The Main Purpose of the Christian Education Model: Sunday School

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The importance of Christian Education nowadays

Our life aims to glorify God and live according to His purpose of our life. Jesus Christ’s command is to “make disciples … teaching them to obey” (Mt. 28: 18-20). It should be remembered that spiritual knowledge is also very important for our life which is why the importance of Christian Education should not be underestimated. The main aim of Christian Education is to prepare disciples not only by providing theological and biblical knowledge but teaching them to use this knowledge in their life. To achieve this aim, educational leaders should be acquainted with pedagogical, curricular, and developmental theories.

The main aim of the mission-based model of Christian Education is to develop educational leaders to achieve the mission of Christian Education namely discipleship education. The Ministry of Education is responsible for the quality of Christian Education. The officials should take into account the needs of students and they should collaborate with local churches to improve the quality of education. Local churches are also concerned with Christian Education. If people need to approach God they go to the local church. Christianity is strictly connected with the Churches thus the best decision to make the quality of the Christian Education better is to organize a mission-based model of Christian education in a local church (Anthony, 2001).

The theological courses prepare government officials, teachers, and pastors to practice Christian Education

Particular attention should be given to pastors and educators as far as they are responsible for the quality of education. That is why it is necessary to organize special theological seminars for educators and pastors that help them to provide Christian Education more effectively. One of the main goals of such theological seminars is to prepare students to run congregations in the church and to train pastors, teachers, and ministers. This course prepares to organize, administer and evaluate the educational ministry programs. The theological seminars aim at providing theological and biblical knowledge to Christian Education ministry in the local church. As far as we live in the era of modern technologies our model of Christian education contains not only ordinary classrooms but internet sites and lessons where everyone has access to be taught God’s Word. Everyone who wants to study the Bible but does not have enough time for going to the Sunday Schools or preaches, may register on the site and look for the Course of Christian Education.

The graduates of this program should acquire cognitive mastery, ministry skills, and character and spiritual formation (Christian Education and Formation, 2012). Let us cast light upon each of these outcomes in detail as far as every student should realize the responsibility to prepare Jesus Christ’s disciples. Cognitive mastery presupposes the understanding of the importance of Biblical knowledge as the basis for Christian Education. Every educational leader should know major educational philosophies and practice them to achieve more effective results. More than that, students taught by this program should be acquainted with the main conceptual issues of the curriculum programs and the traditional forms of church life.

It is necessary to understand the parallel between developmental psychology and faith development and their role in Christian Education. It should be pointed out that the program of Christian Education is connected with other social sciences which are also expected to know by the educational readers. The students should observe the relation between Biblical knowledge and real life. They should understand how this knowledge may be helpful in an everyday life. It is not quite a simple task to draw a parallel between high spiritual knowledge and ordinary everyday life. But there is no sense in the Biblical knowledge if this knowledge does not practice in a real life. To be Jesus Christ’s disciple denotes not only to read and know the Bible, it presupposes to make God the part of our life(Christian Education and Formation, 2012).

Ministry skills are very important to organize a process of education. Every graduate should have a clear vision of faith formation in the church. The ability to motivate and lead the church to the achieving of the mission plays an important role. The educational officials should know the basic educational theories and find an appropriate approach to different age groups. One of the main aims of the theological courses is to create a “pedagogical creed that is both biblical and educational” (Christian Education and Formation, 2012). The graduates should be able to design programs for children, youth, and adults taking into account their abilities and needs.

Character and Spiritual Formation is another necessary quality for educational leaders. They should be passionate teachers of God’s Word. The best way to teach is to provide examples. The words should not contradict their actions. Teachers should be the disciples themselves and set a pattern by their own life. Teachers always seek the balance between theory and practice. The aim of Christian Education is not only to teach but to change a life. As far as the life change is believed to be “ultimately the work of the Holy Spirit”, the process of teaching and learning is also spiritual and communal acts. All these characteristics are necessary to have to be a qualified and professional teacher of religious study. It concerns not only teachers of religious studies working at the universities or schools, all these qualities are necessary to have by the pastors as far as the church plays a very important role in Christian Education.

