Sunday School Is…

Written by Ellie M. Black

Ever worked on a jigsaw puzzle? If so, you know it can be a consuming project. All the pieces are spread out and fussed over until their proper place is found. This requires time, deliberation, and many failures. Frustration and fulfillment are companions throughout this course. The result, though, is a sense of satisfaction in a job well done and fulfillment for having accomplished an intricate task.

Sometimes Sunday School seems like a big jigsaw puzzle. Use the following acronym, to help you understand how the pieces of the Sunday School jigsaw fit together.

S - Study, Submission
We, as Sunday School leaders and workers must submit, pray, study, and prepare ourselves so that we may strongly convey the teachings of God’s Holy Word to the best of our ability. God’s Word tells us to “be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth"
2 Tim 2:15, HCSB). We are also told to “submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you” (Jas. 4:7).

U - Understanding, Unity
What greater goal could we as teachers have than to promote understanding and unity among our class members? We read in God’s Word: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding" (Prov 3:5, HCSB).

We need to promote class unity. We are told in Psalm 133:1: ”How good and pleasant it is when brothers can live together.”

N - Needs
We should always be aware of the physical and spiritual needs of our class members and their families.

D - Dedication, Dependability
We should dedicate ourselves to our ministry of teaching, depending wholly on the Holy Spirit for guidance.

A - Actions
Our actions should always speak louder than our words. Living daily a devout Christian life is our goal, knowing that we can lean on Christ continually for strength and guidance.

Y - Yielded Lives
We strive to yield ourselves to our Lord’s work and to our responsibilities as God’s servants.

S - Service, Sensitivity
As we become more sensitive to our service to people around us, we can show concern to the needs of the total person.

C - Consideration, Care, Compassion
At all times teachers are to be considerate, showing care for each member of the class. Above all, we keep confidences. Compassion is one of our major characteristics.

H - Humility, Help, Happy Workers
Let us walk daily in humility, giving practical help when and where it is appropriate. Our classes have the right to see happy servants on Sunday. Even when we aren’t up to par on Sunday morning, we can fake it! Let our happiness and joy reflect Christ in us. We are told in God’s Word: “The one who understands a matter finds success, and the one who trusts in the Lord will be happy” (Prov. 16:20, HCSB).

O - Openness
Good teachers always remain open, willing to listen. As we listen, we can learn from one another. If criticism appears, let us find ways to use it as a stepping stone to strengthen the class. By doing so, everyone grows.

O - Obedience
 “We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him," Acts 5:32 (HCSB). Sunday School leaders are obedient to God’s Word, our church, our Sunday School, one another.

L - Loyalty, Listening, Love
We need to be loyal, for our class members depend on us. We have to learn to be good listeners without judging. As we totally submit ourselves to God, His love will encircle us and reflect in each member of the class. Let us truly “love one another.”

Now, put these thoughts together, and they spell Sunday School. What a blessed privilege we have to serve God, our church, and the people in our community. May we, as Sunday School leaders, make a total commitment and give God all the credit.