The Rubber Band Lesson

I heard about a pastor who had all the ushers hand out rubber bands one Sunday morning before the church service. Some people asked what they were for and the ushers simply responded that the pastor asked them to be handed out. That morning the pastor spoke on the dangers of being comfortable with the status quo and the need for growth in one’s personal life as well as growth in the church. As he concluded his message he called attention to the rubber bands that they had been given. He asked for people to share the various uses of a rubber band. As the people gave various examples one clear conclusion began to emerge: Rubber bands are only useful when they are stretched. That is true of people as well.

The Bible is full of examples of people who were stretch by God to do things they never imagined themselves doing. Abram was told to leave the comforts of home and family and go to a land he had not yet seen. Moses was led by God to return to Egypt to face the Pharaoh and lead the people of Israel out of slavery. Peter, James and John were stretched when Jesus called them to leave their fishing nets to follow Him. Even the Apostle Paul was constantly striving to “press toward the mark” knowing he always had room to grow and develop into the man God wanted him to be.

Many people do not want to stretch. They are happy to be in the relaxed, non-useful positions of life. They like the course of least resistance. I read recently that 42% of college graduates never read another book after graduation. That seems to be an amazing lack of motivation toward personal growth. I can’t imagine going to a surgeon who had such a lack of interest in the latest procedures and methods. The big problem with not stretching and growing is that it leads to real dissatisfaction in life. Some of the unhappiest people in the world are those who have settled for being less than God created them to be. I think the same is true for churches and other Christian ministries.

Growth stops when we lose the tension between where we are and where we could be. If we have no intention of be better tomorrow than we were today, then why do we need tomorrow? In athletics, an entire team is benefited when an individual team member gets stronger and more skilled. The same is true for a church. As each teacher grows and becomes an even better teacher, it benefits the entire church and the cause of Christ. When a church loses its zeal to reach and disciple more people, it is doomed for an eventual death and it loses its usefulness to the Lord.

Stretching always requires risk and change. Growth does not occur by staying in your comfort zone. Joshua would have never led the people into the Promised Land if he was satisfied living east of the Jordan River. David would have never become king if he had been content playing his harp on the hillside with a few dozen sheep. First Baptist would not exist today if its founders were comfortable with a handful of people meeting in the town hall building and one adult Sunday School class.

Henry Blackaby said, “You cannot stay where you are and go with God.” God is always leading us forward and upward. If we are coasting downhill, we can be sure we are going the wrong direction and we have stopped following God’s dreams to pursue something else. It’s a little risky to go out on a limb, but that is where the best fruit is. So keep on stretching!

Humble and Proud of it?

If you received a plaque for being a humble person, would you hang it on your wall? That’s a funny thought to wrestle with a while. Humility as such an important character quality to develop as a teacher of God’s Word. But, how can we learn humility in the midst of this world’s focus on self-esteem and trophies for everyone? We are taught early on to love ourselves and we expect to be praised for our efforts. Aren’t we supposed to be “proud of ourselves?”

One of Christianity’s greatest teachers, the Apostle Paul, had some personal battles with pride because of the great revelations God had given him. It really is easy to become proud of how much Bible we know. We get “puffed up” and start condemning and correcting others on sight—not a pretty picture of a successful Sunday School teacher. In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul explains that through his “thorn in the flesh,” he learned to boast in his weakness so that God’s power would rest upon him. We learn that with great humility comes spiritual power, so how do we cooperate with the Lord in developing humility? Here are some thoughts to consider.

A healthy focus on the awesomeness of God produces humility. The greatness of an ocean, the fierceness of a tornado and the vastness of space, are all reminders of how small we really are in the face of His real power. As we study the abilities of God to orchestrate time and history to fulfill His purposes, we gain a sense of how awesome He is. As He increases in our own thoughts and experiences, we decrease, squelching our pride and teaching us to be humble.

Understanding that everything you are and everything you have are gifts from God and others will also produce humility in our lives. No one is a self-made man or woman. An old Chinese proverb says, “Those who drink the water must remember those who dug the well.” Remembering that, will help us develop a spirit of gratefulness for the things that God and others have done for us. We have been influenced by teachers, relatives, and mentors all along the way. Parents loved and sacrificed for us, pastors have taught and led us, and God has provided the very air we breathe. I like to keep a stack of thank you notes in my desk—not just to affirm others, but also to remind myself that I would be nothing if others had not invested in my life and counted me worthy of their personal sacrifices.

A commitment to being a life-long learner will help us learn humility. I love watching new Christians grow in Christ. They are like sponges, absorbing spiritual truth. They know they have a lot to learn and they aren’t ashamed to ask questions. They don’t put on the pretense that they have figured it all out or have it all together. That teachable spirit is something we never want to lose. We would do well to remember that an “ex-spurt” is a has-been who is a drip under pressure! I don’t ever want to be an expert! I always want to be an apprentice who is learning from the Master and others. A teachable spirit will be especially tested when we fall under criticism. Our openness to our sincere critics is a real demonstration of humility.

Developing a servant’s spirit will help us grow in humility. It is difficult to really focus on meeting someone else’s needs and desires without thinking about what we will get in return. It does not come to us naturally, but it is the best expression of Christ-like love. Probably the most difficult part of being a servant is when people treat you like one. But in the process of developing a servant’s heart, we become more like Jesus. That is the real goal of humility—to be more like Him.

What Every Teacher Needs: Personal Character

There are at least four areas in which every teacher needs to keep growing. We need to grow in the Word, in our people skills and in our communication skills. Today, we focus on the fourth area—the need to keep growing in personal character.

In spite of what politicians and media types might say, we all know that character really does matter, especially as it relates to church leaders. As Sunday School teachers, we know that what we teach is critically important. We also know that we teach with more than our words alone. The character of our lives teaches so much and goes beyond an hour on Sunday morning. So how do we make sure we keep growing in the area of our character? Here are some thoughts.

