Cancel Sunday School the day after Christmas?

No!

I was almost tempted to just leave it at that, but let me expand briefly on my rationale.

• The Nativity is one of the biggest stories in Scripture. There is no better opportunity to teach this foundational account from Scripture than when the world's celebration of the event is fresh in the minds and hearts of children.
• Christmas holidays bring visitors to homes and churches. A positive Sunday School experience for visiting families sends a powerful message about the priority of place Christian education enjoys in your congregation.
• We maintain our other important routines on a daily and weekly basis (breathing, eating, sleeping, even attending church) through holidays. Attending Sunday School should be one of those routines---every Sunday, for all ages.

Yes, it will take some effort. Substitutes will need to be enlisted (tell them why you think it's important to have this opportunity in Sunday School). Material and classroom assignments may have to be adapted (no, this is not the time to break out a Veggie Tale movie and skip the Gospel; re-read the first bullet point above). Some special training may even have to be provided.

Do everything you can to make this Sunday School experience this Sunday (and every Sunday) a memorable, Christ-filled occasion. Those who attend will be blessed. Those who do not will hear that they missed something worthwhile.

"Will we have Sunday School this Sunday?"

"Of course!"

"Why?"

"Because it's what we do. We teach God's children His Word."

The Final Edition

I'll admit it. I am an imperfect Sunday School curriculum editor.

Partly, that's because I'm an imperfect human being, sinful by nature. However, that is also the reality of my work. The Sunday School lessons I create as a curriculum editor are not a final, perfect edition. And that's a good thing!

I create lessons for average children, of an average number, with average interests and abilities, taught by an average teacher, who has average skills, in an average classroom. Oh, it won't be a bad lesson, God willing. I, and many others---fellow editors who "second edit" my work, my senior editor who "reads behind" all the work of those of us she supervises, the anonymous doctrinal reviewer who checks my work for heresy and theological inaccuracy, the copyeditor (who checks my grammar, spelling, and punctuation, verifies Bible references and other facts, and makes sure what is written makes sense), the designer who creates a pleasing layout and images for the material, and the proofreader who follows behind for a final check---have created a lesson that does the basics---teaches the Bible text and shares the Gospel clearly and in a winsome manner. But it still is an average lesson.

But the children you teach are not average. They have specific skills and abilities. They have names and faces. You know their number, their parents, and the activities they enjoy. (I don't.)

The classroom in which you teach is not average. It has specifics good points and, no doubt, specific limitations. You know what activities can take place there. (I don't.)

And you are not an average teacher. You know specific things about the Bible and, no doubt, don't know many other things (me, too). You have favorite styles of instruction, special routines and traditions in your classroom, ways of saying things, and great new ideas about how to teach the children who come each week to hear God's Word.

So, in a real way, you have that harder job. You must, each week, take the average lesson I provide and adapt it for your students. "That activity will never work," you say; "What I need to do is . . . ." "Mr. Smith teaching on the other side of the partition will hate me if I try that, but I can . . . ." "My kids really don't like drama; instead I'll . . . ." "My students don't know very much about that concept, so first I will . . . ." "I could illustrate that better with what happened to me last week, when . . . ."

And there it is! The Final Edition! Yours! Better than mine, because it incorporates information that I didn't have when I edited the original. Thanks for taking the time each week to adapt and polish to create a lesson that truly teaches God's children His Word. I hoped that I helped get you started.

What sections of the lesson do you find yourself adapting most often?
Where do you think the editor of your material always seems to "miss the mark"?

The Rhythm of the Lesson

I am indebted to my current senior editor, Deaconess Pam Nielsen, for many things she has taught me over the years about the practical application of Lutheran theology to Sunday School material. Among other things, she reminded me that every Sunday School will ideally follow a simple rhythm of Law > Gospel.



Note that progression. It is not open to revision.



In some Sunday School lessons I see (all too often in the materials prepared by many publishing outlets that are not overtly Lutheran and committed to our synod doctrinal review process) is the rhythm Law > Law > Law. The entire lesson is Law. God's Word is taught, surely, but not in its fulness. The lesson is all about what God expects of us, how we are to live, moralism, works righteousness. When Jesus Christ is taught at all, He is revealed as an example of perfect living, a model we should aspire to emulate. Or he is held out as the ultimate carrot-on-a-stick; Jesus' love and salvation are offered as the reward for good behavior.


