As a teacher of the Word of God it is no doubt that you have begun to establish certain beliefs and convictions based upon the Word of God. It is also certain that your biblical beliefs and convictions will guide you in your personal stands and decisions on political issues. As a Sunday School teacher it is also imperative that we create an atmosphere in the classroom in which people of all political parties can hear the gospel and be reached and discipled for Christ. Finding good balance can be difficult, but absolutely necessary, especially during seasons of political emphasis. I hope the following will help us walk this difficult tightrope.
First, we should distinguish between political and moral issues. It is easy to fall into a trap these days. The politician refuses to take a clear stand on an issue because it is considered a “personal moral issue,” while church leaders are afraid to make statements because the issue is considered “political” in nature. Clearly there is a difference between abortion, for example, and how much is spent on the public radio. Every issue is not a deep moral issue. Even well-respected Bible heroes had differing opinions at times and we need to allow for that in our discussions as well.
God has worked through various forms of government for millennia. When Jesus returns, it will not be a democracy or a republic, but a monarchy ruled by the King of kings! He has not specified which American political party is His favorite. The Bible is clear, however, on the value of human life, on honesty, corruption, homo-sexuality, adultery, compassion for widows, etc. When the Bible speaks to these moral issues, we must do likewise.
Second, we should be respectful. We cannot shirk our responsibility to teach what the Bible says about social issues, but we must do so while demonstrating proper respect for those in positions of government authority. The Bible teaches us to have a submissive, respectful spirit for our government leaders whether we voted for them or not! There is no need to tell politically charged jokes in class. We can literally be in violation of Scripture while attempting to defend a biblical cause.
Third, as we teach on sensitive issues, it is important to do so in love and humility. I’m not suggesting the “political correctness” of today’s media needs to be applied to the Sunday School class, but it is important to realize that someone in your class may be dealing with the pain and guilt of a past abortion. Someone in your class may have a close relative that has chosen an immoral lifestyle. It simply is an act of kindness to avoid slang terms that are needlessly offensive when teaching God’s truth on a potentially painful topic.
Finally, it is also important that our church is not seen as endorsing a certain candidate for office. The mission of the church is to reach and disciple people for Christ, not to promote a political ideology. In addition, there are laws in place that threaten our tax-exempt status if we practice such political endorsements. We can provide comparisons on the issues, but we cannot endorse the candidate. Throughout Bible times, Believers learned to deal with various forms and practices of government without compromising the message, and we need to do the same today.
For me the biggest issue is evangelism. As we teach the class God has entrusted to us, we want everyone in attendance to know that we are there to learn God’s Word and deepen our relationship with Him. It is certain that some will want to talk politics at times, but it really isn’t that difficult to get the class back on track when the people hear a gentle reminder of what we are really there to do. We want everyone to know our Lord Jesus Christ regardless of their political preferences and we as teachers are responsible to “keep the main thing, the main thing!”
Monday, October 31, 2011
Monday, October 17, 2011
Sharing the Gospel in Your Sunday School Class
A mother was teaching her daughter how to cook a roast one day. She prepared the roasting pan, heated the oven, prepared the meat and then cut off an inch or so off each end of the roast and placed it in the large pan. The daughter asked, “Why do you have to cut a little off each end of the meat like that?” The mother said, “I really don’t know. I’ll have to ask your grandmother.”
During the next family reunion the mom and daughter asked grandmother why they had to cut a little off the roast before cooking it. Grandma replied, “I don’t know. My mom taught me to do that to my roasts and I never knew why. Let’s go ask her.” So they all gathered around the great-grandmother who was taking it easy in a lawn chair. They asked the question they all were curious about. The great-grandmother chuckled and replied, “Well I used to always cut off the ends so the roast would fit in my little roasting pan. It was always an inch or two too short it seemed. I don’t do it anymore because roasting pans are a lot bigger nowadays!”
Well, I guess it is easy to get trapped into doing things a certain way, even when we really don’t know why. I have heard of churches that only give an invitation on Easter and during the fall revival. I suspect that if you asked why, you might get a “roasting pan” kind of answer. Well, here is a question I want us to consider—why don’t we give an invitation in our Sunday School classes? It only makes sense that in our classes, third grade through adulthood, we would occasionally present the gospel and give some kind of invitation to trust Christ.