First, character is developed as we spend consistent, personal time alone with God. In Mark 1:35 we see the example of Jesus spending His “quiet time” with God. Following that time alone with the Father, Jesus made critical decisions, faced major spiritual battles and ministered to people in need. As a Sunday School Teacher, you are also making decisions on the direction you will take with your lesson, you are fighting spiritual battles, and you are ministering to people. If Jesus needed time alone with the Father as He started His day, it is quite apparent that we do as well. In the process of spending this time with God, we grow in our spiritual character.

Second, spiritual character is developed through personal surrender to the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Those nine qualities look a lot like the qualities we identify with Christian character. It is clear that the Spirit of God indwelling each believer produces this kind of fruit; so, in order for us to bear this kind of fruit, we must live in surrender to His control, enablement and influence.

Third, spiritual character is developed as we grow through the trials of life. We all know that “God uses all things together” for the good of those who love Him. At least part of that “good” is that we are “conformed to the image of His Son.” (See Romans 8:28-29) God uses even the sorrowful and difficult experiences of life to grow us and shape our character as He chips away those things that are unlike His Son. Our response to Him in those situations is to cooperate with His process of molding us into the image of Christ in our character. God is much more interested in our personal character than He is our personal comfort. At times He will sacrifice our comfort to strengthen our faith and our character.

Forth, Spiritual Character is developed as we deliberately study and seek to apply character qualities to our lives. One thing we can do is study the lives of those in the Bible who displayed the character traits we desire in our lives. For example, if I need to grow in the area of encouragement, I can study the life of Barnabas in the Bible. If I need to grow in the area of forgiveness, I can study the life of Joseph in the Old Testament. If I need to grow in boldness, I can study the life of Peter after the Holy Spirit comes in power in Acts 2. I can also read the biographies of great Christians to help me learn certain character traits. For example, Billy Graham’s life teaches volumes about integrity and humility and there are several biographies I can read. As I read about the life of Lottie Moon, I learn about conviction and loving, personal sacrifice for the gospel. This kind of deliberate study can help us on our way to character development and allows us to be proactive in our pursuit of holiness and godliness.

What Every Teacher Needs: Commenication Skills

There are four key areas in which every Sunday School teacher needs to keep growing. We have focused on Biblical Accuracy (Doctrinal Integrity) and People Skills. Today, I would like to focus our attention on the third skill that relates to communication. Nearly every teacher uses words to communicate, but really, we communicate much more with our attitudes, gestures, inflections and other non-verbal ways. I hope the following insights will help us to sharpen our skills in this vital area.

Good communication always begins with listening. We tend to think the opposite—that good communication starts with how we express ourselves. But communication implies that two or more people are interacting in the process of sharing thoughts and ideas with one another. To “share” requires that I listen to the other person’s words and vocal inflections and watch for body language and facial expressions. God gave us two ears and two eyes but only one mouth! That, in itself, may be a good indicator as to how important listening is to the communication process.

Good communication focuses on building good relationships. A church is only as strong as its relationships. As a Sunday School Teacher, your greatest opportunity for life-impact is more likely to come from the relationships you develop with those in your class than your teaching, even on your most profound Sundays. We aren’t just dispensing information—a good video can do that! We are building relationships which requires effort and a focus on the other person. To communicate well with the members of your class will require that you understand their struggles, their passions, what brings them fulfillment and what brings them joy. It is much easier to win a friend to Christ than it is an enemy. It is also much easier to disciple and teach someone whom you know and love and have a strong bond.

Good communication skills are just like the traits of genuine love. First Corinthians 13 is known as the love chapter in the Bible. I would like to suggest that it also is a great passage on the art of good communication. Good communication requires patience and kindness. That is how we learn to really listen to the heart of the other person. Patience and kindness allow us to focus on drawing out the deeper thoughts of a person’s soul with good questions rather than just forcing our ideas and thoughts upon others.

Good communication requires that we are not jealous of letting the other person talk more than we do. It means that we are not so proud and arrogant that we think our personal thoughts are more important than theirs. Good communicators are not rude to others. They do not seek only their own agenda. Good communicators are not easily pulled into argumentation. They do rejoice to share truth, they are truthful as they speak, and they focus on that which is righteous and good. Good communication, like genuine love, bears with people, believes in people, hopes in people and endures with people even when they are less than loving in return.

The opposite of love is self-centeredness and indifference toward the other person. That is also the opposite of good communication. Communication is much more than using good stories and explaining word meanings. It is demonstrating genuine love to the people you hope to influence to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus was the greatest communicator who ever lived. He also demonstrated the greatest love of anyone who has ever lived. May God help us learn good communication from our Lord as we seek to deepen such a vital skill.

What Every Teacher Needs: People Skills

We have been thinking together about several key areas in which every teacher needs to keep growing. These areas are vital to success in your ministry as a Sunday School Teacher. The first area is biblical accuracy or doctrinal integrity. A second need for every teacher is to develop strong people skills. One major hurdle in learning better people skills is realizing that we may need to grow in this area. People with poor people skills usually do not realize they have a problem! It is clear that this comes more easily for some than it does others. But it is also clear that we all can and should seek to grow in this important area.

Before we can grow in people skills, I think we must accept the fact that this is a spiritual issue. Just as surely as our love for God is a spiritual issue, our ability to love others is a spiritual issue as well. The passage that admonishes us to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, also tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves. People skills are really practical ways that we demonstrate our love for others. When you think about it, the fruit of the Spirit referred to in Galatians 5:22-23, helps us focus on nine traits that help us to love others by the power of the Spirit in us. It is the Spirit of God that enables us to demonstrate those characteristics. It really is a spiritual issue and those people skills are developed best on a spiritual level.

Acquiring people skills requires that we learn empathy. Empathy is the ability to see the perspective of the other person. It is putting ourselves in the other person’s shoes. The Bible says, “Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them…” (Matthew 7:12 HCSB). This “do unto others” idea is empathy. You can ask, “If I were new to this class and insecure about my reading, would I want to read a difficult Bible passage in front of a room full of people I hardly know?” Or you can ask yourself, “If I were a first time visitor attending my class today, where would I sit, how would I want to be treated, or what would make me feel most comfortable?” Or you might ask yourself, “If I were 13 years old and already a very self-conscious adolescent, would I want the teacher to call attention to my lateness or my wet hair or the fact that I forgot to bring a Bible?” The devil is already at work trying to disturb the minds of lost and inactive people. Our ability to show empathy gives him one less thing to cause them to stumble.

