Pondering the Question of Adult Education
Are classrooms and small-group settings the only way?
A church in our area recently dealt with a situation that made me think harder about the way many congregations approach adult Sunday school.
This church of about 150 people gathers for a worship service first, then breaks into age-specific classes afterward. A few months ago, a group of young mothers in the church found themselves loitering together in the church lobby. They wound up spending the entire Sunday school hour sharing updates on life and providing encouragement, without children around to interrupt.
The following week, the women found themselves in the lobby for the impromptu meeting. And then again the next week. And the next. Some momentum began to build.
But in a church of about 150 people, it didn’t take long for others to notice. And this is where I found myself challenged by the ways church leaders typically approach adult Christian education.
In a tactful, yet direct way, the church told the women that the weekly gathering couldn’t continue in its current form. It seemed there was a desire to keep the church lobby clear. It also seemed there was a desire for a church-appointed leader to help guide the conversation along, maybe even to provide some level of teaching to the women. The meeting could only continue, they were told, if it took place with a church-appointed leader in one of the available Sunday school classrooms downstairs.
At first glance, I suppose this might make sense. There’s the concern to limit distractions; there’s the church’s sincere desire to ensure that every activity on the property during the Sunday school hour is a sanctioned one; and there’s the concern about the possibility of allowing a clique to develop.
But under the new setup, at least one of the mothers told me she isn’t sure she’ll continue. The idea of structure isn’t bad per se, but the relational feel that appealed so strongly to the women seems to dissipate more each week as an unofficial “curriculum” begins to get implemented.
I wonder if this church squelched an opportunity. The adult Sunday school lineup didn’t seem to address the needs—real or felt—of the women. Rather than complain about it, though, they essentially developed their own solution.
This tells me that the ways of teaching meaningful, life-changing discipleship don’t always come in the forms we as church leaders expect. Not everyone learns best through a teacher-led class or a small-group Bible study facilitated by one leader.
After all, these mothers shared struggles, provided encouragement to each other, and prayed for each other. To me, that sounds a lot like discipleship in action.
Why mess with a good thing?
Matt Branaugh is director of editorial and special projects for Christianity Today International’s Your Church Media Group. Prior to this role, he led Christianity Today’s Ministry Team, which includes BuildingChurchLeaders.com and FaithVisuals.com.
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Comments
"This tells me that the ways of teaching meaningful, life-changing discipleship don’t always come in the forms we as church leaders expect"
I agree that discipleship doesn't always happen within structure, but nothing you described in the article suggested that "life-changing discipleship" was occurring. Just because they enjoyed being in the same place at the same time does not mean their lives were being changed or that they were following Christ.
Posted by: Dave | April 24, 2008 11:57 AM
In my experience, strong relationships at church are increasingly difficult to create. Any group that is helping to develop them can definitely be considered to be doing life changing discipleship. Anytime a person feels welcome, accepted and supported at church, the foundation for discipleship is being set.
Posted by: Jon | April 24, 2008 2:05 PM
Well worded, Jon.
And, Dave, just because they weren't sitting in a sanctioned Sunday school class doesn't mean that their lives weren't being changed or that they weren't following Christ. Are you assuming this to be true?
From my experience, much meaningful, life-changing discipleship happens well outside of formal church teaching. I pastor a church and have absolutely no problem with that. I occasionally have small groups of women and sometimes even men who don't ever make it into the auditorium for our worship service. Rather than feeling like I need to take action, I figure that those people needed to connect on something more far more than they needed to hear me preach. I certainly don't think they're just "blowing off" church. And when word gets back to me about the nature of the conversation (and it often does) my suspicions are confirmed - real needs existed and real ministry occurred.
Posted by: Anonymous | April 27, 2008 10:08 PM