Building Blocks for Sunday School Growth

"Not another book on Sunday school!" exclaimed my friend when I told him we had this book in the works. "Who in the church cares about Sunday school in today's world?" he continued. "Sunday school is for old-timers. It's a thing of the past. I thought you were hip, with it, tuned in, an innovator!" he finished.

Whew! There is nothing like a bit of affirmation. However, I must admit that my friend got me thinking. Who does care about Sunday school? Is Sunday school just for "old-timers"? Can we be "hip, with it, and tuned in" and still believe in the ministry of the Sunday school? My answer is an unequivocal, "Yes!"

The Bible teaching ministry in general and the Sunday school in particular are still vital parts of who we are in the church. Yes, innovation is needed. And that's where the idea for this book began: How can we honor tradition and introduce innovation into the Sunday school?

This is not just "another Sunday school" book. The ideas that we've suggested are not meant as a prescription for growth. Simply putting these ideas into an "overlay" of your current Sunday school will not automatically produce growth. Your task is to take these ideas and "baptize" them into your setting, applying what might work. We hope you will think about who you are and who you need to be. We hope you will be willing to try some of these approaches.

At the Center for Christian Education, we are committed to sharing a journey with you. My colleagues and I have tried to be practical and challenging. Our desire is that you and your church continue reaching out to those around you and reaching in to those with whom you now minister. Our desire is that you find relevant ideas and a balance for growth. As you grow in your vision, you grow in your motivation for serving others.

Many, like my friend above, are not too keen on the idea of church growth. Even fewer are still committed to the ministry of the Sunday school. We, the authors of this book, are still committed to both.

The local church is still relevant! Granted, our task today is more challenging than ever before; but God's people have never shied away from a challenge. While the challenge may be greater, the results may also be extraordinary. Numbers matter only in the way numbers represent people. And the numbers are staggering.

Most church watchers agree that somewhere around 66 percent of our nation is either non-believing or non-participating in matters of faith. Most church watchers agree that the church, as we know it, may cease to exist within the next fifty years. We cannot let that happen. God has called us to a wonderful mission. The church and the Sunday school are now and still can be relevant in the world in which we live. The form may need changing, but the function is needed now more than ever.

This book was being finalized during the days immediately following the tragedies of September 11, 2001. The nation was stunned by the evil of terrorism. Suddenly, a proud nation was humbled. In the aftermath, our churches were filled to overflowing for a couple of weeks. In times of tragedy, people desire a word from God. In times of evil, people seek a place of community. People are hungry as never before for a word from God and a community to which they can belong. The question is, what will we, as Christians, do? How will we respond?

Our contention is that the church and the Sunday school are the best-organized entities for helping others rediscover their faith in God. The church has a rich tradition for leading people into a meaningful relationship with the living Christ. The Sunday school has a rich tradition for helping others study and grow deeper in their faith and in their relationships with one another. But we cannot live only on tradition.

Our world is changing faster than most of us can comprehend. Innovations have seen the advent of technology and instant communications in mind-boggling ways. The church has been slow to embrace technology. The church has been very slow to embrace innovation. But embrace innovation we must! We challenge you to embrace some of the ideas presented in this book and find ways to introduce innovative ideas into your church.