The second Sunday in September has been designated as National Back to Church Sunday. It is sponsored by LifeWay Research and Outreach. There are materials available on the website to take advantage of this initiative. These materials include a kit, videos, and even an email generator to send invitations to your friends. I want to encourage you to check it out and consider participating.
What might happen if even half of our Sunday School attenders invited a friend (or several) back to Sunday School? What if we invited all our absentees, dropouts, friends, relatives, associates, and neighbors? What if some of them said yes? Be prepared because some of them will! Thom Rainer, president of LifeWay Christian Resources stated in Surprising Insights from the Unchurched and Proven Ways to Reach Them that 82% of the unchurched were at least somewhat likely to attend if invited.
Don’t say no for them! Invite them. Invite them to your homes to get to know them. Show them you care for them as people. Share Christ’s love with them in deed and word. Invite them to your class parties and projects. And don’t forget to invite them to class. This initiative just might be the excuse they’ve been looking for to come back to Sunday School (or to try it for the first time).
The Holy Spirit is at work in the world. Some are waiting for your invitation. Some want to know Jesus but never have had anyone tell them how. Invite them back to church. Invite them back to Sunday School. Make a great first impression with your care. Start a class. Enlist greeters. Use name tags. Have a great lesson. Listen well. Don’t embarrass them.
Follow up. Take them a gift. Answer their questions. Ask how you can pray for them, and do it. If they offer any criticism, learn what you can from it. Adjust what needs to be adjusted. And keep caring and inviting.
Jesus said He came to seek and to save the lost. We are His body in the world, so He has given us that task. Sunday School is a great medium for sharing Christ through the study of God’s Word in a caring fellowship. On average we will see more than one out three lost people accept Jesus when they attend Sunday School with us over a year’s time. So impact eternity. Impact your community. Impact a friend. Invite him. Invite her. Invite several. Allow God to work through your class. Be revolutionary!
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