Sunday School Blog

Plan Social Activities

There's only so much you can learn about a person in class or over lunch.  Conversation is great, but sometimes we just need to have FUN.  Fun activities are a great uniter and a way to get to know a side of a person that they may not show all the time.  Honestly, sometimes you may not like what you find, but usually people will like each other even more after smiling and laughing together.

Who's responsible for planning social activities?
This depends on the size of the class and the level of commitment that class members are willing to put into serving each other.  In a perfect world, every class would have a social committee that plans fun times for all.  Realistically, this responsibility may bounce from person to person.  The class director can plan a social meeting for brainstorming activities, and the activities are planned only if somebody agrees that they will plan a particular activity.  This actually can work rather well because the work is spread out over a number of people.

What are good social activities?
This is in no way a complete list, but some food for thought:

• Dinner out
• Date night for married couples
• Movie at a theater
• Movie in someone's home
• Game night
• Flag football
• Ultimate Frisbee
• Bridal / baby showers
• Scavenger hunt
• Potluck BBQ
• Mini-golf

Do you have ideas for other social activities?  Tell us in the comments.

How often should we have social activities?
This is a little tricky and depends largely on the class.  I used to be a part of a single adult class that had a social activity every weekend, sometimes even twice a week.  This worked well for that class because the members were looking to the class for socialization.  But I taught a single adult class whose members had social outlets elsewhere, so our get-togethers were maybe once a month.   To decide what's best for your class, consider your class members and what they're looking to get out of the class.  You may even want to suggest several dates for a particular activity and put it up for a vote.  Evite has a feature that enables this.

Some things to think about:

• Decide up front if this will be an activity with or without children. Some activities, like date nights, are best without children.  Then again, an activity in someone's home THAT IS ACCUSTOMED TO HAVING CHILDREN IN THE HOUSE may be a good time to include the children or even to hire a babysitter to watch over them while the adults are socializing.
• Beware of competitive attitudes.  Any event that involves competition is an opportunity to see someone's ugly side.  Believe me, I've seen it.  Bad attitudes, yelling, name-calling - and all from believers!  Decide ahead of time how you're going to handle that.  If it's relatively minor, it's best to overlook it and continue to treat the offender with love.  After all, we've all been there, right?  But if it escalates and can be deemed abusive in any way, it's time to talk to the offender privately and in a loving way, and then show them the door if they're not willing to change their behavior.
• Do social activities with other classes. This works well for smaller classes.  Sometimes we need critical mass, so to speak, for things like game nights, flag football, etc.  Doing a social activity with another class is also a great way of getting to know others in the church and building unity across classes.
• Think twice before drinking alcoholic beverages or seeing R-rated movies. Members of the class may have issues you don't know about, such as issues with alcohol.  They may even be trying to get involved in the church to get away from that.  We can be sensitive to potential issues by agreeing that certain activities have no place in our social activities.
• Learn what the class likes to do.  Don't try to force them into a social activity that they're not interested in.  People just won't show up.  Again, I know of what I speak.

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Psalm 23 Study - Healing For Our Personalities

This weekend my husband and I reminisced about what we were like ten years ago.  We decided that, if we had started to date back then, it wouldn't have worked out.  I'm so thankful that God had a better plan!  It was painful to wait until 32 to meet my future husband, but it was worth it.

Here's the reason that Garrett and I wouldn't have worked out back then:

I was not good in relationships and was willing to accept very little.  I once had a guy tell me, "There's nothing special about you.  Why should I tie myself down to you?"

So I proceeded to drop-kick him.

Just kidding!  Hee hee hee, I crack myself up.  The truth is, my reaction was way worse.

I agreed with him.  And continued to date him.

It saddens me to think of my young self accepting so little.  The only explanation is a soul that needed restoration.  I finally recognized my need and determined to become emotionally healthy.  It didn't happen overnight, but I'm happy to say that my husband and I share a healthy relationship and are thrilled to be married and to serve each other.

Let's study today by putting the emphasis on each word in this portion of Scripture.  By diving deep into each word, we'll broaden our understanding of the entire verse.

"He restores my soul." (Psalm 23:3a, emphasis mine)

As we saw in a previous lesson, the "He" in this verse is the Shepherd, Jesus.  I cannot restore myself.  Other people can't do it for me.  Jesus is the only One able to restore me.

