Viewing Sunday school at Circle Church as supplementary, rather than primary, necessitated a different approach. We tried first of all to provide parents with information, materials, and training with which to teach spiritual truths. Children’s books, handwork projects, even records, were provided each quarter by the church for the parents of every child attending. These were coordinated with the teaching theme that had been chosen for that three-month period. The Family Module’s Parents’ Seminar provided an in-depth continuation of this approach.
Because we believe in the importance of the parent’s role, normal stress placed on the teacher-student relationship diminished, allowing us to change teachers every quarter with ease. Most of our children had a rather adventurous outlook toward this system—“Is this the day we get a new teacher?” Much of the rotation involved the same people—off a quarter, on a quarter. Some preferred to teach for longer periods, but I don’t believe we ever had anyone remain for the traditional year-long commitment.
Since each service was purposeful and important, consistently missing one, such as the Interaction Hour, soon produced an acute awareness of dysfunction. We preferred having instructors fresh and ready to teach, rather than stale from lack of vital contact with others.
Of course, there are situations at other churches with which I am familiar, where a person teaches because the alternate adult service is unbearable. That was not one of our problems!
The Children’s Church that met during the morning service, for youngsters through grade three, had leaders on a shorter two-months basis, because that job seemed to be more demanding.
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Sunday’s coming. Do you have your sermon ready? Is it relevant? Will it effectively motivate your congregation to walk more in step with the Master? What about that Sermon Series you’ve been thinking about?
Or, if you’re someone who plans well ahead, have you asked yourself what you will preach for your Easter Sermon, your Advent Sermon, your Christmas Sermon?
David Mains and Mainstay Ministries can help. We offer a wide variety of Sermon Starters and Full Sermons that will give you Sermon Ideas to help you prepare for regular Saturday or Sunday sermons, Mid-week Bible Sermons, and Sermons for special occasions.
We also offer assistance as you create Topical Sermons, Sermons Series, and sermons for special times of the year. We have resources available to help you with Advent Celebrations, Advent Sermons, Christmas Sermons, Easter Sunday Sermons, Patriotic Sermons, and more.
For more information on how to create better Bible Sermons and how to turn Sermon Ideas into Sermon Outlines, and then into effective, meaningful Sunday Sermons, please click here to visit David Mains’ website.
You will also find a variety of resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Just click here.
