In my years of ministry, I've witnessed firsthand the power of Sunday School in building a church. While many might consider this an "old school" approach, I firmly believe it remains one of the most effective tools the Lord uses to build His church.

The Great Commission and Sunday School

The Great Commission calls us to go, win people to Christ, baptize them, and teach them all things Christ commanded. It's startling that 53% of American Christians can't explain what the Great Commission is—perhaps that's why they're not doing it!

I believe soul-winning is vital—the life of a soul depends on it. But I'm equally convinced that the soul of the church depends on the Sunday School ministry and life stage classes. This is where the spirit and growth of a church truly happens.

Biblical Foundation for Life Stage Classes

In Acts 2:41-42, after Peter preaches and 3,000 souls are saved, Scripture tells us: "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized. And the same day, there were added unto them about 3,000 souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers."

This passage reveals the powerful impact of organized Christian education and fellowship. My own journey with Sunday School began as a child in El Salvador. Recently, I visited my hometown and saw the church where I attended Sunday School and was saved at eight years old. The emotional impact of that visit reminded me how formative those experiences were to my spiritual development.

The Purpose of Life Stage Classes

Why should we have life stage classes for adults? Acts 2:42 gives us several key purposes:

1. Connection: The Bible transitions from individuals (verse 41) to community ("they" in verse 42). Life stage classes help people move from being a believer to becoming a member. Nobody grows alone spiritually—God designed us to grow within the local church environment.
2. Continuation: The Scripture says, "they continued steadfastly." When people connect, they stay. If they make a friend, they'll grow. Even in a friendly church, people typically only connect with about 60 people, regardless of church size. Life stage classes create spaces for meaningful relationships.
3. Indoctrination: They continued in "the apostles' doctrine." Truth needs to be conveyed and learned together. Classes provide structured environments for biblical teaching. (Find the perfect  Bible study for your small group here.)
4. Fellowship: The early church practiced "breaking of bread" together. Before anyone fully embraces your God, Bible, and doctrine, they need to know they can trust you. Fellowship builds that trust.
5. Prayer: The passage ends with "and in prayers." When people pray together, it knits them together spiritually in powerful ways.

The People: Choosing Class Leaders

Everything begins with leadership. In 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul tells Timothy to commit what he's learned to "faithful men who shall be able to teach others also." When selecting life stage class leaders, look for these qualities:

1. Spiritual: Choose people who are full of faith. A leader's spirit is the most important thing they contribute to ministry.
2. Sticky: Find people who naturally connect with others and know how to love and serve people. Sometimes someone who isn't the most gifted teacher may still be your best class leader because of their relational abilities.
3. Specific: Give leaders specific job responsibilities. In our classes, we have:
   • Class leaders
   • Care group leaders (overseeing 6-8 families/couples)
   • Hospitality leaders
   • Discipleship leaders

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The Process: Starting Life Stage Classes

Many pastors look around and think, "I don't have any leaders." But Ephesians 4:11-12 reminds us that pastors and teachers are given "for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry." If you don't have leaders, that's your opportunity—train them!

Here's how to start:

1. Training: Invest in developing your leaders. When we began life stage classes in Rhode Island, I spent 8-10 weeks meeting with potential leaders before we launched, teaching them Acts 2:42 principles and equipping them with skills to lead effectively.
2. Assignment: Carefully connect people to groups that would be a good fit. One of a pastor's greatest responsibilities is identifying people's spiritual gifts and where they would serve best.
3. Enrollment: Create a system to commit people to a class. Enrollment doesn't make someone saved or a member, but it establishes commitment. We ask visitors to enroll, explaining that "this is your class, where you belong."

Class Structure: Making the Most of Weekly Gatherings

An effective class should include these elements:

1. Fellowship (5-10 minutes): Begin with refreshments and conversation. Train leaders to stand and engage with everyone, asking questions like "What did the Lord teach you this week?" or "How can I pray for you?"
2. Care (5-10 minutes): Share announcements, celebrate birthdays and anniversaries, and communicate prayer requests and needs within the group.
3. Discover Truth (30-35 minutes): Study the Bible together. As a pastor, I provide lessons for our teachers to ensure sound doctrine and reduce their preparation burden.
4. Obey (5 minutes): Challenge everyone to write an "I will" statement—a specific application of what they've learned. This is where breakthroughs often happen!
5. Share (5 minutes): Encourage members to share what they've learned with someone else. Each class should develop a prospect list of people they're praying for and inviting.

The Lasting Impact

We've found that in our Northeast culture, people prefer smaller settings to large classes. We use tables of eight, dividing men and women into separate groups. This model multiplies leadership opportunities and creates intimate environments for connection and growth. However you decide to structure your groups, these classes remain powerful tools for building the Lord's church. When implemented with prayer, preparation, and persistence, this "old school" approach creates a remarkably effective sticky church culture in five key ways:

1. Meaningful Connections: These classes move people from being mere believers to engaged members, providing the perfect-sized environment for forming genuine relationships that keep people connected.
2. Structured Biblical Teaching: Regular, intentional study of "the apostles' doctrine" builds a strong foundation that anchors people to the church community and deepens their faith.
3. Fellowship Opportunities: Breaking bread together builds the trust necessary before people fully engage. These shared experiences strengthen the bonds between members.
4. Prayer Partnerships: When class members pray together regularly, it creates powerful spiritual bonds that knit people together in commitment to the church and each other.
5. Leadership Development: By identifying and training leaders, giving specific responsibilities, and creating ownership, Sunday School classes develop invested members who further the church's mission.

Conclusion

Life stage classes have transformed our church in Rhode Island. Whether you're pastoring in a biblically literate area or not, these principles work. The key is prayer, preparation, and persistence. Don't be discouraged by slow starts—faithfulness over time produces lasting fruit.

As you develop life stage classes, you'll see your church grow deeper in community and stronger in faith. The life of a soul depends on soul-winning, but the soul of a church depends on effective discipleship through life stage classes.