Would you rather have . . .
. . . full color printing for student material or reproducible pages?
. . . material on a CD that you can print or everything accessible on a well-organized Web site?
. . . too much material in the lesson plan the publisher gives you or enough for the average Sunday School class?
Would you pay more for . . .
. . . a teacher guide that included thumbnail images of the student materials?
. . . a teacher guide with half-size student pages with the answer typed in where applicable?
. . . a teacher guide PDF file on a CD or Web site with hyperlinks to student page and teacher tool images, song recordings, relevant Web sites, and other resources.
Your publisher frequently seeks data on questions like these through surveys. We sometimes makes assumptions about how customers would answer these questions. The "answers will vary" to these questions, but in reality the only answers that probably matter very much to you are your own.
So I'm curious!
What kinds of resources would really make sense in your Sunday School?
I'd love to hear your thoughts.
God bless you as you teach His children His Word.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Monday, October 22, 2012
Did Your Lesson Point to Christ?
How did you do on Sunday? Did your teaching opportunity go well? The crucial question you should be asking yourself is this one: did your lesson point to Christ?
A recent letter suggested to me that, while there were probably some good moral truths to be gleaned from lessons about the Tabernacle or the twelve spies in Canaan, we could better spend our time in Sunday School teaching the Creation account more frequently. I responded with two basic goals for Old Testament Sunday School lessons.
One is to teach as much as is practical about the narrative thread of the Bible, the history of God's plan of salvation for humankind. This will provide a Gospel skeleton, a framework, on which to hang each of the lessons we teach. The creation of the world, and of human beings, and the fall into sin set in motion events that took place over many generations and centuries according to God's specific plan.
The more important reason to teach these Old Testament accounts, though, is that each of them points us to Jesus. A lesson about the Tabernacle will remind us that just as God chose to live among His people during their years in the wilderness and as they claimed the land He has promised them, so He chose also to live among His people in human form as Jesus of Nazareth, and He promises to be among us today through the Means of Grace, His Word and Sacraments. The Tabernacle points to Jesus. Each Old Testament lesson should do the same.
Where was Christ is the lesson you taught on Sunday? A promise from God? A type? A fulfillment of a prophecy?
God's blessings as you teach God's children about Jesus even in your Old Testament lessons.
A recent letter suggested to me that, while there were probably some good moral truths to be gleaned from lessons about the Tabernacle or the twelve spies in Canaan, we could better spend our time in Sunday School teaching the Creation account more frequently. I responded with two basic goals for Old Testament Sunday School lessons.
One is to teach as much as is practical about the narrative thread of the Bible, the history of God's plan of salvation for humankind. This will provide a Gospel skeleton, a framework, on which to hang each of the lessons we teach. The creation of the world, and of human beings, and the fall into sin set in motion events that took place over many generations and centuries according to God's specific plan.
The more important reason to teach these Old Testament accounts, though, is that each of them points us to Jesus. A lesson about the Tabernacle will remind us that just as God chose to live among His people during their years in the wilderness and as they claimed the land He has promised them, so He chose also to live among His people in human form as Jesus of Nazareth, and He promises to be among us today through the Means of Grace, His Word and Sacraments. The Tabernacle points to Jesus. Each Old Testament lesson should do the same.
Where was Christ is the lesson you taught on Sunday? A promise from God? A type? A fulfillment of a prophecy?
God's blessings as you teach God's children about Jesus even in your Old Testament lessons.
Monday, October 15, 2012
How Close Are We to a Technology Tipping Point?
A colleague reminded me last week of the reality of the "tipping point" when it comes to the adoption of technology in our society.
Mobil phone technology went from fantasy (remember Dick Tracy's wrist radio?) to clunky (with phones the size of small suitcases), and then in a few short years to commonplace, nearly ubiquitous.
Digital textbooks were unheard of (at least by me) just a few years ago. Today I hear predictions that virtually all public school textbooks will be digital by 2016.
In each case, the adoption of the technology followed a familiar bell curve, more or less.
But, the rate of adoption seems often to be a roller coaster, slowing creeping uphill to a "tipping point" and then racing down the slope to popularity.
