Over the past 25 years or so, I’ve noticed a disturbing trend. Adult Sunday school has declined or even disappeared from many congregations. While churches still have Sunday morning classes for children, the adults often meet in small groups some other day of the week and discuss a popular topic, the latest Christian book, or the pastor’s sermon from last Sunday. In fact, one growing church I visited had a two-story building devoted solely to children’s Sunday school—but not a single room in the whole church was dedicated to a similar meeting for adults.
It’s a dangerous trajectory. We are (rightfully) concerned when we read studies showing our children and teenagers do not know the Bible, but do the adults know it any better? Take a step back and ask yourself this question: What specifically is my church doing to help adult disciples know and understand the whole Bible?
A church can have great children’s and youth programs, solid biblical preaching, Christ-honoring worship and music, and small group studies. Yet the adults may not know, for example, about the prophet Habakkuk, or why the short Book of Haggai is one of the most relevant parts of Scripture for our “me-focused” society. When small groups choose what Bible book to study, the Old Testament is often ignored, so your adults may never really see why covenants have always been a crucial part of God’s plan for His people.
A comprehensive knowledge of Scripture is essential for mature, growing disciples. And starting an adult Sunday school class doesn’t have to be daunting! Here are three tips for getting started.
1. Choose the right adult Sunday school curriculum (it doesn’t need to break the bank).
You’ll want to find a comprehensive adult curriculum that goes through all the main themes in Scripture—from both the Old and New Testaments—in a cycle. For example, this summer one David C Cook adult curriculum covers the key themes of the books of Zephaniah and Romans. You may be familiar with Romans, but have you heard how Zephaniah’s prophecies are still important for us today? Adult Sunday school curriculum can help your church understand and apply the whole of Scripture.
And it doesn’t need to be expensive. Comprehensive curriculums are available for far less than you might think, especially in digital formats. Choose Sunday school curriculum based on orthodox Christian teachings that most denominations would agree with and have for centuries. Look for curriculum that presents both sides of controversial passages and lets you make up your mind. (Check out this quick guide on how to choose a Sunday school curriculum for more practical steps in making your decision.)
2. Overcome misconceptions (no boredom here!)
You may be reluctant to start adult Sunday school because it sounds terribly old fashioned and you’re sure no adults will want to do that kind of study. I visited a church once where the pastor said (only half-jokingly, I’m afraid), “We have several classes that meet on Sunday morning. If you are one of those old-timers who like Bible study, we have a class that is reading through the Scripture. They serve coffee to keep everybody awake.”
While funny, this attitude is actually very sad because comprehensive adult curriculum can be the exact opposite of dull and boring. So many people say, “I don’t read the Bible because I can’t understand it.” One of the exciting things about adult curriculum is that it helps us understand Scripture by illuminating the context behind the text.
For example, every Christmas you hear about the wise men coming to find Jesus, and you read that King Herod was “troubled” about Magi coming from “the East.” But have you ever wondered why? One key reason is that Herod had a life-long paranoia about his kingdom being conquered by the Parthians—the people “to the east” of Judea (in modern Iran) whose army was feared even by the Romans. Herod had a chain of palace fortresses built along Judea’s eastern border (including Masada and Machaerus, where John the Baptist was imprisoned) to stop any Parthian invasion. Imagine, then, these important men coming from “the East” to tell Herod he is not really the “king of the Jews.” Will the Parthians now be coming to dethrone Herod?
None of that is specifically in the Scripture, but that context (from a comprehensive adult Bible study) puts important new light on a familiar story. Materials such as maps, charts, and life-application handouts help bring the message of the Bible alive and right into people’s everyday walk!
3. Discover how small groups and Sunday school can coexist (happily)
Don’t think of small groups and Sunday school as an either/or proposition. They can actually complement each other very well. Include a comprehensive study of the Bible as one of your small group offerings during the week, or as a class on Sundays (morning or evening).
You may be surprised how many adults actually like Sunday morning classes so that they don’t have to find another day to meet with a small group or line up childcare.
I hope these ideas inspire you to begin (or resume) a comprehensive study of Scripture for adults. Every church can help ALL its members become life-long learners with a deep understanding of the Bible—important goals for every Christian.
