The Prayer of Jabez for Sunday School

For what are you praying? For what are you praying for your Sunday School? Are they big prayers? Are you expectant? Are you praying the prayer of Jabez, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me” (1 Ch 4:10, NIV)? What are you doing in the meantime until God answers your prayers?

Over the years, many have completed the discipleship study, Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God, by Henry Blackaby and Claude King. There are many lessons in the book that are applicable to revolutionary Sunday School. Consider this one:

When [God] sees you are faithful and obedient in a little, He will be able to trust you with more (p. 151).

Let that sink in! There are so many biblical passages that communicate that truth, like the prayer of Jabez (above) and like the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30. Here is a section of that passage:

Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. “Master,” he said, “you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.” His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:14-21, NIV).

So let me ask you three questions: (1) With what has God already blessed you for which you are His steward? (2) How are you doing in your stewardship of these things? (3) What could you do to be more faithful in your current stewardship? Now, apply these questions to your Sunday School responsibility:

1. ASSESS. Assess your current situation. Look around you. Count your many Sunday School blessings: people, space, location, resources, training, prospects, and more. Open your eyes and see the harvest is white. How has God bless you and your Sunday School? How did he prepare you with your personality, experiences, passion, and spiritual gifts? Give God praise and thanks!
2. NEGLECT. Where are areas you have neglected? What areas are thriving? What leaders need your encouragement? Which ones are in the wrong place? Which are in the right place? What systems need to be addressed? What resources need to be secured? What problems have you ignored? What is running well?
3. ADJUST. What could be done to help Sunday School move from surviving to thriving, from mediocre to revolutionary? What adjustments do you need to make to be more faithful in your stewardship of the Sunday School opportunity God has given you? What is God preparing you t o do for Him?

The Great Commission calls on His disciples to “make disciples of all nations.” What part of that God-sized task has been assigned to you? Could God be preparing you for what is next? Could He be preparing your Sunday School to care for more people? Be a faithful steward of what He has given to you. Pray the prayer of Jabez, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me” (1 Ch 4:10, NIV). Be revolutionary!