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Changing Sunday School and Living to Tell About It

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By Doug Fields
9/10/2007

Yea...like I really want to get in the middle of that debate! I don't know you, your church, and/or the history of your Sunday School program. So, without getting too specific, let me make a few comments.

Programs can and should change.

As our world changes, the church has to change methods without changing or compromising its message. New problems require new solutions, and new situations require attitude shifts

Most Sunday school programs are discipleship oriented, which is great...if the audience has Christians. Why do students complain about Sunday school? Because the church is trying to force discipleship on disinterested and non-Christian students.

If you want to help your leaders understand change, help them see change isn't a theological issue (God isn't against change) as much as a sociological problem (people don't like change). Since the biblical purposes are eternal (evangelism, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, worship), the youth ministry programs should adapt when they don't achieve the biblical purposes they're designed for.

For example, Sunday school began as an evangelistic way to teach people how to read. The original idea was to give illiterate people a Bible and a formal education on the one day of the week when they didn't work-Sunday (hence the name Sunday school). Starting Sunday school was a brilliant idea to get people into the church while meeting a social need.

Today in many churches, Sunday school has become a sacred tradition (some refer to it as a sacred cow). Most youth workers couldn't change the format of Sunday school if they brought a written note from Jesus himself. Is Sunday school the problem? No! Please don't misunderstand what I'm trying to communicate. Sunday school is wonderful if it fulfills a biblical purpose and has a target audience.

Most Sunday school programs are discipleship oriented, which is great...if the audience has Christians. Why do students complain about Sunday school? Because the church is trying to force discipleship on disinterested and non-Christian students.

Instead of evaluating and reinventing Sunday school to reach disinterested students, we fight to maintain status quo and confidently proclaim, "Sunday school is for discipleship and we won't change it until the Rapture." Most of the time, this statement shows ignorance of the fact that Sunday school has already changed over the years since evangelism isn't the focus. If you're unwilling to change a program, you soon find it ineffective.

You may want to re-read the last paragraph before you run to your elder board and quote me as being anti-Sunday school. I'm not anti-Sunday school; I'm against continuing the same program year after year without any pause and evaluation. Okay, now you can quote me.

I'm not suggesting I'm right...it's just my thoughts.

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It isn't about marrying the two, it is about a process. A process that starts with attracting Youth and getting them saved. Then moving them into discipleship where they gain knowledge and learn what their spiritual gifts are. Then challenging them to continue to grow and to serve the world around them. Looking at what programs you have and whether they acoomplish our God given task as a church is the key. We are called to make disciples, not to have Sunday School and midweek programs. However we can effectively do that... is what we should do. The cornerstone to figuring it all out is constant prayer and reflection.

James Golden 12:09:27pm on 9/09/2009

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Well Stephen, I dont think you are the only one who struggles with this relationship between sunday and wednesday program. In my church, we gather friday nights, instead of wednesday. Thats our big program. And I try to develop a program oriented in fellowship, fun, and some teaching and small grupo discussions, but considering the kids have been in school for a whole week, I try to make things as informal as they can be. Then, sunday mornings we usually have a more educational approach. It's important, as Doug says, to consider non-christians kids, but I think we can teach the Bible with resources that makes it fun and interesting even to those kids. Get to know your group, and work towards providing them a balance.

Oscar 9:03:09am on 3/27/2009

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I am a new full time youth pastor and I never really grew up with Sunday school. I am divided in my belief as to how a sunday school should or is different from a wednesday evening? I have always believed that the gathering of the local chuch was for the local church to come together and edify each other through the Word and the gifts given by the Holy Spirit, to worship God, and encourage the body, do things that Christians do as redeemed people and enhance their abilities so that they can go out and reach their communities. Wednesday was more of the outreach method when believing students brought their friends who may need to hear they gospel. Any suggestions to marrying these two?

Stephen 12:08:27pm on 8/28/2008

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