Some Sunday School lessons I see (including a few that I edit) teach in a pattern of Law > Gospel > Law. This starts out right. God's Law must be taught honestly and fully, convicting the student of his or her sin. Without Law in the lesson, the Gospel has no wound to heal, no filth to wash, no terror to relieve, no rescue to provide. So the Law is taught in a way that shows each student the sinfulness that afflicts each of us. Then the Gospel can indeed be taught to bring new life and great joy! If only the lesson had ended there! Instead, the lesson-writer is mysteriously impelled to go on, adding a sort of life application that restores the power of the Law: "Go and do likewise! Since God loves us we ought to love one another." Biblical messages to be sure, but Law. Ended at this point, the lesson leaves that student in slavery to the Law, still a poor, miserable sinner. Don't we want to teach "life application"? Of course we do. But we don't want to leave the student in despair. When the lesson ends with instruction about what God expects us to do, we are in trouble. The sinful nature, this side of heave, can never live up to the standards of the Law.



A good lesson will end with the proclamation of Gospel. Yes, there are standards to which we aspire, but yes we are sinners and are certain to fail if our goal is to live up to those standards. What we, and our students need to hear that God loves us anyway. Because of the faith He has planted in our hearts through the Holy Spirit by His Word, He loves us and forgives us. The Gospel will always follow the Law.



This is not a simple task. I have written and taught lessons that have not adhered to this pattern. But I will leave those confessions for another post.



God's blessing as you teach God's children His Word---Law always followed by Gospel.

The Heart of Sunday School

Sunday School is all about sharing the Gospel, teaching God's children the truths of God's Word, that He loves them with an everlasting, unchanging, unconditional love and promises salvation to all who believe in His Son, Jesus, who died to redeem all people from sin, death, and the devil.

Sunday School is not about entertainment. That doesn't mean it can't be entertaining, but if it is only entertaining but does not share the Gospel, what's the point? Others can and will do a better job of entertaining children than we can. We have something a bit more substantial to share.

Sunday School is not about character development. Teaching children respect, honesty, and love for neighbor are not unimportant tasks, and these themes may arise in the course of many Sunday School lessons, but they are not core to Sunday School. Spare me dancing vegetables and dinosaurs, please.

Sunday School is not about moralism. Yes, Sunday School children are sinful human creatures, as you and I are, but once they have experienced the Law it is imperative that we share with them the one message that bring new life, joy, and salvation. Jesus loves and forgive them.

Will you be teaching God's children His Word this Sunday? Locate the Gospel message that is at the heart of the Bible text you will teach. Find out how it is shared with the students through the material you teach. If you can't find it, or feel it deserves to be strengthened, re-write the lesson until it does the job. Along the way, make sure the lesson will be enjoyable for you and for those you teach.

And if you find ways to improve the lessons I have edited (middle and upper grades for Growing in Christ from CPH), don't hesitate to let me know. I really do wish to practice what I preach.

Did you find clear Gospel in the material you will teach this week? How could that lesson be improved?

God's richest blessings as you teach God's children His Word!

Parents are Christian educators for their children

Of course they are! God has given a precious gift to parents with the birth of a child and He commands that His children be taught His Word. It is the Church's privilege to assist parents in this process in whatever way we can.

That said, let's be slow to jump on the "Sunday School is dead" bandwagon. Generally speaking, Sunday School is as strong in any congregation as that congregation chooses to make it. But let's face it! Sunday School, and Christian education in general, is hard work! To be sure, a new program (workshop rotation, site rotation, large-group presentation/small-group discussion) will often create improvement in Sunday School numbers. I would suggest that this is not because traditional Sunday School is "dead,"past its prime, but because every new thing requires increased effort, and increased effort pays off.

Don't give up on your Sunday School. Not every congregation can pull together the resources needed for the latest and greatest. But every congregation can invest a little more effort in a program that has proven itself over time to help parents teach the Word to their children.

Focus on essence! Trust God's promise to provide His Spirit wherever God's Word is taught. Teach God's children His Word.

How is Sunday School doing in your corner of the kingdom? What are you doing to equip parents in their task as Christian educators?

Do You Need a New Curriculum?

