Structure In Our Sunday School

Introduction:

Structure in our Sunday School?  Many modern churches have no real or significant structure to their Sunday School.  It is basically a free for all with the majority of their structure being the simple fact that they have classes. They have no method, reason or rhyme about what they do or how they do it.  They have no goals in mind that they are trying to achieve.  They are simply shooting from the hip.  They are just teaching.  Over the years we have modified the structure of our Sunday School based on the needs of this ministry at the time.  That is something that will not change for the foreseeable future.  However, we do have a Sunday School that has structure.  In this article we will discuss why structure is needed.

 Structure, Why Do We Need It?

First of all, we need structure because the Scriptures teach us that God expects things to be done decently and in order from a worship perspective.  I Corinthians 14:40  Let all things be done decently and in order.  Without order you have chaos and confusion.  In I Corinthians chapter 14, Paul is discussing the subject of tongues and makes it clear that God expects things to be done without the confusion that goes with unknown tongues.  So the principle is that God expects a structured and orderly environment in the church.

Second, we understand that God has set the example himself  in the beginning regarding structure.  Genesis 1:1  In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. ²And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

In the first chapter of the Bible, we see that God gives us the account of the creation.  The first verse tells us that God created the heaven and the earth.  The second verse tells us what that creation was like.  The third verse tells us that the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.  The rest of the chapter tell us of the structure and order that God brought to His creation.  So by way of example we understand the need for structure in our ministry, specifically our Sunday School.

We understand that God has not only taught us that He expects things to be done decently and in order, he has also set the example of order for us in creation and third, we see from the Scriptures that God has established structure within the ministry from an operational perspective.

We see in the book of Acts  that God has established structure for the operation of the ministry.  Acts 6:1  And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. ²Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. ³Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. ⁴But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 

The people involved in the ministry have specific roles to fulfill.  If there is no structure in the operational side of the ministry, then there is chaos and areas of the ministry go unattended to.

Then last, or fourth, we see that God has established structure in the ministry in regard to its goals.  Ephesians 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; ¹²For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: ¹³Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: ¹⁴That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; ¹⁵But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: ¹⁶From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Not only does this passage of Scripture reinforce our last point but it outlines and explains three goals that can only be accomplished through a structured ministry.  In verse 12 we see these three goals, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:. 

The first goal is for the perfecting of the saints.  We are talking about spiritual maturity.  This is explained in verse 14 - 15.  God’s people must grow if they are to be stable enough for God to use them in any real capacity which brings us to the second goal which is the work of the ministry.  I did not let my boys use my skill saw when they were only three years old.  They had to grow some and be taught before I could trust them to use my  saw properly, safely and to accomplish what needed to be done.  Then the third goal, for the edifying of the body of Christ is explained in verse 16.  When we work together (which takes spiritual maturity), the body is increased or built up unto the edifying of itself in love.  

 We can also see that there is structure in regard to the order of these goals.  First comes growth, second comes work, third comes edifying or building up.  We cannot rearrange the order that God has laid out and accomplish what God wants done.  So yes, we do need structure in our ministry.  Yes, we do need and in fact, we must have structure in our Sunday School.

It is important that Sunday School Staff and, therefore, staff members within a ministry, do their best to honor and support the structure of this Sunday School.  I realize that we can’t make people go to the class that they are supposed to go to.  And, I would rather they attended a class that they weren’t supposed to attend than not attend at all. However, when people insist on attending a class other than the one that they should attend, it is an opportunity to encourage them to attend and participate in the class that they should be in and to  teach  them  why  they  should  follow  the established organizational structure of the Sunday School. 

I do realize that, like preachers, some teachers are simply more interesting than others.  However, when staff members fail to encourage them to go to the class that they are supposed to go to and to teach them why they should do so or to actively recruit them for their class when they know that they belong in another class promotes the “some of Apollos and some of Paul” mentality which will divide and undermine the Sunday School and therefore the ministry.

This is also important if staff members have underage children or grandchildren which they are responsible for.  To allow them or to encourage them to go to a class other than the one that they should be going to is to encourage them in the “some of Apollos and some of Paul” mentality.  It also teaches them disrespect for the established structure of the ministry and may even reveal some rebellion within the heart of the staff member.  Staff members must set the proper example in all areas of the Sunday School.  

You see Sunday School is not just a time to tell bible stories, it is a time to teach the student the Holy Scriptures, their principles and precepts and how to apply them in their lives.  It is a time to evangelize the lost student and a time to prepare the believing student for the work of the ministry!