In Part 1, I asked if you would like (1) to increase your Sunday School attendance, (2) for members to attend more regularly, and (3) for attenders to invite guests? I said that all of these could be possible if you could figure out a way to make Sunday School more valuable. What can you do help attenders to increase its value in their sight?
I mentioned a blog post by Joshua Pappas, a Church of Christ minister, that shared five ways to make Sunday School more valuable. The post is entitled Is the Bible School Worth Saving? Bible School is another name for Sunday School. Hear what Pappas has to say. In Part 1, I shared the first two of his five actions. In Part 2, I will share the final three of his five actions in all capitals followed by my commentary.
- PEOPLE WILL DO WHAT THEY’RE LED TO DO…IN TIME. Let God lead. Allow God to work. But don’t be afraid to give them the facts. Help them to see the benefits they are missing from not being involved in Sunday School. Don’t decide for them whether they will be involved–give them a chance to decide for themselves. Invite them. That is a key. I met a man who joined the church and did not realize for six months that he was welcome to attend Sunday School. No one invited him. Help church members know that they are expected to grow and be involved. And help them to realize that Sunday School is a great way to do so. Get staff, teachers, leaders, and even members involved in inviting and loving people into attendance and watch the value of Sunday School increase. Check out these posts: Invitation to Sunday School, Sunday School Inviting Worship Attenders, Pulpit Sunday School Promotion, Sunday School Outreach: Giving Sunday Night to Jesus, Christmas Invitation to Sunday School, Who Will You Invite to Sunday School?, and Has Your Sunday School Enrollment Increased Lately?.
- PEOPLE GROW DISCOURAGED, AND EVENTUALLY QUIT, WHEN HARD WORK GOES UNAPPRECIATED. Celebrate success. Affirm Sunday School teachers and workers. Catch them doing something good and point it out privately and to others. Set up appreciation events. Invite attenders to celebrate teacher/worker appreciation Sunday. Check out these posts: Sunday School Leader Appreciation Is a Must!, Sunday School Teacher Appreciation Month: Is It May or October?, Plan Your Sunday School Teacher Appreciation Day, 25 Ways to Recognize Sunday School Workers, Part 1, 25 Ways to Recognize Sunday School Workers, Part 2, and 25 Ways to Recognize Sunday School Workers, Part 3. Pat teachers/workers on the back. It is much easier to affirm a worker doing a good job than it is to discover, train, and launch a new worker. I also like Pappas’ suggestion, “Provide workshops to feed them with ideas.”
- PRAY. Pray for Sunday School. Pray for teachers and workers. And don’t forget Pappas’ reminder, “Pray for yourself.” Pray for class sessions. Pray for new leaders to step forward. Pray that adults and teens will share their Sunday School testimonies. Pray that attenders will invite people to their homes, fellowships, classes, and Jesus. Pray that worship attenders will see the value of Sunday School and try it. Pray that lives will be changed. Pray that Sunday School members will get involved. Pray alone and together. Pray believing. Prayer works. Check out these posts: Don’t Just ASK Your Sunday School Class to Pray, TEACH Them to DO It, Part 1, Don’t Just ASK Your Sunday School Class to Pray, TEACH Them to DO It, Part 2, Is Your Class a Praying Class?, and Are You Willing to Pray for Your Sunday School to Be Smaller This Year?.
What could you do to add value to your Sunday School? What personal actions could you take? How could you lift up its value? Not involved in a class? Get involved. Not teaching? Start a class. Already involved? Share your testimony about the privilege it is and the fun you are having. Invite people. Affirm teachers and workers. Pray. Your leadership makes a difference. People are missing the opportunity because they don’t think it is valuable. Help them to consider what they are missing. Invite them to a great experience. Be revolutionary!
Leave a Reply