Anyone who knows me knows that I am a proponent, not an opponent of Sunday School. In fact, I deeply believe that “groups are groups.” That is, any micro-Christian community striving to live out biblical principles and practices is equal. Because of this belief I hold no program too sacred to revisit if it makes the body of believers more effective in bringing the world to Christ and discipling people. So, if you’re a big fan of Sunday School or you’re a small group elitist, as you read on please keep in mind that my goal in this blog post is to give practical advice for the church, not to question a ministry that is effective in many churches.
There are three undeniable reasons a church would need to consider doing away with adult Sunday School and do small groups in homes.
1. Space… The church is growing at such a rate that there are not enough classrooms to house the people that are joining and there isn’t enough money or land to build more classrooms.
2. A shortage of people to teach children’s and youth Sunday School classes… If adults are meeting throughout the week rather than being in a class at the same time as the children and youth on Sunday morning, all of the adults attending a small group become potential children and youth Sunday School teachers.
3. The church is moving to missional groups based on geography… Many including myself believe that, wherever a small group meets there is a mission on that street, in that cul-de-sac, or for that subdivision. The group meeting in that location is responsible for bringing Christ to the people that reside around that meeting location. If a church chooses to take on this philosophy, replacing Sunday School with small groups is necessity as stereotypical adult Sunday School classes meet in the church building. I do realize that some in the Sunday School world will quickly scream, “Sunday School classes can meet away from the building at times other than Sunday morning!” I agree totally and am thrilled to see this happening in innovative Sunday School churches, churches with the willingness and ability to see beyond tradition. But, I have yet to see a Sunday School driven church where even 10% of classes meet away from the building and very few of those groups are making it a primary responsibility to reach those who live near the meeting location.
