Ephesians 4:11 "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;"
Last night as my husband was closing out the service he was telling our people of things coming up later this week. He was telling them of meeting at 10:30 Saturday morning to have prayer before going out knocking on doors. Then he told them of Prayer Meeting Saturday night at 7:00. After reminding us of that he encouraged all who was in the service last night to come to Sunday School on Sunday morning. Why did he have to encourage us to be there? Because there are several that don't come. Sunday School is the least attended part of our church. I think that is probably the case in every church. In most cases it is less attended than even the Wednesday night services. As I was thinking about that last night of why people don't come to Sunday School...God gave me some reasons why they don't.
***Just don't see it as important....I don't know if they think it is just something added to our church schedule to take up time or what but they just don't see it as important. Sunday School is important. It is just as important....if not more so. In Sunday School the teacher teaches on subjects that are not normally preached on in length. Sunday School is where we learn and grow in our knowledge of God and His Word. Yes we learn from the preaching but normally things are just "touched on" in the preaching but in Sunday School they are taught on in depth and at length.
***Just too tired.....Many have worked a long week and just want to take that time Sunday morning to sleep in and just make it to church by 11:00 service time. The kids have had a long week at school and the week was long for mom and dad so they all decide it is more important to get that extra hour of sleep than to get up and get the kids and themselves to Sunday School.
***Only day to get things done....Many have to work on Saturdays as well as through the rest of the week so the only day they have is Sunday to get things done. They either take the entire day and stay away from God's house entirely to get things done or they take that time during Sunday School to get things done before going to the House of God. It's almost as though they think Sunday School is just something that the Pastor made up to keep people from being at home.
***Only day to spend with family....Some think that since schedules are so hectic all week long and there hasn't been time for the family to get together and do anything that Sunday is the day for that. If you haven't had any time with your family all week long then you've been too busy. Besides...last time I checked my family goes to church together. What better thing to do with your family than to go to the House of God together. Then when the family is home together later that day the family can sit and talk about what God did in each person's heart during Sunday School and the services. Besides...God gave His life for us...we need to give our life to Him by learning of Him and His Word.
***Going to church is enough....many think they are doing enough by going to church both services on Sunday or even to all services during the week. They say they are faithful to church yet if they don't go to Sunday School they aren't truly faithful. Faithful means going every time the flock meets together....and that includes Sunday School.
God has teachers in churches to teach. Preaching is important but so is teaching. Have you learned all there is to learn from the Word of God? I know I haven't. I've been saved for 13 years and I haven't learned it all yet. So I need to go to Sunday School so I can be taught. I love Sunday School. I have learned much from what I've been taught. A Christian grows more when they go to Sunday School.
If you don't go to Sunday School why not go this Sunday. You'll have to get up a little earlier to get ready and get there...but God will honor the sacrifice you make. God will give you much to learn of by your going.
26 comments:
Amen! I know I will be in Sunday School. I just don't understand why people don't see the importance of Sunday School. I know Sunday School is where the Lord taught me a lot of what I know. I pray people in our church that don't come will start coming. Without going into much detail are your sister in law and family losing that zeal to come to church. Have a great day!!
Bro Tim
bro. tim...I know that is where I've learned alot of what I know too. I love Sunday School...and always have.
Oh ... are you writing these posts for me? :) This is really something I've been struggling with this year ... I just don't feel like I belong in my Sunday School class. (You can add that to your list of reasons why people don't go ... I know several people who feel that way.) Any godly words of wisdom? :) Thanks for your encouraging, God-centered posts.
sis. ashley...I'm not writing these posts with you in mind but evidently God does. The reason you give did not even come to mind...but I can believe that the devil would have some people to feeling that way to keep them out. Words of wisdom you ask? Well....I would suggest you go anyway. You need to pray and ask God to help you with how you are feeling and be faithful anyway. God has you in that class for a reason and if He desires to put you somewhere else then He will show you. But as for now...just go. The devil would love nothing more than to make you feel unwanted or out of place and get you out. So don't give him the pleasure of seeing you not go. I just said a prayer for you and I will continue to do so.
So is 'Sunday School' for adults then? In England 'Sunday School' is church/teaching specifically directed at children.
sis. sarah...I don't know what the common practice is for England but here in the states Sunday School is for adults and children. In most churches the age groups are broken up into classes. We support a missionary to England and he has Sunday School for children and adults in the church he started. We have three classes in our church....adult, primary (ages 5-12) and toddler (ages 2-4). It makes it easier for the students so the lessons can be on the level of the age group that is being taught.
