A Proverb and the Bible School Program
Leah and I both have a passion for a church’s Bible school program. And our passion for it works out well, because she has such a heart for mostly children’s classes, while I greatly love thinking about teens and adults.
We talk often about Bible classes and we try to think about ways to do better–both with our own teaching and in the entire program of work.
As we look around congregations (both where we are and other congregations we visit), we see some similar struggles. But there is often one thing that is missing that would help the program improve, and (surprise, surprise) it comes right from the Bible.
“Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18).
Far too often, congregations have a set-it-and-forget-it approach to Bible school, especially with children’s classes. They’ve used “this” curriculum for decades, so it must still be fine. Those decorations were good for us, so they’re good for our kids. Rooms are rarely, if ever, updated.
Other congregations have a whatever-you-want-to-do-next approach. We have some good teachers, so we just let them pick the next subject to be discussed, or we ask the class what they want to do next and just go with whatever the consensus is. The problem with this approach is that there is, over time, little or no balance. We hit on some favorite subjects and books, and ignore others.
It takes an inordinate amount of work, but congregations need vision for the Bible school program. That includes asking questions such as these:
What should be studied in the next year? 3 years? 5 years?
Do we need to keep our children’s classes the same? Divide some? Combine some?
Do we need to offer various numbers of adult classes? (At Central, we have plans in the next couple of years to have as few as one at a time and as many as four!)
Are there pressing needs that should be addressed in a special series of classes?
What are we doing to develop future teachers?
What is being done to foster greater attendance among our own members, both children and adults?
This is more than a one-meeting solution. This is a huge undertaking. But it is worth the investment of time and energy. Why? Because it leads to greater balance. It leads to stability. It helps with ongoing evaluation (because we know what we are looking for!). And, if done well, it can build excitement, because people know that there is a plan and it is being put in place for their spiritual benefit.
Don’t let your Bible school perish. Have vision!
AUTHOR: Adam Faughn