What is the desired result of all of our efforts in Sunday School? What outcomes are we working to produce in members’ lives? How are we expecting them to behave as a result? These questions and more have been on my mind recently.
Let’s assume we discover an ideal Sunday School class. What would the members be doing? In Part 1, we will look at six of twelve ideal behaviors of adult Sunday School class members. Consider the following beginning list:
- Has a daily quiet time to read the Bible and pray. Would be more than habit. Would be a genuine seeking for God and his leadership in their lives. Action alone could revolutionize our classes, churches, and world. Check out Sunday School Supporting Spiritual Disciplines, Part 1, Teaching Sunday School Members to Pray Through Scripture, and Sunday School Teaching Believers to Meditate on God’s Word.
- Reads the lesson weekly. Prepares for the group Bible study time. Anticipates the learning experience. Wants to learn more about God’s Word through reading the pupil commentary. Check out What Sunday School Members Can Do to Strengthen Class, Part 1 and Sunday School New Year’s Resolutions.
- Prays for and invites guests. Enjoys the fellowship and learning and wants to share it with others. Prays for prospects by name. Invites them to eat a meal in the home. Invites them to a class fellowship. Invites them to attend a Bible study session. Encourages them to enroll. Check out Invitation to Sunday School and Who Will You Invite to Sunday School?.
- Shares a Sunday School testimony with prospects. This may be a natural step in the previous behavior. Regularly tells others about the benefits of his/her class experience: Bible learning, best friends, ministry in times of needs, and others. Check out Sunday School Testimony: Powerful Revolutionary Tool.
- Fellowships with class members and guests monthly.Desires to be with those who attend class beyond Sunday. Gets together often with attenders for group and individually planned social and ministry experiences. Check out Sunday School Fellowship: More Than Food and Fun, Reach and Assimilate People into the Kingdom Through Sunday School Fellowships, Ten Values of Monthly Sunday School Fellowships, Sunday School Class Lunch, Sunday School Outreach: Giving Sunday Night to Jesus, and Ideas for Making Friends Through the Adult Sunday School Class.
- Is willing to help a class friend in time of need.Friendships are deep. Willing to give of time, effort, and resources to minister to friends. Check out Grow Your Sunday School Class by Organizing to Respond in Times of Need.
In Part 2, we will look at the final six of twelve ideal behaviors of adult Sunday School class members. Measure yourself. How are you doing in these six areas? How is your class doing? Which one needs priority attention? What can you do to strengthen this behavior for yourself? for your class? What can you do this week? Expect the best. God deserves nothing less. Be revolutionary!
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