In Part 1, I mentioned that much is being written about the “missional church” today. Back in the spring, I shared some ideas of my friend, Bob Mayfield (Sunday School/Adult Discipleship Specialist for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma.), from a post by Ed Stetzer entitled Oklahoma and Missional Ministry. My post quoting Bob Mayfield is entitled What Is Missional Sunday School?. But in Part 1, I shared an article by my friend, Bruce Raley who is the Director of Leadership Ministry, Training and Events at LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville, TN. Raley’s article is entitled Realization of a Purpose–The Beginning of a Missional Sunday School.
I closed Part 1 by sharing seven questions that Raley posed to help classes struggle through their purpose/mission as a class:
- What energizes the class?
- What does the class tend to pray for the most?
- What would people say is the strength of your class?
- Who are the heroes of the leadership?
- What would you say you are good at?
- If you knew you couldn’t fail, what one thing would you pursue for God?
- If the class was to cease to exist, how would people remember the class?
In Part 2, I want to share some of my starting thoughts about how Sunday School can be missional. Consider the following:
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pray for lost and unchurched people by name;
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befriend through action and interaction lost and churched people (friends, relatives, associates, and neighbors);
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encounter God in Bible study and seek to honor Him in how they live through the week;
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experience daily encounters with God in prayer and Bible study which influence their character and daily interactions;
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regularly invite lost and unchurched people to homes, fellowships, class, and church;
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plan quarterly (or more frequent) service projects designed to reach out or minister in Jesus’ name;
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lead all attenders to use their gifts, experiences, abilities, and personalities in some service for God in or beyond the church;
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hold attenders accountable to share Jesus in interactions at work, school, play, and life;
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ask attenders at the beginning of each Bible study session how they did at living out last week’s truth;
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have class sessions connected to opportunities to practice and live out the truth of the scripture;
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all teachers and workers are expected intentionally to apprentice another leader in order to care for more people; and
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all adult classes seek to pray for and launch another class at or away from the church (in 12-24 months).
What would you add to this list? How can our Sunday School classes be even more intentional about being missional? How can they reach people and teach them to obey Jesus’ commands in order to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20)? The world awaits. Our Lord expects. What will we do? Be revolutionary!
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