By Rodney L. Pry

If someone were to ask you how you feel about Sunday school, how would you answer?

Sadly, not everyone loves Sunday school. Even within many of our churches there are people who have a less than supportive attitude toward Sunday school. This is often seen in the fact that in many churches only about one-half or fewer of the people who attend worship also attend Sunday school.

There seem to be two basic reasons for church members not supporting Sunday school:

They lack genuine commitment to the things that Sunday school is all about – Jesus Christ, the Bible, love for others, etc.

They don’t really understand what Sunday school is all about and how God’s work is being carried out through it.

Sunday school can and should be an important part of every Christian’s life. The Christian education, fellowship and other elements of Sunday school are as vital for Christians today as ever.

Whenever you begin to try to answer the question about the value of Sunday school, there are at least six different reasons that must be included:

God’s Will Is Being Done…and we should all have a desire to see His will fully accomplished in our own lives and in the lives of others.

God’s Word Is Being Studied And Taught…and we should all want to know it and follow it in our everyday life.

God’s Love Is Being Shared…and we must not fail to do our part to show God’s love to our fellowman.

God’s Work Is Being Done…and we should each invest ourselves where we can do the utmost for Christ and the church.

The Lord’s Day Is Being Observed…and it is important for each of us to do all that we can to keep the Holy Day holy.

God’s People Are Assembled And Enlisted…and we should all have a desire for the blessing of their fellowship and friendship.

Sunday school is important! It is a place where persons of all ages can come together with others of similar age and interest to ask questions, study, share and learn about God, His Word and His will for each of our lives.

Is Sunday school important? Certainly! But, before we can tell others about the value of Sunday school and invite them to come and be a part of our school, we must each be certain of the reasons why WE "love Sunday school." Only when we can see the value and importance of coming together and studying the Bible in Sunday school will we want to share the good things that we have found with others.

(This article appeared in the "Spring, 1997" issue of "The Herald.")