"He restores my soul." (Psalm 23:3a, emphasis mine)

I like to look up verbs in a lexicon to get a fuller understanding of their meanings.  Let's look at restore in the Bible study tools provided by crosswalk.com.  About halfway down the list of definitions you'll find "to restore, refresh, repair."  Isn't that interesting?  It sounds a little different if we say, "He repairs my soul."  That tells me that there's something in my soul that needs fixin', as if things aren't what they should be.

This makes me think of those home improvement shows on TV.  I like the ones where people are trying to sell their houses but aren't getting buyers.  A team comes in and fixes all of the flaws that came about from neglect or even just lack of knowledge about what to do about those flaws.  Sometimes the homeowners knew about the flaws and just didn't know what to do.  Other times, they didn't see the flaws at all.  They just lived with them, even though they could be fixed.  I also love it when they take an empty room with no purpose and give it a purpose, such as an office or den.  By the end of the 30 minutes (including commercials), the home is hardly recognizable, transformed into a place that anyone would like to call home.

It's comforting to know that God wants to come in and restore my soul to the way it should be.  I know some of my "issues" and know that I can't fix them - only God can.  And I cringe to think about "issues" that I have and don't know about - but I'm sure others see them!  Thinking about that makes me want to throw myself at His feet to restore me to be the person that He intended me to be from the start, giving me purpose where I thought there was none.

"He restores my soul." (Psalm 23:3a, emphasis mine)

The word "my" reminds me that I need not concern myself with the restoration of another's soul.  We cannot restore someone else.  God may use us in the process, but we are not the responsible party and are not capable of such a feat.  So instead of reading this lesson and thinking about so-and-so, I should be thinking about my own need.

"He restores my soul." (Psalm 23:3a, emphasis mine)

"Soul" is one of those words that I tended to gloss over in Bible reading.  So let's jump over to the lexicon and get some definitions.  To summarize, your soul consists of your mind, will, and emotions - your personality. 

What does it all mean?

I've been thinking about those things that injure our souls and affect our personalities and I've come up with a few examples:

• Grief - the natural outpouring of grief can wound us if we let it turn into bitterness or self-pity.
• Abuse - physical or verbal abuse can convince us in our minds that we are not worth any better.
• Sin - cherishing sin can harden our hearts to God's voice.
• Stress - I for one am extremely sensitive to stress.  That's a nice way of saying that I'm not pleasant to be around when I'm stressed out from work, commitments, or anything else.  I don't even like myself.  This past year I've gone through the stress-inducers of planning a wedding, buying a house, moving, and my husband changing careers.  So I've had many opportunities to consider this topic!

Can you think about other things that can injure our souls?  Leave a comment and tell us about it.

Something to remember is that restoring our souls is not the same as changing our personalities.  For example, I'm an extreme introvert, and in restoring my soul I don't expect or even want God to make me an extrovert.  That's just the way God made me.  There's nothing wrong with it.  On the other hand, something in my personality that might need restoring is low self-esteem or lack of purpose.

Now the big question: How does God repair all that needs repairing in me?  Let's turn to Scripture for answers.  Read the following Scripture passages and ask yourself the associated question.

• Psalm 116:7 - What instruction does this passage have for the soul?
• Psalm 19:7 - What revives the soul?
• Luke 22:31-32 - What type of person can strengthen their brothers?

To experience restoration, we may need to cut out anything that keeps us from resting, at least for a season.  Maybe that means saying no to new commitments, taking a sabbatical, cutting down on work hours.  We then need to devote ourselves to God's Word.  But not unguided.   God places us in community with other believers so that we can strengthen each other when needed.  Other believers can strengthen us if we place ourselves under their teaching, learn from their experiences and victory over struggles, or even by working through a Bible study written by a believer that we can relate to.

What's the big takeaway?  God repairs what's broken in me.

Questions:

• What can injure our souls?  Share your thoughts with us here.
  
• Have you experienced His restoration?  Share your thoughts with us here.
  

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Plan a Weekly Class Lunch

Encourage social growth in your class by planning a class lunch every Sunday.  While Sunday School time is focused on the lesson and prayer, getting together for lunch moves the focus to socializing and getting to know one another.

How often should the class have lunch together?

