I am part of an ongoing workgroup here at LifeWay addressing this question: What are the differences between (a) Sunday School, (b) Discipleship Training, and (c) Small Groups as perceived and practiced by churches?  I have also done a lot of independent research. The biggest takeaway for me thus far is that all three are best viewed as movements rather than programs. At their hearts, all three are movements that have grown because of the effort and energy of volunteer lay persons, not because they have been endorsed by those of us who are ordained clergy. Read more...

Blessings,

David Francis
Director, Sunday School
LifeWay Church Resources
david.francis@lifeway.com

Sunday School Is…
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.

Create Opportunities to Reach People: Start New Bible Study Groups
There is one specific strategy that will increase your results of reaching more people: you must start new Sunday School groups!

Adult Sunday School: Teach to Change the World
Spending time in Bible study does not mean that learning will occur. Only when teachers recognize the ways learning can be applied, can we know whether our teaching efforts are really making a difference.

Youth Sunday School: How to Ask Youth the Right Questions 
How skilled are you at asking your teenagers thought-provoking questions? Follow these principles to begin asking right questions right away!  

Childhood Sunday School: Bible Teaching Scope and Sequence for Kids [PDF]
LifeWay's new resource for childhood Sunday School, Bible Teaching for Kids, is developed around a balanced treatment of 15 biblical concepts. Preschool materials cover eight of these concepts. Provided is a schedule of topics for 2007-08 to help you get the big picture.

Check out LifeWay's online Sunday School curriculum guide! Use this resource as a guide to learn about all the new fall Sunday School resources.

Did you know that a MasterWork curriculum schedule is online? Click here to view current and future topics (and writers) for the MasterWork Sunday School resource.

Coming in November: Leading Sunday School in the African American Community