Sunday School Classes

[healingoil]

Our kids Sunday School class is pretty basic - tell a story from the bible in a way the kids can relate to, have a snack and then do a craft or color a page that relates to the story.

Our pastor teaches the adult Sunday School class and ties it in with the message we are going to have that day. We also start out playing "swords" which is someone from our group calls out the book, chapter and verse and then whoever gets there first reads it.

[Larry 2]

What is in your perspective the best sunday school classes? What would they learn, what would they do?

Dear Blien, a sunday school class should be taught to the degree a child, teen, or an adult is capable of taking in the word of God. It is not our accomplished learning, style, or presentation that teaches them, it is the Holy Spirit's involvement in our life that gives us the understanding. We are to give out the word in truth, but Paul said in Philippians 1:18. "What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice." Even preaching wrongly the Holy Spirit used some of that to promote Christ, and Paul rejoiced because of it. I have listened to some classes of very small children being taught things I believed far over their heads and they took it in, and when questioned later they knew what they had been taught much to my amazement; it is not us that does the teaching; we are only used as God's angels or messengers as it were.

Study aids are helpful for the very young, as outlines for adults are helpful, but you must be aware of attention gap with children, and that sometimes is common among adults also if presented with too long a lesson at one time. I personally do not believe in mixing play time with study time, but having it separated for a form of fellowship during the last half or so of the class. But teach your class that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ. - larry2

[Blien]

Thanks Everyone! I really appreciate ALL your comments and will take them all into consideration. I really like the idea of Sunday School outside (I'm a big fan of being out in the sun!) but out church is in the heart of the city so there isn't much in ways of grass or anything. I do agree also that play time and study time should be separate. As for how I'm going to layout the study topics... I like the One Year Bible format and I hope I can find some way to integrate it into a Sunday by Sunday break down.

I don't want to overload the students with information but I don't want to leave out any details either. The goal is to make them so knowledgeable and so wise that they will live out a wonderful life in a Godly manner and perhaps even encourage their parents to pick up the Bible and have studies in their homes! That's my ideal if the church lets me do some classes.. if all these youngin' could turn into prophets of the Lord! lol...

Calluna, would love to see your layout of classes. I also love the idea of a "Knowing God" wall, I think we would really benefit from that! You mentioned David and Moses but also we can do Ester, Ruth, even the Devil and how to recognize his schemes in day to day life! (offense, temptation etc.) Although I think this would be much more beneficial for an older class!

Everyone, Keep telling me your ideas and suggestions or what you feel would be the best format. I love hearing them and hope to create something that would really benefit our community and who knows? Perhaps someone in Worthy is considering the same thing for their community church and is benefiting from this topic!

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!! I LOVE all of you!

Thanks for you help!

[damo1]

Hay Blien

its damo

in the philippines we do things a little diffrent and our assistant pastor who we are raising runs our sunday school class

right now we are having our classes out side when its not pooring down rain and when its pooring down rain they go to our living room up stairs

our sunday school is nearly built al we have to do is stable lize the floor boards then do the roof as the kids have been helping due to its going to be their little section were they can have a book shelf with books and were they can put pictures up on the wal

our assistant pastor keeps it simple Blien

some of our kids cant read due to comming from poor familys so what she uses is the over head projecter that was given to us and puts up little pictures biblical characters

our assistant pastor will read from the old testament and then have question time and wil then pray for our kids we have all up 25 kids comming to the sunday school

our assistant pastor has a little book and will write down the prayer requests and then she will give these prayer requests over to god asking god to touch each child in his special little way and when a prayer is answered she will jot all the information down like the time the prayer was answered what the specific prayer was and will show the children how god responded

we notice with filapino kids they love loolies so i have to send every month what our assistant pastor needs

they love to sing so we bring in simple songs that are not to hard

we also play musical chairs and we have like a bible quize were they wil be given a prize nothing expensive just simple things like a book or coloring book with characters from the bible we also get little books with short storys

i would like to in the long run were they have their own tv and dvd as there are some good christian dvds were you can use these dvds to reach out to the kids in your area each dvd player so they can play the dvds i am about to get from the christian book store each dvd has a little short testimony of what kids are doing for god in there communities

we try not to bring in confussion or what is being done in America and in Australia

we also hold saturday sunday school classes Blien as some of our new members cant make it to church so while my fiance is doing like a bible study with the adults we will do something for the kids some of these members work on their farms seven days a week and catch the public transport to do their shopping on sunday it can be tricky due to the guys who run the busses and motor bikes wanting to rest and its to far for them to get to our church