It's best to plan a class lunch for every Sunday.  When I first started teaching my class, I tried to have lunch just once a month.  This didn't work out because people would forget about it and make other plans.  With a weekly lunch, the class always knew that it was going to happen and tried to make it.  And even if someone couldn't make it one week, there's always the next week to catch up with them.

Who do we invite to the class lunch?

EVERYBODY!  Regular class members, attendees that pop in and out, and visitors.  A good way to cause strife is to limit invitations to select people.  This isn't healthy for the teacher, the class, or the church as a whole.

Someone should be assigned to make the special effort every week to invite the visitors to lunch.  They may be new to the area, so make sure that the visitors have a map or directions to the restaurant.  A cell phone number could also be useful in case they get lost.   A group could even carpool to the restaurant and invite the visitors to ride with them.

How can we remind the class of the lunch?

If you don't already, you may want to start sending out a weekly email to the class, including information like the next lesson topic, lunch location with directions, and any other social activities planned.  (This would require that you have a list of email addresses.)  It's also a good idea to have an announcement sheet that you pass out every Sunday morning that includes the restaurant name, directions, and a contact number.

What restaurants are good choices for class lunches?

Any restaurant that is buffet-style would be a good choice.  Try to avoid places that require everyone to pay on the same ticket.  Also, keep cost in mind.  Lunch can get expensive if you have an entire family to pay for.  If it's too expensive, people just won't join the class for lunch.

Are there alternatives to going to a restaurant?

You might see if someone would open their home for a potluck.  Lunch may start a little later if people need to go pick up their food from home after lunch, but it could save them a lot of money.  And it would be great for those with children if their kids have someplace to play.  Just be sure to thank the hosts!

An afternoon in the park is also a great alternative.  All everyone will need is a change of clothes and some fast food.  A bonus would be organizing some games.  Just be sure to have a backup plan in case the weather doesn't cooperate.

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Study the Bible By Asking Yourself Questions

One of my favorite methods of Bible study is to ask myself the W questions - Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How.  I've started using this method with every lesson that I prepare. 

The idea is to create questions out of the portion of Scripture that you're studying using the W words.  Sometimes you'll be able to answer yourself right away, and other times these questions will clue you in to something that you have to study more in-depth.

For example - I'm currently working on the next lesson in the Psalm 23 study I'm writing for this blog.  The focus for the next lesson is the first part of verse 3 - "He restores my soul."  Only four words.  How much could this question method actually help?  The following are some questions and answers in my notes:

• Who restores my soul?    My Shepherd (Jesus) restores my soul.  No one else is capable of the type of restoration that I need.  And I can't do it myself.  He is the only one that knows how to restore me or that has the power to do it.  Trying to get other people to restore me will only wear them out and lead to an even greater need for restoration.
• Who needs restoration?  I need restoration.  I'm not the only person in the world that doesn't need restoration.  There's no shame in needing Jesus to restore me.  It's part of the human condition.
• What needs to be restored?  My soul needs restoration.  Is this talking about my soul as separate from my spirit and body? If so, my soul is made up of my mind, will, and emotions.  So each of these aspects could need restoration.
• What is it to be restored?  Need to look for other places in Scripture that talk about soul restoration.  Also need to do a word study of the original Hebrew word.
• Why do people fight restoration? Could be that they don't trust Jesus with everything.  Maybe they've been disappointed in the past and are scared of being disappointed again.  Or maybe they just don't understand Jesus' true character, His kindness.

As you can see, this is a bit like having a little discussion group with me, myself, I, and the Holy Spirit.  Asking myself one question leads to surprising thoughts and other questions.  Call me a nerd (wouldn't be the first time), but it's downright fun. 

Notice that this step in the lesson preparation process happens before looking at commentaries, Bible dictionaries, or any other type of reference material. As a matter of fact, asking myself these questions pointed out to me some reference materials I need to better understand the topic.  Now I can look at those reference materials with focus.

Another benefit of asking myself questions is that I'm giving the Holy Spirit the opportunity to teach me and guide me to a focus for the particular lesson.  After asking myself a number of questions for this Psalm 23 verse, I started to focus on soul injuries.  It may be the focus on the lesson, but we'll see what happens as I continue to study.

