One Size Does NOT Fit All

How big is your Sunday School? How does its size influence its structure and your choice of curriculum?

Small Sunday Schools
Two-thirds of the congregations of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod report an average worship attendance of less than 125 people. Assuming that Sunday School attendance is likely fifty percent of that figure or less, we're talking about a lot of congregations with less than 50 children age 3 through grade 8 in Sunday School.

The small Sunday School faces significant challenges. Among them is fewer paid staff (a pastor and a part-time secretary?), so little ability to customize curriculum. My guess is that the small church organizes Sunday School along traditional lines and purchases a traditional curriculum, adapting as needed for their local situation. That's good!

Large Sunday Schools
A couple of larger Sunday Schools in large congregations have come to my attention recently. The congregations are significantly larger than average (2500 and 5,000 members; worship attendance reported at more than 1,000 and more than 1700 people respectively). Sunday School statistics are not published but attendance for threes through grade 8 is likely 300 to 500 students.

The large congregation also faces significant challenges. It is more difficult to motivate members to participation beyond the Sunday morning worship service. As a percentage of worship attendance, Sunday School attendance is usually smaller for large congregations. There are more paid staff, however, some of whom have specific responsibility for Sunday School. The Sunday School is often structured along less traditional lines; a large group opening and Bible presentation followed by small group discussion is a frequent pattern. Material may be prepared locally from scratch or heavily customized to meet the specific needs of this one large congregation.

Theology Matters
It is to be hoped that both large Sunday Schools and small ones will give equal attention in their choice of curriculum materials to theological content, especially the faithful teaching of God's Word, Law and Gospel, sin and salvation.

Cross Explorations
CPH now has a curriculum designed for a less traditional Sunday School structure. It will work well in small Sunday Schools and large ones. It adheres to the doctrine expected by confessional Lutheran congregations. I hope our large congregations will check it out! (And our small ones, too.)

Would you describe your Sunday School as large? Small? Somewhere in between?

How does your size influence your structure? Have you made some unique adjustments?

How has your size influenced your choice of curriculum?

How to Prioritize

A Sunday School teacher recently asked a question I often hear: "Why do you provide two hours of materials for a one-hour Sunday School lesson, when I have only thirty minutes in which to teach it?" (Okay, truth, this is not a direct quote, but the gist is there; believe me.)

Some teachers, it seems, feel guilty if they do not cover everything in the lesson. My goal is always to absolve that teacher of guilt.

If your class is small, your students quiet and shy, or your Sunday School "hour" really seventy-five minutes long, you may be looking for that extra material. Or if you can't play that CD, or involve your students in that biblical drama, or risk disturbing nearby classes with that exuberant game, you may be forced to omit several minutes of the original outline. You see the dilemma: the publisher is under pressure to include more than enough material, rather than not enough material, for the broadest possible range of circumstances.

The result? The teacher becomes the final editor. You will have to adapt. And that's a good thing!

I suggest though that you prioritize your lesson choices in a thoughtful manner.

Priority One
Teach the Bible account and key point. Make sure your lesson includes an engaging presentation of the Scripture text. Use the Bible. Help the students find Jesus in the lesson (yes, even in the Old Testament lessons).

Priority Two
It bears repeating: engage the students. Edit the lesson to maximize the students' enjoyment of the Sunday School experience. It is a sin to bore children.

Priority Three
Guide the student to see themselves in the lesson. Luther reminds us that the "Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith." Help the Gospel reach into the lives of each of your students each Sunday.

How long is your Sunday School lesson time?

What are your favorite ways to shorten the lesson outline?

How could your material be more helpful when it comes to adapting the lesson?

God bless you as you teach God's children His Word!

Encouraging Participation

Our Sunday School materials at Concordia Publishing include an e-mail address for any and all questions our customers might have about their Sunday School. I received a request over the weekend for assistance in getting parents to bring/send their children to Sunday School.

I think I will break my response into two parts, (1) what message do you want to send and (2) how do you send the message?

What Message Do You Want to Send?

