Sunday School has a “brand name” that communicates something important in Southern Baptist churches, and Sunday morning groups remain a key to discipleship.
That’s the encouragement Ken Braddy, director of Sunday School and network partnerships for Lifeway Christian Resources, brought to Alabama Baptist leaders gathered for the Sunday School Essentials Conference at the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions facility in Prattville on March 11–12. Attendance was limited to some 40 senior pastors, student pastors and laypeople serving in Bible study ministries in their churches.
Many names
Today, “what the morning Bible study adjacent to Sunday morning worship is called is all over the map,” Braddy said. “It’s called ‘life groups,’ ‘connect groups,’ ‘journey groups,’ ‘small groups’ or simply ‘groups,’” he said. “Especially in the Western states, the traditional Sunday School name isn’t used as much. But whatever we call it, the Sunday morning group Bible study is our primary tool of discipleship.”
Braddy noted the current interest in discipleship among Baptist churches is a great thing, although the focus is different from the traditional Sunday School.
“Intentional discipleship groups are closed groups, and they can foster accountability, Scripture memory and growth in prayer,” he said.
Fulfilling a need
“Many pastors and other staff lead small groups like this and then ask group members to lead one themselves later on, thus multiplying our mandate to disciple. I think these can be a great supplement to Sunday School, but I know a healthy Sunday School is the foundation of bringing people to Christ and growing them in the faith.”
Braddy said group research shows that Sunday School fulfills the greatest needs in the church no matter the size of the church.
“The normative-sized Southern Baptist church is about 60–70 people,” he said. “But whatever its size, every church has biblical priorities fulfilled in a healthy Bible study.”
‘Textbook’
Braddy used the acrostic “LIFE” to explain the purposes of Sunday School.
“The Bible is our textbook,” he said, “so we learn and obey God’s Word. We don’t just learn facts or factoids but seek to apply Scripture to everyday living.”
“I” represents “invite others to become disciples,” hence the evangelistic purpose of small group Bible study, he said.
“Our groups should have unsaved people in them. We must develop a culture of invitation. Our research shows that more than 70% of people are open to an invitation to small group Bible study. This is our finest outreach tool.”
Discussion
Braddy said Lifeway studies are designed to teach and facilitate discussion and include the gospel message for those who aren’t Christians.
“The learner guides don’t usually use technical language and are heavy on application,” he said. “Of course, the teacher materials are different and explain the original languages as necessary in context. And we have special evangelism lessons every year in our curriculum and the plan of salvation in every publication.”
“F” represents “form deeper relationships.” Bible study groups must grow in friendship and relationship, he said.
Finally, “E” represents “engage in acts of service.”
“I believe every group should engage in some kind of ministry or else we grow self-centered,” he said. “In the churches I’ve served I’ve encouraged group members to serve inside the church and outside the church, and they decide what ministries they’ll support. The possibilities are endless.”
Groups for everyone
Braddy said those who serve in the church with children or preschool, for example, shouldn’t be overlooked by their parent groups.
“They’re auxiliary group members,” he noted. “We should celebrate what they’re doing, pray for them and include them in our fun times.”
Braddy said Lifeway sponsored training events like this in Nashville for years, but after COVID-19 the training has been taken “to the people” in local events, as many as 10 each year, including an event scheduled for the Huntsville area in August 2025.
“We’re also working on ‘Sunday School Essentials II’ and hope to offer advanced group training and the latest research soon,” he said.
Braddy can be reached at ken.braddy@lifeway.com. Additional information is available at lifeway.com/trainingresources.
Other SBOM training resources can be found at makingdisciplesal.org/grouplife2024.
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