Sunday School: What Is Measured Gets Done

What are you measuring in your Sunday School? There is truth to the title statement: “What is measured gets done.” Implied is that measurable goals were set by which leaders and members are able to see progress. We should understand, however, that simply measuring does not lead to accomplishing Sunday School work. In addition to measuring, it usually requires leadership, communication, teamwork, and encouragement to make progress.

But many Sunday School leaders today are realizing that enrollment and attendance fail to measure enough. And by settling for measuring these two metrics, many of our classes are not focused in some more significant ways. For instance, instead of focusing on growing as disciples, impacting the community, developing leadership, and starting new groups, Sunday School classes are happy simply to show up on Sunday morning.

Some will stop me here to comment that three of the four areas I listed are not measurable. And my response to them is “Aren’t they?” This blog is designed to stretch your thinking and acting toward life-changing, revolutionary Sunday School. Consider the following ways we can measure different things in order to focus and accomplish even more:

• Count the number of class members who are serving in some capacity in the church. What if we challenged our classes to increase that number?
• Count the number of adults and youth who participate each year in class mission, ministry, and outreach projects. What if we challenged classes to strive to increase that number?
• Turn the previous one around. In addition to counting those who participated, count the number of persons impacted by the mission, ministry, and outreach efforts of the class. How many people in the community and world were touched as a result of class efforts?
• Count the number of class members who participate in training (discipleship) of some kind. Set a goal for increasing the number of persons and the amount of training in which the class participates.
• Want to increase relationships and care by the class? Why not count ministry contacts (by mail, phone, visit, or electronic) with members, absentees, and prospects?
• Want to lead classes to start more new groups? Then challenge teachers and leaders to focus training and apprenticing on one or two individuals every year. Measure the number of apprentices prepared and released every year.
• What if a measure of success as a Sunday School was the number of classes? What if you set a goal to increase them every year?
• What to help adults and youth make spiritual progress? Challenge them to read their Bibles daily. Ask them to report the number of chapters read weekly. Set a goal and challenge them to read more and spend more time with God.
• Class fellowships are important for developing relationships with members, absentees, and prospects. What if we challenged our classes to increase their current number of fellowships?
• Training is essential for teachers and leaders to grow and to be even more effective. What if we challenged them to raise the level of their training by increasing the amount of training in which they participate during the year ahead?
• What if we measured the number of class leaders enlisted and trained?
• What if we measured the number of personal invitations extended by class members?
• What if we measured leaders sent out from the class to invest in younger Sunday School classes?

This list is simply a small beginning of the possibilities. But think with me for a minute. What if your Sunday School began to measure progress in these areas and ways? What might be the potential? Pray. Discuss. Challenge. Set God-sized goals for more than only attendance and enrollment. Measure progress. Communicate. Challenge. Make disciples. Be revolutionary!