they love it and so do the parents my fiancee wil pray for the parents when the study is finished hold communion and wil keep in touch we are thoug praying for god to donate a vehical for us and we have 4 guys willing to take turns to pick the familys up this is what we are lifting to the lord

with the youth you have to be on ball our young people are hungry for the word i am going to be taking over as youth pastor and the youth like the idea of me being youth pastor we have our youth group after our church service on sunday the youth come to the church at 2.30pm for a 3pm sunday youth service

we have a good worship band and i try to step back as much as i can with our young people to were i alow them to lead and even bring in the word al i do is encourage them to use their gifts that god has given them we are planning two crucades but this is going to be after our wedding

i dont feed them milk blien also our youth are use to 2hr services not were in your country to were you have to have only a half hour service as if it goes any longer you will loose them

right now my fiancee is going over the seven seals and our youth love to ask questions

they come to the friday prayer meeting and saturday morning prayer meeting saturday morning prayer meeting is held at 5am they get up at 4am so our youth are a little difrent to the ones you are use to dealing with

we dont do what the mega churches are doing we just preach gods word and let the holy spirit do what he has to

God bless from damo

[calluna]

Hi again. So, here is some more about my SS class...

I have some class objectives, and I match up everything I do against those to ensure that I'm staying on track. Here are the objectives:

1. To help all children understand the Bible on their own level and to adapt my teaching methods accordingly

2. To help lead pre-saved children towards a salvation decision for Christ

3. To help children understand the nature of God and how to relate to Him

4. To help instill into children principles of Christian living

5. To help children develop a Biblical World View

6. To help children develop a passion for prayer and worship

7. To help children realize, develop, and utilize their Spiritual Gifts

Each unit that I do has its own set of objectives also. For example, the first unit I did with the kids was on the Book of Daniel, and I came up with the following objectives:

1. To gain an overview of the Book of Daniel

2. To learn that obedience stems from trusting in what God says

3. To learn that God is always in control

4. To learn that faith is something practiced through everyday decisions, not just on Sundays within the walls of a church.

The overall objectives I send home in a welcome packet to new parents. At the beginning of each unit, I send home a "parents' memo" also, with the objectives, the memory verse, and the unit outline/calendar.

I think objectives are good, because otherwise people have the tendency to waver off onto rabbit trails and not accomplish what should be accomplished in the Church setting. You want to be sure you're doing more than teaching facts...

As far as topics that I cover... I'm kind of playing it by ear. I took over the children's ministry at this Church about a year ago, within a month of beginning my attendance there. So, I chose some "random" topics at first, until I got to know the needs of the children/families a bit better. I make myself very available to the families, and regularly e-mail with them to get their input and whatnot. It's a smaller congregation, and all of the children are together in the one class. The youngest child is nearly three and the oldest is thirteen and has a mental disability. It's a challenge to put together relevant curriculum that reaches all of the children. What I find myself doing is "layering" my lessons, so that the essence of them is very, very basic, but so that there is meatier stuff there for the older ones also.

Anyways, here are the titles of the units I've done thus far:

1. Daniel

2. Giving and Gratefulness

3. Christmas Time

4. Grow Good Fruit (fruits of the spirit)

5. Worship the King (which included the Easter lessons)

6. God's Kids (discusses salvation and basic facets of being a child of God)

7. The Sermon on the Mount (will be starting a week from Sunday!)

Beyond what I mentioned in my first post regarding the structure of the sessions, I try to use a lot of visual aids and object lessons. We do a lot of art projects also. I'm a huge advocate of incorporating art into curriculum. I believe that children learn best when they interact with material in a variety of ways. During the creative process, when led effectively, the child recalls the material, processes it, takes ownership of it, and projects it.

During our unit on Worship, we spent 2-3 weeks making murals for our classroom. I got some of that canvas board and brought in a bunch of my art and scrapbooking supplies. The idea behind this was to illustrate the qualities of God. We discussed a bunch of verses and passages that spoke about this, and came up with a long list of things (such as Creator, Healer, Comforter). As the kids drew, cut, pasted, etc., they were looking up some of the verses again, and talking about how to illustrate the qualities... It required a lot of thought, and the older kids helped the younger ones. It worked out really well. Now, we have several beautiful murals for our newly-painted classroom too!

Well, I think that is pretty much it. If you any questions, just let me know. I can go over things more specifically, if you like.

[irishcowboy]

Childrens sunday school classes when i was growing up, I HATED, could not stand to be there.... very embarrassing and belittling. it was not until i was in Jr. Hi, that I started enjoying classes, i did not go to the Jr. Hi classes, I went to the adult classes and learned a whole lot more....

