FB, Cherokee
September 7, 2003
Sunday Morning
Sunday School – 101
Luke 24:13-35
Intro.: Today we began yet another year for the Sunday School. This year brings brand new teachers as well as veteran teachers. To each and all thank you for responding to God’s call and for fulfilling your part in the body of Christ through the Sunday School organization. If you have committed to teaching in the Sunday School for 2003-04, would you please stand. (PRAYER)
A long as I can remember, since God called me to be a Pastor, God has given me a burden for the Sunday School. I believe it is the single best organizational teaching unit in the entire church. In a generation where some church growth writers have been predicting the demise of the Sunday School I still believe it is the finest integrated church growth tool for the church of any century and of any size.
I believe that with a few adjustments aimed at modernization and contextualization, our Sunday School ministry can be raised to a higher level of priority and commitment and for it to remain as the church growth tool of the twenty-first century. Three key values to building a stronger Sunday School and Sunday School class if we are going to teach to change lives.
I. A Sunday School Class Must OPEN the Scriptures.
A. Luke 24:27.
1. Observation # 1: God’s Word must be carried to Sunday School before it can opened in Sunday School.
2. Teachers you need to be encouraging your students every week to be bringing their copy of God’s Word with them.
3. You also need to be asking your students to open their copy of God’s written Word.
4. If we are going to be a people of the Book we must begin at the point of bringing our Book to Sunday School and opening it.
B. Here’s what happens when God’s Word is opened – GOD SPEAKS TO US.
1. Isn’t that great? When we open God’s Word God speaks to us.
2. God’s Word is able to communicate to every age person who is willing to listen.
3. That’s why we have the different translations – children’s to adults.
4. LISTEN: There are many translations but only one interpretation.
5. Every Sunday School class should be opening the Bible that God may speak directly to them.
6. In a time and age when churches are asking their members not to bring their Bibles to church because it’s printed in the literature or on a large screen - Believers and non-believers need to see and read the words of God in their own Bible.
C. Observation # 2: If you don’t open God’s Word you will open everything else under the sun.
1. How much time do we spend talking about the weather, sports, cows, wheat, aches and pains?
2. I’m not advocating anti-socialism.
3. By the way that’s why it’s so important to start on time also.
4. Sunday School starts at 9:45 and we dismiss at 10:40.
5. Teachers – the only time some of our student’s open their Bible is during the Sunday School time.
6. That may be their only hour to hear and study God’s Word.
7. “Expounded” = to explain thoroughly, it means to translate.
8. Each week as teachers we are translating the Bible to our students. (Navajo)
9. The purpose of translating is that everyone may understand.
10. We need to share with our students from Genesis to Revelation.
11. From creation of the world to the death of Jesus Christ and His Second Coming.
12. To be a catalyst to growth a Sunday School class must open the Scriptures.
II. A Sunday School Class Must REVEAL the Scriptures.
A. Luke 24:31, 45.
1. Reveal = to comprehend. To bring or set together (puzzle)
2. We now move from the literal to the spiritual.
3. Our Bibles have been opened and now it’s time for our minds to be opened.
4. This is the place where the light bulb comes on.
5. This is where God’s Word connects with people.
6. This is where all your preparation is met with exclamation.
7. Revealing Scripture to people is when the words of God are jumping off the page and being written on the tablet of their heart.
6. This is where the spirit of God mixes with the spirit of man.
B. To reveal Scripture means we may need to become more creative in our presentation of Scripture.
1. Currently our Sunday School classes use all different methods/styles of teaching. (Children to adults)
2. Straight lecture to the more formal discussion setting.
3. Some classes use drama and some use case studies.
4. Some use coffee and donuts, others use hard chairs with a 1920 picture of Jesus hanging on the wall.
5. Some use computers and video, others use the chalkboard.
6. Maybe using a video from Psalm 98 as call to worship.
7. Observation # 3: If it works don’t change it.
8. Observation # 4: If it doesn’t work change it.
9. Observation # 5: If it’s working for someone else don’t criticize it.
C. Your method or style is not the most important thing you try to do in your Sunday School class.
1. The most important thing for you is to connect God’s Word to the people sitting in your classroom.
2. Our goal as teachers is to reveal Scripture to our students that they can put it together in their life.
III. A Sunday School Class Must RELEASE the Scriptures.
A. Luke 24:33-35.
1. Observation # 6: When something good happens to you the natural thing is to share it with others.
2. Illus.: When you catch a big fish; hole-in-one; 70 bushel wheat; receive an award or trophy for running or walking in a benefit race . . .you want to tell everyone.
3. These men on the Emmaus Road had experienced something good and they wanted to share it.
4. They had learned many good things about Jesus and returned to Jerusalem to share with others.
5. What these men learned and experienced about the resurrection of Jesus they wanted to share with others.
6. Verse 32 says that their hearts BURNED when Jesus spoke to them from the Scriptures.
B. Observation # 7: Every week we need to proclaim the resurrection of Jesus Christ to be the Savior of the world.
1. “And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.” I Cor. 15:14-15 (NIV)
2. In some way we need to bring out the gospel.
3. We may not use all of Romans Road but every person in that classroom needs to be assured that Jesus loves and died just for them.
4. Every week we need to remind people of the grace of God.
5. We need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and understand that people can get saved in a Sunday School class.
C. Observation # 8: When you proclaim the resurrection of Jesus Christ you also proclaim resurrection power.
1. That’s when results will begin to happen in your Sunday School class.
2. That’ when people will take the word of God, write it on the tablets of their hearts and then release God’s word during the week.
3. “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
Conclusion: Remember this verse? “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
When God’s Word is OPENED, and His Spirit REVEALS it’s understanding to our hearts, it will be RELEASED at the proper time in an edifying manner. God’s Word will keep us from sinning and will be a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.
May God bless our Sunday School this coming year as we OPEN, REVEAL and RELEASE the Scriptures.
