Sunday School - It's Not Just For Kids Anymore.

I have noticed a trend over the last several decades that fewer and fewer adults attend Sunday School. Yet, we live in a time when it is needed desperately. There are so many cults and crazy things going on in the world that it is imperative that believers have the Word dwell richly in them!

Colossians 3:16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 

If I believed that that everyone was studying on their own I might feel better, but since surveys show that 35% of all born-again believers do not read their Bible at all I know that they are not studying. It also shows in their lives, commitment and the fact that cults get most of their converts out of Baptist churches.

I noticed that our neighbors have initiated a Bible Institute. Maybe the name is a problem for us. We associate Sunday School as being just for kids. Maybe the Adult Class should be listed as Bible Institute or Sunday Morning Live or Continuing Bible Education. If you have a better one, let me know. I am open to suggestions.

I try to teach the class like a college class. In the first 17 chapters of Acts, we have covered quite a few doctrines dealing with issues all adults face whether they are 18 or 80. My goal is to recruit three other teachers for the class. This will give each teacher time to thoroughly prepare for his time at the lectern and to provide a variety of teaching styles and topics. There is a suggestion box on the back table for the class to offer topics or questions to be discussed. Questions and discussions in each class period are more than welcome.

Also, in light of my perception of the class as being equal to one in a college or university I do not promote various classes for adult age groups. When I was a freshman in college I was 26, married with two children. My classmates ranged from 18 to early 60s. Some had just been saved and we had some that had been Christians for years. We had all paid the same to receive the instruction and all got the same three hours credit if we passed the course. Many times the elder classmates gave valuable insight into the discussions and also were a practical help during study halls and group projects. The younger also provided a fresh perspective at times and were helpful to those stuck in ritual or tradition. Together we were stronger.

The Bible says that the elder are to teach the younger but in church life we have so separated the church that this never happens. Paul told Timothy to allow no man to despise his age because he was younger than the culture accepted as an adult and especially a leader. Today, we need the same exhortation, but more geared towards the senior saint as the culture worships youth and disdains the aged.

In class, the Bible is taught as the truth, which it is, and that truth is applied to the life of the Christian. Each person must allow the Holy Spirit to personalize that truth thus it does not matter the age, gender, or marital status makeup of the class. Truth is imparted in the class. Relationships are developed outside the class.

There are no quick and easy 12 steps to marital bliss, successful parenting/grand parenting or any other issue for that matter. We are to learn the Word and doctrine, which is learned line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, there a little. Learning together we are stronger and we avoid the dangers of Rehoboam as well as learn new respect for each other as we study to show ourselves approved unto God, rightly dividing the Word of truth.

God appears to be providing some needed truth in the Adult Class as Pastor almost every Sunday restates at least one thing and often more than one thing that was taught or discussed in Sunday School. Learning is by repetition. If everyone that was in Church on Sunday AM had been in Sunday School they would get affirmation and confirmation of what was taught in Sunday School and that would drive the instruction even deeper into their soul.

I am not sure if this will continue for the next decade if the Lord tarries and Pastor and I live. I stand in awe of the whole thing because we do not discuss with each other what we are going to preach and teach. Indeed, I am in Acts and he has been in Genesis, Matthew and Revelation. We could not have planned those incidents if we wanted to just by looking at our texts. Some notice this consciously and will turn back and look at me, but if they do not nonetheless the Spirit will place it in their hearts anyway. As the teacher, it might jump out at me more than someone else. It is certainly an affirmation for me.