Question regarding Sunday School

Aaron Schoenberger · Oct 23, 2017

I love to teach and I especially enjoy teaching children about Jesus. The Lord is amazing and I want everyone to know more about Him.

The issue I face at the moment is that my leaders want me to be trained in a curriculum for me to be able to participate as a Sunday school teacher. I do not want to be trained because I do not intend to use curriculum because I believe the Bible is so much better than a curriculum and I am also convinced that children are much smarter than we think. I have discerned our culture dumbing stuff down so much which is having a negative affect on our children and they have been denied the wisdom they so desperately need.

My question is: If the Holy Spirit is a better teacher than I (which he is) and I have been taught by the Spirit through the Word (Bible) then how do I approach my leadership regarding my convictions?

Also please pray for our children. Pray that Jesus will keep them safe.

1stcenturylady · Oct 24, 2017

One thing I learned as a child was memorizing the list of the books of the Bible. Then we played a game where the teacher gave a scripture text, and the first one who found it stood up and read it. That person got a marble, and the one with the most marbles, got a prize. Variations on memorization could be done too. I can still recite the Ten Commandments, 23rd Psalm, and the books of the Bible from those days, and of course, much more since then. There are many fundamental tools that should be learned as a child that can help you your entire life.

redleghunter · Oct 24, 2017

My advice is to submit to your pastors and elders on this matter. Learn the curriculum which will demonstrate you are teachable. Once you show this I'm sure they will let you introduce targeted approaches.

Same works for natural school teachers. They still have to follow the school board rules. When they get tenure they are trusted with more flexibility.

We are called to unity in our assemblies :

Ephesians 4 King James Version (KJV)
4 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

Grace2022 · Oct 24, 2017

Hi
my advice, take the training. Do it as your church wants. There are rules which must be followed by law and it is best to be on good terms with all others at church especially. Then from within that structure you can make a great difference to those children by inspiring them and being a great example of how a Christian lives and behaves.

Serving Zion · Oct 24, 2017

Does the curriculum prevent you from operating in conjunction with The Holy Spirit (ie: 1 Corinthians 8:1)? This sounds like it could be an opportunity to gain heavenly treasure (rapport and respect from church leaders: Proverbs 22:1), or to give the devil a foothold (2 Timothy 3:12-13). Consider Romans 13:1-7, and consider whether this is one of those situations like Matthew 5:41.

"we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."
Romans 8:28

Anguspure · Oct 24, 2017

This is the sort of reason why I prefer the home schooling method of Sunday School.

dysert · Oct 24, 2017

I echo the sentiments of virtually all who have replied. Take the training; see what the curriculum is. Remember, the creators of the curriculum are presumably being led by the same Spirit as you are, and they are experienced in building curricula. Give it a chance.

drjean · Oct 24, 2017

Interesting. Do you make no notes ever? You never hear something a preacher says and take note of it, even if you don't write it down? You don't have any notes of your own that you refer back to for development?

I understand there are issues with curricula especially children's level where they use object lessons without explaining the literal along with it. But why fear using a guidebook and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide you as to which way your class needs to go. By following the basic outlines that the church selects at least they have some measure of what the congregation SHOULD "know". (Unfortunately I have yet in my 50 years of the faith found any group that even thinks to measure learning in their church.)

Tolworth John · Oct 24, 2017

Are your church leaders teaching false doctrine?

How do you prove to them that you are right and they are wrong?

May I suggest that if you want to teach you do as you are told.
But you could stir things a bit by asking do they plan to preach right through a book of the bible?

SBC · Oct 24, 2017

Since mankind can be deceptive in so many ways; Society has this grand plan of "qualifying", as some sort of relief of mind; it is soothing to trust what mankind has "qualified".

"Sunday school "teachers" training" is simply your Churches way of "soothing" their mindset, that the "so trained", will be "qualified" according to their standards, to teach.

I would say;
acquiesce to their "required" training. Receive their "requirement" of being "qualified".

Be attentive to their "highlights" of points to cover.

Then proceed, with covering those "highlighted" points, according to the Way the Holy Spirit guides you.

God Bless,
SBC

dysert · Oct 24, 2017

In all fairness to the church, there are plenty of loons out there who think they can teach the Word but are in fact way off base in a lot of areas. I think it's a good idea to provide some sort of vetting of teachers (especially of children) to make sure the teacher isn't coming from left field.