• Jesus loves children and wants them to come to Him (Matthew 9:14).
• Sunday School is a place where children and their parents meet Jesus every week through the clear proclamation of Law and Gospel, sin and grace. (It will boost the credibility of your message if this is really true about your Sunday School.)
• Children are forming now the habits and attitudes that will guide them throughout life; parents determine a child's attitude about Sunday School through their participation and investment in Sunday School. "As the twig is bent, so grows the tree."
• We never get too much of God's Word; the student who hears God's Word daily in the Lutheran day school or weekly in midweek or confirmation class can still benefit from hearing about God's love on Sunday in the worship service and Sunday School. There is always more to learn.

How Do You Send the Message?

• From the pulpit. The pastor's support and involvement is crucial.
• Personally. Face to face or at least voice to voice will be ten times more effective than bulk mail or bulletin announcements.
• Frequently. "We tried that once" doesn't cut it. "We did that last week" is still not a great excuse.
• Graciously. You may be able to get a family to Sunday School once or twice through guilt, but the Law is not your best weapon without healthy doses also of the Gospel.
• Through caring, well-equipped and well-prepared teachers.

Do parents seem to believe that their children won't learn anything new in Sunday School? Invite them to sit in as helpers or encourage them to serve as teachers.
Do parents believe that soccer or other sports are more important than Sunday School and church? Some Law may certainly be required; Luther's explanation of the Third Commandment is a good place to start.
Do parents complain that their children don't want to go to Sunday School? Encourage them to set a good example through their own attendance. Encourage your church to offer a broad range of Bible studies for adults as well as children.

How would you answer the question, "Why should I send my kids to Sunday School?"

How do you encourage attendance in your congregation?

Thanks for all you do to teach God's children His Word.

Learnings from "Second Grade Bible Sunday"

Our new congregation, St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Des Peres, MO, recognized second graders and their families with the gift of a Bible for each student as part of the worship service this past Sunday. At least 80 percent of the students, including (I was told) many who are not likely to attend Sunday School. Still attendance was good for this event. What can we learn from this event and apply to other aspects of the Sunday School?

Personal contact bears fruit. It was obvious that the families of each second grader had been contacted, made aware of the event, and invited to participate. I'd like to think that contact was personal (phone or visit) rather than just by mail or blanket e-mail.

People responded to the offer of a significant gift. The Bibles presented were not cheap (a $25.00 value). They were special and personalized for each child. (Okay, the personalization was to take place later and that could have been improved, but it was a big deal for these kids.)

Give the event and the participants visibility. The students and their parents were invited forward by name during the worship service, introduced, and applauded. It was a relatively big deal. I've seen in other congregations a connection made between this gift of the Bible and the parents' baptismal promises. It would have been nice if the pastor had prayed with these families at the altar, but he did pray for all parents and students just moments before. How many other times will a second grader get to stand in front of the congregation and be applauded just for being there?

The worship event was tied to participating in that morning's Sunday School class. The students were encouraged to be in Sunday School that morning with their new Bibles. The Bible would be personalized with name-plates and other information, the students would meet the regular Sunday School teachers. It was an attempt to make this one-time event the beginning of a habit of regular participation.

I hope it works for these children, that they become regular students of God's Word!

How could this kind of milestone event be leveraged into regular participation?

What other events of this kind could be added to the congregation's calendar to encourage parents and children to participate in Sunday School?

What great ideas do you have for making the most of "Second Grade Bibles Sunday"?

Rally Day

Does anyone even call it that any more? Christian education Sunday, maybe? A Sunday, usually near the end of August or the beginning of September, when the congregation focuses on Sunday School. Here are some objectives you might consider for your Rally Day.

State the Obvious!
We all need God's Word! Rally Day is an opportunity to remind the entire congregation that hearing God's Word and studying God's powerful message is at the heart of the Christian life. It is the way that God has chosen to be with His people in our time. Children, young people, parents, and all other members of the congregation benefit from being reminded.

Give Visibility!
Rally is an opportunity to give your Sunday School program prime face time with the worshiping congregation. Let the children sing, act out the Scripture lessons, and help the ushers. Recognize those who have agreed to teach and serve in other Sunday School roles though a rite of induction or commissioning.