I never got a memory verse right, not once. I was dyslexic and no one knew it, and i could not get it down good nuff. I actually dreaded sunday school....

there is more to learning the Word of God then just memory verses.... Yes, they are needed, but placing awards on memory verse and nothing else really shoots down a child that has problems.... it would have been better with no prizes then to have some one not get something they are unable to do.

what I like about sunday school most is teaching from the Bible, using commentaries conservatively, with some open discussion as long as the rabbit trails do not go too far off track....

having a good facilitator is the main thing, not just a person that is the sundayschool teacher because they have been there the longest, or because they "have always been" the sunday school teacher where ever they were, or because they are there for the title/position....(too many are there for that so they can be recognized at the annual church dinner)......

and sunday school time should be early enough that there is time set aside for people to prepare for the worship service, not just run out and then to the sanctuary grabbing coffee as they go.... time to spend time in prayer in preparation for worship

mike

[Guest shiloh357]

Hi again. So, here is some more about my SS class...

I have some class objectives, and I match up everything I do against those to ensure that I'm staying on track. Here are the objectives:

1. To help all children understand the Bible on their own level and to adapt my teaching methods accordingly

2. To help lead pre-saved children towards a salvation decision for Christ

3. To help children understand the nature of God and how to relate to Him

4. To help instill into children principles of Christian living

5. To help children develop a Biblical World View

6. To help children develop a passion for prayer and worship

7. To help children realize, develop, and utilize their Spiritual Gifts

Each unit that I do has its own set of objectives also. For example, the first unit I did with the kids was on the Book of Daniel, and I came up with the following objectives:

1. To gain an overview of the Book of Daniel

2. To learn that obedience stems from trusting in what God says

3. To learn that God is always in control

4. To learn that faith is something practiced through everyday decisions, not just on Sundays within the walls of a church.

The overall objectives I send home in a welcome packet to new parents. At the beginning of each unit, I send home a "parents' memo" also, with the objectives, the memory verse, and the unit outline/calendar.

I think objectives are good, because otherwise people have the tendency to waver off onto rabbit trails and not accomplish what should be accomplished in the Church setting. You want to be sure you're doing more than teaching facts...

As far as topics that I cover... I'm kind of playing it by ear. I took over the children's ministry at this Church about a year ago, within a month of beginning my attendance there. So, I chose some "random" topics at first, until I got to know the needs of the children/families a bit better. I make myself very available to the families, and regularly e-mail with them to get their input and whatnot. It's a smaller congregation, and all of the children are together in the one class. The youngest child is nearly three and the oldest is thirteen and has a mental disability. It's a challenge to put together relevant curriculum that reaches all of the children. What I find myself doing is "layering" my lessons, so that the essence of them is very, very basic, but so that there is meatier stuff there for the older ones also.

Anyways, here are the titles of the units I've done thus far:

1. Daniel

2. Giving and Gratefulness

3. Christmas Time

4. Grow Good Fruit (fruits of the spirit)

5. Worship the King (which included the Easter lessons)

6. God's Kids (discusses salvation and basic facets of being a child of God)

7. The Sermon on the Mount (will be starting a week from Sunday!)

Beyond what I mentioned in my first post regarding the structure of the sessions, I try to use a lot of visual aids and object lessons. We do a lot of art projects also. I'm a huge advocate of incorporating art into curriculum. I believe that children learn best when they interact with material in a variety of ways. During the creative process, when led effectively, the child recalls the material, processes it, takes ownership of it, and projects it.

During our unit on Worship, we spent 2-3 weeks making murals for our classroom. I got some of that canvas board and brought in a bunch of my art and scrapbooking supplies. The idea behind this was to illustrate the qualities of God. We discussed a bunch of verses and passages that spoke about this, and came up with a long list of things (such as Creator, Healer, Comforter). As the kids drew, cut, pasted, etc., they were looking up some of the verses again, and talking about how to illustrate the qualities... It required a lot of thought, and the older kids helped the younger ones. It worked out really well. Now, we have several beautiful murals for our newly-painted classroom too!

Well, I think that is pretty much it. If you any questions, just let me know. I can go over things more specifically, if you like.

Sounds like you really strive for quality in biblical education. I must say, that is just awesome. I wish I had a SS Teacher that put that much effort into our classes!

[EricH]

It is hard to pick one topic as, "the best".

