Sunday School in the 21st Century



By Julia Shipley

What does the future hold for Sunday School? It’s a question that Christian educators working at all levels must ask. Why do we see some Sunday Schools that are exciting and growing?
Whilst others are dead, dying or somewhere in between just holding their own, with the same programmes and attendance.

England has a rich history of beginnings and steady growth. Plat owing through the latter half of the last century. Today most Sunday Schools fall into the last category - just holding their own.
A closer look at the first group, the schools that are showing steady growth that is sustained.
That have exciting and dynamic programmes could be the answer we seek. How a higher level of Christian education and commitment can be achieved and promote growth. If we are willing to make changes to our programmes and learn to listen.

Taking time and studying the information about these Sunday Schools the following was noted as common themes. It is not intended as a complete list by any means. The hope is that you will be able to think about how you could make changes to the programmes you run in order to promote more growth.

First these Sunday Schools were large (200 members or more). This gave them the advantage of a larger pool of teachers/leaders to choose from. The encouraging aspect to this is that most started small. You may have a small school now but you can grow!

Secondly most if not all employed a full-time Youth Paster/Director of Christian Education. This was thought to be necessary taking into account the amount of time it takes to co-ordinate and run the various programmes. If a paid person was not an option then they had very active volunteers (individuals or a committee) who gave considerable time to the planning and promoting of the Sunday School.

All were evangelical. All had a definite sense of reaching and meeting the needs of the un-churched and “un-Sunday-Schooled” in their area/community. Regular planned programmes included invitation and visitation. Classes were offered covering evangelism and outreach. Of vital importance was that all these schools made sure visitors and new members were made welcome and made to feel part of the Sunday School family. Some offered special classes for the spiritually “young” members.

There seems to be an abandoning of traditional Sunday School lessons in favour of writing their own curriculum. Whilst others used denominational or independent publishing they made major changes to adapt the material to the needs of the children.

Another interesting aspect was that most had moved away from the single teacher approach to that of team teaching. Two or three people teach a particular class for a year (no more). They agree to study, pray and plan for the coming lessons. The advantage of this is that one person can teach the class whilst the other/s prepare for the next part. The one year commitment also ensures that “burn-out” is not reached as the historical problem of using and exhausting teacher/leaders is avoided.

Today’s children and young people are used to having lessons in small segments of information, each related to the same lesson or theme, presented in rapid succession. The class may start with a story and move into music, drama, guest speaker, crafts etc.

Another way of teaching is to make use of the activity/learning centre approach. This entails children moving from one station to another within the classroom. They learn at their own pace so this method relies on the child’s self-motivation. Activities range from listening centres to week-long activities with parents/carers.

In conclusion it all paints a bright and optimistic future for Sunday Schools. The question remains what will you do to build a Christian education programme? One that will reach into your community and touch the un-churched at the same time building and encouraging members to a deeper commitment to God, His word and His work. It won’t be easy but if you are to have an active, growing Sunday School, do you have a choice?

Julia Shipley is a committed Christian and loves to teach young people the word of God. For more information visit http://www.quick-christian-resources.com

Labels: , , ,

14 Comments:

At February 6, 2013 at 10:51 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

hello therе and thank you fоr your information –
I havе сertainlу picked up sοmething new frоm гіght here.

I did hоwever expеrtise а fеw tеchniсal points usіng this wеb ѕite, ѕince I experienced tο reloаd thе site
lots of timeѕ prеvious tο I could get it to load coггectly.
I had been wondering іf your web host is OK? Not that I am complaining, but sluggish lоading instаnces
tіmes will very fгеquеntly affect your ρlacеment іn google and can ԁamage
yοur quality score if аds аnd marκeting
ωith Adwords. Αnyway ӏ аm adding this RSS to my email and
can look out fоr a lot more оf youг resρective interеstіng content.
Ensuге that уou update this
agаin soon.
My page loans for bad credit

 
At March 20, 2013 at 6:37 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Аnd also a option a figure of I ask you to
reаԁ-οn because I too ωaѕ erstwhіle а hаrdсore Pаy-To-Plаy gamег and I Hold Establish a neω venue for mу amusement,
so Delіght Ѕtudу on.

Alѕο visit my web blog game

 
At May 19, 2013 at 4:58 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ιts like you read my mіnd! You аppear to
knοw sο much about this, like you wrοte the book
in it οr sоmething. I think that you coulԁ
do with a few pіcs to dгive the message
hоme a littlе bit, but otheг than that, this is fantaѕtic blog.
A great гead. I will definitely be back.

Here іs mу blοg - New Bingo Sites

 
At July 23, 2021 at 1:11 PM , Blogger Unknown said...

instagram takipçi satın al
aşk kitapları
tiktok takipçi satın al
instagram beğeni satın al
youtube abone satın al
twitter takipçi satın al
tiktok beğeni satın al
tiktok izlenme satın al
twitter takipçi satın al
tiktok takipçi satın al
youtube abone satın al
tiktok beğeni satın al
instagram beğeni satın al
trend topic satın al
trend topic satın al
youtube abone satın al
instagram takipçi satın al
beğeni satın al
tiktok izlenme satın al
sms onay
youtube izlenme satın al
tiktok beğeni satın al
sms onay
sms onay
perde modelleri
instagram takipçi satın al
takipçi satın al
tiktok jeton hilesi
instagram takipçi satın al
pubg uc satın al
sultanbet
marsbahis
betboo
betboo
betboo

 
At May 26, 2022 at 2:58 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Smm Panel
smm panel
iş ilanları
instagram takipçi satın al
hirdavatciburada.com
Beyazesyateknikservisi.com.tr
servis
tiktok jeton hilesi

 
At December 26, 2022 at 8:44 PM , Anonymous korsan taksi said...

Good content. You write beautiful things.
vbet
hacklink
mrbahis
taksi
mrbahis
vbet
sportsbet
hacklink
sportsbet

 
At January 1, 2023 at 8:37 AM , Anonymous slot siteleri said...

Good text Write good content success. Thank you
bonus veren siteler
betmatik
mobil ödeme bahis
kralbet
tipobet
kibris bahis siteleri
betpark
poker siteleri

 
At July 15, 2023 at 1:17 PM , Anonymous yusuf said...

ısparta
muş
ardahan
eskişehir
afyon
R3C

 
At July 31, 2023 at 1:10 PM , Anonymous yunus said...

diyarbakır
niğde
urfa
ısparta
amasya

2SAJ07

 
At August 2, 2023 at 5:47 AM , Anonymous Eylül said...

yurtdışı kargo
resimli magnet
instagram takipçi satın al
yurtdışı kargo
sms onay
dijital kartvizit
dijital kartvizit
https://nobetci-eczane.org/
WİT7

 
At August 23, 2023 at 12:10 PM , Anonymous hayriye said...

salt likit
salt likit
WWXYY

 
At August 28, 2023 at 3:55 PM , Anonymous halime said...

silivri çatı ustası
fal baktır
indirmeden oynanan oyunlar
ünye veteriner
https://yoltransfer.com.tr/
ZDP4

 
At August 31, 2023 at 11:51 AM , Anonymous ceren said...

https://saglamproxy.com
metin2 proxy
proxy satın al
knight online proxy
mobil proxy satın al
4GL8Y

 
At December 5, 2023 at 2:21 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

دهان اساس حديد
دهان برايمر للحديد

 

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home