Demonstrating sensitivity and kindness to others is a Christian norm that enhances people skills. On occasion I have run into a church leader who thought it was spiritual to make harsh, rude, insensitive remarks to others. These leaders often imagine themselves to be following the pattern of prophets of old who confronted idolaters and pagans who sacrificed their own children to a false god. They use the same zeal to rebuke people in their Sunday School class over things that are much less offensive. I have seen pastors who “grew” their churches from 200 members to 60 in a very short period of time using such tactics. I have seen Sunday School teachers who emptied out their Sunday School classes using the class time as an opportunity to comment on dress, or on a Bible translation, or a political issue or some gray area of behavior. When people left or stopped attending they blamed it on the Last Days or on the “fact” that the people were too immature to handle the “meat of the Word” they were teaching. In reality, their insensitivity and lack of people skills revealed the fact that they should not have been trusted with church leadership. Developing greater sensitivity toward others does not come naturally to our human nature, but it is vital to success in our ministry as Sunday School teachers.

What Every Teacher Needs: Doctrinal Integrity

One valuable ingredient to successful Bible teaching is for the teacher to have solid biblical doctrines firmly in place. Imagine a teacher who wasn’t sure if Jesus was born of a virgin; or a teacher that felt the resurrection was not that important an issue. Heresy is dangerous for so many reasons and doctrinal integrity is so valuable and necessary for the church to experience God’s blessing. Having our doctrine correct is vital to our success as teachers.

Imagine a teacher who conducts a class by saying, “Let’s just go around the room and share what each person thinks this passage means.” The problem to such an approach should be obvious. First, no one is accountable for inaccurate or false teaching and second, this approach may simply be a pooling of the ignorance people might have concerning the Bible.

Or let’s suppose a teacher starts a class by saying, “I found a book that spoke about this passage and it said…” Here there could also be a problem. The book may be full of teaching that is inconsistent with the Bible and the fundamental doctrines of the church. What if the book is published by Watch Tower, the publication house for the Jehovah’s Witnesses? Again, the problem with this approach to teaching should be obvious.

Suppose another teacher says, “I know what this passage says, but I just don’t see God the way He is portrayed here.” The teacher is elevating his thoughts above God’s Word. This is a very small, unbiblical view of inspiration and the inaccuracy of his Bible teaching could cause great damage to a Sunday School class and even the church. The teacher may think he is being intelligent and a free thinker, but he is sowing destructive seeds with such an approach.

When Jesus addresses the seven churches in Revelation, it is clear that the doctrinal purity of the church is of vital importance to Him. It is clear that the Lord is concerned about doctrinal integrity. We should also share this concern and do our part to make sure our church is resting upon the rock-solid foundation of God’s Word and our teaching conveys our Lord’s priorities.

In 1 Timothy 4:1-6, the Apostle Paul shares three very important reasons that our Bible teaching must be biblically sound. The first reason is the potential of a shipwrecked life. I know a young man brought up in the church by a Christian mother. He was at church whenever the doors were opened for a public gathering. Today his life is spiritually shipwrecked. He has bought into vain philosophies he heard in college and he has turned his back on the Lord. What we believe matters! Belief in false doctrines leads a person to spiritual shipwreck.

Paul also speaks of the intense attacks of Satan. We are in a spiritual battle and a weak understanding of the fundamental doctrines of the Bible can make a person very vulnerable to the enemy. There are many deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons still in our day. The fact that cults often take a good percentage of their membership from established churches, should burden every Bible teacher. This danger alone should motivate us to pursue doctrinal integrity.

Thirdly, Paul states that sound doctrine is vital to help Believers to have stability and steady growth in the Christian life. If we build our worldview on anything other than the Bible, we are indeed on shifting sand and have a terrible foundation for life. Christians with an inaccurate understanding of basic Bible doctrines will also have difficulty growing into a spiritually mature follower of Jesus. If the Great Commission is our purpose, doctrinal integrity is a priority.

Advice on Giving Advice

In the Book of Job we find the man Job surrounded by his “friends” during his time of calamity. Their presence is no doubt a comfort to Job until that fateful moment when they decide to offer him some advice on why he was facing the trials he was experiencing. As we teach the Word of God, it will not be unusual for people to want to hear our advice or counsel. Perhaps the following thoughts will be helpful as you consider how God might use you in this way.

Before offering counsel, be sure you are the right person to give it. Jesus had an encounter with a man in Luke 12:13 who wanted Him to settle a family inheritance issue. Jesus responded with a question, “Who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” Jesus did not offer to counsel the man or give him advice because there were other people responsible to do so. As we work with people, we may find that a parent, church official or even a lawyer is the best one to give the counsel needed. It is human nature to attempt to get people on “our side” of a dispute. Be careful not to get pulled into a situation where someone wants to use you to referee their fight.

It is also good to not offer advice to someone who is not emotionally ready to receive it. If you are generally a caring, sensitive person, you may be especially tempted to start giving advice when it is not really called for. Probably the best way to be sure your advice is wanted is to wait for the person to ask you! Even then, be careful. If you are walking away from a cemetery where a person has just buried a loved one and they ask, “Why does God allow such pain in the world?” the person is probably not really ready for you to try to answer that question.

I read about a well-known pastor whose wife was in the hospital with cancer. The hospital chaplain, who was normally very sensitive, I’m sure, no doubt recognized the pastor. The chaplain prayed and as he left the room he said, “Well, keep a stiff upper lip.” The pastor wrote, “I wanted to give him a stiff upper lip!” The chaplain may have felt intimidated or wasn’t sure what to say to a fellow minister, but his “advice” seemed trite and insensitive. The prayer for comfort and healing was appreciated, but the advice was not. The timing of the comment was simply not right. The pastor was not emotionally ready to receive advice and didn’t ask for it!

