In a recent post on his blog, Fred Peatross wrote the following before making a specific proposal for an alternative way to spend Sunday school time:
The original purpose of the Sunday School in America was evangelistic. (1800s) Take illiterate people give them a Bible and a formal education on the one day of the week when they didn't work-Sunday (hence the name Sunday school) and teach them. At that time, Sunday school was a brilliant idea to get people into the church while meeting a social need. But how effective is the two hundred year old Sunday school in the third millennium? Does the original purpose of the Sunday school remain relevant today? Can it still be considered an evangelistic tool? If not, what is the purpose of the Sunday School/Bible class today? Is it knowledge? (Frost & Hirsch believe learning is more effective when a faith community is involved in active mission) Is the ten o'clock Sunday school/a.k.a. bible class the most effective use of biblical space in the third millennium? Or would change better accommodate a biblical purpose? I have an idea why not dump the two hundred year old Sunday School for adults for missional training.
I think these are interesting questions that we should consider. Just because we've always done what we now do on Sunday mornings, it doesn't mean that we always have to do the same in the future. Are there different ways that we could spend that would be more beneficial or more effectively mesh with our mission?
Theme by Danetsoft and Danang Probo Sayekti inspired by Maksimer
Comments
re: Sunday School
Some great thoughts Jonathan. In my old denomination, the SBC, Sunday School was nearly as revered as the Bible itself. Seriously. I talked to people about the relevance of Sunday School, using the historical reasons it was started, but to no avail.Today, in the United Methodist Church, I find that many people in the pews can take it or leave it, but the church makes a big deal about it. The reason is not so much teaching the Bible (although that is the foundation of each class), but community. In fact, we do not call them classes anymore. We call them communities. It is about establishing stronger, deeper relationships with other people on the journey.Lisa loves to go to Sunday School, because she craves the interaction, the gained knowledge of the Bible, and the conversations that help her to learn.Good stuff, Mr. Mower.
re: Sunday School
Our church has approximately 5 hours of time together each week (1 hr Sunday school, 1.5 hr Sunday AM worship, ~ 1.5 hr Sunday night small groups, 1 hr Wed night Bible study), and I'd estimate that about 70 % of that time is spent in "Bible study"-type activities (Sunday school class, sermon, small group study, Wed night study). I'm all for Bible study, but I wonder if is over-represented in our schedule at the expense of other activities.