It makes me wonder where we are in the use of technology by the Sunday School teacher and in the Sunday School classroom. How close are we to a tipping point?
I'm relatively certain that we are still on that uphill climb. Some might think we are still a long way from that tipping point. I wish I knew.
To be sure, there are some innovators and early adopters, places where Internet access, projectors, and Smart boards can be found. And I know that technology will bring some wonderful blessings (check out the Glo Bible at globible.com). But, my sense is that we are some way out from that tipping point.
What do you think? How soon will churches be willing to invest in technology for the Sunday School classroom?
Which will come first? The equipment being available (computers, screens, projectors, boards) or the media (digital TG, projectable posters and other media, links to on-line resources) embedded in the resources you buy?
Where are you on the technology curve? Where do you think our church body as a whole is?
How soon will you be ready for digital Sunday School resources?
God's blessings as you teach His children His Word!
Mobil phone technology went from fantasy (remember Dick Tracy's wrist radio?) to clunky (with phones the size of small suitcases), and then in a few short years to commonplace, nearly ubiquitous.
Digital textbooks were unheard of (at least by me) just a few years ago. Today I hear predictions that virtually all public school textbooks will be digital by 2016.
In each case, the adoption of the technology followed a familiar bell curve, more or less.
But, the rate of adoption seems often to be a roller coaster, slowing creeping uphill to a "tipping point" and then racing down the slope to popularity.
It makes me wonder where we are in the use of technology by the Sunday School teacher and in the Sunday School classroom. How close are we to a tipping point?
I'm relatively certain that we are still on that uphill climb. Some might think we are still a long way from that tipping point. I wish I knew.
To be sure, there are some innovators and early adopters, places where Internet access, projectors, and Smart boards can be found. And I know that technology will bring some wonderful blessings (check out the Glo Bible at globible.com). But, my sense is that we are some way out from that tipping point.
What do you think? How soon will churches be willing to invest in technology for the Sunday School classroom?
Which will come first? The equipment being available (computers, screens, projectors, boards) or the media (digital TG, projectable posters and other media, links to on-line resources) embedded in the resources you buy?
Where are you on the technology curve? Where do you think our church body as a whole is?
How soon will you be ready for digital Sunday School resources?
God's blessings as you teach His children His Word!
Monday, October 8, 2012
You Are in the Customer Service Business
It struck me this morning, as I pondered a superintendent's comment that her teachers preferred "grab-and-go" lessons over ones that took "preparation." Our Sunday Schools---and their directors and teachers---are in the customer service business.
Each child who attends, and by extension their parents and families, are customers who come with definite expectations about the quality of the service they will receive.
That raises some questions.
How do you make each Sunday School customer's visit "first class"?
God bless you as you teach your customers His Word!
Each child who attends, and by extension their parents and families, are customers who come with definite expectations about the quality of the service they will receive.
That raises some questions.
- What are you doing to make sure that these customers are "repeat customers," loyal, and engaged?
- Are you taking the time to prepare lessons that are adapted for the educational needs and interest of your students?
- Are you ensuring that the Gospel is presented front and center rather than the moralistic junk that so many publishers provide?
- Are you treating your students as customers, being polite, pleasant, and engaging?
How do you make each Sunday School customer's visit "first class"?
God bless you as you teach your customers His Word!
Monday, October 1, 2012
The Impact of the Lectionary
How much does the lectionary impact your Sunday School?
Here at Concordia Publishing House, we have crafted our lesson sequence with two things in mind: (1) biblical literacy and (2) the three-year lectionary. The result is, of necessity, a compromise.
In pursuit of biblical literacy, we depart from the lectionary in significant ways. The readings of the lectionary do not incorporate a chronological look at the Old Testament; in fact, large swaths of the salvation narrative from the Old Testament are not included in the lectionary at all. In order to expose students to the key events in the salvation narrative, we teach Old Testament lessons in a chronological sequence in each fall quarter, dividing the Old Testament into four very unequal parts. Other departures from the lectionary occur in the spring quarters. The events of Holy Week cannot be adequately taught in just one Sunday School lesson, so some lessons before Easter often depart from the appointed Gospel reading. Similarly, the Book of Acts contains many events worth teaching in Sunday School, so other Gospel lessons are sacrificed. When all is said and done, students will study the appointed Gospel text about seventy percent of the time in our winter and spring quarters. And we've worked hard to have even this degree of congruence with the lectionary.
