Seven Questions that Will Make or Break Sunday School

From the HOKSBA Sunday School Team

The following seven questions were presented by Dr. Thom Rainer as he met with Sunday School leadership prior to the associational evangelism rally the end of August. Sunday School leaders are encouraged to ask and answer these questions as they consider the evangelistic emphasis of the Sunday School ministry of their church.

1. Are your Sunday School classes open groups? An open group is an ongoing study of the Bible into which anyone can come at any given point. A closed group is generally a more focused or defined study which lasts 6 to 13 weeks. Open groups are more a source of evangelism; closed groups are more focused on discipleship. If you haven’t had a new member join your Sunday School class in the last six months – your group is closed. It is more about attitude than curriculum.

2. Is there intentionality of evangelism is your Sunday School? Are we truly trying to reach people? Do we believe that lost people are going to hell? Sunday School classes that have become intentional about evangelism in the Sunday School are exploding!

3. In your prayer time(s) at church – do you ever pray for the lost? Are you praying for lost people, by name, in your Sunday School class?

4. Is there an intentional effort to start new classes? Why don’t we start new classes? We have a “me” vision rather than a Kingdom vision. Our goal should be 10% growth every year. Accordingly, if we start September 2010 with 20 classes, our goal should be to end the year with 22!

5. Do you have a plan to invite people? 85% of the un-churched indicate that they would come to church if two things happened: 1 – someone invited them; 2 – they offered to bring them into the building (by either picking them up at home or by meeting them in the church parking lot). Remember – Satan calls us to in-action; Jesus calls us to act.

6. Is there Bible study materials readily available for guests? If not, the guest will assume – I am not welcome. Are there extra Bibles in the classroom?

7. Does the leadership of the church, department, and class model evangelism? If evangelism is not modeled by the leadership of the class, department, and church – it will not be embraced by the members of the class. Evangelism is more “caught” than “taught”. When you have a passionate heart to share the Good News, people will see it!