Ingredients for a Great Youth Sunday School

Written by Sandi Black

If you were to make a documentary film on the ideal youth Sunday School, what would it look like? Remember, you're trying to provide a model for others to follow - a blueprint for everyone else who is working with teenagers in Bible study. What would you show? How about a few suggestions?

• The department sets goals for growth on an annual basis.
  
• The outreach evangelism leader helps youth involve other youth in love and caring activities and plans regular visitation times.
  
• Leaders and youth use all sorts of opportunities to witness to unsaved youth, trying to involve them in Youth Sunday School and in the church.
  
• Youth are involved and excited about studying the Bible and applying it in their daily lives.
  
• Leaders and youth support the entire church's ministry and missions programs.
  
• The youth department/area is friendly and inviting. The youth have helped plan how to decorate and use their space.
  
• Leaders are committed and faithful in attendance because they were asked ahead of time to pray about accepting a job working with youth. They were elected by the church and knew their job descriptions before accepting the responsibility.
  
• The department plans weekly and occasionally involves youth in the planning time. Ideally, the department has an annual planning retreat at a peaceful location away from the church campus.
  
• Leaders are enthusiastic because they are constantly growing spiritually. They are committed to a daily quiet time, and they attend workshops and special seminars to improve their methods of teaching and understanding of youth.
  
• The workers and youth have good relationships because the leaders spend time with the teenagers in fellowships, on mission trips or attending their school functions.

How does your Youth Sunday School measure up? Sit down regularly with your workers, students, and parents to evaluate these aspects and see how you can improve that all-important Bible study time on Sunday mornings.

Sandi Black

Sandi Black is a licensed professional counselor. She and her husband, Wes, are co-sponsors of Parent Connection at Travis Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.

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