When I was a child Sunday school grew like never before. It was the place to be. We packed 15 kids in little 5’ by 7’ classrooms with benches on three walls. Adult women had classes named after women Bible characters. Most made seat covers for their wooden and later metal folding chairs, each proudly embroidered with their class names.
We were careful to check the roll. We thought it important to make 100% on your envelope by being in attendance, bringing your Bible, having read your lesson, giving an offering, doing your daily Bible readings, staying for church services, etc. We even posted our scores for everyone in church to see how we were doing. Sunday school was mentioned in church every Sunday and was preached about often.
Sunday school classes had slumber parties, camp outs and went places together on Saturdays. Our teachers visited us when we were sick and sent us cards when we were absent. All of that seemed to have worked pretty good for 20-25 years, even a little longer in some places. We owe a great debt of gratitude for those who helped make the Sunday school serve us well for so many years.
Change Happens
A lot has changed since those days. Our culture has changed. Our churches have changed. And, we have changed. Many are sad to see Sunday school in decline, no one more than me. However, rather than becoming despondent about the changes, why not vow to do our best to offer Bible study at all times feasible in our own situations?
Take Another Look
Today, many people are in Bible study, depending upon how you do the counting. If you have 75 in Sunday school, 17 in youth Bible study on Monday night and two ladies Bible studies with 12 in each one on Tuesday, plus AWANA or missions programs teaching God’s Word to 75 children on Wednesday evening – you are approaching 200 lives being fed from God’s Word.
Will Sunday schools grow again in the future?
The answer to that depends upon a myriad of factors, not the least of which is our own spiritual hunger to know and apply God’s Word. Parents must once again make Bible study a priority for their families.
What Can I Do About Bible Study?
- Look to the future and make personal Bible study an important part of your life.
- Give priority to those times when Bible study will take place.
- Fall in love again with God and His Word.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever.
Isaiah 40:8
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