But then we have to ask: what about those who do not use the three-year lectionary? A portion of our LCMS congregations have retained the one-year lectionary. Another portion still worship out of an older hymnal, while our Sunday School lessons are pegged to the lectionary as revised in the Lutheran Service Book. And there are a fair number of congregations where the lectionary is unique to that congregation, where the pastor preaches series of sermons that do not use the historic lectionary and then chooses readings that support that sermon topic.
When it happens, teaching the Gospel lesson for the Sunday in Sunday School provides powerful reinforcement. It connects the worship and education experiences and allows them to support one another. It gives the family a solid core on which to build with devotions and discussions through the week. When it does not happen, the students still get a solid lesson, rooted in God's Word, that teaches salvation through faith in Christ each and every week. We seem to be on target for a lot of congregations. How about you?
Does your congregation use the three-year lectionary in your worship services? Another version of the lectionary? No lectionary at all?
What do you like, or not like, about the sequence of lessons in your current Sunday School curriculum?
What aspects of the curriculum are equally or more important than lesson sequence?
God's blessing as you teach His children His Word!
Here at Concordia Publishing House, we have crafted our lesson sequence with two things in mind: (1) biblical literacy and (2) the three-year lectionary. The result is, of necessity, a compromise.
In pursuit of biblical literacy, we depart from the lectionary in significant ways. The readings of the lectionary do not incorporate a chronological look at the Old Testament; in fact, large swaths of the salvation narrative from the Old Testament are not included in the lectionary at all. In order to expose students to the key events in the salvation narrative, we teach Old Testament lessons in a chronological sequence in each fall quarter, dividing the Old Testament into four very unequal parts. Other departures from the lectionary occur in the spring quarters. The events of Holy Week cannot be adequately taught in just one Sunday School lesson, so some lessons before Easter often depart from the appointed Gospel reading. Similarly, the Book of Acts contains many events worth teaching in Sunday School, so other Gospel lessons are sacrificed. When all is said and done, students will study the appointed Gospel text about seventy percent of the time in our winter and spring quarters. And we've worked hard to have even this degree of congruence with the lectionary.
But then we have to ask: what about those who do not use the three-year lectionary? A portion of our LCMS congregations have retained the one-year lectionary. Another portion still worship out of an older hymnal, while our Sunday School lessons are pegged to the lectionary as revised in the Lutheran Service Book. And there are a fair number of congregations where the lectionary is unique to that congregation, where the pastor preaches series of sermons that do not use the historic lectionary and then chooses readings that support that sermon topic.
When it happens, teaching the Gospel lesson for the Sunday in Sunday School provides powerful reinforcement. It connects the worship and education experiences and allows them to support one another. It gives the family a solid core on which to build with devotions and discussions through the week. When it does not happen, the students still get a solid lesson, rooted in God's Word, that teaches salvation through faith in Christ each and every week. We seem to be on target for a lot of congregations. How about you?
Does your congregation use the three-year lectionary in your worship services? Another version of the lectionary? No lectionary at all?
What do you like, or not like, about the sequence of lessons in your current Sunday School curriculum?
What aspects of the curriculum are equally or more important than lesson sequence?
God's blessing as you teach His children His Word!
Monday, September 24, 2012
Is Sunday School Necessary?
Sunday School intends
to complement the efforts of parents to teach the Holy Scriptures to their
children. Even for a family where they gather daily around a family altar for
Bible reading and devotions, attend Christian day school, and worship weekly in
the Divine Service, God has more blessings to share each time we study His
Word, including Sunday School. Sadly, such families are all too rare. All the more reason that families avail themselves of their congregation’s
Sunday School.
Are there families in your church that don't need Sunday School? (Or who think they don't?)
How do you address that issue?
God bless you as you teach His children His Word.
Are there families in your church that don't need Sunday School? (Or who think they don't?)
How do you address that issue?
God bless you as you teach His children His Word.
Monday, September 17, 2012
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?
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?
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