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Making Prayer Requests Part of Your Class

We could all use a little prayer sometimes.  Actually, I could use A LOT of prayer.  All the time.  There have been times in my life when I haven't been able to pray for myself, so I longed to have someone pray for me.  Hearing someone lay my request before the throne on my behalf did a lot to soothe my soul.

No doubt there are many in Sunday School classes across the country that would love to have someone pray for them.  Consequently, prayer requests can be an important aspect of your class.

Some benefits of taking prayer requests:

• Class members feel like someone cares for them. Not everyone has someone to pray for them.  As a matter of fact, there may be some class members that don't know another believer outside of your small group.  This is especially an issue in single adult classes.
• Class leadership has the opportunity to serve through prayer.  Scripture encourages us to pray for each other.  Praying for members of the class is a good way to live out Scripture rather than just study it.
• Praying for each other builds community. It's an opportunity for us to be vulnerable and open up to the group, even if in a small way.  Our vulnerability invites friendship.  If this is done well, the Sunday School or small group environment can be a major factor in our growth, spiritual and otherwise.

There's a flip side to most things, so let's look at some negatives of sharing prayer requests:

• Prayer requests can take a long time. If we take prayer requests at the beginning of class, Bible study time may be severely limited due to the number of requests or long-winded requests.
• Prayer requests can be inappropriate. I'll never forget the time that a guy in a co-ed singles class that I attended asked for prayer for his porn addiction.  AWKWARD!  The teacher pretty much froze in place and the rest of the class refused to look at each other.  Valid prayer request?  Absolutely.  But it would have been more appropriate to make that particular prayer request privately with the teacher or in a men's small group.  This is a good reminder that when we ask for prayer requests, there's no telling what we'll hear.
• Prayer requests can turn into gossip. There's a post at Stuff Christians Like that describes this issue.  It can be a major issue in a small group and is the primary reason that I stopped taking prayer requests publicly.

So how do we incorporate the good things about prayer requests while trying to avoid the negatives?

• Take prayer requests at the end of class.  Leaving ten minutes at the end of class to take requests and pray ensures that Bible study time is not robbed.
• Take written, not verbal, prayer requests.  The teacher of a class that I was a member of for a few years had me make prayer slips that people could fill out.  They placed the slips on a table with a basket to place them in once completed.  I've also seen prayer cards placed on chairs in the class.  Someone in class leadership was assigned to collect them.  This is a good way of setting aside prayer requests that are not appropriate for public consumption.  In my class, I asked people to email me with their requests. 
• Send prayer requests out by email. The class that I am currently a member of sends out a weekly email containing prayer requests.  The email can also be sent only to class leadership if more privacy is requested.

Now it's your turn - have you found a creative way to incorporate prayer requests into your class?

Participate in a Small Group Study

In an interview with Darryl Wilson, he stated that something that contributed to his spiritual growth was participating in a small group of men that prayed and studied together.  I have also found personal growth by participating in small groups and learning from others.  No matter how much we feel we know about the Bible, no matter how spiritual we feel we are, we can always learn from something that God teaches another believer.  A small group is a perfect place to experience that.

There are a number of ways that we can grow by participating in a small group:

• Spiritually - God did not create us to function in isolation.  We are created for community, also known as the Body of Christ or the Church.  God teaches us wonderful things as we study Scripture, but we can also learn from what He teaches others. 
• Emotionally - seeing how others deal with struggles or trials can be a model for us when we encounter our own trials.  Trials have a way of sneaking up on us, not leaving time for preparation.  Consequently, our first response may not be one that we're proud of.  But if we've seen someone else go through a similar trial and handle it relatively well, we can rein in our emotions and proceed with caution.
• Intellectually - It's hard to walk away from a good Bible study and not learn something new.  While Bible study should not be solely an intellectual pursuit, learning facts and figures can open a door to spiritual lesson.
• Socially - I've made some of my best friends by participating in a Bible study.  It's good to be able to call someone that is like-minded when you need prayer, a shoulder to lean on, or just someone to hang out with. 

Here's an important point for Sunday School or Bible teachers - try to participate in a small group as a member and not a teacher.  We learn so much when we're preparing a lesson, but we can also learn by sitting quietly in a small group study or by actively participating in a discussion led by someone else.  When we're teaching there's the stress of getting the discussion going, wondering if we're communicating effectively, trying to end on time, etc.  When someone else teaches, we can relax and simply enjoy.  It's another experience entirely.