We must be careful adding requirements to God's Word. His Word NEVER states that we should be in church all the time and Sunday School is NEVER mentioned. We should, indeed, be fellowshipping and one-anothering, learning (on our own and through teachers -although this doesn't necessarily mean that teachers always teach in a formal setting), breaking bread together, and praying. Those things ARE all mentioned in the Word. It is dangerous to put requirements on God's people that He never does. That is called legalism. We must be careful to not try to be the Holy Spirit in another's life by dictating that something is sinful when the principle isn't addressed in His Word.
I DO agree that God's people should live their lives together and spend plenty of time together....but more of it should really be spent actually living their lives out together rather than sitting together barely speaking while a few "leaders" do most of the talking.
anonymous....I almost rejected this comment but thought I would let this one go through. First of all...if you weren't ashamed to be known you would let your name be known. But you don't want anyone to know who you are. No one will take what you say anyway...you don't even go to church let alone know what church is all about.
Church is vital to the Christian's life and so is Sunday School. Without either of them I wouldn't be what I am today nor would I know what I know today. I pray God open's your eyes to these truths. You will see by the comments that are left here that others support the posts I put up and you are the only one who doesn't. That should say something to you. You have tried to attack other posts that I have put up (by God's leading not mine) while others have gotten a blessing from them.
To my other readers...I'm sorry to be so blunt with this person but this is not the first comment I have gotten from them trying to attack what God has shown me and no doubt has shown others because I've gotten such support from all of you. If anyone has anything they would like to say to this person please do. Maybe you can help me get through to them. Please forgive me if I sound harsh...I don't mean to but only desire to help people...not bring on attack from those who do not like what I post anyway.
You know my pastor has always said if we are only going to do one or the other he would much rather see us in Sunday School. His point is that in SS you grow closer relationships and are able to fellowship on an intimate level.
I couldn't imagine one without the other.
Love, Lyndy
Ahhh I see the anonymous cowardice is not just relegated to my blog...
I love Bible study, we do ours Wednesday night with the prayer meeting because we only have a church of like 12 people at the moment. When we get a bit bigger, Pastor is going to add Sunday School too. Our old church only has Sunday School for the children, and it's during the church service, and I am absolutely 100% against "children's church". I believe God designed families to worship together, and kids really can learn to sit for an hour or two on Sundays with their parents and get something out of the message. My children will not be allowed in children's church that takes place during preaching time.
I agree however that those that have Sunday School before church and don't go, there is something wrong with that.
sis. lyndy....me either!!
katy-anne...no....anonymous has been coming quite frequently here lately. They had comments about the "Godly Apparel" posts and on posts I've done on "The Home". I have rejected the other comments just because I felt they were trying to start trouble. But this one I couldn't resist publishing. I knew that what I posted was Biblical and thought maybe they needed to let others see their error. Maybe others can get through to them....it seems I'm just ignorant and don't know what I'm talking about.
I agree with you about children's church. I believe the family ought to worship together as well. They need to hear preaching and not be entertained by puppet shows and playing games and coloring. They need to hear the preaching so they can be taught to sit in church and also have the opportunity to hear the gospel and be saved at a young age. It sets the tone for when they are older.
We also have Bible study on Wednesday nights. My husband has been going verse by verse through the NT for the past almost two years. We are in the book of Revelation now and our people are getting so much help and knowledge through what my husband has been sharing through his study of God's Word. But we also have Sunday School. I'm glad to know that your church will be having Sunday School. I'm sorry you don't have it now though. Thank you for commenting and for your support of my posts.
I do think Sunday school is very important, and I also think we should be at church anytime the doors are open and services are being had. As far as anonymous is concerned God does tell us in Hebrews 10:25 Not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together...
I do agree that families should worship together but on the same hand we have a bus ministry and we bring in a fair number of children. These children do not have parents with them to make them be still and listen, so we have a children's church set up to be just like the adult service so that they still are taught in a congregational fashion (singing hymns, offering, preaching/teaching). We do this to hopefully prepare them for the main worship service for when they are of age, for the children's church is only for 4 to 8 year olds, any child 9 and over are in the main worship service.
sis. kelly...thank you so much for your comment and for your input. I've used Hebrews 10:25 with anonymous before but they don't think that applies to church. They think that is pertains to Christians meeting together on a regular basis but not in a "church building". They say that God doesn't dwell in buildings like He used to in the OT...so they say where ever Christians meet that is having church.
I appreciate your input about children's church. I can see where it can be effective for churches with a bus ministry that don't have parents with them. And I believe it can also be effective as long as preaching is being done instead of those things I mentioned. But as for families who bring their children with them...they need to keep their children with them in the service. You have brought out some very good points. Thank you again.
