Sunday School

Bethel Baptist Church Sunday School

The Sunday School of Bethel Baptist Church is one of many ministries of the church; an organization within which its members do the work of the Great Commission. Objectives of Sunday School include:

1- Reaching the lost, and leading them into a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

2- Reaching out to the community with the goal of churching the un-churched.

3- Reaching, teaching, and training every man, woman, and child for Jesus utilizing the power of the Holy Spirit in revealing God’s Holy Word.

4- Ministering to people’s needs.

VISION STATEMENT

Bethel Baptist Church seeks the Holy Spirit of God to lead and guide its members to be obedient in an on-going process of being a New Testament Church; and mainly through its members’ involvement in a two-fold mission of the Great Commission, including:

1) evangelization of unsaved people, and
2) discipling the saved.

PURPOSE OF SUNDAY SCHOOL

     There are three primary tasks of Sunday School: Reaching People, Teaching People, and Ministering to People. Reaching out to people is most important, because if people can’t be reached, they can’t be taught, or ministered to. Most Sunday School teachers and students place their emphasis on teaching and fellowship – the emphasis, however, must be placed on Evangelism first and then Discipleship. Scripture is crystal clear: “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost”(Luke 19:10) – “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:17) – “… for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world” (John 12:47) – “For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them… “(Luke 9:56).

     The Sunday School at Bethel Baptist Church will encourage its teachers and students to place in the forefront of their endeavors to serve God, a commitment to carry out the Great Commission through evangelism as the first step. Sunday School is not only organized to carry out the Great Commission, but is the largest ministry in church and therefore shall be charged with the task of “reaching” people; either lost or un-churched. While teaching God’s Word will be a major event within a Sunday School class; it is the Discipleship program that will be tasked with maturing the new believer and the veteran believer. Sunday School provides the optimum venue for reaching people as they meet in small groups that are age-graded which makes the task of getting to know people easier. Sunday School is also the primary meeting place where the Bible is taught; a place where lost people may come to a “saving knowledge” of Christ. If God’s Words will not move someone to Jesus – there is no hope for that person… “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS STRUCTURE

Every Sunday School Class should be structured to include the individuals listed below. The responsibilities of each of these individuals should be clear and understood by the individual assuming each responsibility. In order to support the objectives listed above, each class should include a:

1. Teacher – Whose primary task is to teach the Word of God; and to lead the class in reaching, teaching, and

ministering to the class membership.
Other tasks include:

• Meet with class officers to make plans for your class.

• Participate in Faith Outreach.

• Prepare a weekly Bible Study lesson as determined by Church Leadership.

• Attend Teacher’s meetings.

• A major goal is to birth at least one new class each year.

• Recruit (from within the class) an assistant teacher to teach once a month for the purpose of developing a new teacher.
• Minister, minister, minister – Jesus said:“… whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be

chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his

life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:26-28)

• Agree with the following expectations of the church:

a. To have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

b. To feel “called” of God to serve Him through Sunday School.

c. Strive to follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

d. Prticipate in training and growing opportunities.

e. Atively participate in reaching lost and un-churched persons.

f. Actively participate in Sunday School leadership meetings.

g. Do all possible to make Sunday mornings a positive, uplifting experience.

h. Be faithful in tithing.

i. Refrain from the use of alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, and tobacco products.

j. As much as possible attend Sunday morning, evening, and Wednesday evening worship services.

k. Be supportive of the Pastor and Staff.

2. Outreach Leader - Emphasis should be placed on seeking lost people and leading them into a saving knowledge of

Jesus Christ. Reaching the un-churched is also important, but reaching lost people is the first priority.

• Participate in Faith Outreach – Be a class visitation team leader.

• Serve as the class greeter and meet people as they enter the class each Sunday morning.

3. Care Group Leader – Be responsible for the care and ministry to approximately 5 people in the class

(one care group leader for every 5 members).

• Aggressively pursue delinquent members, and multiple absentees, to restore them to the fellowship. Contact absentees

(after approximately 2 straight absences).

• Leading class in ministry needs such as dinners for families who are grieving over a death or sickness in a family, hospital stays,

etc. – or to assist members regarding financial matters or other needs. Pain and hurt are part of the human experience; and

Sunday School class members must be sensitive to each other’s needs.

• Act as a communication tree for informing members of a special event or cancellation of an event (i.e. Sunday School closed due to

inclement weather; death in a family, etc.)

• Be the class encourager; every believer needs the association of other believers; everyone needs encouragement to grow spiritually

and to learn from others; be a prayer warrior – there is power in praying together.

4. Secretary – Oversee class record keeping and work with Care Group Leaders to determine class attendance.

• Make sure all Visitor Forms have been properly filled out and turned in.

• Inform class teacher of all attending visitors, so they can be introduced and welcomed to the class.

• Assign new members to Care Groups.

RECOMMENDED SUNDAY SCHOOL SCHEDULE

Following is a recommended “time chart” to be used in structuring a Sunday School Class:

1)     Fellowship Time (15 minutes)
2)     Announcements, Ministry needs, Prayer Requests, and/or Outreach discussion, testimonies, etc. (15 minutes)
3)     Bible Study (45 minutes)

Sunday School Brochure
Sunday School Classroom Layout