So check out your church website and ask around about a good small group.  You'll never know how much you can grow until you try.

Now it's your turn - how have you grown by participating in a small group?

Teach Boldly

Teaching a hard message can be intimidating.  Standing in front of a group of people and even just reading out loud a portion of Scripture that may not be received well may make the teacher want to sink into the floor and let the earth close over them.

I once taught out of Matthew on the subject of divorce to a group of single adults, some of whom have been divorced.  I wondered, "Will they come back?"  It's tempting to water down the message so that people won't feel uncomfortable and still like you.

Scripture has a message for teachers - speak boldly. 

• Acts 4:31 - "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly."
• Acts 9:28 - "So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord."
• Acts 14:3 - "So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders."
• Acts 19:8 - "Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God."
• Acts 28:31 - "Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ."

A bold message is not a watered down message.  But it is also not unkind. 

Colossians 3:12 - "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."

A bold message should be tempered with kindness.  It is not an opportunity "set people straight."  That is not our job as teachers.  As teachers, we're called to present truth with kindness and let the Holy Spirit do His work. 

In my lesson on divorce to single adults, I did not avoid the truth that divorce is not to be taken lightly and clearly stated that marriage is a spiritual covenant and not merely a legal transaction.  But, knowing that God meets us where we are, we then focused on how a single person should approach dating in order to have success in marriage in the future.  The entire lesson hinged on seeing marriage through God's eyes.  It was not an opportunity to spend 45 minutes condemning those that have been divorced, especially since I didn't know all of the particulars in each person's situation.  Instead, it was an opportunity to lovingly present truth and encourage future actions based on that truth.

So speak kindly and boldly.  And let the Holy Spirit do His work.

Now it's your turn - how can we temper boldness with kindness?

Rock Out the Class

Ok, to be perfectly honest, I'm not a "rock out" kind of girl.  As a matter of fact, the only time that I recall ever using those words together in a sentence was when I (proudly) told people that "My husband took all of the rocks out of the flowerbeds." 

All that to say that I may use the term incorrectly.  So let me tell you what I don't mean.  I am not suggesting that you:

• ...trade in your I-want-to-be-trendy-but-not-look-like-I'm-trying teaching outfits for black leather pants and chains around your neck, including a ginormous glittery cross with enough diamonds to buy gas for ten families with SUVs for 20 years.
• ...stalk David Cook and convince him to come to your singles class to sing Billie Jean as part of a lesson on abstinence.
• ...get a fog machine going in a corner of the room, put the overhead light on a dimmer, and teach while you're standing in a spotlight.
• ...make "Jesus Rocks" t-shirts and distribute them to every class member, including little t-shirts for the kids.

Ok, that last one was pretty weak.  And so was the one before that.  But hopefully you get my drift. 

All I'm saying is that it's a good idea to include music in your class someway, somehow.  I've talked before about playing music before class starts, and I still stand by that, but it can be especially powerful to make music part of the class itself.  For example:

• I used to go to a class that had a guy play the guitar and sing some worship songs before we got into the lesson, and we all sang along.  I wouldn't classify this particular guy with the guitar as metrosexual, but he was still very good.  Sometimes there were even bongo drums, which made us all feel very with-it and cool.
• I once led a Bible study in my home where we studied the lyrics of a different Christian song each week and looked at the Scripture that the lyrics referred to.  The idea was to sing the song actually knowing what it means.  After we were done we would listen to the song, but we didn't sing along because we were not with-it and cool and were afraid of sounding stupid.

Your choice of songs doesn't really matter, as long as they're Scripture-based.  Maybe your idea of rocking out is a lively rendition of Rock of Ages - I'm cool with that.  Rock on.  Or you may lean more toward David Crowder or Delirious music.  That's awesome too.  Just keep it clean, my friends.  Biblically clean, that is.  (Ha!  I crack myself up.  An no one else.)

Just do me a favor and don't give the floor to a guy with a guitar that can't play.  People will end up thinking, "Lord, come quickly!" and not for the right reasons.

Now it's your turn - what's a good way to incorporate music into a class?

