* Download All the Teaching Tips Below

Teaching Tips #7: The Missing Ingredient to Growing Your Sunday School
Compiled by Associate Pastor Ed Snider, Sunday School Director

Several years ago the teacher of a Young Ladies Sunday School class was frustrated over the lack of participation during her Bible teaching time each Sunday morning. “How do I get my ladies to get involved in our class discussion?” she asked, “They just sit there!”

 The Sunday School Director thought about it a few moments, trying to act like he knew the answer while he was really just stalling for time. He also found young adults to be less than enthusiastic at times in his own teaching. As the Sunday School leader pondered and prayed, it came to mind how young men seemed to open up more after they had played softball together. So he asked, “Have you ever met outside your class for times of fellowship with your ladies?” After she responded to the negative, the director encouraged her to try it and let him know if she could see a difference. Several weeks later, she reported that she saw a major difference in the participation level of her ladies and sincere warmth from the ladies toward her as a teacher. The Sunday School Director realized he had stumbled upon the missing ingredient he had been looking for to help his Sunday School be more successful.

 Many have grown to believe that the fellowship or party outside of the Sunday School classroom not only brings more warmth to a small group, it is also the missing ingredient for evangelism through the Sunday School. 

 There is a loneliness plague in our society. Unchurched people are not sitting at home thinking, “I wonder if the church has a good Bible study on loneliness,” but they are longing for meaningful relationships. People aren’t looking for a friendly church, but they are looking for friends. One successful Ohio pastor is known for saying, “People will bond or bust.” It is a fundamental truth of ministry that new people will make friends or they will make tracks.

 Let’s face it. The average Sunday morning worship service is not a great place for personal conversations and bonding with a few good friends. But the more intimate, small-group Bible study is a good place to begin bonding with others and building relationships. Those relationships are tremendously enhanced when we meet in more informal ways outside of the classroom.

 Let me challenge you to reconsider the evangelistic value of the Sunday School, and specifically the class fellowship that includes unchurched people. When Sunday School becomes an evangelistic front door to the church, there is a great potential to involve many more in outreach and we will keep and develop more of those who are reached.
 

Tip #1 “Keeping Your Ax Sharp” [PDF]
Tip #2 “The Power of Our Spoken Words” [PDF]
Tip #3 “Avoiding the Attitudes that Hinder Growth”  [PDF]
Tip #4 “Six Characteristics of Successful Sunday Schools - Pt 1” [PDF]
Tip #5 “Six Characteristics of Successful Sunday Schools - Pt 1” [PDF]
Tip #6 “Why Is Reaching People So Important?” [PDF]

Tip #7 “The Missing Ingredient to Growing Your Sunday School [PDF]
Tip #8 “Starting & Finishing the Lesson Well” [PDF]
Tip #9 “Where Can I Find Prospects for My Class?” [PDF]
Tip #10 “A Spirit of Enthusiasm” [PDF]
Tip #11 “Can God Really Do It in Your Sunday School, too?” [PDF]
Tip #12 “Why Sunday School is a Fantastic Strategy for Obeying the Great Commission” [PDF]

Tip #13 “Creating an Atmosphere for Growth” [PDF]
Tip #14 “Seven Minutes Can Make All the Difference” [PDF]
Tip #15 “The Role of Prayer in Preparing Your Lesson” [PDF]
Tip #16 “Starting Lesson Preparation Early” [PDF]
Tip #17 “Eight Steps to Preparing a Sunday School Lesson” [PDF]

Watch the eBuilder for more “Teaching Tips!”