It should be noted that the notion of Christian Education presupposes not only the high education on religious study or having the degree in this area as has been said above, it also means Christian upbringing and exhortation of the society. Everyone should have Christian Education as far as all people are God’s children and should live according to His rules. Everyone should be Jesus Christ’s disciple and Christian Education helps to achieve this aim.

Family-friendly churches as the essence of the mission-oriented model

The mission-based model of Christian Education in a local church is very effective at achieving the above-formulated aim. There are a lot of advantages of realization of such model in a local church as far as the church is associated with religion and people who need to approach God and become Jesus Christ’s disciple know that all these they can find in the church. According to David Parrish, age-graded programs of Christian Education are not so effective as a mission-based model of Christian Education in a local church as far as it is unnatural and unbiblical to divide or segregate the family according to their age. Christian Education should unite the whole family. Parents should read the Bible to their children and teach them God’s Word. Modern society tries to keep children from their parents that is judged by the Bible. Public education is based on the philosophical ideas of John Dewey, G.F. Hegel, G. Stanley Hall, and Rosseau who believe that isolating children from their parents is very effective in education as far as it helps the children to be independent (Parrish, 2005).

The church should attack anti-christian believes that neglect family and biblical values. That is why the best way to be spiritually educated is to visit the church with the whole family. The Bible points out that the responsibility of the teaching of the children belongs to their parents. The church has only a supplemental role in the process of the upbringing of the children but the parents should be taught in the church how to bring up their children. Such pieces of training should be provided in a family Bible class where the families are taught God’s Word. There should not be any division of demands among children and adults. Children should realize that they are treated by God in the same way as their parents. We are all equal before the God and such age divisions are not necessary. God does not have the notion of age.

Intergenerational activities are very useful for both adults and children as far as children can be taught by the adults as well as adults can be taught by the children. People should not forget that we are all children before God. Intergenerational communication is very important in modern society as far as there is a strict age division in our society and children lack communication with adults (Parrish, 2005). Children are accustomed today to spending most of their time communicating with their peers while the adults spend their time with their friends and there is a gulf between generations which may be overcome with the help of this model of Christian Education. It is very useful for children to observe how their parents worship and learn as far as parents should be the best example for their children. The local churches aim at building family values. The family is an important component of society.

The model of Sunday schools

Among these intergenerational meetings, Sunday Schools are necessary to provide Christian Education to the youth together with other social sciences. The structures of most Sunday Schools should be reconsidered. Many Sunday schools continue their development according to the models of late 1700. At that time, these schools were for poor people to teach them to read and write. They also catered for underprivileged children who worked during the week and went to Sunday schools to have basic education (Rethinking Youth Ministry). These establishments continue to be called schools. The notion of school is associated with children sitting at their desks, writing in copy-books and raising their hands to answer. Many churches have failed to adapt Sunday schools with the cultural changes. It is necessary to rethink the structure of Sunday schools and the process of Christian Education. The following steps may be useful for the Sunday schools:

Curriculum

The curriculum is a very important part of education. Although it helps to organize the process of education, on the one hand, it makes the process of learning mechanical on the other hand. The main task of Christian education is to teach students not to teach lessons (Rethinking Youth Ministry). Teachers should not orient on the plan they should seek to achieve results. It is necessary to focus not on the lesson plans but on the individuals, their abilities, and their needs. The curriculum should be based on the current themes which are important for a particular group of students and correspond to their demands. Biblical studies should be related to other social sciences as well as to the burning issues of modern society for example to the problems and current issues that the students face in an everyday life. The teachers should make the list of moral or ethical questions useful and interesting for discussions. It does not mean that the curriculum should be neglected but the teacher should change the curriculum according to the situation.

A friendly and relaxed atmosphere

Many people associate Sunday schools with strict teachers and harsh discipline. Of course, strictness and discipline are necessary for the process of education but the atmosphere in the classroom should favor learning. When students are afraid of their teacher it is quite complicated for them to communicate with him/her and as the result, there is a barrier between students and teachers. The teachers should orient on the example of Jesus Christ who is a kind and merciful teacher.