I remember when Justin was a toddler, Bruce and I had just come back from Germany. He and I were active in our Souther Baptist church in Germany. By active, I mean we each taught a Wednesday night class and attended Sunday morning service. When we came back stateside, we never went to Sunday school and we never attended Wednesday nights. Justin came to me one Sunday morning that we actually DID attend Sunday school and he was very sad. When I asked him what was wrong, he showed me his little attendance chart and said he only had two stickers and everyone else had lots.(It was either one or two) At any rate, it just broke my heart. And SHAMED me! My parents NEVER laid out of Sunday school or any worship service while we were growing up. It's so important to keep our children in SS, but it's important to keep ourselves in SS. Any opportunity we have with our church to grow more spiritually and to learn more than what we already know about God, should not be taken lightly.
~Kristi
sis. kristi...Amen!! Isn't it wonderful when God uses our children to get our attention about something?
Why is it so hard for people to realize just how important Sunday School really is. If for some reason I do not make it to Sunday school I miss it so much and crave it. Do not get me wrong I love the sermons that the preacher does and they teach me so much, but Sunday school does too. Great post!
Sorry I have not been by in a bit! We are having a Womens Retreat at church this weekend and I have been really busy helping with it. I think that things are going to finally start slowing down now though.
sis. cindy...I also crave Sunday School. A part of my Sunday is missing if I don't get to go....but of course that hasn't happened in a long time.
I understand you not getting to come by recently. I know you had to be busy or something. I pray you have a great weekend and that your retreat is a blessing!!
I would have to disagree with "children's church" even for bus kids. The problem these days is that kids are not taught to behave properly. They should all be expected to behave instead of making concessions because everyone "knows they won't". They will soon learn to sit in a church service and listen. If they don't, then they don't really want to be there. I'm entirely against children's church and nursery in any way shape or form. I'll take my crying baby out of church, but won't put him in a nursery for him to play.
Sis. Julie, this is such a great post. I, too have learned so much more about the Bible from attending Sunday School.
To Anon. I would like to say that as I read your comments I thougt of the verse in the Bible that says: Hebrews 10:25, NOT forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
The church is our "Called out assembly." Sis. Julie was exhorting those who do not attend Sunday School to let them know that they are missing a great blessing in their lives. This verse tells us that some do forsake the assembling of themselves together, this is their manner but we are to exhort each other and it even says, "so much the more," as ye see the day approaching. Well, with each passing day THAT DAY is getting closer and closer. Sunday School is a great way to learn God Word togeather. Please give it a try. connie from Texas
katy-anne...I appreciate where you stand. Thank you for your faithfulness to commenting and reading my posts. You're a blessing!!
sis. connie...thank you for your input. Anonymous doesn't even believe that we are commanded to go to church...much less Sunday School. But I appreciate all that has been said to try to help this person (whoever they might be).
Thanks...just so everyone knows I am not trying to argue, I just have really strong opinions on that particular subject lol.
katy-anne....I know you aren't trying to argue. And I'm thankful you have strong convictions like this....and you need to take a stand for those convictions. So I'm not upset with you at all and I doubt anyone else is either. If you were out of line and I thought you were arguing I'd reject your comment. Love ya Sis!!
Oh I've never heard of sunday school for adults.
We have teaching sessions throughout the week as well as the preaching and worship (preaching and worship is on Sundays am and pm, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and the last Friday of the month), but we don't have a 'sunday school' for adults...ours are mondays, tuesdays, wednesdays, fridays and saturdays. Lots of lovely teaching sessions! They all follow the same theme each week as our Pastor is lead by the Word. I wouldn't miss my weekly teaching session for all the tea in china.
Oh and we have children's church, it's most wonderful and my children are very well behaved in main church (I don't let them go into children's church because I can't control them, or I want to get rid of them, or I am shirking my responsibilities) My children have learned about the wonderful love of Jesus in children's church just as they have in the main church and at home! My 5 year old declares daily that she loves Jesus. I realise you and your commenters have strong opinions against this but if you saw how happy and close to Jesus the children in our church are and how they love being in the main church service and then into the children's church you would maybe surprised and perhaps soften your approach to this subject.
I don't say this to be argumentative just expressing gratitude to God for our children's church and my lovely sister who runs children's church and our lovely Assistant Pastor who preaches every week to the children, they are wonderful. And also my gratitude for the lovely children God has given into our care and how they all seem to have such a love of church and for the bretheren and to each other. It really is wonderful.
Have I enthused enough? Lol
Blessings.
sis. sarah...I thank you for your comment and your input into this subject. It is true that many have different views on this subject. With each person it is their view on it and by sharing our views we are not being argumentative. I would never think that you or any of my faithful commenters are. I appreciate each one's input and view. Thank you for sharing yours. You're always a blessing!!
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