Sunday School

The goal of Sunday school is to accomplish one of the greatest needs in the 21st century– to provide Biblical education to individuals in a particular life stage.

The book of Acts provides us with a clear blueprint for reaching and discipling adults. If we will lead our classes to grow in health and attendance, we must:

Recently, I had the privilege of meeting with our Connection Group leaders here at Lancaster Baptist Church. Over the years, we’ve called our Connection Groups by various names—Sunday school and Adult Bible Fellowships are two—but whatever they are called, they are a vital part of our church ministry.

Most people are somehow under the impression that special days in a church just happen and that the preparation comes together on its own. Having a special day of any kind takes hard work and much preparation if it is to be effective.

One of the key factors for a growing church is strong leadership in small groups ministry. Over the past eighteen months, we have placed a massive emphasis on small groups in our church and we have seen the blessings result.

I believe the key reason for adult Bible classes in the local church is the organization to fulfill the purposes of the church. Dr. Lee Roberson used to say, “The Sunday school is the church organized to fulfill the purpose of the church.”

Teachers with genuine passion can make the impossible happen— revitalize a dying Sunday school class, reach a hopeless soul, create a corporate desire to serve Christ, and the list can go on!

One of the central components of a strong, growing church is a solid adult Bible class program. Regardless of the age or life stage of the adults in your church, they desire and need to be included and accepted.

Be sure that every student is included (we usually include all those three years old through the sixth grade). If children do not have an individual speaking part, they should be part of a choir or a group saying verses.

If we could read the autopsy report of a deceased class, I believe we would discover several reasons why the class took its last breath. Here are ten reasons classes decline and ultimately die.

Hope is a noun and a verb. It is what we have, and it is what we do. We who know the Lord already have hope, but we must also choose hope. I recently did a Bible study on the word hope, and was amazed at what I found.

When preaching to children, it is important to purposely tailor your message to them. If you do not, you will find that it goes over their heads and is of little practical help to them. Here are a few thoughts that may help you as you preach to children.

Every few months I have the privilege to teach a three-week newcomers class at our church. I relish this time with our new and prospective members, and I’ve found that they thoroughly enjoy it as well.

Oftentimes Sunday school teachers are very excited because they feel that they are doing their job (ministry) with great efficiency. But it has been rightfully said that efficiency is doing things right, but effectiveness is doing the right things. It is my hope that these principles will help us be more effective as Sunday school teachers.

Here are some thoughts on how we can articulate a plan for next year that will help us have the most fruitful year of ministry yet:

Anytime there is a surge of new Christians it is a great time to put renewed effort into the health of the Sunday school department. Every new Christian needs loving growth and discipleship, and the best way to insure this is happening is to encourage the health of the Sunday school.

The Sunday school is a tool, and I love tools! Hand tools, gardening tools, mechanic’s tools, and especially power tools.

Taylor points church leaders to the tremendous benefits of a well-designed Sunday school program in the local church.

Who was your favorite teacher in school? Most likely, if you are a teacher now, you may find yourself teaching like your favorite teacher. You may be a disciplinarian, or you may be one that allows the students in your classroom more freedom.