The place for teaching

Many teachers and students are accustomed that the lesson takes place in the classroom or the church as in our case. Every teacher should take into account that it is not obligatory and he/she can diversify the place for teaching. It may be a nearby park or garden. Jesus Christ preaches in nature’s lap. The beauty of nature and fresh air make the lessons more interesting and the atmosphere more relaxed.

Allow the pupils to be the teachers

Many children dream of being teachers. Teachers may allow their elder pupils to teach the younger ones. Such experience will be useful for them and they can use their knowledge in practice. Jesus Christ is a teacher and preacher and children want to follow Him.

Intergenerational communication or exchange of experience

It is not always useful to group children according to age. Such age division deprives children of the communication of adults. It should be remembered that children are fond of communication with adults and teachers should provide them such opportunities with the help of intergenerational meetings with the members of the church.

Diversify the experiences

The workshop rotation model of Christian education may be effectively used to achieve this aim. The essence of this model is that the learner focuses on a certain biblical text for several weeks and tries to connect it with a different life situation or different areas of human life. For example, the learner experiences this biblical text in movies, science, literature, arts, games, etc. Such an approach helps to deepen the learners’ understanding of the Bible.

Make the lessons family-friendly

Parents, as well as their children, should come to Sunday school. Organize such lessons where children may come with their parents to share their experiences. Such an approach may unite families and make them stronger.

Practice different spiritual practices

Teachers should diversify their methods of teachings to make the process of education more interesting. Practice spiritual disciplines during your lessons such as prayer station, Lectio divine, or a simple Sabbath through rest.

Connect with other churches

Teachers may organize meetings with other churches. Such meetings provide opportunities to get acquainted with new people and share experiences.

Projects

Teachers may organize different projects to deepen the learners’ knowledge and develop their creative skills and talents. You may make a show based on the Biblical story. Children may paint the Biblical story. There are a lot of interesting games which help to develop the learners’ skills and make the lessons more captivating.

Motivation

One of the basic aims is to motivate the learners so that they do not miss the lessons and have a positive attitude to the process of learning. Learners should realize the importance of serving God. Christian education helps to be closer to God. Learners should realize the essence of their study and do all their best to follow Jesus Christ’s commands.

Sunday schools are still popular nowadays but they need some changes. The provided model may be quite useful for a local church and helps to increase the quality of Christian education. All the above-formulated changes may help to achieve the mission of local churches namely to prepare Jesus Christ’s disciples. The main problem of modern education is the large amount of information that is obligatory to learn in a short space of time. There is a strict curriculum that is obligatory to follow. As the result, knowledge is adopted quickly and superficially. Such an approach is not an appropriate one for Christian Education as far as its main aim is not to provide knowledge but to teach people to live according to this knowledge.

That is why it is necessary to devote more time to Christian Education. Another problem of modern Christian Education is financing. The local officials neglect the importance of Christian Education and not so much means are separated for it. As we have pointed out before first and foremost government officials and teachers should be prepared so that they realize the importance of Christian Education and know-how to improve that. Another problem is that many people neglect Christian education and do not visit local churches. That is why motivation is essential in solving this problem. Government officials, teachers, and pastors should unite their efforts in propagandizing the importance of Christian education. It should be remembered that Christian Education may help to solve a lot of other current social problems in society.

The realization of this model in modern society and the current problems.

The mission-based model of Christian Education starts from the theological courses that prepare local authorities, teachers, and pastors to teach other people. Secondly, the structure of the local church should be changed. There should be organized special intergenerational meetings for the whole families and the structure of Sunday school should be also altered. The proposed model orients to the family and biblical values. There is no age division and strict educational programs. This family-friendly model helps to unite families which are the basic units of our society. Changing the families the churches change the whole society. The society which practices Biblical knowledge is much healthier and stable.

References List

.Anthony, Michael. Introducing Christian Education: Foundations for the Twenty-first Century. USA: Baker Academic, 2001.

Christian Education and Formation. “Christian Education and Formation”. TYNDALE Seminary, 2012. Web.

Parrish, David. “Christian Education and the Local Church”, In Rich Ministries, 2005, Web.

Rethinking Youth Ministry. “10 Ideas for Rethinking Sunday School”. Web.

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