Pros and Cons of Sunday School Today (Part 2)
I remind you this is a controversial subject to many, but it's about time we address the elephant in the room for what it is. There are some good things about SS if you have the facilities, finances, and capable leadership to support it, but just to do it because it's always been is a stench in the nostrils of God if we don't do it right!
Pros: Sunday school is discipleship. It’s not merely teaching facts, but also teaching obedience. It’s the “next step” after attending morning worship. Since many people who attend church are not in a one-on-one or small group discipleship, an effective Sunday school is a form of “Discipleship 101.”
Cons: Many people have told me throughout my ministry that they had learned very little discipleship from Sunday School. More times than one I had to deal with teachers who used their classes to snipe at others they had difficulties with or could not explain the material correctly and confused their students more than they discipled them. Please do not misunderstand. I've had some great teachers as well, but they were the ones that lived what they taught and that was the greatest discipleship tool they brought to the table. People could tell if they were genuine or not and if they had studied or not.
Pros: Sunday school is convenient. With the work, family and activity schedules of many church members, it is easier to come to church one hour earlier or love one hour later than to arrange another night out during the week. Also by having it on Sunday the children can be taught while the adults are learning. Parents who skip Sunday school in favor of mid-week small group often overlook the valuable “teaching times” their children miss by receiving “child-care” during the week rather than “teaching” in children’s Sunday school.
Cons: With the work, family, and activity schedules of people today, an extra hour sleep on Sunday morning seems to be easier for most than coming to Sunday School. A well organized Mid-Week teaching class for respective ages should provide more than baby sitting. It's the chance to really put your heart and soul into the lives of those under your charge. Just because we don't call it Mid-Week School doesn't stop us for being responsible for teaching and training disciples. Training can't be given if they are not there whatever the day of the week is.
Cons: With the work, family, and activity schedules of people today, an extra hour sleep on Sunday morning seems to be easier for most than coming to Sunday School. A well organized Mid-Week teaching class for respective ages should provide more than baby sitting. It's the chance to really put your heart and soul into the lives of those under your charge. Just because we don't call it Mid-Week School doesn't stop us for being responsible for teaching and training disciples. Training can't be given if they are not there whatever the day of the week is.
Pros: Sunday school organizes the church into caring groups. The teacher becomes a shepherd for the class, an extension of the pastor’s ministry. Where the pastor finds it impossible to know all the needs of the congregation, Sunday school teachers (shepherds) know when someone is absent or hurting and can express love personally.
Cons: This may be true in some churches, but not in the majority. Numbers are all some pastors and leaders are interested in, not caring groups. I pastored one church where they had been "estimating" the attendance for several years. Another was reporting over 100 more people in Sunday School than were actually in the classes. If they were standing in the vestibule they would count them even though they weren't in a class. Isn't that lying?
Just because is not the best reason to have SS and it's time we look at it for what it is. We've even changed our monthly reporting to reflect on average MW attendance more than SS. That ought to tell us something!
Cons: This may be true in some churches, but not in the majority. Numbers are all some pastors and leaders are interested in, not caring groups. I pastored one church where they had been "estimating" the attendance for several years. Another was reporting over 100 more people in Sunday School than were actually in the classes. If they were standing in the vestibule they would count them even though they weren't in a class. Isn't that lying?
Just because is not the best reason to have SS and it's time we look at it for what it is. We've even changed our monthly reporting to reflect on average MW attendance more than SS. That ought to tell us something!
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