Matthew 28:18-20 (New American Standard Bible)
    18“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  19“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,  20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Yeshua Focused On Adult Learners

As church ministries embrace the 21st century, they must emphasize the teaching role.  The teaching role of the church is a divine mandate of the Lord.  For the church, there is no greater challenge, reward, or thrilling adventure than to obey the Lord’s commission to teach His people.  Yeshua placed a priority on teaching and even in the Scriptures He is often referred to as “Teacher” or an equivalent title. As Yeshua taught, He gave primary consideration to the adult generation.  A significant portion of His teaching time was rendered to those whom he called apostles.  Some of the most treasured insights ever taught were shared with adults like Nicodemus, Zacchaeus, the Samaritan woman and Mary of Bethany.  Yeshua also loved the children and He made time for them as well. With the children, He used their humble, teachable spirit to teach adults the way into the Kingdom.  Yeshua counted on the adults to hear the Good News of the Kingdom; and subsequently teach the children in their families to transform the nations, as they became its salt and light.

Why is it important to attend Sunday school?

As Yeshua prepared to return to heaven, He commanded that His disciples meet Him at an appointed mountain in Galilee.  He declared that He had all authority and power in heaven and earth.  Yeshua challenged His disciples and the church with the mandate to transform nations that extended to the ends of the earth and the end of the age.  The mandate is to evangelize the whole world.  Yeshua’s plan has not changed.  He empowers all who will receive Him to be His ambassadors.  The teaching responsibility of Yeshua’s followers is clear in that we are to make disciples, a word that signifies students or learners of God’s Word.  In fact, Yeshua urged care in presenting the Gospel as both a gift and a command so that converts counted the cost of discipleship, committed themselves to His teaching and instruction; and continued in His Word. Obeying Yeshua’s mandate demands that a church teach in order to bring forth the desired outcomes of both evangelizing and nurturing.  The command to disciple all nations requires quantity.  The focus on believers as students or learners of God’s Word, and on learning that magnifies obedience, speaks to quality.  Both teaching and learning are prominent in effective evangelism.  The Sunday school is the church’s Bible teaching agent in fulfilling Yeshua’s mandate.  The Sunday school has no life of its own.  It’s an extension of the church, by the church and for the church.  The sign of a healthy church is demonstrated in a vigorous Sunday school.

Yeshua’s Task for the Sunday School

The primary task assigned to the Sunday school is to teach the Bible.  This task has been clarified to mean helping the Mishpacha (church family) to discover, understand, and apply the meaning and message of the Bible.  The church’s assignment is to teach the Bible in a manner that allows God to speak to the people through the Word.  Sunday school provides a medium by which each adult or child learner has direct contact with the Scriptures, where teachers provide interpretation and clarification as learners seek to understand biblical truth.  Teacher’s of the Gospel rely heavily on the Holy Spirit as their own guide to spiritual truth, while providing every opportunity to probe, convict, illumine, challenge, and apply the message of Yeshua.  An adult learner should leave the Sunday school more impressed with Yeshua’s redeeming love and continued activity in their life.  A dynamic encounter happens when Yeshua manifests Himself in each member’s convictions, attitudes, and actions in their daily routines and relationships.

Sunday school provides an effective channel through which teachers can fulfill their calling and use their gifts.  Paul, addressing the saints in Ephesus, wrote, “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it…It was he who gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service” (Eph. 4:7,11-12, NIV).  Teachers of adults should occupy their position out of a sense of a Godly calling and seek constantly to stir up the gift that lies within them. On the surface, we may not see the relevance of attending Sunday school on a regular basis at New Life Christian Center or any church for that matter.  Yet, the Sunday school experience at New Life is a threefold ministry.  You have the opportunity to grow spiritually through dissecting the Scriptures, developing and interacting spiritually with the Mishpacha, and developing a discipline that causes you to grow in the likeness of Christ. 

If you are interested please join us at our Sunday School beginning at 9:30am in the gymnasium.