O * H * I * O AMBASSADORAMBASSADOR Volume 55 Number 1 January­February 2015 “The Voice of Ohio Free Will Baptists Proclaiming The Words of Christ to a Lost World” Sunday School Is Worth It! By Paul Keener our church follows the direction of your educa­ tional program. What your church will be in 20 Y years is based upon what you are teaching now and Come Learn at a well­graded Sunday School program is the easiest and most economical approach for your church to move forward especially in spreading the gospel. Sunday School Education Is Biblically Mandated While the word “preach” or forms of the word “preach” are used 147 times, the words associated with teaching are used more 250 times. In Deuteronomy 6:7, Moses instructed the parents of the children of Israel to “teach them diligently”. In Proverbs 22:6, we are told “to train up a child in the way he should go.” Moses makes it clear in Deuteronomy 6:1, we are to learn and teach His “commandments, statutes, and judg­ ments.” In fact Deuteronomy 11:13­17, makes it clear, if we learn and are obedient to His commandments, we will be blessed. And if we do not do His commandments, we are American Industrial Revolution, began using the idea of School. The Sunday School provides the training and not going to do well. Sunday School in America. encouragement for Christians to share their faith more effectively. The importance of teaching is also clearly seen in the In the 1820s, the church began taking on the ministry of New Testament. Matthew 5­7 is called the Sermon on the Sunday School. Sunday Schools were held on Sunday after­ Unfortunately, when a church starts trying to reduce Mount, which is in reality a series of lessons that Jesus noons, but in the 1940s Sunday Schools became a one­hour expenses, too often the Sunday School program is where taught. Matthew 5:1­2 begins with Jesus “seeing the multi­ Bible study on Sunday mornings with teachers who were they begin and the students are the ones who suffer. With tudes” and He “taught them”. And in verse 19, He points volunteers and usually without formal training. the decline of publishing houses and bookstores, the cost of out the importance of teaching when Jesus said, “whoever Sunday School Curriculum is rising, but the benefits of a shall do and teach them [the commandments] shall be Benefits of Sunday School good graded curriculum far outweigh the cost. When trying called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Sunday Schools offer many excellent ministry benefits. to balance expenses with other needs in the church, the stu­ First are equipping parents to teach and train their children dents too often get the short end of the stick. We must invest Jesus taught on a hillside, from a ship, in a synagogue, in the home. This is called “Generational Discipleship”. in our children’s education with the best we can provide. and while walking on the road. He is referred to as a great Deuteronomy 6 is clear about where children should be Sunday School must be a priority. It is worth it! teacher. In Matthew 28:19­20, Jesus gives us the Great taught. Sunday Schools allow children and parents to attend Commission. He instructs us to “teach all nations… teach­ age appropriate classes for study of the Scripture. Secondly, ing them to observe all things I have commanded you.” This Setting Up an Effective Sunday School can provide a friendly casual atmosphere for is the true definition of discipleship. developing supportive and lasting friendships. Thirdly, the Sunday School Strategy Sunday School class is an excellent place for a Christian to An effective Sunday School begins with committed lead­ The early church took this command seriously. In Acts 5, discover God’s will for his or her life. Lastly, Sunday ership. This begins with the pastor; and when the pastor is the Apostles were commanded by the authorities of that day, School is an excellent and effective outreach tool for the committed to an effective educational strategy, his people “not teach in this name”, but they said about the disciples church. One of the greatest mission fields we have in the will be too. Ministry goals must be identified and fully sup­ that “ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine…”. They church is our children and grandchildren. ported by leaders and staff. Matthew 28:19 & 20 contains filled Jerusalem with His doctrine! We find what the the goals we should follow. Winning people to Christ needs Apostle Paul was doing in concluding chapter of Acts: “And What better way is there to teach the children of parents to be the highest priority and should be our number One Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and who do not attend church? Sunday School is an excellent Goal. Teaching God’s word should be the second goal. It is received all that came in unto him, Preaching the kingdom way for new Christians to begin a systematic study of the God’s word that gives us His commandments. The third of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Bible, learn how to be better parents and build new friend­ goal should be to build supportive and lasting relationships. Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.” New Year’s Issue New Year’s Issue ships. Lastly, encouraging Christian service should be the goal of Acts 28:30­31 every leader in the church. Effectiveness of Sunday School Sunday School is an Excellent The pastor should have a committed Educational Director Some statistics show that Sunday Schools are declining. Educational Strategy and/or Sunday School Superintendent. Their concerns However in Thom Rainer's research for Lifeway revealed should be: 1) the goals of the Sunday School, 2) the cur­ Beginnings of Sunday School that, "When it comes to reaching people and effectively riculum in use, 3) the training of the teachers, and 4) the Sunday Schools began in the 1780s to provide education assimilating them into the life of the church, the Sunday classroom environment. to poor working children by Robert Raikes in Gloucester, School ministry still remains one of the most effective tools England. It became very successful in teaching reading, some 200 years after its beginning." Goals are the strategic part of effective Sunday School writing and the scriptures to young boys. Its goal was to growth. A Sunday School without goals is nothing more improve the character of the children and make a positive An effective Sunday school strategy can have a positive than a baby­sitting service. Baby­sitting should not take impact on society. In the 1790s, Samuel S. Slater, whom impact on the church’s outreach program and an effective President Andrew Jackson referred to as the father of the outreach program will have positive impact on the Sunday Continued on Page 3 lack of effort or devotion. It was that they trusted in a god that could not deliver! The god who could bring lightening couldn’t light the sacrifice­on dry ground! They lost their lives for trusting Together We Can in the wrong god. This world has no answer today. Men today desperately need an answer and they are looking to By Edwin Hayes the gods of education, materialism, secularism and casting off morals. If you trust this world’s system, you will find yourself just as disappointed as these prophets. Many are trusting in a god Rivals of God who cannot deliver! Men today are making the same choice. They are going to lose everything! After the prophets of Baal’s failure to bring fire on their sacrifice, Elijah got his chance. In order Rivals. Sports teams have them, brothers and sisters have to show the power of God, he had his sacrifice doused with twelve barrels of water. As that sac­ them and countries have them. Does the Lord have rivals? rifice lay there drenched, Elijah called upon the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel with a simple 63 word prayer and at the end of that prayer, the fire suddenly fell from heaven! The fire Have you noticed as Christians how easy it is to get our eyes was so great that it consumed the sacrifice, the woods, stones and dust and licked up the water off the Lord and to find ourselves trusting rivals for our secu­ that surrounded the sacrifice. It was unmistakable that the LORD had done this! The people, who rity and satisfaction? Many times we are tempted to look at had been wavering and earlier wouldn’t answer Elijah’s challenge, immediately recognize the the material to satisfy us or the seemingly successful to meet our needs. God, His word and His LORD as God! God was vindicated on Mount Carmel! They then got rid of the prophets of Baal. laws are being challenged today. Even some who claim to be Christians are saying that God’s With the people’s repentance, Elijah prayed for rain and God delivered a much needed shower of longstanding principles need to be “updated” in order to keep up with modern times. It seems like blessing upon His people. the Lord has always had “rival” who claimed that they could do a better job that He does in tak­ ing care of His people. He has them today. We are hearing today that Christianity is outdated and As those prophets of Baal, this world promises much, but when it comes down to it, they cannot we need to embrace secularism.