Another mistake in giving advice is assuming we have all the answers. Especially when a person is suffering, it is a huge mistake to assume we know the reason why. I may be able to give a general theological answer as to why there is suffering in the world, but it would be foolish for me to assume I know why a particular person is suffering. Frankly, the more severe the crisis, the less we really need to say. Our presence, a listening ear and a sincere prayer is all that is really needed at such a time. Even if I think I know that a person’s personal sin is directly related to their crisis, it would be best to keep it to myself, even if I am convinced I’m right. I once witnessed a funeral for a 10 year-old that was killed as he and his cousin were playing with a gun. The preacher used part of his sermon to give grieving parents advice on gun safety! The advice may have been good in another setting, but that was not the time to be the “answer-man.”

As the people in your class seek out counsel, be sure your advice is biblical and consistent with the spirit of Christ. He understands suffering, conflict and trials like no other. Our goal in giving counsel is that people would encounter Him as they seek answers to the issues of life from the pages and principles of God’s Word. Jesus isn’t just the “Answer-Man”—He is the answer!

Developing Good Illustrations

Once a pastor stepped out during the Sunday School hour for a breath of fresh air to find a teacher and her class of three-year-olds running through the grass, holding paper streamers over their heads. The teacher continued to shout, “God made the wind! Boys and girls, God made the wind!” There is a teacher who understands the need to illustrate a point in her Bible teaching.

No matter the age range of your class, there is an obvious need to illustrate the Bible truths you are teaching. Illustrations are windows that allow your students to see into the truth you are trying to communicate. We want our people to remember what we teach them. They are much more likely to remember a story or object lesson, so teachers know they must illustrate! Here are a few thoughts to consider.

The more of the five senses you can use in an illustration, the better. Many people think of illustrations as stories a speaker uses to drive home a point. Of course a good story told by a good story teller can be very effective, but that method of illustrating only uses the sense of hearing. Imagine how much more effective an illustration becomes when you use other senses. You may use a visual to show the size of a mustard seed in relation to other seeds. You could even drop one seed into the hands of your audience and allow them to see and feel it. You might even find various pictures that could show the development of the mustard seed into a large plant. As more of the senses are used, the more likely your point will be remembered.

One teacher actually lit up a small propane torch in class to illustrate to adults how words can be used to scorch and burn the lives of others. You know he had their attention! A youth teacher regularly video tapes himself in humorous roles or uses the “man on the street” approach of interviewing people to illustrate major points of the lesson. Children’s teachers will frequently use various kinds of foods to illustrate a Bible truth such as heart-shaped cookies to illustrate love or fish-shaped crackers to remind the children of a particular Bible story. Preschool teachers will select specific toys for the children or decorate the room in a certain way to help them illustrate a Bible thought. The point is that an illustration can be so much more than a story or quote you found in a book.

The more fresh and creative the illustration is, the better. Using a Shakespeare quote may be very effective in some settings, but having the class use a lump of clay to form an object that is often related to temptation, maybe better. Reading an illustration out of one of Chuck Swindoll’s books may be fine, but it might be better to offer the class copies of the local news paper and then tell them to find stories that demonstrate moral failure. Sharing what you heard a radio preacher say one time may communicate your point, but having the class-members act out a scene from the gospels might leave a greater impact, simply because it is more memorable.

The more you vary your illustrative methods, the better. Use video one week and try drama the next. Use case studies one Sunday and then try a craft project the next. It doesn’t take long for a certain method to become dry and predictable. The more you vary your approach to illustrating the Bible, the more likely the class is to remember what you are teaching. It takes a lot of work to come up with good ways of illustrating God’s Word. But remember that boredom is one of the greatest enemies of the Sunday School lesson, and illustrations are one of the most effective weapons against it.

Developing Major Points for Your Lesson

The human body needs a skeleton to give it structure and strength. In the same way every Bible study lesson needs some kind of structure to help the teacher deliver the body of material he or she is presenting. Here are some thoughts on developing those main thoughts or teaching points.

First we must be sure our major thoughts are based upon the text we are teaching. Have you ever listened to someone talk, and you were certain that you knew what they were about to say before they finished their sentence? If you were hasty, you might even cut them off and finish the thought for them, only to find out, that they were not saying what you thought they were. Have you ever listened to someone share a thought and later find out that you took their comment entirely different than they intended? Communication can truly be a difficult task.

As we read and study the Bible it is easy to read our thoughts into a passage. We may even find ourselves teaching an idea that the text does not intend at all. One time I was developing a sermon that was focused on the phrase that is repeated in Isaiah stating, “His hand is stretched out still.” My first thoughts were that of a compassionate God who was still reaching out to receive His hurting children. After further study, I discovered that the phrase actually referred to God’s hand of judgment being stretched out over a stubborn nation of rebellious children. I was about to teach the text incorrectly due to reading my thoughts into the text. I cringe at the thought of misrepresenting God’s Word in such a way. This is why proper study of the text is essential before we completely develop our major thoughts or points that we wish to teach. It is very easy for us to read our thoughts into a Bible text.

Second, teaching points need to be clear and understandable. Be sure your points are on the correct age-level for your pupils. Even in adult classes you need to assume your students have not studied as much as you have. Someone has said that a scholar can make simple truths sound complicated, but a good communicator can make complicated truths sound simple. Go for simple—strive to be a good communicator who happens to be a little scholarly as well.

Have you ever walked away from the doctor’s office or a mechanic’s garage scratching your head because he uses terms you do not use every day? Every profession has its own lingo. Sunday School teachers can get accustomed to using “churchy” words as well. Be sure the main points are easy to understand as you prepare your lesson.

Third, consider making your main points statements of action or dynamic life principles. Some teachers are very accustomed to using a teaching outline like we learned in high school speech class. We might outline the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15:1-34 using, 1) The Reason for the Council; 2) The Reports during the Council; 3) The Resolution from the Council. Many teachers and preachers, however, are enjoying using an outline that is more application driven, such as, 1) When disagreements arise among believers, we need to work hard to find God’s solutions; 2) Really listening to people who walk closely with Christ can bring resolution to a conflict; 3) Finding God’s solution to a conflict brings great reward and encouragement. A more principle driven outline can also be useful, such as, 1) A growing church is not free of difficulties; 2) Solutions to conflict are biblical and center on the needs of people; 3) When addressing conflict, stay focused on grace. However you choose to word your main points, make sure your statements are easy to remember and to apply to the lives of your people.

