In Part 1, I asked how we can get people interested in attending Sunday School? I offered several suggested methods including prayer, teaching youth and adults to share their Sunday School testimonies, having a Sunday School contest, sharing worship testimonies, striving for life-changing Bible study experiences, caring for people, and teaching creatively and well.
In Part 2, I want to share suggested offered by Church Central in an article entitled 7 Ways to Begin a Buzz about Bible Study. The article lists “seven practical ways to increase participation in church-based Bible study.” Along with the list above, which of these methods might help you increase your interest and attendance in Sunday School? Church Central’s list is in all capitals followed by my commentary:
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INTRODUCE NEW CLASSES. Place a stork outside the new “birth” and the “mother” class for the apprentice and new class. Invite people to the new class by announce the “birth” from the pulpit in scrubs. New classes and groups create excitement. Consider offering a group at a new time or place. Reach a new group.
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EVALUATE SUNDAY SCHOOL. Increase its attractiveness and effectiveness by evaluating and improving the work you are doing. Evaluate your facilities, greeting processes, teaching, outreach efforts, and every other aspect of your Sunday School. Interview participants, guests, and even those who attend but join elsewhere.
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INITIATE SMALL GROUP BOOK STUDIES. LifeWay‘s Explore the Bible series of curriculum works through one book of the Bible at a time. Challenge the group to read the entire book of the Bible in advance of launching the series. Slow down and study the book at a pace most enjoyed by the group. Get together through the week occasionally to focus on aspects of the study.
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USE SMALL GROUPS TO TEACH BIBLE STUDY METHODS. Help attenders to learn how to use their Bibles and to study God’s Word more effectively. This can help them to do personal as well as group Bible study.
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CREATE A CHURCH-WIDE BUZZ ABOUT BIBLE STUDY. I like one of the article’s suggestion to adopt “a church-wide standard translation” which can “alleviate confusion for new believers and generate interest in biblical scholarship for older believers.” Another way is to challenge the challenge the congregation to read a book of the Bible or to read the Bible through in a year. Challenge attenders to memorize a verse each month and go over it in worship each week.
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CREATE A BIBLE READING CHALLENGE. This can be done in Sunday School, worship, or a class. This can be done for a week, a month, a quarter, or a year. For instance, this can be one chapter per day for a month. Print it in your church newsletter or bulletin each week. Publish on your church website. Remind attenders each week in worship. Read the chapter of the day in worship or in Sunday School. Offer incentives for those who complete the reading.
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DEVELOP BIBLE READING ACCOUNTABILITY. Select Bible reaching partners. Pair off throughout the Sunday School to hold one anot her accountable to stay on track at reading the Bible daily. Offer a plan/guide and challenge them to meet weekly (in person or by phone) to discuss what they are learning.
These methods and those from Part 1 raise the visibility of Sunday School. They raise the importance of Bible study. They remind people of the value of studying God’s Word together. Take a step this week to increase interest in Sunday School and to lead to more attending. Be revolutionary!
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