Sunday School 101 - Part Six

We continue to expose why Sunday School is the most important ministry of the church.  The church exists to worship, has the Bible as its only guide, and fellowship (we looked at these aspects last week). Today we examine three more.

The church is about ministry. We are in the "need meeting" business.  Unless needs are met, Sunday School has little reason to exist. We are to "bear one another's burdens."  When one hurts, we all hurt.  Only in Sunday School can you get to know one another and their daily lives to care for one another at the depth we should.  Many churches expect the whole congregation to know about one another's needs, but this is impossible and impractical.   A small group is the best and logical place for the first line of ministry.

The church is to be about reaching persons for Christ. Sunday School is the natural place for reaching persons who need Jesus and a right relationship with Him. Unsaved persons, unchurched Christians, and inactive church members should be named and sought for enrollment in the class.  This includes discovering persons, establishing a caring relationship with them, enrolling them, and maintaining contact with them to encourage and foster regular participation.

The church is about prayer. Without the energy of the Holy Spirit, all efforts would be useless.  The church has the power of prayer and the Holy Spirit for which to carry out its ministry and mission.  We do not act in our strength or power. Bathe all plans, programs, and especially persons in prayer.  "You can do more than pray after you've prayed, but you can't do anything until you've prayed."

The church is no stronger than its Sunday School ministry.  Persons who are not involved in a Bible study group should not really consider themselves as a part of the church.  It is mandatory and vital for each church member to be an active Sunday School member, too.

Sunday School 101 - Part Five

We have spent four weeks talking about Sunday School and we are not finished.  As I have stated, Sunday School is the most important ministry in the church.  Look at how Sunday School fulfills the mission of the church.

The church exists to worship God.  Sunday School exists to teach, model, and lead each person in the group to realize their life is an act of worship toward God.  Everything one does is a reflection of worship toward God.  But it doesn't stop there.  The Sunday School group is not an island, but part of the larger church body.  No Sunday School class exists for themselves but as a ministry of the church.  Thus, the Sunday School is to lead each member of the group to corporate worship, as well as personal worship.

The church's textbook is one book only...the Bible.  Sunday School has only one book....the Bible.  While each class may have some curriculum to help understanding, it is NEVER a replacement for the Bible. The Sunday School class is to allow the Holy Spirit to be THE teacher.  As persons encounter the Bible, they are led to its meaning, value, relevance; and application in all their relationships of life.

The church is a fellowship of baptized believers. Thus, the Sunday School exists to provide mutual support among its members to nurture Christian fellowship. Small groups provide opportunities and the framework to know each other and to share in a "family" where we love and care for one another.

We will look at three more functions next week.

Sunday School 101 - Part Four

 

If the teacher/leader/shepherd/pastor of the Sunday School class is the most important person in the class (as we saw last Wednesday in this blog), then the second most important persons are the care group leaders.

Sunday School is about people being cared for and accounted for.  This is done by creating smaller groups within each class with a leader responsible for that group.

Who selects this leader?  The teacher/leader of the class.  Since he/she is responsible for the overall class, then he/she needs to feel sure the class will be cared for by the leaders of these smaller groups.

Each group should have 5-7 people in their group. This number could change if the class is mainly a couples class.  A group might have 3-4 couples in each group.  But a general rule is the smaller groups should be made up of men with men and women with women led by the same sex of the group.  This way, a person of the opposite sex is not contacting people unlike themselves.

There will be several care group leaders in each class according to the overall enrollment in the class.  Every person enrolled must be assigned to a small group.  The leader of their small group should keep accurate, up-to-date information on each member and notify the church office when contacting information changes. 

Each Sunday they can help guests and new members complete a registration form.  Each leader may have a prospect or two they reach out to over a period of time, so this early introduction to guests is critical to beginning a good relationship with guests who become prospects for the class.

As a care group leader, make sure your members are present in class each Sunday.  If not, note it so you can contact them ASAP after class.  A text is fine to let them know you missed them and ask if everything is fine with them.  If you don't do this, you, your teacher, the class, and the entire church might miss an opportunity to minister to that person due to an emergency happening in their life.  Plus, everyone likes to know they were missed.

If a person begins to miss consistently, then a visit or an opportunity to meet over coffee or lunch would be appropriate to speak with them about what is happening in their life causing the constant absence.  

Periodic texts are encouraged to give thanks to God for those who are attending faithfully.  We all need encouragement and a text saying, "Just thanking God for your faithfulness to our Lord and our class today.  Praying you are well." Or share a word from the Scriptures you saw today.  Don't just wait until something is wrong to reach out.

Then this small group organization helps get the word out in times of prayer needs the class may have, the church may have, to share announcements about a fellowship or special event.