One of the hardest things for me as a curriculum editor to hear is that a customer is dropping the curriculum I have spent years helping to create and choosing another curriculum instead. We value customer loyalty and engagement at Concordia Publishing House and we will go to great lengths to keep customers. Today I heard that one of our valued customers is planning to switch to another curriculum. Ouch!

However, it is a question that every congregation will face at some point: Do we need a new curriculum? The question will always be one that can only be answered locally, in that congregation's setting. Let me suggest some things that should be considered.

What Problem Are You Trying to Solve?
It has been said that, if your only tool is a hammer, every problem will look like a nail. Changing curriculum will not fix every problem.

Sometimes congregations allow Sunday School to become a very low priority. It does not get mentioned from the pulpit. A new worship service competes with what used to be a dedicated Christian education hour. Leaders are selected with too little care. Teachers spend a little less time each week in lesson preparation or receive little encouragement or training. A new curriculum will not solve these problems over the long term.

What Will Bring Lasting Improvement?
A new curriculum will often bring a surge of interest, enthusiasm, and participation. Parents and children will be curious about this new thing, for a while. Teachers will spend a little more time preparing lessons, for a while. Congregations will spend a little more time and money on Sunday School, for a while. Sunday School will show signs of improving, for a while. All too often, though, these improvements will be short-lived. The root causes have not been addressed and they will reappear over time.

In What Ways Will the New Curriculum Be Better?
No material this side of heaven will be perfect. No curriculum will suit every congregation. If your Sunday School intends, however, to share the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ with the children you serve, it stands to reason that the material you teach will need to have "Jesus as Savior," not just "Jesus as moral example" or "God is love," as the central message of every lesson. For me, this would be a non-negotiable factor in curriculum choice. Most, if not all, shortcomings in material can be corrected more easily at the local level than theology.

I am not an unbiased observer when it comes to Sunday School curriculum. It is my life's work. But, I'm very willing to listen and learn.

Does your congregation need a new curriculum? Why?

Yes, you should be able to have theology and _______. For you, what goes on that blank line?

Click the "comments" counter below and share your thoughts.

Helping Hands

Okay, it is not a perfect analogy. But if we look at Sunday School using the model of the human body, teachers might be the hands.

Teachers do the "hands on" part of Sunday School, the teaching. Most teachers are volunteers who give hours every week to prepare and teach lessons that share the Gospel with the children placed in their care for a precious hour. They certainly deserve all the help and support we can provide.

On Sunday I was privileged to be a helping hand, and to help the hands, of our Sunday School. I and about fifteen others, parents and children who love Sunday School, gathered to sort the Sunday School curriculum material for the next quarter. Of necessity, the material comes from the publisher (yes, we use Growing in Christ material from Concordia Publishing House) with each set of student material for all thirteen weeks bundled as a unit. For a teacher with ten or fifteen students, separating the material into weekly sets for easy use can take several hours each quarter. So our volunteers assemble two or three weeks before each quarter begins to do this sorting job for all the classes in our Sunday School. The teachers are relieved of this time-consuming and, for one person, somewhat mind-numbing task. And the volunteers, quiate honestly, have a great time!

It's nice to know that with less than an hour of our time, we were able to make a difference, be helping hands, for some of the the hardest working volunteers in our congregation.

How do you support the "hands" of your Sunday School, your teachers?

How do you help make their work easier or more enjoyable?

How do you recognize their service?

Share your ideas!

From Where I Sit

From where I sit, Sunday School remains a viable tool through which churches teach God's children His Word.

Where do I sit? I am an editor for a denominational publishing house, Concordia Publishing House. I edit Sunday School material of various kinds and a magazine for volunteer Sunday School teachers. Because I make my living from promoting Sunday School, you might be tempted to write me off. I hope you don't.

I'd like to promote conversation about how Sunday School can be more effective in it's task of teaching God's children His Word. I've heard people say that Sunday School is dead. I don't believe it. There are hundreds of thousands of Sunday Schools in the world today. They all struggle to some degree. They exist in a world plagued by sin. But all also succeed to some degree. I know this for certain, because God's Word promises that that is so (Isaiah 55:11).

By God's grace, and with His help and the help of others, our Sunday Schools can be better than they are. I hope you will join me in a quest for better Sunday Schools, better places to teach God's children His Word.

So let me start with two simple questions.

How is your Sunday School doing?

What do you need to improve?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Tom Nummela