Contact Students Personally!
At least once a year, every student eligible for Sunday School in your congregation should be contacted personally by his or her potential teacher or another volunteer with an friendly invitation to attend Sunday School regularly. The week before Rally Day is a great time to do this. Since your Sunday School operates during the summer (it does, doesn't it? If you wonder why check out this earlier post), you might legitimately focus on those who are not attending regularly or at all. But you cannot assume that notes in the weekly bulletin or church newsletter, or even a well-written e-mail, will have anything like the impact of a personal phone call or home visit.

Refresh the Premises!
Rally Day is a great excuse for major house-cleaning. Clean the cobwebs, light fixtures, walls, doors, windows, and floors. Take down dated, faded, or tattered posters and decorations. Paint rooms that need it. Scrub the furniture. Clean any classroom toys (now, but more than once a year). Examine the building with the eyes of a stranger, and post improved signs as needed.

Promote Students to Their New Classes!
Okay, I'm of mixed mind on this one. Rally Day is a great time to do this. It is an exciting step for almost every child, one they look forward to since it conveys a positive message of growth. It can be scary for some children, though. And, for many students, the entire summer is confusing, since they "graduated" from their last grade in May, but the church didn't seem to get the message. Promotion in June is a logical and appropriate alternative.

Rally Day, Christian Education Sunday, should not be the only time you give visibility to this crucial ministry in your congregation, but it is one you should not miss!

When do you promote your students?

What date do you prefer for Christian Education Sunday?

What other objectives do you have for your Rally Day?

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

Teachers Interaction Magazine

The Fall 2012 issue of Teachers Interaction magazine, the magazine for today's Sunday School, was released last month. Have you seen it? (E-mail me at tom.nummela@cph.org if you have never seen this magazine. Include your mailing address and I'll make sure you get a sample copy.) I had the privilege of editing this magazine for the past 14 years, but have recently turned the reigns over to my colleague Mark Sengele.

This issue centers on the topic of "Christology," the doctrines of the Church that unpack the person and work of Jesus Christ. It does so using language that volunteer teachers can understand and make their own. It is worth the "single copy" price of $5.50; it's even a better deal as part of a subscription. You can check it out at teachersinteraction.cph.org.

Here's a rundown on this issue: "Pastor Timothy Pauls introduces the topic in “Christology in Sunday School,” challenging us to teach clearly but to allow God’s mystery to be believed rather than understood. In “We Wish to See Jesus,” the editor presents the case for a Sunday School that is truly centered on Christ. Pastor Charles Lehmann looks at the lessons in this fall’s quarter of Growing in Christ Sunday School materials and succeeds in “Finding Christ in the Old Testament.” DCE James Lohman suggests ways our students can be involved in serving Christ as we serve others in “The Hands of Christ.” Reverend Scot Kinnaman provides a helpful look at some things we can share with our students about the Divine Service in “Our Worship Teaches Christ.”

Teachers Interaction is the only magazine of its kind, devoted exclusively to volunteer Sunday School teachers and those who support them. It can be a great supplement to your teacher training. It is tailor-made for those who teach God's children His Word. I hope you'll check it out!

What would make Teachers Interaction an even better value to you?

What topics do you think this magazine should tackle in future issues?

Thirty Days Prayer

Dear Lord,

It is now just thirty days from the beginning of a new year of Sunday School for many congregations, teachers, and students. As the first or second Sunday of September rolls around, I pray that You will bless all those involved in teaching the Word to children in the weeks and months ahead.

Especially, Lord, I pray . . .
. . . that this can be a time of fresh starts and new enthusiasm, even in churches where Sunday School is a year-round program.
. . . that congregations are led to find teachers with caring hearts and discerning minds, eager to share the Gospel.
. . . that pastors and Christian education leaders choose curriculum materials free from moralism and steeped in the doctrines of sin and salvation, Your Law and Gospel.
. . . that parents make full use of the opportunities they have for Christian education for their children through home devotions and attendance in Sunday School and midweek classes; and that they set a good example for their children by participation in adult Bible studies.
. . . that You bless Sunday School teachers with strong faith and dedication to prepare thoroughly and teach lessons that are relevant in their students' lives and true to Your Word.
. . . that You bless the new Cross Explorations curriculum as a tool for Sunday morning and midweek education.

These things I pray, that Your Church on earth can be strengthened and Your Church in heaven joined by many souls, though Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Bless all who teach Your children Your Word. Amen.