Responding to a Tragedy as a Sunday School Leader

Our hearts are broken for the families who lost children and loved ones this month in Newtown, Connecticut. We pray for them as well as for government leaders, first responders, the local church leaders and the school teachers and workers who have been involved in helping the people of that community.

Sunday School teachers can fulfill a special calling in such a moment of tragedy. We carry the burden and the privilege of teaching and speaking into people’s lives in moments of pain, loss, and confusion. Leaders in Bible times often shared a word from the Lord that was appropriate to the crisis at hand and we will often have a similar ministry. Let me offer some do’s and don’ts for you to consider as the people in your class respond to such unimaginable tragedies.

Do pray publically for those who have experienced the grief firsthand as well as those who are trying to make sense of things in your class. Include yourself in the prayer—being careful not to give the impression that you are above feeling the pain associated with the crisis.

Don’t try to turn it into a political issue or use it as an opportunity to share your pet peeves and opinions. We cheapen the deaths of the victims with such rants. This isn’t the time for getting on the soapbox.

Do listen to the expressions of hurt and the emotions that are being shared. Allow there to be moments of tears. Also listen carefully to the questions that are being asked—especially the children. With children, give brief short answers. Be careful not to over answer their questions with long theological explanations. They really just want assurance and hope--so do the adults.

Don’t use the crisis as a way of scaring people into a spiritual decision. Such decisions are generally superficial and based on the emotion of the moment rather than a real conversion or renewal. Certainly we are always ready to respond to a sincere seeker no matter when they come to us, but using a tragedy to manipulate someone is not likely a method the Lord would approve.

Do assure people that our church does have security precautions in place to help protect people while they are here. We have a person who is the director of church security. The halls are monitored regularly and the doors are either locked or they are manned during Sunday School and worship.

Don’t pretend to have all the answers. It is proper to explain that there is evil in the world and that evil happens because people refuse to let God control and direct their lives. But we should not pretend that we know why this incident happened to these people in this town. Remind them that this was not from God and that He is not responsible for bad things that happen to innocent people.

Do continue on with the teaching of your lesson. You can discern if you need to give the class a little more time than usual for prayer and interaction, but God’s Word has an amazing way of providing comfort and insight that we may have never imagined. I am constantly amazed at how God will allow His Word to speak to each individual in our congregation in ways I never expected when I was preparing the message. The Holy Spirit is so good at taking the lesson you prepared and causing it to speak to each person’s individual needs—trust Him with that.

The Power of a Leader's Kindness

In Phoenix, Arizona, a 26-year-old mother stared down at her six year-old son, who was dying of terminal leukemia. Like any parent, she wanted her son to grow up and fulfill all his dreams—now that was no longer possible. The leukemia would see to that. But she still wanted her son's dream to come true. She took her son's hand and asked, “Billy, did you ever think about what you wanted to be once you grew up? Did you ever dream and wish what you would do with your life?” Billy said, “Mommy, I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up.” Mom smiled back and said, “Let's see if we can make your wish come true.”

Later that day she went to her local fire Department in Phoenix, Arizona, where she met Fireman Bob. She explained her son's final wish and asked if it might be possible to give her six year-old son a ride around the block on a fire engine. Fireman Bob said, “Look, we can do better than that. If you'll have your son ready at seven o'clock Wednesday morning, we'll make him an Honorary Fireman for the whole day. He can come down to the fire station, eat with us, go out on all the fire calls, the whole nine yards! And if you'll give us his sizes, we'll get a real fire uniform for him, with a real fire hat—not a toy one—with the emblem of the Phoenix Fire Department on it, a yellow slicker like we wear and rubber boots. They're all manufactured right here in Phoenix, so we can get them fast.”

Three days later Fireman Bob picked up Billy, dressed him in his uniform and escorted him from his hospital bed to the waiting hook and ladder truck. Billy got to sit on the back of the truck and help steer it back to the fire station. He was overjoyed. There were three fire calls in Phoenix that day and Billy got to go out on all three calls. He rode in the different fire engines, the emergency squad, and even the Fire Chief's car. He was also videotaped for the local news.

Having his dream come true with all the love and attention that was lavished upon him, Billy was so deeply touched that he lived three months longer than any doctor thought possible. One night, however, all of his vital signs began to drop dramatically and the head nurse began to call the family members to the hospital. Then she remembered the day Billy had spent as a Fireman, so she called the Fire Chief and asked if it would be possible to send a fireman in uniform to the hospital to be with Billy as he made his transition. The chief replied, “We can do better than that. We'll be there in five minutes. Will you please do me a favor? When you hear the sirens and see the lights flashing, will you announce over the PA system that there is not a fire? It's the department coming to see one of its finest members one more time. And will you open the window to his room?”

About five minutes later a hook and ladder truck arrived at the hospital and extended its ladder up to Billy's third floor open window. Sixteen fire-fighters climbed up the ladder into Billy's room! With his mother's permission, they hugged him and held him and told him how much they loved him. With his dying breath, Billy looked up at the fire chief and said, “Chief am I a real fireman now?” The chief said, “Billy, you are, and The Head Chief, Jesus, is holding your hand.”

The kindness of a leader in a person’s life can bring amazing joy and have a profound influence. You may not realize it, but as a Sunday School teacher, you may have that kind of influence over the people in your class. Your encouraging words and acts of kindness can touch a life deeply.

Why be Part of a "Denomination?"

Perhaps you heard about the lady who went to the bank to have a large check cashed. The teller went through some of the usual questions when cashing a large check. “May I see your driver’s license?” she asked. “Can you confirm your social security number?” the teller continued. After several such questions the teller finally asked, “What denominations would you like?” The lady responded, “Just one—I’m Baptist!”

