What Does a Revolutionary Sunday School Director Do on Sunday Morning?

Some Sunday School directors will find the following list overwhelming. But most God-called directors want to make the most difference possible. The following list will usually require little time per task weekly. Training others will result in some of the tasks in the list to be given away to others. Some tasks will be done monthly. Most tasks are Sunday only with some follow up naturally resulting.

Let me encourage you to begin slowly adding a task each month to your routine. Some months give away a task to another leader (such as being in charge of the greeters or facility preparation). Never stop praying–though you can enlist others to join in the prayer. Make the most out of this opportunity that God has given you!

30+ Minutes Before Sunday School Starts:

• Prays. Spends time with God before arriving at church.
• Enlists substitute teachers when teachers call in sick on Sunday morning.
• Arrives early. Thirty minutes is usually adequate unless special meetings or plans are to occur.
• Prayerwalks the facility. Prays over classrooms, leadership, members, and guests who will soon occupy them.
• Ensures that facility is completely clean, straight, comfortable, and ready before people arrive. Turn on classroom lights.
• Works with Sunday School secretary to ensure that class rolls are in classrooms.

15 Minutes Before Sunday School Starts:

• Greets, listens to, and helps teachers. Ensures that teachers are arriving on time and have the resources they need.
• Checks that Sunday School greeters are in place and makes sure they have enough class directories and registration materials.
• Works with the Sunday School secretary each week to ensure that classes have enough literature for members and guests and to distribute printed or verbal announcements to classes.
• Fixes problems as needed.

Time for Sunday School:

• Holds teachers accountable to start and end classes on time.
• Catches teachers and classes doing something good. Affirms them in class and/or worship.
• Observes what is happening in every class. Between Sundays, addresses positives and needs for improvement during individual coaching sessions with teachers and begins discussion with teachers in advance of needing to start new classes.
• Asks Sunday School secretary to report changes in class, department, and total Sunday School attendance and enrollment. Reports that information to the pastor between Sundays.
• Once per month, walks the Sunday School facilities and observes available space and anticipated needs. Informs appropriate church leaders in advance of anticipated space problems.
• Once per month, walks the church parking lot and counts the cars. Informs church leaders in advance of anticipated parking problems.
• Enlists substitute teachers when teachers or their substitutes are missing on Sunday morning.

Time for Worship:

• Promotes Sunday School. Announces attendance and invites worship attenders to be in Sunday School next week.
• Makes announcements about upcoming Sunday School plans.
• Affirms one or more classes and/or asks someone to share a 2-minute Sunday School testimony once per month.

So where will you start this months? Which task should you add to your routine? Which one will make the most impact? For which one can you seek someone to be responsible? Don’t go through the motions as Sunday School director. Be revolutionary!