When did it happen that clear presentation of the Gospel became just one of many criteria measured during the selection of material for teaching Sunday School lessons?
Those evaluating Sunday School material measure . . .
. . . cost per student.
. . . engaging activities.
. . . colorful illustrations.
. . . how well the lessons match the Church Year.
. . . activities to take the lesson into the home.
. . . developmental appropriateness.
. . . ease of teacher preparation.
. . . effectiveness in teaching the Gospel.
That's great! These things should be considered. Absolutely! But it seems often that these criteria, and others considered important in a given location, are given more or less equal weight. Cost per student or engaging activities may out-weigh the doctrinal content for the material when the final selection is made.
Obviously, I am not without bias. My life's work these days is to prepare Sunday School material that changes hearts and touches lives through the clear proclamation of the Gospel in every lesson. But it seems to me that the Gospel ought to count for more.
Given that God's Word of Law and Gospel, sin and grace, is at the heart of Scripture and the only means by which lives can be changed for good, is it really wise to choose any material in which the light of Gospel does not shine?
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