I am part of a generation that regularly questioned “the establishment.” It is no surprise then that such an attitude has impacted the church today. Many Christians today have somehow gotten the idea that being part of a denomination is less spiritual or un-cool. They view the denomination as an impersonal institution that drains resources and provides little in return. They don’t see the value in being affiliated with other churches of like faith through a denomination.

Technically, Southern Baptists are not a denomination—we are a convention. We do not have a top-down structure. Each of our churches is independent and self-governing. We share a common confession of faith, but the only creed we embrace is the Bible itself. We see value in voluntarily cooperating together as individual churches for the sake of the kingdom of God. Being a part of the Southern Baptist Convention provides three things we think are important.

First, being Baptist gives us an identity that people can relate to. People know that being Baptist means that we believe the Bible is the foundation for what we believe and how we live. We do not base our beliefs on traditions or someone’s experience or what is most popular at the time. Being Baptist means we believe each congregation is self-governing and does not submit itself to any overseer but Christ Himself. It means that we are committed to voluntarily cooperating with like-minded churches in mission endeavors to take the gospel to the world.

Second, being part of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) makes resources, training and personnel available to us. We have regional Association and State Convention staff members who are committed to serving churches like ours. These ministers have expertise, experiences and wisdom to share that help strengthen local congregations and assist them in being on mission with God. In addition, our convention provides ministry resources through LifeWay Christian Resources as well as other agencies within our convention.

Third, being SBC allows us to take part in the world’s greatest missions program. We support thousands of missionaries in various places around the world. Some of these missionaries are nearby, some are in North America, some are overseas and some are in the remotest parts of the earth sharing Christ, planting new churches and strengthening believers. By supporting these missionaries cooperatively as we do, we can provide a steady, dependable income for the missionaries themselves, and also resources for the work they are doing.

No one I know of believes that Baptist are the only ones who believe the Bible and believe in missions. There are many Bible-believing churches and organizations in the world and we are happy to be part of God’s universal church made up of all those who have professed the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. But there is value in being a Baptist. As we combine our Bible-based theology with our form of church government and our cooperative missions strategy, we are a unique group of Christians. It is an identity and a heritage we humbly embrace.

Going Deeper in our Bible Teaching—Part Two

What does it mean to “go deeper” in our teaching. We know it isn’t using big words or excessive details. It isn’t teaching a seminar-type lesson with a few proof-texts thrown in to make it sound spiritual. It isn’t being mystical or using syrupy emotionalism. It isn’t forced symbolism or spiritualizing a text to say something it was not intended to say. But what does it mean? Let me offer a few thoughts on the subject.

Going deeper is meeting with Jesus and allowing Him to transform our lives. It is reading and teaching the text with the intent of having an encounter with Him. It is expecting and experiencing Him speak to us through the Bible passage. It is helping our class members to see Jesus Christ and the overall redemptive plan of God to save those who call upon the Lord in faith. As Jesus speaks to us from the passage it will almost certainly result in a change of motivation, thinking and/or behavior in our lives. As Jesus speaks through His Word, it will almost certainly call us to being on mission with Him in some specific way and spark thoughts on specific action-steps, as the Holy Spirit prompts and motivates us. All this without ever explaining the 12 different ways a certain Greek word is used!

Going deeper is discovery of those things in God’s Word that set Christianity apart from any other belief system. As Jesus spoke to the two disciples walking to Emmaus after the resurrection, He used every major section of Old Testament to point to Himself! As we study the Passover, we see Jesus and His plan of salvation. As we teach about the Ark of Noah, we see Jesus providing a shelter from the wrath of God. As we meditate on the coronation of King Solomon, we see a picture of crowning Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords. As we explain the various prophecies of the Bible, we give understanding as to each one relates to God’s overall plan of salvation and provision of forgiveness. Our teaching of the Old Testament should be different that what is taught in a synagogue, because we know Jesus is the Messiah! Our teaching of the New Testament should be different than what is taught by the Mormons or Jehovah’s Witnesses, because we know the identity of Jesus and we have an understanding of the Triune nature of God.

Going deeper is allowing the Lord to use His word to examine and search our lives for sin and hindrances to a closer walk with Him. If I am reading the Word and noticing what others ought to be doing, there is a real good chance that I am not going deeper at all. In the Prodigal Son story, there is the Elder Brother who illustrates the problem. We must read the Word with a sincere request that the Holy Spirit use it to examine our deepest motives. Paul told Timothy that the Word should teach me, rebuke me, correct me and instruct me in righteousness. If I see only how the Bible rebukes others, I have a severe case of immature, spiritual near-sightedness.

Going deeper is connecting spiritual applications to the work of Jesus Christ. Paul often demonstrated this. He told husbands, not just to love their wives, but to love their wives as Christ loved the church. He instructed servants to serve their overseers as they would serve the Lord. He taught wives to honor their husbands as the church honors Jesus. When Peter spoke to pastors about their ministry, he related it to the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ. None of the New Testament writers got too far away from the message of the cross in their teaching—it is a good practice for us as well.

Going Deeper in our Bible Teaching—Part One

This may sound strange to you, but I have not always a big fan of “going deeper” in the Sunday School class. I have always felt that we have a tendency to teach over the heads of most of our people as it is. People are not as deep in the Word as we imagine them to be. And if we are reaching new people in the classroom on a regular basis, we need to “keep some of the cookies on the lower shelf” for people newer to the faith. I am also a little suspicious of what people mean by “going deeper.” I’d like to write a couple of articles about this so stay tuned for part two, but let me begin today by looking at what we do not mean by going deeper in our teaching.

Going deeper is not using bigger words and providing more information. I have heard it said that a scholar can make a simple idea sound complex, but a good communicator can make a complex idea sound simple. I’d rather be a good communicator than to try to impress people with my 50-cent words and my profound vocabulary. And do we really need to spend more than two-thirds of the class time talking about all the details of the Egyptian religious belief system in order to teach how God demonstrated His great power over the Egyptians during the exodus in the days of Moses? We may learn a lot of interesting things in our preparation of the lesson, but not all of it will be useful in the classroom. A few interesting facts can go a long way to improve your lesson and avoid boredom, and at times we do need to use important theological words to communicate spiritual truths, but information overload is not going deeper.

