So, What Do You Expect?

Sports teams expect to win each time they go out to play.  If they expect to lose, they probably  do.  Have you ever thought about what expectations you have for church?  How about for your Sunday School class?  Do you expect people to come to know Christ, join the church, and get baptized?  Do you expect lives to be transformed by the teaching and preaching of the Word each week?  Do you expect hearts and spirits to be lifted as we sing our praises to the Lord?

I don’t think we expect to lose, but I do think our expectations about church have changed over the years.  Tim Smith, a state convention Sunday School consultant, notes a change in what he calls a “consumer mentality” that has infected the church.  In other words, he says that many church members expect the church to serve them, rather than expecting lost people to get saved.  He gives three reasons for this shift that he has observed in churches today:

First, he sees a lack of preparation by the Sunday School teachers.  Years ago, teachers used to spend hours each week in prayer, Bible study, and discussion with other teachers.  Today, we have teachers coming in at 10:30 p.m. on  Saturday night and beginning their preparation for teaching a class–and they want the lessons to get simpler.  We, as Sunday School teachers, must be willing to invest our LIVES!

Second, he mentions there is little or no time given for spiritual decisions during class time.  We are so rushed to get out on time that application of the lesson seems to be of little care or concern.  We must provide a time for spiritual decisions during the Sunday morning Bible study hour.

Finally, he sees so few members sharing their faith.  Numerous studies have shown that Christians in America are not sharing a verbal witness on how a person can have forgiveness and eternal life in heaven.  We must equip our members to share their faith.

So, what are you expecting each week?  Here are some of my expectations:  I expect our Sunday School teachers to be preparing all week to lead their students into life transforming Bible study on Sunday mornings.  I expect that at the end of the lesson, there is time for application and decision-making.  I expect our members to know how to share their faith and that they are giving a verbal witness on a regular basis.  And, yes, I expect to see people get saved each and every week.  Will you join me?  I hope so.

Are You Contagious?

A recent post by Bob Mayfield posed the question:  “If the Gospel was a virus, would your class be infecting anyone in your community?”  That’s a valid and intriguing question.  I have set up this blog to jump-start, challenge, and shape our thinking about Sunday School in today’s culture.  I want us to think deeply and to challenge one another as together we venture on this journey of faith. 

Mayfield goes on to say that “the greatest evangelistic resources our churches have are not found in programs, events, or tracts.  Our church’s greatest evangelistic resource is when a small group of believers (i.e. Sunday School class) has enough faith to put the power of the Gospel on display and include their unreached neighbors and friends in their community of Bible Study, prayer, ministry, and mission.”  I couldn’t have said it better or agree with it more.  How about you? 

Join me, on this blog, as we consider practical, yet powerful, ways to impact the lives of those God has chosen to bring into our circles of influence.