[Blien]

we notice with filapino kids they love loolies so i have to send every month what our assistant pastor needs

So thatsss the secret!!!! Add more loolies!! LOL... thanks Damo for all your comments, I appreciate them as always. I was thinking of doing 1/2 hour classes but your right, perhaps 2 hours would be better. I'm going to be teaching in an Orthodox Church so the mass is like 4 hours long and there is fellowship for 30minutes - 1 hour right after... soo its not too much but not too little. I dont belive in giving homework for Sunday School because no one will read it during the week unless they are zealous. And kids are still discovering the world and all it has so I dont know if will be willing.. but I will have voluntary homework like, suggested readings, and things to think about. I'm also going to buy all of them a bible if they dont already have one to themselves instead of a family bible.. so I hope that will help them read more!

[Blien]

Hi again. So, here is some more about my SS class...

I have some class objectives, and I match up everything I do against those to ensure that I'm staying on track. Here are the objectives:

1. To help all children understand the Bible on their own level and to adapt my teaching methods accordingly

2. To help lead pre-saved children towards a salvation decision for Christ

3. To help children understand the nature of God and how to relate to Him

4. To help instill into children principles of Christian living

5. To help children develop a Biblical World View

6. To help children develop a passion for prayer and worship

7. To help children realize, develop, and utilize their Spiritual Gifts

Each unit that I do has its own set of objectives also. For example, the first unit I did with the kids was on the Book of Daniel, and I came up with the following objectives:

1. To gain an overview of the Book of Daniel

2. To learn that obedience stems from trusting in what God says

3. To learn that God is always in control

4. To learn that faith is something practiced through everyday decisions, not just on Sundays within the walls of a church.

The overall objectives I send home in a welcome packet to new parents. At the beginning of each unit, I send home a "parents' memo" also, with the objectives, the memory verse, and the unit outline/calendar.

I think objectives are good, because otherwise people have the tendency to waver off onto rabbit trails and not accomplish what should be accomplished in the Church setting. You want to be sure you're doing more than teaching facts...

As far as topics that I cover... I'm kind of playing it by ear. I took over the children's ministry at this Church about a year ago, within a month of beginning my attendance there. So, I chose some "random" topics at first, until I got to know the needs of the children/families a bit better. I make myself very available to the families, and regularly e-mail with them to get their input and whatnot. It's a smaller congregation, and all of the children are together in the one class. The youngest child is nearly three and the oldest is thirteen and has a mental disability. It's a challenge to put together relevant curriculum that reaches all of the children. What I find myself doing is "layering" my lessons, so that the essence of them is very, very basic, but so that there is meatier stuff there for the older ones also.

Anyways, here are the titles of the units I've done thus far:

1. Daniel

2. Giving and Gratefulness

3. Christmas Time

4. Grow Good Fruit (fruits of the spirit)

5. Worship the King (which included the Easter lessons)

6. God's Kids (discusses salvation and basic facets of being a child of God)

7. The Sermon on the Mount (will be starting a week from Sunday!)

Beyond what I mentioned in my first post regarding the structure of the sessions, I try to use a lot of visual aids and object lessons. We do a lot of art projects also. I'm a huge advocate of incorporating art into curriculum. I believe that children learn best when they interact with material in a variety of ways. During the creative process, when led effectively, the child recalls the material, processes it, takes ownership of it, and projects it.

During our unit on Worship, we spent 2-3 weeks making murals for our classroom. I got some of that canvas board and brought in a bunch of my art and scrapbooking supplies. The idea behind this was to illustrate the qualities of God. We discussed a bunch of verses and passages that spoke about this, and came up with a long list of things (such as Creator, Healer, Comforter). As the kids drew, cut, pasted, etc., they were looking up some of the verses again, and talking about how to illustrate the qualities... It required a lot of thought, and the older kids helped the younger ones. It worked out really well. Now, we have several beautiful murals for our newly-painted classroom too!

Well, I think that is pretty much it. If you any questions, just let me know. I can go over things more specifically, if you like.

I defiantly hear you on objectives and I'm a big fan of those, thanks for telling me how you conduct your classes. I really like that you give something for the parents as well so that there is an open line of communication. That sounds a little scary to tell you the truth because I know some people can get very opinionated and tell you how to run your class when they have no clue about the Bible or worse no intensions to make the best decision just see their ideas implemented! That's very courageous and I salute you to that one!

I thought about books like Daniel and Ezekiel. Daniel has some prophecy so I thought perhaps children will really not understand this. I mean, its okay to talk about it but to tell them what its about and what God says to Daniel through his Angles.. it might be a little much. How did you accomplish this? Did you just avoid it altogether?

In your experience, what excites children, what excites your children and what bores them? Topics, teach methods, etc..? What do you do on topics like Demons and their roles in the Old/New testament? For me demons are very important because I had a first hand experience with them.. Horrible Horrible.. And also I belive everyone even adults should learn how to screen thoughts that come from the Devil so that we can be wise to his schemes. That dirty old man! lol... seriously though..