Going deeper is not becoming a biblical guidance counselor. I have been to seminars and conferences where the teacher doesn’t really teach the Bible, but rather sprinkles in a few verses here and there to back up their opinions and advice on how Christians ought to think, feel or live. Don’t get me wrong. I do believe every Bible lesson needs to have clear points of application to our lives, but these practical applications should come out of the Bible text. The difference is our starting point. If we start with a point of advice and then look for a way to make the Bible fit our preconceived insight, we have done a disservice to God’s Word and to our students. It is not our goal to merely help people to have strong self-esteem and to be nice to others. The goal of spiritual maturity is to become like Christ and to become biblical Christians.

Going deeper is not making the Bible or spiritual truth sound mystical. A person in our church recently shared with me how a relative gave her a special stone that had been prayed over and that holding on to this stone was supposed to bring blessings. She kindly replied that she didn’t need a prayer stone, because she could go straight to the solid rock of Jesus Christ! I have also heard people doing something similar with prayer cloths and “blessed” oil or water. This is more like superstition than something deeply spiritual. People who make the Bible sound like an episode of the Twilight Zone are not going deeper—they are just being weird.

Going deeper is not spiritualizing a passage or turning it into a metaphor. One example of spiritualizing I have heard was when a preacher used Acts 27:29 as his text. It says there that the sailors dropped four anchors to avoid some rocky places. And so the rocky places became the trials of life and the dangers of sin and he turned the four anchors into the anchor of prayer, the anchor of church attendance, etc. Some may think this is deeper teaching, but it is not. In fact if we are true to the text, the sailors later are seen casting off the anchors (vs. 40)—that really causes problems with a lesson that turns biblical details into metaphors for life.

What Sunday School Leaders Do

In my experience working with various Sunday Schools across Ohio and other states, it has become clear to me that many Sunday Schools and Sunday School classes have been working on autopilot for many years. There are people serving in many Sunday Schools who are content to manage the status quo. There is little effort to reach new people or grow the ministry. In fact, I have run into some who reject the idea that the mission of the Sunday School is to reach new people for Christ.

I’ve had teachers in other churches openly reject the idea that a Sunday School leader has any responsibility when it comes to the spiritual growth, the numerical growth and the ministry of their class. It has been said, “It is my job to grow the class deeper, and it is God’s job to grow the class larger.” While that may sound deep, and even a little spiritual, it simply isn’t true! There is no biblical basis for such a comment. It has been my experience that the difference between a growing Sunday School and a stagnant one is the willingness of pastors, teachers and workers to accept responsibility in three key areas. It’s what Sunday School leaders do.

Accept responsibility for the maturity of the class. I have discovered along the way that I cannot force anyone to grow up as a Christian. Some folks decide to remain spiritual babes no matter what we do or say. I can, however, do my part to provide an environment for growth. Anyone who has ever had a garden understands the concept. Only God can make the plants grow, mature and bear fruit. But when the gardener gives time and effort to prepare the soil, provide a safe, sunny spot and water the plants regularly, the Lord is much more likely to grow the seedlings into healthy, reproducing plants. As Sunday School leaders, we are to provide regular prayer, biblical, interesting teaching and a personal interest in the spiritual growth of our enrollees.

Accept responsibility for the ministry of the class. Each Christian has been given spiritual gifts and abilities in order to minister to one another in the church. Each Christian is also called to be on mission with God in various ways. A leader doesn’t wait for someone else to get the class involved in ministry to one another. If an enrollee is sick, a leader takes action to meet the need. If a member has been absent, a leader initiates involvement in the absentee’s life. Waiting for someone else to do the ministry usually means someone “falls through the cracks” and they eventually stop attending.

Accept responsibility for the growth of the class. Growth is not a matter of luck or some mystical blessing. Of course only God can save and bring spiritual development to a person, and there are things beyond a teacher’s control like job transfers, illnesses and people relocating to another town or state. But God blesses the hard work of outreach, a good spirit in the class and competent teaching. These are things a Sunday School leader can influence. When we do our part, we can confidently trust the Lord to do His part.

I realize it is difficult to accept these responsibilities as a Sunday School leader. There is a lot depending on the success of your class. I am reminded of James 3:1 that says, “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.” Sometimes it is easier to let someone else carry the burden of responsibility, but then again, there is nothing quite so fulfilling as seeing God use you to impact lives for His glory. Thank you for serving and accepting the task the Lord has given you.

Church Leadership: Is it a Position or a Role Assignment?

I once heard about a lady who was given the ministry opportunity to direct the choir in her local church. She was obviously one of the most talented singers in the church and she knew it. She had experience directing choirs in college and she had taken formal training in conducting. She really knew her stuff and the Nominating Committee and the pastor were certain that they had the right person for the position.

It was clear after the first choir rehearsal however, that problems were on the horizon. Several people quit the choir after the first 15 minutes. The director had announced that anyone who could not read music should not be in the choir. After they left the room, she told the choir that she expected them to never miss a practice unless it was for a vacation (she expected two-week’s notice), an illness or a death in the family. She expected some of the sopranos to sing alto for the good of the choir and then made some unkind comments about their limited vocal range when they tried singing the new part. She pointed out several men in the bass section were slouching and rebuked some of the tenors for being a little flat on the high notes.

When Sunday came around, she was shocked to find that she only had three choir members left to lead in Sunday morning worship! She told the pastor after the service that the choir had let her down and she was appalled that people were not more committed to the Lord’s work. She was certain that he had been pastoring a bunch of carnal Christians and if he had preached more “hard sermons” on commitment and dedication, people would not be so weak in their walk with God and she would still have a choir. Then she promptly resigned her position.

Many people are under the delusion that in the church, we minister from a “position of authority” rather than from a role assignment that we have been entrusted with by God and others. Someone who sees their ministry as a position has certain expectations. He expects people to follow because of his position. If he is ever challenged, he points others to his position and informs them that if they do not submit to his leadership, they must have a spiritual issue.

When we realize that God has called us to be servant-leaders rather than positional leaders, we begin to see ourselves in a role assignment rather than as an authority figure. We see others as equals, and we become more sensitive and understanding of their needs, feelings and even criticisms. We seek to build relationships with the people we lead and seek to understand what makes them tick.

