!”
not found her house. She started to cry. But then she thought of something. She stopped and asked the Lord to forgive her for not obeying her mother. She asked Him to help her find her way home.
Before long a car stopped beside her. Two voices called, “Dorothy, is that you?” It was Father and Mother!
As they were driving home, they told Dorothy that she had not been walking on the right street. They had been driving all over, looking for her. Then Dorothy told them all that had happened. “Mother, please forgive me for not obeying. Next time I’ll do what you tell me no matter what someone else asks me to do.”
Mother put her arm around Dorothy. “Yes, Dorothy, I’ll forgive you. And I think you’ll understand better from now on why God wants you to obey your parents.” Then she looked at the hole in Dorothy’s new cap. Mother said, “The cap will never be as nice as it was. But I believe we can mend it so it will be almost like new.”
And with that, Dorothy smiled and held her mother’s hand. Daddy smiled, too, as they drove home.
And that night, when the ten boys talked to God before going to sleep, not just one, but all ten asked God to help them obey just right.
often,“ said Father. Both children jumped into the car.
Jack said, “She was on time for a party yesterday too.”
Mother got in the car. Father checked the car doors to make sure they were properly shut. And they were off!
Mother said, “We’ll be right on time this morning, Mrs. Kennedy!”
Josephine looked at Mrs. Kennedy, and they smiled at each other.
quiet. The judge was talking. He said, “The first prize is for the trick dogs. The second prize is for the girl monkey. And the third prize is for the three little clowns.”
How happy the Foster children were as they took their two dollars. And what did they do with their money? They bought two more toy clowns.
Then each of the three Foster children had a toy clown. And Father now had six clowns instead of three!
Pedro’s mother, smiling at Pedro.
As Pedro lay back on his bed, he felt very happy. “The Lord Jesus can do anything,” he said to himself. And then he waved good-bye to his two Christian friends.
things. Mike has helped you in many ways. Now you have helped him by telling him that it was wrong to go into Mrs. McCoy’s house. Perhaps sometime Mike will understand that he needs Jesus as his Saviour and Friend.“Then Roger felt better. He knew that Mike needed God’s help – just as all people do. So that night Roger prayed, “Dear Lord, thank You very much for giving me Mike as a friend. Help me tell him about Jesus. Mike needs Jesus as his Saviour and Friend.”
“Why, I found out just a little while after you left that Skip had mowed the lawn for me. I was so pleased that I wanted to give him just a little something to show my thanks.” She placed something in Skip’s hand. Skip could tell by feeling it what it was. It was some money. It was 50 cents!
“Now we have enough money to go home,” said Skip.
Grandmother told Sophie what had happened to her purse. After they had thanked Sophie, they said good-bye. A few minutes later Skip and his grandmother were on the bus.
As the bus started for home, Skip said, “Mother says that God has His own reasons for things that happen.”
Grandmother patted Skip’s arm. “This has been quite a day for you, Skip – my seeing-eye boy.”
“It’s been a good day, Grandmother, because we saw how the Lord Jesus loves us and takes care of us. Yes, it’s been a very good day!”
Mother prayed and asked God to help Michael tell the store owner he was sorry. Then they got up, sure God had heard.
Michael said, “I’m not afraid anymore, Mother. Let’s sing a happy praise song.” And so they all sang.
He said to himself, “Old Violin played sad music for everyone else, but for that boy he played happy music. I don’t understand.”
But the violins in the music shop understood very well.
Mother said, “A house is always happy when children obey because they want to. Today all three of my children obeyed as though they really wanted to – just as God says they should.”
letter was a picture of Sabu. Sabu stood with some children. He was holding onto the crutches. His smile showed how happy he was.And Tiny Toby read Sabu’s letter the next Sunday to his Sunday School class. The children listened to every word. Dear Tiny Toby, Thank you for the crutches you sent me. Now I can go on working for the Lord Jesus. I will always be glad that you helped me by sending fine crutches. The crutches fit me well. Your friend, Sabu. The Sunday School children smiled. Then one of them said, “You see? Tiny Toby can make anything. He can even make crutches!”
On each box they wrote names.
You see the beautiful things did not really belong to Linda and her mother at all. They had been stolen from the people for whom the mother did housework. No wonder the shades were kept drawn.
The next morning, Linda and her mother took each box to the one who really owned it. And they told each family how the Lord Jesus had forgiven them and was helping them. They told each one that from then on they would live only on the money that people would pay Linda’s mother for working.
After that, Linda and her mother read their Bibles each day of the week. And the only part of Sunday that Linda was alone was in the afternoon, while her mother rested. On Sunday mornings and Sunday evenings, Linda and her mother went to their favourite place – the little church on the corner.
Their house now seemed very bare without all the pretty things. But Linda and her mother didn’t mind. With all the shades pulled up, they had lots of sunshine and lots of love to fill the rooms.
How glad their friends were that Linda and her mother now knew Jesus. Linda and her mother were glad, too!
whispered, “Henry Hink! Henry Hunk! Nose as long as an elephant’s trunk!”
“I don’t care, now” said Henry to the officer. “As long as I love and obey God, He will let me work for Him – just as He did you!”
“Do you have all our presents?” Pammy asked Mother.
“Yes, I have them here in my bag,” answered Mother.
Ruth asked, “Can we come with you again sometime? We had a very good time.”