Teacher Interview: Darryl Wilson

Today we have the privilege of an interview with Darryl Wilson, Sunday School Director for the Kentucky Baptist Convention.  Darryl accepted Christ at the age of 15 and was called to ministry at 20.  He received a B.A. from Belmont University in Nashville in 1982, a Master of Divinity in Christian Education from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1985, and Doctor of Education from same in 2003.  Mr. Wilson has served as Minister of Youth and Education in a church in Kentucky and one in South Carolina from 1983-1988, Minister of Education and Administration in three churches in Kentucky from 1988-1997, and in his present position as Director, Sunday School Department, for the Kentucky Baptist Convention since 1997.  Married to Yvonne since 1984, they have two sons, Jonathan (20) and Jordan (18).  Darryl has also been the author of The Sunday School Revolutionary blog since April 2006.

What roles have you held in Sunday School leadership?

Youth teacher, children's teacher, adult teacher, substitute in all ages, adult department director, Sunday School director, Minister of Education, and now Sunday School missionary working with 2,400 churches and their pastors, directors, and teachers.

What's are your favorite things about Sunday School?

I enjoy watching classes reach out, lead a new person to become involved, see the new person accept Jesus, watch him/her grow as a believer, watch him/her begin to serve, and then see the person serve in a position of leadership.  I also love helping new classes start and grow.  Sunday is such a great place for people to (1) develop relationships, (2) learn about God and how to live out His Word, and (3) learn to reach out and minister in the class, church, and community.

If you've taught, do you have a particular process for preparing a lesson?

I tend to pray and read only the scripture passage (no commentary yet) three times on Sunday afternoon. That gives God lots of opportunities to illustrate the truth of the assigned passage several times during the week. Then on Monday I will read the passage and its context a little more fully and perhaps in another translation (still no commentary). Then on Tuesday, I try to discover the truth God was teaching the original hearers and the one He wants me to apply to my life. I also try to focus on a specific truth in the passage most needed by the class and some of the background issues before moving to the commentary. From Wednesday-Friday I try to understand the passage more fully by studying the teacher book and another commentary or two, especially if I have questions. I try to begin putting together major points and questions. Then on Friday-Saturday, I try to choose methods that may communicate the truth in the best possible way to the class. Now, don't let that daily process intimidate you. I probably spend no more than 15-30 minutes most days, and a little more on Fridays and/or Saturdays.

What's a good way to begin a class?

Instead of having class business, announcements, and prayer, why not save that for the end? Then when the first people arrive give them something to think about or do. I often have small written or sharing assignments in their chairs or on the board. If you want them talking later in the class, you need to get them talking early. So a good icebreaker is helpful, but it should all be connected to the lesson. If you start this way, fewer people will arrive late!

What's a good way to handle an uncommunicative class?

My father-in-law, Larry, began teaching a senior adult men's class that would not talk. He would ask a question and end up having to answer it. He asked me what to do. I recommended he prepare normally and when he asked his first question, just not answer it for them. When he tried it, he said it seemed like forever but was probably no more than 15-20 seconds. Then one answered and another. After that, he only had the problem of reigning in the discussion. You see, Americans don't like silence. It is important to ask good questions which ask for more than yes/no or one-word answers.

How do you go about filling class roles? (service opportunities)

There are lots of ways. Asking for volunteers is probably the least effective. Pray. Observe class members. Personally point out what they do well and ask them to help. Another way is to divide the class into three teams (like reaching, teaching, and caring/fellowship) and ask everyone to choose one. Prayer and helping the class as a whole to understand why a class role is needed in advance of filling it can also lead the right persons to volunteer.

Do you have any great tips for Sunday School leaders?

Stay FAT: faithful, available, and teachable. (1) Faithful. Don't quit too soon. Spiritual and numerical growth of classes take time. Stick with it. See goals through to the end. Stay committed to God. Spend time with Him daily! (2) Available. Spend time with members and prospects before and after class and between classes. Listen. Pray for them. Get to know each of them and their needs. Relationships and trust take time. Your ability to teach depends on your knowledge of the sheep God has entrusted to you! (3) Teachable. Spend time with God. Spend time in the Word. Read. Study. Meditate. Apply. Obey. Read about the Bible, about your age group, about teaching and learning, and about life. Pay attention to what's happening around you. Be a learner. When you stop learning, you stop teaching! (Check out my blog for over 500 posts about life-changing Sunday School and small group work.)

What do you feel has contributed the most to your spiritual growth?

