Sunday School vs Small Groups
“Sunday School guys” and “small group guys” are often pitted against each other. Here are some of the stereotypes:
Sunday schools help people to grow in Biblical knowledge…small groups don’t.
Small groups build healthy relationships…Sunday schools don’t really care about the relational aspect.
Small groups are relevant…Sunday school was relevant 50 years ago.
Sunday school really helps people go “deep” in their faith…small groups stay on the surface-level depth of Christianity.
Here are a few things I can confidently assert about the discipleship in the Christian life:
- Discipleship is more than just information transfer. The disciples spent time with Jesus. They heard him preach…but that wasn’t Jesus’ only method of making disciples. He spent significant amounts of time with them.
- “Depth” doesn’t just mean a person can quote all 9 of John Piper’s sermons on TULIP, or completely and succinctly recite the Westminster Catechism. Some of the deepest, most life-changing conversations I have had with others haven’t revolved around difficult, divisive theological issues. Depth, in my opinion, is about things which matter both here and in eternity. Not all of those things necessitate insider language. (see my post on the danger of insider language HERE) Can we really say that the intricacies of the atonement are “deeper” than the challenge to truly love our neighbor?
- However we communicate (via sermon, blog, twitter, Facebook, over a cup of coffee, a text message, an email, a letter, or an iPhone app), we need to portray the life-transforming nature of the Gospel (the nature and pervasiveness of sin, the hopelessness of the sinner, the person and life of Christ, and the hope of a coming resurrection) in a way that makes sense to both believers and non-believers alike.
- The goal of Christianity is Christ-likeness. See Romans 8:29, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Galatians 4:19, Ephesians 4:13, 22-24
- This goal cannot be accomplished without the help of others. Jesus, in John 13:34, said, ”A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” You cannot do that on your own!
I believe that the way that we, at Grace, do small groups is the best way that the above truths of discipleship are accomplished. If, at some point, we cease to make disciples, I’m willing to throw out the system in favor of the mission. Don’t believe me? Read my post about that very thing HERE and HERE.
What do you think? Is discipleship better accomplished in Sunday School or small groups? Should we throw both of them out and start all over?
If you want to see small groups expert Rick Howerton and Sunday School guru David Francis talk this through, check out the video they put together HERE.
In terms of student ministry, we're getting ready to do both.
I'm using Sunday School as an entry point. I still believe Sunday School works and it's still a captive audience. If I can introduce some things in SS and then allow our students to unpack it in a small group setting later on. It also allows me to put two different leaders/adults to love on them. I may be in a dying breed but I believe Sunday School still works.
You know my thoughts… there are VERY few places that SS can still work. I just firmly believe that life change happens best in the context of a SG environment, whether that be for adults, students, or children.
For my students, I am a Sunday school person. SO many times they don't have a choice as to being there or not so it the challenge is even bigger.Teachers must love on students and present the word God is directing them to…BUT selfishly…small groups work best for my husband and myself..we love the community of different ages and experiences coming together to hash out what God is saying.
Sorry I'm a month and a half late posting.. haha
I've always thought small groups were the best simply because the adults I respect the most have said that they've seen better discipleship take place in a small group environment than in Sunday school. Personally, though, I wouldn't credit my spiritual growth and formation (as little as it may be) to either. My spiritual growth has been most influenced by purposeful relationships from guys like my dad, Michael Bayne, You, and Taylor Hughes.
Based on my experience, watching both systems, and on conversations I've had with other teenagers, I think that there's something else out there that hasn't been discovered yet for student ministry. I think it will be more like small groups in nature, but it needs to be more direct and challenging with students.
Nate, great thoughts. 2 follow-up thoughts from me:
1. Small groups can't be EVERYTHING when it comes to discipleship. A person needs to do more than just show up to small group and expect to grow in their faith. Relationships are essential, but they're not absolutely everything. Gathering together in larger settings, serving together, personal devotional time, and lots of other things are also essential to spiritual growth.
2. Small groups are IT right now…in my opinion, at least. They're IT in terms of helping people build relationships…with people they may or may not have been drawn to "naturally" (which is important, because God often uses people who are not like us to challenge us and help us grow). If you boil down small groups to their lowest common denominator, I'd say the goal is discipleship through relationships. Small groups do that effectively right now. But they may not in the next decade. And at that point, I'm willing to drop "small groups" in favor of something else. And it's not that I'm just willing to shift with the changing winds of people's desires, but that I'm willing to change the strategy to accomplish the vision.