Want to Impact Lives and Increase Baptisms?

A few months back, I received an email of Rick Warren’s Ministry Toolbox newsletter for pastors. I opened a link to an article entitled How to Create a Culture of Innovation in Your Church. After scanning through it, I noticed an article entitled 40 Ideas for Increasing the Number of Baptisms. (Both are worth checking out!)

Anyway, the list of ways to increase baptisms got me thinking about how Sunday School can reach out and share Jesus. Allow me to choose sixteen from Rick’s list and customize them for the Sunday School:

1. Mention the value, purpose, and benefits of baptism regularly while teaching.
2. Videotape the baptisms of class members to share at future classes and fellowships.
5. Invite class members to witness the baptism and identify them before each baptism.
7. If the church does not offer a membership class, have a special Bible study class session that explains the meaning of baptism in detail.
8. Always baptize on special days when relatives may be in town – Christmas, Mother’s Day, New Year’s Eve, etc. Invite those guests to Sunday School as well as worship.
9. Always baptize on special days of the church, like High Attendance Sunday for Sunday School. Invite them to class.
11. Make sure class members make a special effort to hug him/her at the end of the service in which he/she has been baptized!
12. Interview (informally) all candidates in class the day they are to be baptized to hear their story (testimony) of how Jesus changed them.
14. Have a photographer capture the baptismal moment to post on the class bulletin board, web page, email, or blog.
17. Give out preprinted invitations for the baptismal candidate to invite lost friends and relatives to Sunday School and the worship service to witness the baptism.
19. After the baptismal service encourage class members to go out afterwards for a meal, coffee, or dessert to celebrate and find out what the experience meant to the person baptized and to the family and friends who watched it.
21. Ask class members if any are ready to sign up for the next baptism. Follow up with any who indicate they are.
26. Have a corporate prayer of celebration at the end of class to thank God for those who will be baptized.
29. Develop a “Baptism Party in a Box” kit that includes ideas for a family party sponsored by the Sunday School class following baptism.
33. Have each class ask one

Sunday School class member each week (or month) to share his/her salvation and baptism experience and how Jesus has made a difference in his/her life.
38. Have a special new Christian’s baptism class as a requirement for baptizing children. Insist that at least one parent attend with their child–offer it during the Sunday School hour.

God has given us the tool of the Sunday School class. Let’s use it for Him to lead people to know Him, love Him, follow Him, and lead others to Him! Reach out. Care. Share. Invite. Watch as God works!

Do you have more ideas about using Sunday School to share Jesus with more people? Press Comments above next to the title and share your thoughts!

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Darryl Wilson has served as Director of the Sunday School Department for the Kentucky Baptist Convention since 1997. He served as Minister of Education in five churches in Kentucky and South Carolina. He is the author of The Sunday School Revolutionary!, a blog about life-changing Sunday School and small groups.