The more I observe and write about Sunday School, the more I am convinced that an important key to the effective functioning of Sunday School is care. Care is essential for connecting and reaching new people. Care is vital in starting and growing friendships. Care is important during the teaching and learning environment.
Care enables reaching, teaching-learning, and caring. When each of these are infused with care, Sunday School becomes an effective tool in carrying out the Great Commission. Through care, Sunday School grows disciples, leaders, and classes.
Sunday School care is three dimensional: upward-directed, outward-directed, as well as self-directed (love God, other, and self). As a result, Sunday School care takes many forms in the lives of classes and small groups:
- prayer,
- relationship-building,
- ministry in time of need,
- presence during pain,
- encouraging words,
- listening,
- pointed challenging teaching,
- discipleship discussion,
- accountability,
- acts of service,
- fun and fellowships,
- invitations,
- conversation and interaction,
- covenants,
- and so many more.
Consider this Sunday School C.A.R.E. equation:
Great Sunday School = CONNECTION + AGAPE LOVE + REACHING + EQUIPPING.
Until there is attempt to connect, there is no context for agape (selfless) love. (Remember God made the first step to love us.) Loving connections result in reaching and enrolling new people. And these connections enable lives to be equipped and mobilized to make more loving connections which in turn reach new people. Teach your class to C.A.R.E. Teach your Sunday School to C.A.R.E. Be revolutionary!
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