Like many, I have grown the most during three periods of time: (1) difficulty, (2) intentional seeking, and (3) accountability. When crises have come in life, it is natural to turn to a God who cares and can help. These times have often led to greater dependency on Him and understanding of His ways and His Word. But I have also grown when I have been most intentional about seeking Him. For instance, I find journaling to be an intentional way of spending time with Him and listening carefully to what He has to say to me. I write down the date, scripture reference, and then my thoughts questions and prayers. I have often asked four questions: What did God say? What does He want me to do? What is my response? and What did I do? A journal helps me to check up on the fourth question later! This is accountability. But another time of accountability in my spiritual growth has happened when I have been with small groups of men praying and studying together.

Reading any good books?

I have just started Parr's book, Key Strategies for Healthy Sunday Schools, which is available from the Georgia Baptist Convention (I am writing a three-part series about it now on my blog). The authors have many practical suggestions for growing a healthy Sunday School.  The Great Omission by Dallas Willard will make you reassess how you think we are doing in accomplishing the Great Commission. The Six Core Values of Sunday School by Allan Taylor is also a must-read.

Teachers Need a Class Director

One of the most important roles in a Sunday School class is the role of Class Director (aka Class Coordinator).  In many classes the teacher also fulfills the role of Class Director, but, ideally, these roles should be fulfilled by different people.

Do I really need a Class Director?
I taught for three years without a Class Director.  It came as quite a shock to me that there was a lot more to running a class than preparing a lesson!  Besides the hours of lesson preparation, I also needed to build relationships with class members, keep track of things like attendance and headcount, plan socials, find and train people for certain roles, attend meetings, and then do whatever else the church was asking all teachers to do. 

All this while working full-time at a demanding job and trying to maintaining relationships with friends and family.

I was under a lot of pressure.

I loved teaching, but the added pressure of managing the class, and not doing it as well as I wanted due to time constraints, resulted in some negative feelings and experiences, as well as some depression.  As a matter of fact, I determined that I would not teach a class again without a good Class Director already in place.

What are the responsibilities of a Class Director?
The Class Director is responsible for the "business" side of running a class.  Some responsibilities include:

• Finding people to fill service positions within the class
• Keeping up with paperwork required by the church
• Managing literature and correspondence

Basically, responsibilities include everything other than lesson preparation.

Who is qualified to fulfill the role of Class Director?
When considering someone for the role of Class Director, ask yourself these questions:

• Is he/she a member of the church?  (This may be a requirement of your church.)
• Is he/she a believer? (Being a member of a church does not necessary equate to being a follower of Christ.)
• Does he/she attend church and class regularly?
• Does he/she get along with others?
• Does he/she have a gift for management or organization?
• Can I work with him/her?  (If you often find yourself at odds with the Class Director, the entire class will suffer.)
• Has he/she proved faithful in ministry roles with less responsibility? (The Class Director should have a heart for service and be willing to do the "grunt" work, as well.)

How do I find a Class Director?
There may be an obvious choice, someone that pops to mind right away.  If not, here are some things that you can try:

• Consider those in your class that regularly offer to help with the little things.  Those that are willing to do the "grunt" work - without complaining - show a heart for service and may be ready for greater responsibility. 
• Consider those in your class that manage or organize others in their careers. These people have probably had some professional training in management of others or project management.  Managing and organizing in a volunteer organization such as a church is different than doing it professionally since people aren't paid to do what they say, so just because someone does it professionally doesn't mean they'll be successful as a Class Coordinator.  But they are certainly worth consideration.
• Ask other teachers and/or the leaders in your church if they know of anyone that would be a good Class Director. A good candidate may be in another class that doesn't need their services at the time, and would welcome the opportunity to serve elsewhere.  Be warned - some teachers can get territorial about their class members.  Phrase your request in such a way that they understand that you need their help and appreciate all that they've done to grow their class members.

What NOT to do - it's not a good idea to make a general appeal to the class, either verbally or by email.  Take it from someone who knows!  A general request such as this is impersonal and doesn't communicate the important of the role.  It may also result in someone stepping forward that is not qualified - AWKWARD!  It's best to approach an individual privately and personally.

Above all else, pray that God will provide and send the perfect person for the job!

Now it's your turn - what do you look for in a Class Director?