"HOW TO MAKE YOUR SUNDAY SCHOOL SUCCESSFUL"

"HOW TO MAKE YOUR SUNDAY SCHOOL SUCCESSFUL"

Matthew 9:9-17 (Adapted from a message by Ronnie Floyd)

Bobby Earls, Saltshaker ABF, FBC, Icard, August 27, 2000

9 As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him. 10 Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13“But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

T.S.: Today, I want to share with you, "How To Make Your Sunday School Successful."

Read Matthew 9:9-17 with me. Look with me today and see the two major movements in this text and context:

I. THE PRIORITIES OF JESUS IN YOUR SUNDAY SCHOOL.

Explain: There are three priorities of Jesus in this story and these three priorities should be priorities for your Sunday School.

1. Reach People (vs. 9-13)

Explain: Verse 9 Matthew, a lost pagan, a tax collector. Jews hated tax collectors because they collected money to appease the Romans and often took more than necessary, keeping it for themselves.

When Jesus saw him He said to this tax collector sinner, "Follow Me" which means literally, "Come after Me." It also means to attach yourself to me to hear me and learn from me.

Luke 5:28 says that Matthew left everything behind and followed Jesus. A radical commitment! Verse 10 The conversion of pagan Matthew placed Jesus into a new pagan pool.

Verse 11 Religious folks who wanted to learn the Law became critical of Jesus.

Modern day lingo: "We do not want any of this evangelism, we want to get deeper in the Word." "Come and feed us."

Verses 12-13 I came to help sinners - Isn't Jesus' commission our commission?

I did not come to be a part of your religious country club but to set men free from their sin!

Illustration: One major question that has to be addressed by this class and really, our church is, "Why does our Sunday School exist?" Survey your Sunday School members asking them and you will hear all kinds of things.

Application: How can you evaluate your Sunday School to see if you are effectively reaching people which is the #1 priority for it?

Ask these questions:

1. Are we continually enrolling new people in our class?

2. Is my attendance growing significantly?

3. Are people being saved in my class?

4. Am I continually starting new classes out of my Sunday School class?

If these are not positive, you are neglecting the #1 priority of your Sunday School.

2. Care For People (v. 13)

Explain: Jesus makes two powerful statements in this text.

1. Life Statement.

He cared enough for people that He invested His life in them.

2. Verbal Statement. (v. 13)

"I desire compassion, not sacrifice." I want you to be moved inwardly for people.

The Pharisees always brought the right sacrifice, but did not get moved inwardly over the needs of people.

Illustration: Another major question that has to be addressed by this class and again, our Church is, "What am I going to do with them once I get them?" "What is my strategy to keep them?" "How am I going to keep the back door shut?"

* All people need to know is 6 to 8 people to feel a part of our church, but this needs to happen within the first 6 to 9 months or you may lose them.

Application: How can you evaluate your Sunday School to see if you are effectively caring for people which is the 2nd priority of your Sunday School?

Ask these questions?

1. What is your worker/student ratio in your class? (1 to 7 is the ideal)

2. Am I continually enlisting, recruiting and training care leaders for my class?

3. Is my average attendance increasing? When you care for people today, your Sunday School will explode!

3. Teach People The Bible.

Explain: Verses 14-17

Jesus taught those persons in a relevant manner by using word pictures.

Fasting

Old garments

Bridegroom

New wine

Jesus said I did not come to teach the old system or to patch it up, but I came to bring you something new! Jesus making a difference in your life.

Illustration: I continually point out something to our people. They are there not to teach the Bible, but to teach people the Bible. It must be life-changing Bible study.

Illustration: Another major question we have to address is, "What is genuine Bible study?" Is it facts, figures, maps, knowledge . . .? Genuine Bible study is taking a Bible principle and letting it make a radical change in a person's life. It is life-changing Bible study.

Application:

How can you evaluate our Sunday School to see if you are effectively having life-changing Bible study?

1. Is my teaching giving the people something that will help them tomorrow? (If it is not, your Sunday School is in sad shape.)

2. Are the lives of people being changed radically in my class? (Contagious)

3. Is my class growing?

One of the consistent growth indicators for growing churches is a dynamic and healthy, growing Sunday School. My hope and prayer for the Saltshakers this coming year is that we can experience our greatest growth year ever, both as a ABF and as individual members thereof!

God bless you all. I love you! Let’s have a great new church year!

(Shared by Bobby Earls with his Saltshaker Adult Bible Fellowship SS Class on August 27, 2000 as he stepped aside as Teacher having taught for 19 years.)