Study guide
s with other areas of church life, Christian education has changed dramatically with our nation’s social shifts over the last generation. The bad news is that tradi-
tional Sunday school no longer works as the primary way to teach the faith. The good news is that congregations are finding creative, innovative and exciting ways that not only educate but also form people and communities of faith.
By Robert C. Blezard
Sunday school: Let’s reimagine it A
Exercise 1: Great Commission Read Jesus’ “Great Commission” in Matthew 28:16-20. • What’s a disciple? What does it mean to make disciples? • What are Jesus’ two specific instructions that go along with making disciples? Which one takes more time, effort, plan- ning and money? • Does your congregation put sufficient time, effort, plan- ning and money into teaching as it should? • What grade would you assign your congregation on educa- tion (A, B, C, D or F)? Why? What can you do about it?
Exercise 2: Formation What is faith formation? Working together, draft a defini- tion that fits your context. Discuss: • How is faith formation different from Christian education? How is it similar? How do they interrelate? • Which has received more emphasis in your congregation? • What is the appropriate balance, and how can your congre- gation achieve it?
Exercise 3: Teach Putting the word “teach” into an online Bible concordance yielded 323 matches, with most of them (181) in the New Testament. What does this say about the importance of edu- cation in the life of faith? As a study group, break into teams and survey the usage of the word in certain New Testament books or in broader categories such as the Gospels (and Acts), Pauline letters and general letters. Have the teams report: What does each say about teaching?
Exercise 4: Your formation • On a scale of 1 to 10, how well formed in the faith do you
consider yourself to be? • How were you formed in the faith? What were the highlights? • What could your parents/congregation/pastor have done better? • How do you continue to grow in the faith? • What role does your congregation play? What could it do better?
Exercise 5: New ideas The article “Reimagining Sunday school” lifts up a number of new approaches for education and faith formation. Dis- cuss each and select three you like most. • Why did you like these approaches? • Would they work for your congregation? Why or why not? • What necessary assets does your congregation have and what would it need? Draft a proposal on education and faith formation for your congregational leaders.
Exercise 6: Innovation Each of the ideas described in the article came from creative, faithful people like you who asked, “How can we do bet- ter?” As faithful, creative people, brainstorm 10 innovative ideas—no matter how impractical or outlandish. Then hone in on two that might work for your church, develop them and report to your congregational leaders.
Exercise 7: Disconnected • What roles do worship and faith formation/education play in your congregation? • How do they complement one another? • Is there a disconnect between the two? • With fewer people attending educational activities, why is it important to better incorporate faith formation/education into worship? • What would be the benefits to worshipers and the congrega- tion?
This study guide is offered as one example of the more than 400 that are currently available on The Lutheran’s website. Download guides (includ- ing a longer version of this one)—free to print and Web subscribers—at
www.thelutheran.org (click “study guides”).
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www.thelutheran.org
Author bio: Blezard is an assistant to the bishop of the Lower Susquehanna Synod. He has a master of divinity degree from Boston Uni-
versity and did subsequent study at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg (Pa.) and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia.
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