Back to the Basics in Sunday School Work

by David Francis

There has been a lot of experimentation with Bible Study ministries in churches in recent years. Some have changed the name from Sunday School to Bible Fellowships, LIFE Groups, or just Bible Study, hoping to be more relevant to newcomers. Others have tried larger groups for children as well as adults, striving to create more enthusiasm - and deal with a shortage of committed leaders. A few have just given up on an on-campus Bible study ministry, launching small off-campus groups instead. For most, these experiments have produced only modest or short-term results. Many are asking a "new" question, "What if we just tried to do really excellent basic Sunday School work?" What are those basics? Here are a few.

Five-step formula

Arthur Flake's Formula for Sunday School Growth still works today. A simple acrostic can help you remember it: KEEP Going. Know the possibilities. Enlarge the organization. Enlist and train the leaders. Provide space and resources. Go after the people. For more information and a wealth of free downloads, visit the 5-Step Formula resource page.

Four critical elements

There are a lot of different elements in a vibrant Sunday School ministry. At least four are critical to success.

• The ministry list or class roll includes the names of all members - active and inactive. The class commits to minister to each person on the roll.
• A prospect list includes the names and contact information for every prospective member, and such information should be obtained from every guest.
• Open enrollment allows any person of any age to enroll as a member of Sunday School without regard to the requirements of church membership. Prospects should be invited to enroll.
• Sunday School is an open group, which means that a new person can come at any time, and that every lesson will be completed during the Bible study session, although it may be part of a larger unit of study.

Three dimensions

Every successful Sunday School class operates simultaneously around three dimensions. The classic terms to describe these dimensions are Reach, Teach, and Minister. Some more contemporary words with the same idea are Invite, Discover, and Connect. Effective classes balance these three dimensions and typically have at least three leaders, one of whom takes the lead on each dimension.

I've given the first two dimensions full treatments, with free downloads and resources for every age group. Visit the resource pages for I-6 Invite and The Discover Triad.

Two marks

Release and Reproduce are the two marks of every outstanding adult Sunday School class. Such classes release members to serve in the preschool, children, and student areas of the Sunday School. They keep up with these associate members and celebrate their service. Excellent adult classes also plan to reproduce themselves. They enlist and train apprentice leaders in each of the three dimensions, with the expectation that the class will eventually become two.

One textbook

The Bible is the textbook of the Sunday School. Bible study is the most basic of all the basics of Sunday School. Curriculum materials that engage people in discovering the truths of God's Word are important. But they should never be viewed as a substitute for the Bible. Leader guides provide commentary, teaching plans, and application ideas for teachers. Learner guides help members prepare for the Bible study session, and make excellent resources for outreach to prospective members. Yet, we don't study "quarterlies" in Sunday School. We study the Bible!

Blessings as you get back to the basics!

David Francis is LifeWay's director of Sunday School. His latest book is Extreme Sunday School Challenge. David has previously served as Minister of Education at First Baptist Church, Garland, Texas, and is involved in children's ministry with his wife, Vickie.