Our church is getting ready to restart our "Sunday School" classes in September. Unfortunately I believe we will be starting right where we left off this spring: low turnout, low morale, not much impact. I can't say that we really accomplished what "I" had hoped we would by taking some time off. I wonder if what we need is to actually do away with the concept entirely. Because I really think we have too many people who do it "just because we're supposed to." Therefore we don't see it as a disciple-making or disciple-maturing venture.
What I would like to do is just completely do away with Sunday School as a 'program' (and I'm speaking about our church only - all churches are unique). Instead, I would like to operate more with Small Groups. We wouldn't start with classes, and try to find people to be teachers and students. We would begin with someone who said, "I think I would like to lead a small group." They would either need to already have a small group of people in mind (or that God had laid upon their heart), or they would need to find several people who would agree to be in their group. They would also need to agree to receive regular training as a small group leader (be in a small group themselves).
I believe God will provide what a local church needs. Therefore I trust He will provide leaders. And hopefully they would step forward and there would be enough of a variety to take care of the needs of everyone wanting to be involved.
I would also like to trust God to raise up youth and children's leaders in the same way. For the young children we might have a "Children's Church" during the regular worship time on Sundays, so they could receive more age-appropriate lessons. Or they could possibly do something during the week.
I think this would eliminate people from simply trying to fill "roles" and would free people to use their spiritual gifts. It would also (hopefully) allow teachers to see themselves more as "shepherds" of their group, rather than just someone who prepared a lesson.
Anyway, this is just what I'm thinking. I don't foresee it ever coming about, but... you know.
2 comments:
Great idea! I was actually pushing something very similar to this right before I left my old church. They kept trying to do small groups but no one seemed to have the time to meet. And at the same time attendance was declining at Sunday School. So I said "Why not let small groups use the Sunday School hour to meet? We're all there already anyway." And some groups could even take the option to continue their group over lunch if they wanted (since at our old church SS followed the service).
But then I got booted out of that church before we could make any headway with that idea. Ah well...
Hmm. So does this mean I'm about to get booted? :)
Thanks for the input.
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