Historically, in America and in the Baptist church in particular, the Sunday School system has been the strongest evangelistic arm of the church. It was created not as a discipleship tool, but as an evangelism tool to incorporate and assimilate new prospects into the community of the Church.
Over the past century, it has lost more of the evangelistic flavor and evolved into a teaching mindset instead of an outreach mindset. I believe Sunday School can accomplish both, but the original purpose was to reach out to friends, neighbors, and co-workers and invite them to a small group community.
I wrote this for the purpose of sharing it with our church members. We have set some really big small group attendance goals, and the reason most people are not plugged in is because they don't realize how vital small groups are to their Christian walk. Maybe you can share these reasons in segments with your church. Print 10 reasons in the bulletins each week for 7 weeks. Or print 5 reasons for 14 weeks. Use this in your follow-up emails with new church members. Use this in a letter campaign or a Sunday School enrollment drive. There probably could be more reasons, but I felt the Spirit would have me list 73. Don't ask me why.
The following are reasons why YOU SHOULD be involved in a Small Group/ Sunday School:
- The Bible becomes more alive when studied in community
- Because God created Christianity to be lived together
- It provides the chance to pray with other believers in a non-threatening setting.
- Everyone else is just as nervous as you as possibly having to speak about their faith.
- You will realize that other's are experiencing the same struggles as you are.
- It provides accountability for spiritual growth.
- It is hard, and therefore means something spiritual is happening. Nothing spiritual is easy.
- You can ask questions about the Bible that you normally wouldn't ask during a church service.
- You can re-read a passage if you don't understand something.
- Someone most likely needs to hear what God has done in your life, because they might be close to giving up hope.
- Because your Small Group leader cares for you, prays for you, and prepares a lesson for you to hear it.
- Because you might discover that you have certain spiritual gifts like teaching, revelation, wisdom, that will be very valuable for the Body of Christ.
- Because it reinforces things you are learning in the larger worship group.
- Your church offers it for a purpose, and the shepherd normally knows what the sheep needs.
- Small groups are the most powerful evangelistic tool for the church, you should be a part.
- It assimilates new believers and new members into a group which they can form relationships quickly.
- Because you can get up early to go hunting, to work, to school, and to golf, so why can't you get up early for discipleship? Anyone....anyone??
- Every hour spent with the Body of Christ is an hour of your time the devil will never get.
- It shows the other members of your group that you care about them.
- Because once you quit learning you quit leading.
- You are more vital to the Body of Christ than you think you are.
- If God has shown you something this week, it is not for you to harbor. Share it with other members of your small group.
- If God hasn't shown you something this week, then, well, time to get on the ball.
- Because Jesus taught a small group.
- The New Testament church met within a small group at least as frequently as they met together to worship.
- The small group structure is a system of delegation for which ministries of the church can be organized.
- Because it is OK to read scripture out loud with other people, even if this is the most frightening thing in your mind.
- Because your church spends a lot of money on small group curriculum, and if you aren't benefiting from it, then that is not good stewardship of your time.
- Because it's good to laugh together with other believers.
- You will find things in common with other believers that you think are just fuddy-dudds.
- It glorifies God when you are committed to the studying of His Word.
- It makes the devil angry.
- It nourishes your spirit anytime you allow the power of the Word to penetrate your life.
- Because once you see how a Bible study is led, you can start doing it with your family.
- Because if you are a parent then it sets the example and the standard for your children.
- Because if you are a child, then it sets the example your parent should be setting.
- There are about 31,000 verses in the Bible. If you studied once scripture a day, it would take you 84 years to get through the Bible. There is a lot that God wants you to learn.
- Because God wrote the Bible for his "church," not just for you.
- It is faithful to the Biblical model of 1 Corinthians 14:26 "What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church."
- It is faithful to the Biblical model of 1 Timothy 4:13 "Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching."
- If the average christian attends a small group, do you want to be below average?
- Yes it is a sacrifice of your time, and God is always glorified through sacrifice.
- The curriculum is normally a "systematic" approach to scripture. This is easier to follow than topical studies or sermons when it comes to understanding the narrative of the Bible.
- George Barna discovered that "active" church members were likely to live 8 years longer than church members who were unactive.
- You need help raising your children. If it takes a whole village to raise a child, then it takes a whole church to raise a disciple.
- You need to find a mentor. The disciples had a mentor named Jesus. Your Pastor is most likely too busy to mentor everyone. This is why there is a small group structure.
- You should learn to be a mentor. If you don't see this setting carried out in your own small group involvement, then you won't know how to do it either.
- Because it encourages your Pastor. I would rather there be more people in Small Groups than in the large worship setting. People in small groups can be followed up with.
- It will prevent you from saying, "no one at this church cares about me." They would care about you, if you were plugged into a small group and connected with other people. Otherwise, you are simply a bump on a log that leaves after worship without developing any significant relationship.
- It helps track attendance. What if something happens to you and you are absent 3 weeks in a row. Your small group leader will know, but if you are only in the large group setting, people probably won't notice. Small groups provide accountability for making sure you stay plugged into church.
- It will let you know how to pray for other people in your class. Specific prayers get specific answers.
- It will make you feel more a part of the church. Studies show that the number one way to prevent people from falling out of church is getting them into a small group.
- If your small group is gender specific, it will allow you to discuss things that you wouldn't discuss in other settings.
- Because your spouse will benefit from you becoming a better Christian.
- It is a promotion in your spiritual life. No one wants to sit on the bench at the game. Get off the bench and get into the game.
- It's like the huddle before the hike. Get into the huddle because your teammates need you.
- It provides you a place to express your desires for the ministry of the church. Maybe there is a family that you know of that needs something. Your small group class is the perfect place to share this ministry which needs to take place.
- Once you are involved in a small group, it provides the perfect place to invite your friends, neighbors, or family members. (Research Homogenous Unit Principle)
- Churches normally average 50% of their worship attendance in Small Groups. What this means is that if the small group attendance increases, then worship attendance will increase proportionately. If you can be a part of the small group growth, you will start seeing the growth that is reflected in the worship service.
- Because Jesus told us to "Go and make Disciples," not converts.
- It reinforces the fact that you are part of something greater than yourself.
- Because you only get one shot at life to become the best disciple you can be.
- Because Jesus died on the cross for you to be victorious, not for you to be defeated.
- Because Christians who are involved in a small group are 70% less likely to experience depression.
- Because Small Group Bible study is actually fun.
- Because Small Groups are normally associated with fellowship events that meet outside the meeting time like (movie nights, bowling nights, ministry projects, Holiday Parties)
- Because your Grand-Momma took you to Sunday School when you were young. She was a smart lady.
- Because if a Small Group leader is really bad, maybe you should let someone know.
- Because an organization can grow no larger than it's base. The base of church is the Small Group structure.
- Christians in China and Nigeria are meetings in secret locations to study the Bible because it is illegal. So stop taking your freedom for granted.
- There are some really smart theologians that have written good things about the Bible. These things are frequently shared in Small Group Bible studies.
- Because you will fight a battle starting Monday morning, so get as much help as you can.
- Because God's Word is a weapon, and you need how to handle it properly.
Whatever reasons speaks the most to you, we hope that you will take the leap of faith and get plugged into a small group ministry.