“Of course,” said Pastor Omar. “I come here every week. And the people will always be glad to have you come, too.”
swimmer. Jay was the next-fastest. The biggest bully and the smallest one were the slowest swimmers. “Even little Tiger, with his funny dog swim, could have done better!” thought Jay.
After that whenever the three boys saw Jay they said, “Hi!” Then they would pet Tiger, who seemed to know that now the boys were friends. And they never again said that Jay was a know-it-all or that Tiger was not a brave little dog.
“Oh, Linga,” said Nancy, “I like that song best of all the songs you ever made up. Will you teach me the words?” And Linga smiled as he said, “Yes.“
“Yes,” said Father.
“Then I can give Him myself.”
“That’s the best present you can give the Saviour,” answered Father. “That makes him very happy, and it’ll make you very happy too.”
we ate part of a house made of ice cream. And we went to a rabbit town where they had hundreds of rabbits.“
Mother and Father laughed at Josie’s made-up story. Then Bill said, “We went almost all around the world, it seemed. I like to go places on skates.”
And Josie and Bill were so happy that they did not even mind doing the dishes. Before they went to bed that night, they thanked the Lord for vacation roller skates.
He pulled on his pajamas and got ready to climb into bed. He was going to sleep with Jerry, one of his cousins.
But Dan was not too sleepy to talk to the Lord. He said, “I did not want to come here, dear Lord. But now I am glad I am here. And thank You most, Lord, for helping me tell them about You. I want all of them to love You, in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Then a happy Dan climbed into bed.
“Oh, yes, yes, yes!” cried Tom, Ronald, Donald, and Betsy. Baby Sue smiled. Father smiled, too, and said, “Why, yes, we can go swimming. We’ll even take Willie with us. He can have a wonderful time in the water.” Willie flapped his wings and said, “Quack, quack!”
“I’m so glad we don’t have to eat Willie,” said the twins. “We trusted the Lord, and He helped us.”
And the very next week Father got work in a store in town.
looked up at Mr. Jolly. She bowed her head and asked her best Friend to help her. Then she pulled it down very carefully. Down it went, ever so well. How wonderful to have a loving Friend who could help at all times!
She showed the girls and Mr. Jolly the new ring. Then she very carefully zipped up the jacket again. And the zipper worked just fine!
Randy did not care about the raft.
As soon as they got to shore, Randy called home. Father said they would come right away. When Mother and Father got there, Father said, “We did not know what had happened to you! We went ‘way down the creek, looking for you. Then we went back to the house to call the police. But just as we got to the phone, you called. Why did you go down the creek all by yourself? You knew I told you to wait for me to go with you.”
“Well,” said Randy in a small voice, “while I was waiting, I thought I’d just push the raft as far as the rope would go. But then the rope broke. I could not get to shore. I was afraid, but the Lord helped me. He made Shep bark so that the man saw us.”
Father thanked the man for helping. Then he said to Randy, “We’ll build another raft. But this time, we’ll tie a stronger rope to the raft.”
As they went back home, they all thanked the Lord that there is nothing too hard for Him to do.
are wearing are all right. Please come into the church with me.“
Father looked at Mother and Mother looked at Father. They both smiled and nodded “yes” at the same time. Then Father helped Mother get out of the car.
A moment later Polly was walking happily into the church with both of her parents.
Perhaps they would enjoy the service so much that they would come back every Sunday!
And around the Christmas tree, just after midnight on Christmas Eve, the family worshiped God. And they thanked Him for sending His Son to earth to die for them and be their Saviour.
His Word in her heart is keeping her from sin. It is never enough to just say God’s words. We must obey them.“
Jane felt warm and happy and good. She was glad that even a plain Jane can please the Lord.
As Mrs. Murphy hobbled over to her big rocking chair, Susan Van Dusan and Judy followed her and sat down. They felt happy because they were doing something for the Lord.
And Bimbo seemed happy, too, as he sat up on his haunches.
“Shake hands with Mrs. Murphy, Bimbo,” commanded Judy.
Mrs. Murphy shook Bimbo’s paw. Then Bimbo plopped down beside the two girls. Judy opened her Bible and began reading a psalm of praise.
had a good time playing a Bible game. Then they took a walk. How pretty the trees looked with their bright leaves. They stopped at a small, old house to ask a lonely man to go to church with them that evening.
When Sunday was over, Farmer Brown looked at everyone and said, “This has been a special day.”
“And the cows have been milked,” said Mother Brown. “I feel so good!”
“And the animals have food,” said Small Brown with a smile.
“And the people have had enough to eat,” said Hired Man Brown.
“Yes, yes, YES!” they all said as they smiled at each other.
Roberto just grinned. “No, not today,” he said. “I want to get a book today. I want to see what Jesus can do for me.”
“I could and I will,” said Grandpa. “Now run quickly and find some wood for me.”
And soon Grandpa was busy making some dolls for the real live playmates, the little Mexican children.
man lost his hat. But he was not cross, because he was on his way to church. He picked up his hat.
Polly and her family came to the top of the hill. The church bell was ringing. The people were smiling.
Polly and her mother and her father and her brother stepped inside the church. Then Polly’s family found the secret of Hilltop Church. They read some words which told the secret. In gold letters these words were written across the front of the church:
“We love others because Jesus first loved us.”
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