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State of Sunday School: Past – Present - Future

State of Sunday School: Past – Present - Future. Dr. Steve R. Parr. The Roots of Groups. Luke 2:52 Introduction to a model of balanced faith development Luke 4:16 Systematic intergenerational worship Luke 5:16 Fr equent personal interaction with The Word

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State of Sunday School: Past – Present - Future

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  1. State of Sunday School: Past – Present - Future Dr. Steve R. Parr

  2. The Roots of Groups • Luke 2:52Introduction to a model of balanced faith development • Luke 4:16Systematic intergenerational worship • Luke 5:16 Frequent personal interaction with The Word • Luke 6:12-13Affinity based community group

  3. The Emergence of Sunday School • It started in 1780 in England. • It was the vision of Robert Raikes. • His motive was literacy education. • God’s design was a strategy to make disciples. • It quickly developed into affinity based Bible Study groups focused on introducing God’s word to the unchurched.

  4. The Rise of the Sunday School • 250,000 children enrolled in first five years. • Weekly attendance grew to 400,000 within thirty years. • Emerged in America in 1785. • Adult involvement incorporated in the 1800’s. • The cross-denominational strategy embraced with great fervor by Southern Baptists.

  5. The Pinnacle and The Turn • The Pinnacle was in 1954 with the “Million More in ’54’ Campaign. • Beginning in the 1960’s, a philosophical shift begin to take hold. • The shift from outreach to fellowship and later to Christian Education (Bible Study).

  6. Current Trends in North America • Many churches have “thriving Sunday Schools” in all kinds of settings and situations proving that the strategy is still credible. • Overall, an erosion is taking place. • In The Great Evangelical Recession, John Dickerson identifies the two key causes:

  7. Key Causes of the Erosion • “We’re losing our own kids.” • “We’re failing to generate significant converts in the midst of a rapid population boom.” • (I’ll add) The way most churches understand the purpose of Sunday School has changed to the detriment of potential growth.

  8. Key Causes of the Erosion • What is the purpose of Sunday School? • Most common answer: “To study the Bible.” • How can that be detrimental? • The purpose is rooted in Matthew 28:18-20. • The purpose is to engage the congregation in fulfillment of the Great Commission.

  9. How can Sunday School engage… If Great Commission Focused: • Lost will be reached. • Lives will be changed. • Leaders will be sent.

  10. Other Notable Trends • The name is changing. • Weekday small groups are becoming more common (but it is not growing total participation). • Options for curriculum have expanded. • Standardization is no longer present.

  11. What Does The Future Hold? • The scorecard will change making “apples to apples” comparisons challenging. • The total participation will be limited by the cultural trends apart from an awakening. • Those who understand and apply the principles of growth will thrive. • Those that move to multi-day groups will progress more than those that do not.

  12. Three Keys to Your Future • Build on Prayer. (God’s intervention) • Build on Purpose. (Great Commission Focus) • Build on Principles. (Learn and Apply) • My book Sunday School That Really Works drills down into these principles that are transferable to any circumstance.

  13. State of Sunday School: Past – Present - Future Dr. Steve R. Parr

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