One of the great things about Sunday School is that it meets week after week, month after month, years after year, decade after decade. Of course, this is good because our witness and ministry will not end until Jesus returns. However, one of the bad things about Sunday School is that it meets week after week, month after month, year after year, decade after decade; and we fall into some bad practices and habits. Probably no area that’s neglected more is the evangelism component of a class or group.
There was a time in the not too distant past, that Sunday School was known as the “evangelistic arm” of the church. Many churches and classes realized that if they could get the lost enrolled and attending regularly they were much more likely to make a commitment to Christ, as well as be assimilated into the life of the church and class.
However, today, most adult classes and groups have become primarily a gathering for Bible study and fellowship. Of course, no one’s opposed to these tasks. But prioritizing fellowship and Bible study can lead to a class/group becoming inwardly focused. Why invite the unchurched and lost to come? The perception is that it’ll hurt the fellowship of the class.
Every class/group needs at least one gospel champion. If it’s not the teacher, then the teacher, as the leader of the group, needs to enlist an evangelism/outreach person who will model and motivate the group to not neglect the Great Commission, Matthew 28:18-20.
Jeff Ingram is the Adult Ministry Strategist at Louisiana Baptists.
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