Albion · Oct 24, 2017

You have a responsibility to the congregation to teach what it has decided is to be taught and in the way that it chooses. If you disagree and still want to be a Sunday School instructor, seek out a congregation that approves of your approach to the matter.

ViaCrucis · Oct 24, 2017

The Church has always used catechesis to instruct on matters of the faith. The Apostles didn't hand early converts a copy of the Septuagint, but taught. St. Paul, for example says in 2 Thessalonians, "Hold firm to the traditions which you received from us", in 1 Corinthians he writes, "For I delivered to you what I also received which is of first importance..."

Is there anything in the curriculum you disagree with? If so then you can take it up with the leadership in your church. But it sounds to me like you object to the use of any form of catechetical material.

Unless there is something objectionable in the material you should submit to your church's leadership here and use the curriculum. If you are not able to, in good faith, teach what you are instructed to teach, then you shouldn't be in a position of teaching others.

-CryptoLutheran

bling · Oct 24, 2017

I usually learn more from my students than I give to them, in fact anything good that comes through me was the Spirit doing it.

Hillsage · Oct 24, 2017

I have a few questions. How long have you been in this church? Have you been active in any other capacity in this church? Were you asked by someone to do this job?

This is really quite funny. Does this mean you agree with ME who believes the same Spirit taught me? Or do you agree with the brother who totally disagrees with ME who believes the same Spirit taught him?

I notice you are single, so does this refer to 'your children' eg. divorce? Or are you referring to kids in your church, or are you an X pedophile?

My final comment and advice, concerning any curriculum I'd be forced to participate in, by religious leaders, in order to minister would be this; "EAT THE GRAPES and SPIT OUT THE SEEDS"....as the Spirit leads...of course.

Aaron Schoenberger · Oct 24, 2017

I agree wholeheartedly with your sentiments regarding unity and submission to the elders. I will certainly submit to the training and glean what I can from the curriculum. I have been in the church for over 3 years and there was a call to serve within aspects of the church and I answered by signing up for teaching Sunday School. I have taught Sunday School before at another church and taught simply from out of the Bible, which the children really enjoyed. I must remain faithful to the Lord first and foremost and His word is so incredibly precious. Please pray for me and my heart to be humbled and submitted to the King as I teach both adults and children.

I do not have kids by the way. I have a very real concern for the children because Jesus loves them and this world is evil. If you don't see how disgusting it is then you should draw close to the Lord and ask Him for discernment because everywhere I look Satan is active and his strategies are aimed at our youth. Please pray for them.

Soyeong · Oct 24, 2017

Hello,

There is a concern that we don't just let anyone teach our children, so with a curriculum both leaders and parents are able to see what is being taught. In addition, a curriculum helps to give a framework to guide new teachers in how to go about teaching a class. So there are advantages to a curriculum, but as you recognize there are also disadvantages for those who prefer an environment that is not as structured. However, I think most church leaders would welcome initiative on the part of teachers in creating new lessons on the condition that you run your lessons by them before you teach them. After they see that you are capable and trust has been built up, then you are usually given more freedom without having to check everything. I don't think you need to make a big deal out of this, just ask them what their thoughts are about the possibility of you creating your own lesson plan and express the same concerns to them as you did here.

Aaron Schoenberger · Oct 24, 2017

I keep reading my original post and realize how foolish it truly is. Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.

Thank you all for your advice and counsel. You have been most helpful. I pray the Lord will grow your faith.

Tayla · Oct 25, 2017

I doubt the curriculum is any good; not if it teaches young earth, global flood, works have no role in salvation, God commits genocide, the Bible is a children's book, and etc. It'll just warp another generation of Christians to have a warped view of God and Christianity.

Ron Gurley · Oct 26, 2017

1. Your assembly should have a doctrinal statement similar to this.

Doctrinal Statement | Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS)

Do you fullly accept it?

2. Your pastor / elder / deacon leaderhip will have approved / tailored a teaching outline.

Do you fullly accept it?

3. Submit yourself to the more mature leadership of the assembly.

SEE: 1 Timothy 3 (NASB)

Ephesians 4:11
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,

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