This is a resource that can be used for
Sunday School Teachers and Workers Meetings or Training Conferences.
AS GOES THE SUNDAY SCHOOL, SO GOES
THE CHURCH
INTRODUCTION AND SCRIPTURE LESSON
John
8:12
Then
spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that
followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Matthew
5:14
Ye are the light of the
world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.15
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a
candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
He
who shines within us has commissioned us to
shine before others ...
o
...
by living our lives by His Word;
o
...
by declaring that Word to others;
o
...
by designing church ministries that focus on Jesus Christ;
o
...
by providing life-changing Bible study for others that brings them to the
light.
The
1-5-4
Principle
1
Great Commission
5
Functions
of the Church
Worship
Discipleship
Evangelism
Ministry
Fellowship
4 Results
Spiritual
Numerical
Expansion of Ministries
Extension of churches
Summary:
True
WORSHIP when in partnership with effective BIBLE STUDY results in
consistent DISCIPLESHIP, which leads
to CARING
MINISTRY.
A
conviction:
“The winning of the lost to Christ is the most
important work Southern Baptist do, and the Sunday School is one of the
most effective means the church has for this business.”
(J. N. Barnette, A Church Using Its Sunday School)
1.
As goes the Sunday School, so goes the church!
Why? Sunday School assists the church by ...
¨
Providing a ready source for evangelist prospects.
¨
Building attendance for worship services.
¨
Allowing small group dynamic and fellowship regardless of
size of church.
¨
Providing communication channels for church concerns.
¨
Enlisting, training and deploying a cadre of associate
ministers for ministry and outreach.
¨
Involving energetic bodies and keen minds that can be
mobilized for work.
¨
Assembling a nucleus of concerned people for prayer support.
¨
Multiplying the church’s personal touch to every
member and prospect (when care/ministry groups function effectively).
¨
Providing predictable factors for stewardship planning because
of generally consistent per capita giving.
¨
Assimilating and deploying new church members when used
intentionally and effectively.
2.
A popular news magazine
article claimed that Sunday School is "The most wasted hour of the week."
What can be done to change this, whether reality or perception?
ý
We
can make teaching-learning more effective, life changing, needs
fulfilling and exciting.
ý
We
can teach from lesson plans that take into account the different ways
different people learn.
·
... what they hear (Auditory)
·
... what they see (Visual)
·
... what they do, touch and experience (Kinesthetic)
ý
We
can care about and minister to people if the class is properly organized
and functioning.
·
Teacher
·
Outreach-Evangelism Leader
·
Care Group Leaders
·
Discipleship
Leader
·
In larger classes: Fellowship Leader, Prayer Leader. Secretary
3.
Have you hugged your Sunday School lately?
"Pastors who expect
their Sunday Schools to grow apart from nurturing the Sunday School team
usually discover their Sunday Schools to be chaotic organizations,
lacking consistent direction and ministry awareness.”
(Charles L. Updike, pastor,
First
Baptist
Church
,
Gaithersburg
,
Maryland
.
(Building a
GREAT
CHURCH
Through
the SUNDAY SCHOOL,
James Fitch, compiler. Convention
Press,
Nashville
,
Tennessee
, 1992.
page 20.)
4.
Ideas for a pastor and key church leaders who want to multiply
ministry through the Sunday School.
þ
Guide in selecting and electing a potentially
effective Sunday School Director and Church Outreach Director.
þ
Be involved in the selection and election of the Sunday
School leadership team.
þ
Establish, cultivate and nurture an ongoing personal
friendship with these two key leaders.
þ
Develop and guide regular Sunday School leaders team
planning and training.
þ
Let your Sunday School team see you praying,
visiting, training and encouraging.
þ
Work toward and give influence for obtaining adequate budget
funding for the Sunday School.
þ
Prior to distributing teachers’ and workers’ quarterlies
and materials, highlight, mark and “dog-ear” articles and information.
þ
Never, NEVER, have a “hands off” approach to your Sunday
School. Continue to be
personally involved as an encourager, learning leader-trainer, and
example.
5.
Legendary Gaines Dobbins said:
“The
Sunday School is the arm of the church best suited to reach out into the
community and both find and fetch the unreached and unchurched.”
(Building a
GREAT
CHURCH
Through the SUNDAY SCHOOL, James Fitch, compiler.
Convention Press,
Nashville
,
Tennessee
, 1992.
page 281)
6.
The BIG QUESTION is, what will
I/you/we do about Sunday School as pastors, Sunday School Directors and
leaders.