I think it would be a good rule of thumb to share the gospel and lead the class in a sinner’s prayer at least once a quarter. Usually there is at least one lesson that really focuses on having a personal relationship with Christ. Why not present the gospel, give your personal testimony and lead your class in a prayer to invite Jesus into their lives? It certainly wouldn’t hurt saved people to hear the gospel again, and the lost people in your class need to be challenged to trust Christ.
When sharing the gospel you can share five simple truths. First explain that God loves them (John 3:16). Then explain the problem of sin (Romans 3:23 and 6:23). Third, explain that Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross is God’s solution to our sin problem (Romans 5:8). After that, explain that everyone needs to personally repent of their sin and place their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 3:19 and Ephesians 2:9-10). Finally, encourage them to call upon the Lord to save them. (Romans 10:13). After you lead them in a simply prayer of faith, encourage those who trusted Christ to go forward during the church service and share what they have done with the pastor. You don’t have to put any one person on the spot; you simply offer the information as a reminder to the entire class. You could even use a tract for the entire class and afterwards, encourage them to share it with someone in the next 48 hours. Tracts are available in the foyer.
Even if you think that all your attenders are saved, it would be a good thing for you to present the gospel in this way. Your attenders will know that you care about them and the spiritual condition of the people in the class, and they will see and hear you model how easy it is to lead others to Christ. They may even wish to use your example as they witness to their friends, family and neighbors. As Sunday School teachers, we are concerned about the salvation of our enrollees and prospects. Of course, we will offer an invitation during the worship service as we always do. But your gospel focus in the classroom is extremely important—even if it has always been done another way.
During the next family reunion the mom and daughter asked grandmother why they had to cut a little off the roast before cooking it. Grandma replied, “I don’t know. My mom taught me to do that to my roasts and I never knew why. Let’s go ask her.” So they all gathered around the great-grandmother who was taking it easy in a lawn chair. They asked the question they all were curious about. The great-grandmother chuckled and replied, “Well I used to always cut off the ends so the roast would fit in my little roasting pan. It was always an inch or two too short it seemed. I don’t do it anymore because roasting pans are a lot bigger nowadays!”
Well, I guess it is easy to get trapped into doing things a certain way, even when we really don’t know why. I have heard of churches that only give an invitation on Easter and during the fall revival. I suspect that if you asked why, you might get a “roasting pan” kind of answer. Well, here is a question I want us to consider—why don’t we give an invitation in our Sunday School classes? It only makes sense that in our classes, third grade through adulthood, we would occasionally present the gospel and give some kind of invitation to trust Christ.
I think it would be a good rule of thumb to share the gospel and lead the class in a sinner’s prayer at least once a quarter. Usually there is at least one lesson that really focuses on having a personal relationship with Christ. Why not present the gospel, give your personal testimony and lead your class in a prayer to invite Jesus into their lives? It certainly wouldn’t hurt saved people to hear the gospel again, and the lost people in your class need to be challenged to trust Christ.
When sharing the gospel you can share five simple truths. First explain that God loves them (John 3:16). Then explain the problem of sin (Romans 3:23 and 6:23). Third, explain that Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross is God’s solution to our sin problem (Romans 5:8). After that, explain that everyone needs to personally repent of their sin and place their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 3:19 and Ephesians 2:9-10). Finally, encourage them to call upon the Lord to save them. (Romans 10:13). After you lead them in a simply prayer of faith, encourage those who trusted Christ to go forward during the church service and share what they have done with the pastor. You don’t have to put any one person on the spot; you simply offer the information as a reminder to the entire class. You could even use a tract for the entire class and afterwards, encourage them to share it with someone in the next 48 hours. Tracts are available in the foyer.
Even if you think that all your attenders are saved, it would be a good thing for you to present the gospel in this way. Your attenders will know that you care about them and the spiritual condition of the people in the class, and they will see and hear you model how easy it is to lead others to Christ. They may even wish to use your example as they witness to their friends, family and neighbors. As Sunday School teachers, we are concerned about the salvation of our enrollees and prospects. Of course, we will offer an invitation during the worship service as we always do. But your gospel focus in the classroom is extremely important—even if it has always been done another way.
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