Sunday School Is Important For You

Sunday School, small groups, home groups, life groups – there are a lot of

names for this ministry of the church which meets for the purpose of

teaching and fellowship, apart from the regular Sunday worship service.

But why do we even have small group classes? Is it in the Bible? And

equally important, why should every member of Lakewood be a committed

member of a small group discipleship class?

There is no biblical mandate for a congregation to hold Sunday School

classes. The idea for a class meeting on Sunday, for the purpose of

discipleship, is not explicitly laid out in the Bible. What we think of as

Sunday School began to make its way into the church in the mid 1700s,

with classes for teaching children how to read by using the Bible. Other

subjects were often covered as well, such as arithmetic and history.

However, teaching in small groups apart from congregational worship is indeed mentioned in the

Bible. Paul told Titus that the “older women are…to teach what is good and so train the young

women… that the word of God may not be reviled” (Titus 2:3-5). Paul told Timothy to take what he

had learn (from Paul) and “entrust it to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also” (2

Timothy 2:2). This sounds a lot like Sunday School to me. Timothy the pastor is to teach those who

are maturing in the faith, and those leaders are then in turn to provide more personalized instruction to

others who are coming along with them.

The context of the worship service does not allow for personalized, one-on-one discipleship, raising

hands and posing questions, asking for help with specific life applications, and sharing common

experiences. In short, the preaching of a sermon is not a conversation, but rather a bold declaration of

God’s word. But smaller group are able to become more intimate, more tailored for a specific stage

of life, which makes it easier to hear and learn from one another. People can hear and share

testimonies in a small group, which can encourage and strengthen their own walk with Christ.

Prayers are more personalized and personal ministry is better carried out. In a small group you can

laugh and cry with one another and build each other up in the faith.

If you are not regularly attending a Sunday School class at Lakewood, I would like to ask you to

consider becoming a part of one. You may have real reasons for not participating in a small group.

I get that. But by not plugging in in this way, you are not only robbing yourself of a blessing, but you

are withholding your spiritual gifts from blessing others. You have a lot to give others in our small

group settings, and they have a lot to give you. Please make Sunday School a priority in your life.

If Lakewood is to grow, every member must make small group a priority.

Blessings,

Pastor Bruce

bruce.cullom@gmail.com