A SUNDAY SCHOOL PERSPECTIVE
by Darrell Patterson
The teacher turns around from writing on the chalkboard to find two boys exchanging swats, a girl playing with a bracelet, another boy drawing his favorite football team’s emblem, along with a few other unfocused students daydreaming. She looks down at her notes that she prepared diligently on during the week and thinks to herself, "why am I doing this?"
Have you felt like this teacher? Have you ever asked yourself, "why do we have a Sunday School?" Maybe you are a new Sunday School teacher or considering being part of a Sunday School ministry, and you are wondering what the objective of Sunday School should be. What biblical principles support having a Sunday School?
The basic outline of this article is not original with me but was taken from a Sunday School Staff Training Session taught by Pastor-teacher Dennis Rokser.
What Is The Purpose Of Sunday School?
Paul tells us in his second epistle to Timothy,
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 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 perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:15-17)
Children are precious to God and are capable of learning the Scriptures. First of all, children need to know about salvation through Jesus Christ. What a privilege we have to share the Good News with boys and girls and lead them to Christ. Studies have shown that students under 18 years old are much more receptive to the Gospel. The older a child becomes, the more worldly their perspective becomes, thus making it more difficult for them to see God’s gracious provision of salvation through Christ.
Once saved, the child needs to learn the Scriptures to encourage spiritual growth, "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby" (1 Peter 2:2). Children learn by hearing precept upon precept, line upon line. Saved parents can reinforce what the children are learning at home. For example, my roommate in college got saved at an early age. He is thankful for and gives credit to his parents and Sunday School teachers for teaching him the Word of God. As a result, he got saved and started living a Christ-honoring life in his very early childhood.
Thus, as a teacher, you should desire not only to lead the children to Christ but also to help spiritually equip the children to faithfully serve Jesus Christ.
What Are Some Key Principles For A Sunday School Teacher To Remember?
Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 2:1)
The unsaved can teach Bible Stories, but they do not have the Holy Spirit to empower their teaching. Thus, a teacher must first of all be saved.
And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. (2 Timothy 2:2)
You cannot pass on what you do not possess. Teachers need to be growing and maturing in the faith in order to clearly and effectively communicate the Word of God. God commands every believer to be growing in the knowledge of His grace. This means every Sunday School teacher needs to be hearing the Word of God, regardless of how long one is saved. As teachers of the Word of God, the Author requires faithfulness…
Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. (1 Corinthians 4:2)
Part of spiritual maturity is viewing the ministry as Paul did, with a servant mentality. Paul states in 1 Corinthians 4:1 "Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ." The word "servant" (douloo/doulow ) means to bring into (be under) bondage. The word was used as an under-rower in a trireme, a ship with 3 banks of oars. This was not a glorified position. Thus, as teachers, we should count it a privilege to be involved in the ministry as we serve the Lord.
Being a servant means Sunday School teachers will have to make sacrifices. There is a time commitment involved in teaching. Teachers should come to class early and often times need to stay after most people are gone. There is also prep time outside of the classroom. Teachers may also have to miss out on the adult services and the fellowship times before and after services.
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18)
Not only should the Holy Spirit indwell the teacher, but also He must control him. In light of the fact that the Holy Spirit came to "teach you all things" (John 14:26), it only stands to reason those who are used by God to teach His Word, should be controlled by Him.
4. The teacher's ministry must manifest the necessary gifts to handle the assigned task.
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us… (Romans 12:3-6a)
God has given every believer certain gifts to function in different ways in the body of Christ. Not every one has the gift of teaching. A believer may know a lot of doctrine, but may not be able to verbally communicate God's Word clearly in a way in which the students can understand. Therefore, a believer should sense a giftedness in teaching if he wants to be a Sunday School teacher.
How Should Sunday School Teachers View Their Relationships With Others?
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. (Ephesians 6:1)
Parents are to "train up" their children in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6). Because of this the home and church should complement each other, not compete with each other. In fact, you must remember that the primary responsibility of the training process for each child belongs to the parents. You will encounter children with both unsaved and saved parents. We should never seek to undermine the authority of the parents. However, in the case of the unsaved parent, we should not compromise the Word of God to avoid offending a parent. We should teach the truth in love and yet be sensitive towards others in areas of liberty; those things which are personal choices that do not violate the Word of God. Our responsibility is to teach the Word of God and allow the Holy Spirit to work in the hearts of the children; keeping in mind that the primary responsibility for training a child is the parent's.
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. (Hebrews 13:17)
As a Sunday School teacher, you need to recognize that you are part of a local church which God has ordained. God, who is head over the church, has gifted pastor-teachers to teach the Word in order to equip the saints so that they would do the work of the ministry in local churches. God has designed the local body of believers to work together as a team by obeying and submitting to the spiritual leadership. When this breaks down, the team breaks down. As the pastor puts himself under the headship of our Lord Jesus Christ, so must the teacher put himself under the authority of the pastor.
Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. (1 Corinthians 3:5-9)
God wants us to remember that some plant and others water, but it is God that causes the growth. Teachers should not compete with each other. Instead, they can learn from each other as they work together.
Remember that you are the authority in the classroom, and the focal point of the learning process. As soon as a teacher looses sight of his role, so will the students. Students should respectfully refer to their teacher as Mr., Mrs. or Miss.
What Are The Responsibilities Of A Sunday School Teacher?
First of all, the teacher is responsible for setting the proper mood and example for the class. The students can sense if the teacher takes the Word of God seriously and if they have a genuine concern for them. Kids will often put teachers on a pedestal. Thus, the teacher needs to set a good example in and out of the classroom. Also, there needs to be design and order to your teaching. If the teacher is running around frazzled, the classroom will become chaotic.
Second, it is the teacher's responsibility to communicate clearly, accurately and practically the Biblical lesson for that day. This is the most important part of the teaching process. Everything rotates around this and is designed to reinforce this. That means any games, crafts or other activities should have the aim of the lesson in mind. You should not simply have activities to fill time, but you want to have an impact on the students.
Thirdly, it is the teacher's responsibility to maintain discipline and order within the classroom. If the students are out of control, it is because the teacher has broken down. Perhaps he was not prepared or failed to instruct the students as to what his expectations are. In order to clearly communicate the Word of God, the classroom needs to be orderly. Paul states, "Let all things be done decently and in order" (2 Corinthians 14:40).
Finally, the teacher needs to take responsibility for knowing and praying for the children in his class. It is important to know where they are at and what their needs are. This may involve talking with them one-on-one before and after class, talking with their parents or visiting them in the home. ¢
Darrell Patterson is a graduate of the Moody Bible Institute and is currently the administrative assistant and Sunday School Superintendent at the Duluth Bible Church.
Return to: