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| Arthur Flake was an early innovator in Sunday School management. His "formula" has been around for 100 years and is the inspiration of this series. To watch a video podcast on this series, click here |
But when I
thought about providing enough room to teach, reach and serve, two verses
immediately popped into my mind, both occurring early in the gospels, the first
occurring early in Jesus life and the other occurring early in his ministry.
The first
being found in Luke 2:7 which reads, “And she brought forth her firstborn
Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because
there was no room for them in the inn.”
The second
verse that came to mind comes early in the first gospel to be written, Mark
chapter 2 verse 2, “Immediately many gathered together, so that there
was no longer room to receive them, not even near
the door. And He preached the word to them.”
No room for
the Infant Christ and no room for Christ to preach the Word was met with innovative solutions. The first
thing I thought of was “Look how creative the solutions were.” They laid the
Word in a feeding trough, and they sacrificed a roof to get the
paralyzed man into the room. He came for healing, but Jesus used this problem to teach a marvelous parable that the Son of Man has power to forgive
sins.
Obviously, providing enough room and tools for the Prayer, Outreach, Inreach, Need-meeting
and Teaching ministries of our LifeGroups is crucial. Always has been and
always will be.
To watch video teachings on this series, go to bit.ly/FBCKFlake
About ten
years ago, we were bulging at the seams, with classes meeting in offices, in robe
rooms, in workrooms of the church.
Fortunately
or unfortunately, that is not the case currently at our church. Before, not
having enough space was a good problem to have, and now having
more than enough space is again a good problem to have, but both
are still problems that need to be addressed and resolved.
Chapter 6 included
a section about Expensive “Space Killers” including large objects like tables
in the room. In other cases, it may not be tables, but empty space in the room,
caused by large circles so everyone can see everyone but nothing but empty
space in the middle.
Alan admits
that tables are convenient for holding personal items like Bibles, coffee, curriculum,
etc. but when space is a premium, the $125 to $250 per square foot can get
expensive.
When we run
out of space again (and I hope we will), then we can start talking about how
effective and efficient large circles and convenient tables may or may not be.
What I think
is a “good problem to have” is that we have space to make more classes. That
ties into the last lesson of enlist workers, not only for adults but for
preschool, children, and youth as well.
The locations
of our classrooms right now are good, I believe. Having classrooms for young
adults near the children and preschool area is also a convenient and necessary thing
to have.
Having
classrooms near the entrance and worship center for our handicapped is also a
convenient and necessary thing to have.
We are
currently looking at building a family life center, or what Alan calls a gymnasium,
is also a way to free up more space for when we get through covid. I do believe we will grow as the
pandemic ends.
We have done
many of the things suggested such as having Multiple Sunday School Hours So
that there is no need for Off-Campus Options for Space.
But let me again encourage you as teachers to
encourage your class to put creative ideas into the minds of your classes. Just
as they used mangers for a baby bed and a torn off roof for a handicapped
entrance, let’s challenge our classes to be creative and possibly hold off
campus small groups and home groups.
I also liked the section of seeing our church through
the Eyes of a Guest
That’s why we need greeters at the doors, and plenty
of signs directing people where things are.
I think most
can figure it out but look around and see how our building can be more “guest
friendly”
I will also
say this about parking. Please try to avoid parking in our Guest Parking and do
not at all park in the six “First-time Guest Parking” spots. Reserve guest
parking for guests and first-time guest parking for first-time guests (makes
sense, right?).
I am glad we have plenty of spaces for both new
and expecting mothers as well as “solo” moms in the back.
Finally,
there was a great line in the material where Alan says the following:
One of the most important resources a church can place
in the hands of members and guests: a study guide that is used by the group to
study the Bible systematically. Christian educators are often asked by Sunday
School teachers, “Why do we need to use curriculum in our class? Why can’t we
just study the Bible?” Arthur Flake identified three benefits of using “lesson
literature,” or what we might call ongoing curriculum today. These benefits
were having a plan of Bible study, possessing a system of Bible study helps,
and provides a vehicle for applying the Bible study to life.
Ken Braddy is also quoted as saying classes using
material like we do from Lifeway is important because:
# 1. Our goal
is to make disciples. Quarterly study guides give content for your class
members to read in between attending group studies. They can learn even when
they are not present. It encourages daily bible study times.
# 2. the content is trustworthy. I heard
yesterday that someone a church leader openly questioned a theologically sound
Biblical truth that has been historically held for nearly 2,000 years. In this
day where cults and false teaching are rising, where the internet openly posts theologically
unsound and untrue doctrine, we can no longer trust that our class members are
going to hold to sound Biblical teachings. All of our material needs to be
closely examined to maintain doctrinal integrity.
# 3. Almost all
LifeWay writers are strong in their theology AND
# 4. The
editors are who work on the Sunday School curriculum serve in local churches.
They are, like you and me, people “in the trenches” each week.
# 5. Our
material is affordable. When we go off-script (like we do in the summer), the
materials we use can get quite expensive. But a class of ten students with all
the teaching material we provide including Personal Study Guides only costs a
total of $70 for 90 days!
# 6. We have
options. One material studies the Bible book-by-book. A second material tackles
topics, and the third material from Lifeway goes through the Bible
chronologically. And there are even more options for resources from our state
and national Sunday School organizations.
#7. We need
to keep our guests in focus. With enough books for them (some of whom are without
a strong church background), guests and new LifeGroup members can have a guide and
be ready for class discussions.
# 8. Our
material is balanced. Believe it or not, the curriculum has a “scope and
sequence.” That is, it has an organized, systemized study plan that covers a
wide variety of topics, not just whatever the “flavor of the moment” is. When
group leaders prepare their own studies, they often gravitate to pet topics and
favored doctrines in the Bible, which is fine on occasions, but does not offer
a wide variety of balanced topics.
I got in
trouble Sunday when I mentioned a certain description of one of our classes. I
did not mean to offend, so it was good to read this chapter and at least let someone
else say some of the things that I have said for years. I will be glad to let
that writer take the heat!
From mangers
to taking off the roof, let’s think creatively how we can use our rooms and
materials in the best way.