You want to keep up with their birthday, anniversary, and other special days in their life to acknowledge those days as they come around.  Every "special" day may not be a day of celebration, just as the anniversary of a spouse's death or a divorce, but acknowledging it creates closeness as you express your sincere concern for them.

Finally, as a leader of a small group, regularly pray for each member of your group and their family.  

At Rainsville First Baptist, we have special booklets prepared for each Care Group Leader where you can organize yourself with this information.  

#David O. Cofield

Sunday School 101 - Part Three

We have built a case in the past two Wednesdays for Sunday Sunday to be the most important ministry in our church.  If that is so, then who is the most important person in the life of a Sunday School class.

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

Sunday School 101 - Part Two

This is the second post on Sunday School.  I remind you I write on this Wednesday blog focusing on the local church and its ministries (particularly Rainsville First Baptist Church).

Last week we confirmed Sunday School is the most important ministry of the church. Why?  

*It is for all ages.  Our entire Sunday School is for our entire church population.  We have classes from bed babies through our senior adults.  Each Sunday School is graded so guests will know when they visit this particular class the medium age the class will be.  We don't want a 35-year-old couple to walk into a classroom of senior adults without their prior knowledge.  Disclaimer: a person does not have to go to the class of their age group.  Every person is free to attend the class that best fits their personality, group dynamics, and teaching style.  

* It is for those who are followers of Jesus Christ and those who are not.  

* Class members may or may not be members of the church.  In fact, we highly encourage (and almost demand) a person is a member of Sunday School before they become a member of the church.

* The focus of the class is the teaching of the Word of God, but it is not the only thing Sunday School does.  If it was, then we would gather everyone into one central location and get the best Bible teacher to teach everyone.  Bible study is vital, but it is not everything.

* It is the church "organized and mobilized" to carry out the function of the church.  

* It is here there is accountability for attendance, caring for one another, ministry in times of need, fellowship, prayer, and enhancing personal and corporate worship.

* It is the place where someone will call on you when you are sick, there has been a death in your family, and there is a need for meals to be provided to get you through a difficult season.  If you are not involved in a Sunday School, you may not have anyone to reach out to you to provide ministry in times of need.  Sunday School is the hub of ministry.

* Everyone can be involved using their spiritual gifts. 

* It is the place of natural outreach.  You have friends, family members, and neighbors who are in your sphere of life who need Bible study, community, prayer, fellowship, direction, and purpose in their life and your Sunday School class is the natural place to invite them to come to a Sunday gathering or a party the class is having.

* Enrollment is the key.  A person may enroll in a Sunday School anytime and anywhere.  Persons may be enrolled in their home, office, hospital, or in the class.  A person can join a Sunday School class the first time they attend.  Enrollment gives the class the right to minister to them.  

It is my opinion that enrollment of Sunday School is the single most important number in the life of a local church.  It is the number of those who are attending, involved, and assigned places of ministry. 

If you are not a member of a Sunday School class, then I pray this blog motivates you to get involved this Sunday.

If you are a leader in the church, recognize the absolute importance of the Sunday School ministry in your church.  Commit to learn everything you can about it.  Commit to be a leader in your class. Commit to get others in your church involved.

If you are a pastor, I believe Sunday School is the most important ministry you have under your leadership.  Learn about it, encourage its growth, be involved in a class yourself, and watch your church grow and retain growth. 

Sunday School 101 - Part One

I don't remember the first pastor who said to me years (and years, and years) ago that Sunday School is the most important ministry in your church.  I am now in year 46 of being a pastor but I quickly learned in the size churches I was privileged to pastor that I had to learn the basics of Sunday School to grow and keep a growing church.  I'm glad I did.

Too many pastors ignore Sunday School or pass it off to another staff member.  In my opinion, that is a mistake.  Here is the definition I have developed over the years for Sunday School:  Sunday School is the church organized and mobilized. 

Let me just briefly unpack the definition here and then over the next several weeks I will do more.

Sunday School is an organization that must be run like an organization.  There must be levels of ministers  who understand their role, position, and responsibilities.  If it breaks down at any level, then the Sunday School suffers.  I will share over the next several weeks (most likely more than you want, but not more than you need) ministry descriptions for these positions.  It is MANDATORY to have an organization structure to Sunday School.

And Sunday School is the church mobilized.  It is the church moving to carry out its purposes and plans.  There is no, and I said NO, ministry greater than the Sunday School because of the capacity it has to move the church totally to fulfill the purpose and plans of the church.

In some ways, Sunday School is the church in smaller quantities.  It is the way to teach, minister, care, provide accountability, perform missions and outreach, as well as lead its members to worship.

I can't wait for these next few weeks.  Stay tuned.