Sunday School is a great
forum to share and apply principles from the Bible to daily life. A simple setup in your Sunday School room can
help ensure these important messages penetrate the ears and minds of class members.
LIGHTING: When
it comes to conducting a successful Sunday School class, don't take your room
for granted. The atmosphere you teach in can have an impact on your lesson and
your students. Begin with a brightly-lit room. Dim spaces lessen the alertness
of your class members. Reading and using the Bible interactively is also more
difficult in a dark room.
CHAIR ARRANGEMENT: If possible, arrange your seating in a circle or semi-circle. An open
seating arrangement encourages interactivity. Everyone in a circle is a
participant. A lecture format, where all students sit in rows facing the
teacher, indicates subconsciously that class members are there to only listen. In the same vein, if you use tables in a room they inhibit a conversational style of learning. A circle seating arrangement also helps both teachers and class members to make
eye contact with one another.
REFRESHMENTS:
Many Sunday School classes offer refreshments. For adult classes, the
availability of coffee is obligatory as a morning wake-up aid. However, avoid
making refreshments a time-consuming activity every Sunday. Of the 168 hours
class members have each week, you are allowed just one to teach the Bible. Make
that hour count--dive into the scriptures and give yourself plenty of time to
share the lesson, encourage participation and answer questions. Prayer time and
in-depth study are essential to a successful, healthy Sunday School. Fellowship
can happen before and after, and serious food is best reserved for social
occasions apart from Sunday morning.
WRITING MATERIALS: Class members will forget 75% of what they hear in your class within
72 hours if they do not write it down. Encourage them to use their personal
study guides to write notes and questions about the study. Also make sure you
have writing instruments available. You may also want to have a few extra
Bibles and study guides handy for guests or members who may not have brought
their own. Dispose of any old literature or handouts that can quickly clutter
the room. Most Sunday School classes
have a blackboard, whiteboard, smartboard, and/or TV monitor. Writing down
outlines, key thoughts, scripture and responses from class members is a proven
aid in remembering information. If you have one of them, use it. And make sure
you have a good supply of chalk, dry erase markers, and erasers.
WALLS: Above
all, let your Sunday School room be a friendly, inviting place. What are your
walls communicating? Do you have pictures of your class social events? Are
there teaching posters or visual aids filling the walls? Remember that posters have a life span
too. Any poster left up over two weeks
has served out its usefulness and begins to imply to the class member that
things in the classroom aren’t kept current.
FLOORING: You may not have any choice in type of flooring but
you can give input on when it needs attention.
If you have a type of tiling for your floor, make sure that it is in
good repair. You may want to add an area
rug to help ‘warm up’ the room and help with acoustics. If you have carpeting, make sure that it is
vacuumed and cleaned regularly. It is
not beyond the realm of possibility that you may have a learning activity that
involves being on the floor.
As you prepare yourself for teaching with ample study,
also prepare your classroom so you are ready in all respects to make the most
of your weekly Bible study hour.
THINGS
YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….
FOR
EDUCATION STAFF: 2017 GBACE, January 19, 2016
at Mabel White Baptist Church, Macon, GA with Dr. Eric Geiger, vice president
at LifeWay - http://gabaptistgroups.org/training-conferences/2017-gbace-conference/?utm_content=buffer736fd&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
FOR
STAFF: 3 Truths about Interruptions in Ministry by Randal Williams - buff.ly/2cCLSMt
FOR
CHURCH & COMMUNITY – DevoHub, providing daily devotional material directly to your smart phone or
tablet - http://devohub.com/
FOR LEADER TRAINING: On Track National Sunday School Conference,
Hendersonville, TN, March 17 & 18, 2017 - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/OnTrack?type=events
FOR BIBLE STUDY LEADERS: Become a Bible Study Insider -
http://biblestudyinsider.com/bsi-order-form/?emid=BSI-08232016#.V8rwpjXEKkU
FOR BIBLE STUDY LEADERS: smallgroup.com – tailor-make
your Bible studies or discipleship groups topics - http://home.smallgroup.com/about
FOR SMALL GROUPS: Small Groups side by side with Sunday School
Conference, November 1, 2, & 3 - http://gabaptistgroups.org/2016-side-by-side/?utm_content=bufferb3cb0&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Disciples Path OR DP: The Journey, two
options for developing disciples - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Disciples-Path
FOR
DISCIPLESHIP: Counter Culture by David Platt, responding to the social issues of
our day - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/counter-culture-leader-kit-P005703479
FOR
DISCIPLESHIP: The Insanity of Obedience by Nik Ripken (a great follow up to the “Insanity of
God” movie - http://www.lifeway.com/n/product-family/insanity-of-obedience
FOR MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT: A
Beautiful Design by Matt Chandler, recognizing God’s
design in men and women - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/A-Beautiful-Design?emid=adult-enewsletter-abd-70576
FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Resources for Women’s Ministry - buff.ly/2cwkISt
FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: Mistakes we make
in Men's ministry. http://buff.ly/2bBDsCC
FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: Onward by Russell Moore,
confronting today’s culture with Christ - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Onward?intcmp=Men-MTX-Slider-Onward-20160314
FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: Stepping Up: A Call to
Courageous Manhood – http://www.lifeway.com/Product/stepping-up-a-call-to-courageous-manhood-leader-kit-P005764897
FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: The LIFT Tour for
developing student leaders - http://www.slulead.com/lift-tour
FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Join the Student Pastor Network. No one should do
student ministry alone. http://buff.ly/2bzBQfJ
FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Disciples Path for students – a
new series for developing your student’s discipleship - http://www.lifeway.com/Disciples-Path/Youth/c/N-1z0znzeZ1z141ym?intcmp=DisciplesPath-MTX-Text-Students-20150625
FOR STUDENT
MINISTRY: 10 Reasons to Stay in Student Ministry - http://www.lifeway.com/studentministry/2016/09/21/episode-39-10-reasons-to-stay-in-student-ministry/
FOR KIDS MINISTRY: Training Videos on sharing the gospel through
each of our Kids curriculum resources - http://www.lifeway.com/Kids/Video/c/N-1z10cb8Z1z10do1Z1z141rs?cid=RDR-kidsgospelpresentation
FOR KIDS
MINISTRY: 6 Ways to Touch the Hearts of The Parents - http://buff.ly/2bCITnK
FOR KIDS
MINISTRY: Kids in Worship - http://gabaptistgroups.org/kids-in-worship/
FOR KIDS
MINISTRY: TeamKid’s “Catching Air”, the newest cycle is this discipleship bestseller - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/TeamKID?intcmp=teamkid-erdr-314
