Mark Tabata’s Weekday Devotionals
Monday, September 14
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1 Peter 4:10-11-As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
The Sunday School program of a church is extremely important. There is a need for teachers willing to instruct others (of all ages) in God’s Word.
Over the years, I have some Sunday School programs that could be best described as mediocre. There was a lack of enthusiasm, failure of teachers to prepare their lessons, and no attempt to make the learning experience enjoyable for the students.
On the other hand, I have seen some Bible Classes that were informative, enjoyable, and interactive. Teachers would be prepared, and they would not shy away from making the classes applicable. Sometimes they utilized technology, handouts, videos, workbooks, etc.
What can we do to make our church’s Bible School program better?
Consider the following.
An entire chapter could be devoted to the Bible School Program of the local church. Seeing that a chapter has not been set aside for this study, let us delve deeply into it now. ➢ Bible School classes must have teachers who are knowledgeable and glad to teach….We must not over burden these fine teachers to the point that they would regret being asked to teach. Keep them fresh. Help them to be excited about the class they are to teach by giving them a selection of subject possibilities and time to prepare. The curriculum must be progressive and relative. A child does not need to study second grade grammar until middle school and neither should a child stay on one book or subject of the Bible for years at a time. Our children must learn about marriage before they marry, about baptism before they are young adults, and about faithfulness before it is too late….➢ Each class should emphasize its growth. Each class must be dedicated to recruiting new students. The Bible study program should become an instrument of growth for the congregation. From this effort, we expect to see lost souls come to know the Lord. Time should be allotted during each session to pray for the lost, specifically those with which we are presently working. We should also be found discussing plans for visiting in the upcoming week, and even reviewing what has been done in the previous week or weeks. Allotting time each week for evangelism will keep the class aware of the emphasis we are placing on the growth of the congregation through its Bible classes and their responsibility in this cause…. ➢ Train new teachers. Allow Bible teachers to have a teacher’s helper who is there to help and learn how the class should be conducted. By so doing, you will be using your best teachers to teach and to train simultaneously. ➢ What are we expecting to accomplish with the Bible School Program? What are our intentions? Are we having Bible classes simply for the sake of saying we have them? Is our primary purpose to offer classes for children and, therefore, we offer classes to the parents who bring the children? Are we hoping to provide spiritual growth and continued Bible education for those who are already Christians? Or, do we want to provide a Bible education to all while using this opportunity to train our people to be soul-winners and reach out to the lost? What is our objective? In many places the importance of the Bible School Program has diminished. The attitude seems to be that as long as we have teachers willing to teach, and a workbook for them to teach from, all is well. We can do so much more! We can improve. But, where do we begin? It begins with recognition. The church must recognize that God intends for His church to serve as His educational institution on this earth. We are God’s educational system. It is the responsibility of the local church to educate her members in all the words of life–including the doctrine of personal evangelism. We must also recognize that our responsibility does not end with educating members. We must also serve as God’s educational institution in teaching the lost….In other words, we cannot afford to go about a work as important as this haphazardly. Let us form a plan, set goals, and go to work. You will only get out of people what you expect. If you expect to have a mediocre or average Bible school program, committed to attendance only and “fill-in the blank” answers–that is all you will have. But, who wants to be average? Should we not desire to be excellent? Should we not strive to be like the churches of Macedonia (2 Corinthians 8; 1 Thessalonians 1) who went above and beyond what was expected of them? Why not expect excellence out of your congregation and its Bible School Program? Why not expect your teachers and students to be evangelistic and recruiting students? If all you expect is their attendance, their attendance is the most you will get. Why not use this time–at least part of it–to train the students and discuss plans for further evangelistic efforts? If you expect the minimum you will see minimal effort. Let us expect the most out of our members and help them by training them unto the greatest possible good. We should expect the most out of our teachers. Teaching God’s word is a sacred responsibility. Being selected to teach God’s word in the Bible school program is a tremendous honor. As teachers, we must take this responsibility and the trust with which it is given seriously, knowing that the salvation of the souls of our loved ones depends upon our willingness to teach them the truth of God’s word…Why not assign work for the students to do away from the classroom? Such work would include visiting the sick and wayward, setting up Bible study appointments, and executing the study itself. Homework could be assigned to the younger classes. Classes could also be offered to train preachers and teachers with necessary requirements being placed. You will get out of people only that which you expect of them. Let us expect of one another only that which God expects of each of us–our very best. By applying the following objectives, a congregation will establish its expectations for the Bible School and clearly present what the leaders are hoping to accomplish and provide for the best possible learning experience and environment for all who are involved. Objectives should include but are not limited to the following: 1.) Use the Lord’s treasury wisely in supplying the necessary tools and supplies required. 2.) Use the best and most capable teachers in the Bible school program. 3.) Use the faithful teachers we are blessed to have in training and developing faithful Bible teachers for coming generations. 4.) Use Bible School enrollment as a key factor in bringing lost souls to Christ. 5.) Use the Bible School in an effective way by following up with visitors, even visiting children and their parents, by using a plan and study enacted for setting private Bible study appointments. 6.) Offer as wide a variety of classes, subject matter, and diversity among teacher styles as possible to educate adults better without becoming bogged down for years at a time in one particular study. 7.) Provide a setting conducive to learning with a comfortable, relaxed, non-threatening atmosphere allowing the students to feel comfortable to discuss the Scriptures in a free-flowing way. 8.) Offer adult classes conducive to adult education with the students learning to study and interpret the Scriptures for themselves and a great deal of open discussion occupying our class time. 9.) Provide adults with the opportunity to grow spiritually through our Bible School Program to the degree that they have become capable teachers, possible preachers, and greater personal evangelists. 10.) Offer a “first principles” class perpetually for those who have recently obeyed the gospel to continue learning at their own speed or those who are visiting and have yet to obey the gospel. Do we need to renew our commitment to the Bible school program? Are we doing our very best to make it the very best learning experience? Many times in life we are faced with the opportunity to stop and examine what we are doing. Perhaps now is an appropriate time for our home congregation to exercise this judgment and closely evaluate our Bible School. Whatever we do for God must be done with the hope of accomplishing the greatest possible good. Let us pray and work for the education of the saved and lost alike through our Bible School Program. (Andrew Erwin, Each One Reach One: A Study of Church Growth and Personal Evangelism, 142-150 (Kindle Edition): Charleston, AR: Cobb Publishing)
Is our local church family focused on utilizing our Sunday School program to the greatest degree possible?
Do we enrich that program with our presence and our participation?
More importantly: am I willing to volunteer to help as the need arises?
Lord, help us to excel in every scriptural form of teaching Your Word. Bless our efforts! Amen.
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