The Pros and Cons of Sunday School (Part 3)

The Pros and Cons of Sunday School (Part 3)

It is important to realize that Sunday schools were originally literally schools. They were places were poor children could learn to read. The Sunday school movement began in Britain in the 1780s. The Industrial Revolution had resulted in many children spending all week long working in factories. Christian philanthropists wanted to free these children from a life of illiteracy. Well into the 19th century, working hours were long. The first modest legislative restrictions came in 1802. This resulted in limiting the number of hours a child could work per day to 12! This limit was not lowered again until 1844. Moreover, Saturday was part of the regular work week. Sunday, therefore, was the only available time for these children to gain some education.

The English Anglican evangelical Robert Raikes (1725-1811) was the key promoter of the movement. It soon spread to America as well. Denominations and non-denominational organizations caught the vision and energetically began to create Sunday schools. Within decades, the movement had become extremely popular. By the mid-19th century, Sunday school attendance was a near universal aspect of childhood. Even parents who did not regularly attend church themselves generally insisted that their children go to Sunday school. Working-class families were grateful for this opportunity to receive an education. They also looked forward to annual highlights such as prize days, parades, and picnics, which came to mark the calendars of their lives as much as more traditional seasonal holidays.

Statistics reveal to us that Sunday School in the shape and form we know it as has become insufficient in many ways to meet the needs of the family today. Many Biblical issues that need to be addressed to deal with the sin problem of today are often considered too controversial to deal with in a class setting regardless of age. Thus many informative scriptures that could help our children, teens, and adults are forsaken. Again what we now know as Sunday School is far from what it was originated to be. We are just afraid to address it because somebody will get upset because it’s always been.

Pros: Many say that Sunday school leads the church in prayer and relationships. From the preschool class through all the adult classes, prayer is directed toward the specific needs of the class members. Often the class not only prays, but has an opportunity to respond to specific needs. Fellowship and informal conversations flow easily in small groups where care is expressed and people know your name and your needs.

Cons: Prayer is important, especially prayer in unity. Yet, many will appear super spiritual in Sunday School by the way they pray out loud, but they have no prayer life outside of the Sunday morning class. Loud prayers seem to make an impression of spirituality on most people, but God sees the thoughts and intents of the heart. Praying without the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit is no more than reciting a poem. Please remember that. I’ll address the fellowship area with the next statement.

Pros: Sunday school focuses on outreach to peers and friends. In a small group setting, where topics are non-threatening, class members are encouraged to invite fellow-employees or friends from school. Class socials and activities can focus on community outreach through social or ministry events.

Cons: Fellowship among believers is important and people are longing for a place to belong. But it takes more than a 45 minute class on Sunday morning to engage them in meaningful conversation and activity. Avoiding certain subjects is not what this generation is looking for according to statistics. They want someone to engage with them and show them what’s right and wrong according to the Word of God. They are also looking for someone they can trust in to lead them down the right path. Party days are really over; people are looking to fellowship with REAL people and not fake.

Pros: Sunday school lets the church do all the above with consistency. Sunday school is one of the most consistent programs in the church. It doesn’t stop for the summer and rarely for holidays. Sunday after Sunday its dedicated staff leads the church in this most important ministry.

Cons: Just because a program is consistent, doesn’t mean it works right. Just because it stops doesn’t mean it can’t be started again with the proper approach, which is a dedicated staff. But how would you like it if someone didn’t tithe, but taught on the virtues of tithing or didn’t teach on it because they didn’t do it? To make it worse how would you deal with it when the members of the class knew their teacher didn’t honor his commitments of membership but wanted them as a teacher anyway? From experience I can tell you the most problems I ever had as a pastor was with

Finding dedicated workers who lived what they taught and taught what they lived.

All the Pros and history of Sunday School came from a CE website. The Cons came from my 45+ years of trying to make Sunday School work. I majored in Christian Education so I’m not against Bible Training, but you need tools to make it work. The problems is often our instruments don’t always stay in the right key.

Whatever God tells you about Sunday School is between Him and you. I’m just trying to often a perspective that is often overlooked among our brethren.