As you serve your class in the role-assignment of a Sunday School teacher, seek to build strong bonds with the people to whom you minister. It is a special privilege to share the Word of God with people on a weekly basis, don’t take it lightly. They volunteer to show up every week to experience your teaching. Let me encourage you to express your gratefulness to them on a regular basis. They follow your example in service and ministry to the Lord. Be sure to communicate your love for them. The best Sunday School teachers know that it is their love for the people that they lead that motivates them to follow and keep wanting to attend. It keeps the people of your class eager to participate in the work of the Sunday School.

The Value of Enthusiasm

“…not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord” (Romans 12:11).

Someone has said that a bumble bee’s stinger is only one sixteenth of an inch long—the rest of what you feel is enthusiasm. The thesaurus indicates that the word “enthusiasm” is related to words like “passion,” “zeal,” “fervor” and “eagerness.” The opposite of enthusiasm would be apathy. The Dictionary defines “Enthusiasm” as “passionate interest in or eagerness to do something.” The Bible uses the words “fervent in spirit” to describe a believer’s zeal for the work of the Lord. Is enthusiasm really that important for a Sunday School Teacher?
Imagine going out for the football team and before the first practice the coach calls you over for a little speech:

Okay, gang; there is something I need to tell you all. All of our seniors have graduated last year, leaving us with nothing but you rookies. Our schedule is the worst we have ever faced. I doubt we can score this year, much less win a game. Our uniforms have holes in them and because of budget cuts, you all have to wear last year’s hand me downs. Don’t expect any encouragement from the band, either. The conductor is refusing to lead the band because he feels football is too violent a sport. Our cheerleaders can’t cheer, our pep rallies have no pep, our water boy ran out of water and our boosters have all quit. I wouldn’t blame you if you all walked out that door; in fact, I might be quitting soon myself. But thanks for coming out for the team. Now let’s get out there in the 90 degree heat and practice!

Sounds exciting, doesn’t it? Would you be any more thrilled about going to a church without sensing passion and zeal there for the things of God? How would you feel about visiting a Sunday School class with a teacher who started off the lesson with this:

Well, gang; I didn’t have time to prepare this week so I can’t give you any interesting background for the text. I have not looked for good illustrations or prepared any class activities. In fact I’m not even sure what the text is. Good thing I have this quarterly I can read out of. We aren’t going to sing anything today because Jane is mad at me just because I criticized the Pastor in class last week. I’m not sure why she is so thin-skinned. She should be more mature and understand the value of a rebuke, even if her husband is part of our lazy Deacon Body. We have some doughnuts left over from last week if anyone wants them. By the way, you all will need to go in with the Mixed 2 class for the next four weeks while I’m away on a hunting trip. After that, I might be quitting anyway. It’s just too frustrating teaching a class that doesn’t have any zeal for the Lord. Now, let me start reading this quarterly even though it’s hardly worth the paper it is written on and I’m a lot more spiritual than those LifeWay writers are anyway.

Yes, enthusiasm is important, even vital, for the great work God has called us to do. It isn’t something that can be faked—you know it when a teacher has it—or doesn’t! Romans 12:11 commands us to be fervent in spirit, so we know that all Christians are capable of such zeal. If it is lacking, we must ask God to supply it. Blessed is the Sunday School class that has a teacher who has enthusiasm for the lesson as well as the ministry of the class. Boredom is not an option!

What about Political Issues in Sunday School?

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!”

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.

Sunday School Jesus Style

The first Sunday School was started a little over 200 years ago—so I am fully aware that Jesus did not have a Sunday School class in the same way we talk about it today. Yet Jesus clearly did have a small group ministry with the 12 disciples. His ministry to His “class” of disciples was an intentional strategy and priority of His ministry on earth. I have been studying a little about Jesus’ work with His small group and I have discovered some principles that still apply today.

Prayer is a key strategy for reaching new people. Before Jesus enlisted His disciples, He spent much time in prayer. Each teacher would do well to have a prayer list of prospects for his or her class. Prayer for prospects focuses us on who we are trying to reach and provides insight on how to reach them. Are you and the members of your class praying for the people they are hoping to reach?

Personally seek out the people you want to reach. Jesus did not wait for someone else to enlist people for Him. He did not expect people to simply find their way to Him or drop by because they were in the area—He went after His disciples! Many Sunday School classes have no strategy or plan for reaching new people. All growth requires effort and work. We cannot expect new people to attend if we are not working a plan for reaching them. Are you and the members of your class inviting people to attend your Sunday School class?

Jesus also accepted the personal responsibility for the spiritual growth of the people in His group. I know that people have to want to grow to make any real progress, but there must also be someone willing to lead and teach them. A good teacher assumes that the enrollees are ready and willing. She sees the potential of each individual and designs the lessons with the needs of the pupils in mind. Are you seeing personal growth in the lives of the people in your class?

Jesus equipped His disciples to serve. He didn’t just fill their heads with facts and Bible knowledge and send them home with notebooks full of information. No, He demonstrated compassionate ministry and then sent His disciples out to do the same. The success of a Sunday School class is not measured in attendance alone. Instead of asking, “How many have come,” we should also ask, “How many have been sent out?” Are you and the members of your class involved in ministry projects and outreach?

Jesus released leaders out of His group to start new groups, new churches, and new ministries. If Jesus was not willing to release His 12 disciples, the church may not even exist today. New Sunday School classes are almost always started by a few committed leaders who have been learning from a faithful teacher who was unselfish enough to release them with his blessing and encouragement. It is a blessing to extend the level of your influence by releasing the people you have discipled to serve in other places.

Can you imagine a father who says that he loves his children so much that he never wants to see them marry and start families of their own? That is unhealthy and unnatural. Growing things reproduce themselves. Growing Sunday School classes do the same. Are you and the members of your class releasing people to teach and start other classes?

Jesus is the ultimate Sunday School expert. The leadership He provided for His small group of disciples is a challenge to us all. Leading a class “Jesus Style” produces amazing results!