While everyone is important, the teacher or leader is the single most important person in the class. They are the one who is responsible to God, the Pastor, their class, and the church for the total work and organization of their class.
They should lead in the selection of the other leaders in the class (secretary, care group leaders, an associate teacher, and other leaders, as needed).
The most important aspect of leadership is leading by example. Just as a church will not rise above and maintain a spiritual level higher than its leaders, neither will a Sunday School class. The leader sets the bar for the rest of the class.
Just as with the whole church, there are individuals who will walk closer to God and be more spiritually mature than its leaders, but the church as a whole will never rise above its leaders. There may be (and most will be) persons in every Sunday School class who are spiritually on a level higher than the teacher, the whole class will never be able to rise above the teacher's level and remain there.
II Thessalonians 3:9 instructs us to "make yourselves an example of how you should follow us."
The teacher/leader should be an example in:
* Personal growth...developing a growing relationship with Jesus through daily Bible study and prayer. It is out of the overflow of your life you will lead your class effectively and passionately.
* Commitment...to support the total work of the church, attending all services habitually, as possible.
* Reaching...by possessing a commitment to reach people.
* Conduct...by living a life holy and acceptable of others to follow.
* Giving...by systematically giving at least a tithe to the general fund of the church, plus special offerings as promoted.
* Attendance...by seeking to arrive in the class before any other person, making attendance a top priority, and notifying the proper persons as soon as possible when one must be absent.
* Cooperation...by cooperating in spirit and word with the Pastor, elders, ministerial staff, Deacons, and other small group leadership.
* Prayer...believing one can do nothing of lasting value without being a person of prayer.
* Fellowship...lead your class to develop a culture of loving one another, caring for one another, and wanting to be with one another.
* Ministry...leading out in caring for your members by reaching out to them regularly just to check on them but especially in times of need; and developing a class organization of others caring for smaller portions of the class (care group leaders).
As the teacher goes, so goes the class.
It is a heavy responsibility (James 3:1), but if you have not been called to be the Pastor of the local church, then the next greatest privilege is to lead (shepherd, pastor) a smaller group of God's people. To all who serve in this position, I bless you.
#David O. Cofield
No comments:
Post a Comment