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Sunday School Revolutionary

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Expect Lost People to be Saved

September 8, 2010 by Dr. Tim S. Smith 2 Comments

There can be no debate over the issue of the lack of evangelistic effectiveness of the church in North America. I can remember a time when we were winning the lost to Christ and witnessing them follow Him through the waters of baptism.

Every team expects to win before the game begins. A team that expects to get beat is going to lose the game. I don’t think the church expects to lose, I just think that expectations have changed. The result is what we see today.

Most church members today expect the church to serve them, instead of expecting lost people to be saved. The consumer mentality has begun to dictate the mission of the church. In my research and in my consultation with churches, I have found three reasons why we are not expecting lost people to be saved.

First, there is a lack of preparation by the Sunday School teachers. As a child I can remember watching my parents and grand parents prepare for leading a Sunday School class. They spent hours each week in prayer, Bible study and in discussion with other teachers. Today we have teachers coming home at 10:30pm on a Saturday night and beginning their preparation for teaching a class and they still want the lesson to be simpler. We will never see the lives of class members changed if the teachers are not willing to invest their life!

Second, there is little time or no time given for spiritual decisions during class time. As a child and as a youth I can remember each Sunday having a Sunday School teacher that provided an opportunity and even encouraged us to give our lives to Christ. Today we are so rushed to get out that application of the lesson is of no concern. We must return to providing a time for spiritual decisions during Sunday School.

Third, the members of our churches are not sharing their faith. There have been numerous studies and all say the same thing, Christians in North America are not sharing a verbal witness on how a person can have forgiveness and eternal life in heaven. We must begin to equip our members to share their faith.

I have and will continue to expect lost people to be saved. Why? Because I expect my Sunday School teachers to spend time with God preparing to lead the Bible study. I expect my Sunday School teachers to issue a call for commitment and a time for spiritual decisions during Sunday School. I expect the members of my Sunday School to share their faith.

Related posts:

Telling the Story of Jesus

Arthur Flake’s (biblical?) Formula

Great Bible Study…Promises or Perils?

Grow Your Sunday School During Easter

Filed Under: Great Expectations, Sunday School

Comments

  1. JOSEPH R. FELTNER says

    September 8, 2010 at 12:08 pm

    I LOVED THE ARTICLE. I AM PRINTING IT TO GIVE IT TO MY PREACHER AND EACH OF THE TEACHERS AT BRIARWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH IN CABOT. AS SUNDAY SCHOOL DIRECTOR, I BELIEVE THAT OTHER THAN THE CHURCH SERVICES, THE ONLY BIBLE STUDY THAT WE AS BAPTISTS GET ANYMORE IS IN SUNDAY SCHOOL. THANK YOU FOR THE ARTICLE AND PRAY FOR US AT BRIARWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH.

    Reply
  2. Judy S. Hart says

    September 18, 2010 at 1:57 pm

    Below Victoria Falls, there is a gorge where brave kayakers go to ride the rapids. The guide says, “When (not if) your kayak turns over, do not swim to the calm pools. There are crocodiles waiting to eat you. Stay in the rapids.” I pray that I will never become comfortable in the stagnant pools, where it’s easier to be eaten up with the crocodiles of time constraints and the busyness of this world. I need to stay in the rushing waters, ready to rescue the lost. Evangelism is never the easy ride. I do pray for the lost and dying world. The mission is urgent!

    Thank you for all your efforts at revitalizing the Sunday School.I pray that I put feet and hands to my words.
    Judy Hart, First Baptist Church, Borger, TX

    Reply

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