What About Sunday School?

A friend in ministry called me to brag that they were cancelling Sunday School for good. I asked why and he gave me a short list of mediocre reasons, centering mostly on declining attendance and a lack of interest. I know that in recent years good ole Sunday School has take some hits with many churches choosing small groups over the medium groups of Sunday School. But should we do away with Sunday School altogether? Is it an archaic model for teaching God's Word? Do churches really need to teach and educate members in the Bible? What benefits does a good Sunday School program offer us today? After observing small groups for about 15 years now, I have come to the conclusion that while they may provide a sense of belonging and community, they do not teach scripture well. I cringe when I hear what passes for biblical knowledge at most churches. I would argue to keep that medium group known as Sunday School alive and well and here's some reasons why:

1) For bible teaching. No other venue in the church other than worship services is better set up to teach the Word of God. Bibles, a white board, some curriculum (if needed), and a fervor for learning the things of God make for a growth plan that other venues can't touch when it comes to Bible learning. This is a small enough group to ask questions, but medium enough to carry rich discussion of God's Word. A good teacher and your set for raising the bar against biblical illiteracy in your church.

2) Adult Sunday School classes are consistent. They meet in the same time in the same room every week. There's no question about whose house or which night or whether the group is taking off for spring break. They'll be there, even for a person who has missed a couple of weeks and might seem out of touch.

3) They extend belonging and increase the potential for outreach. As the leader of a Sunday School class, your goal is to see irregular attendees become regular. You call an absentee and tell them you missed them on Sunday. You visit a class member in the hospital even if they haven't attended for several weeks. You invite everyone on your roll to the next class social function, including those who show up sporadically. These tactics keep you in touch with folks who might never commit to a weekly small group but have the potential to be developed as more serious followers of Jesus. What better way can you imagine for reaching and keeping the marginally committed?

4) They have enough resources for significant ministry. Dynamic Sunday School classes support missionaries, encourage widows, help new mothers, remodel classrooms, and serve funeral dinners. Because they're larger than a small group, they can more easily raise funds or get up a work crew for any Christian service project that needs accomplished.

5) They develop new leaders. Teachers of midsized groups can recruit table leaders who meet with them during the week to plan the lesson together. Each person leads a different circle of attendees for a portion of the class discussion. Dynamic classes need someone to plan socials and someone to follow-up with absentees and guests. Each of these volunteers learns to lead as the teacher encourages and trains them.

There are many other things to consider with this. So many times "Sunday School" seems old school to people. Rename it "Adult Bible Fellowships" or "Adult Bible Studies". I know that it takes leaders, but imagine the influence. Well-trained leaders, new groups, new meeting places, and hard work are requirements for a successful small group ministry too. I think that churches need both. These is no easy way to reach the lost and disciple the saved, but some methods are more effective than others. A well-executed Sunday School ministry is one of them. My vote is rename and revamp Sunday School, but educate those people in the Word. Watch what God can do when His people are students of the Word.