Why I Teach Sunday School

Who benefits the most?

“Satan prowls around like a roaring _____”

Their faces stared at me with anxious anticipation. I waited. Surely my fifth-grade Sunday school kiddos had heard this verse a thousand times.

“Chicken?”

Laughter erupted from my mouth. I couldn’t help myself. I know it’s rude for a teacher to laugh at her students, but really?

“Do chickens roar? Do chickens prowl? Anyone else have any other ideas?”

“Lion?”

“YES!! Ten smart points!”*

It’s been over a decade since receiving the call from our pastor’s wife. I was sitting alone on a big rock protruding into Lake Superior - my happy place on Earth. My mind was aimlessly wandering while watching the waves incessantly crash into the underside of the slate rock. My pocket buzzed, and soon Jeannie was asking me if I would consider teaching Sunday school in the fall.

A barrage of thoughts bombarded my brain.

-I’m not smart enough to teach Sunday school.

-Surely someone more qualified than me should teach the Bible.

-I really, really, really don’t have time for this.

-Which kids are in fifth grade? Is it anyone I have little tolerance for?

-“Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” (James 3:1) (YIKES)

But Jeannie had a beautiful way about her. Maybe she saw something in me that I had never seen in myself, or maybe she was just desperate and completely out of options -having called every other breathing person in the church directory. In any case, she made me feel empowered and equipped to take on the daunting task of an entire class of fifth graders.

So every Sunday morning I journey with the kiddos through the Bible. At first, it was kinda scary. I didn’t know if I knew enough. The kids often throw questions at me which I can’t immediately answer.

“What’s with the half tribe of Manasseh?”

“I don’t understand this Melchizedek dude?”

“Why did Moses cut animals in half and walk through them?”

Smiling, I humbly respond, “That’s a great question! I don’t know the answer, but I will do some research and get back to you next week!”

Genesis used to be my favorite book to teach. The stories were all so familiar to me from the many times over the years I had started to read through the Bible, but never finished. I now have other books of the Bible I enjoy teaching more. Many stories from my own life are zippered together with Scripture to help the kiddos understand things better; like why Joshua set up a pillar of stones after crossing the Jordan, or what to do when God calls your name in the middle of the night, or how to recognize the Cycle of Sin in Judges which still occurs today.

Teaching Sunday school is not just about teaching the Bible to kids, it’s also about building relationships. As children grow older, they often need someone in their life to talk with, someone who is not Mom or Dad. Countless times, I have had the honor of being that person. The child who lingers after class when everyone else has left typically needs a listening ear. “Mom and Dad are fighting a lot, and I’m scared.” “My dad is really sick, can we pray for him?” “The kids at school are being mean to me.” Or my favorite, “You said I should talk to you if I’m not sure if I’m saved.”

To be a Sunday school teacher is to be a missionary in my own church. I don’t need to uproot my family and move to Africa (but please do so if God calls you!), I just need to be willing. People all around me, many in the pews, are drowning in their sin. When I share the Gospel, week after week in Sunday school, I am tossing the life preserver of Jesus to each child. I am making an eternal difference in the lives of these kiddos.

Satan is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. He put doubts in my brain over whether or not I was qualified to teach Sunday school. Satan didn’t want me to teach. He suspected the results would be eternal. He was right. I cry as my Sunday school kiddos get baptized in the St. Croix River each August. As young adults, some enter into ministry. My Sunday school kiddos are now sharing the Gospel with others throughout their lives. Seeds were planted, and fresh fruit has grown ripe.

So don’t believe the lies.

Instead, know that-

You are smart enough.

You are qualified.

You have the time, if your priorities are aligned.

Your favorite kiddos will be the ones you thought you couldn’t tolerate.

Just do it. You’ll be surprised how much you will be blessed.

• “Smart Points” are imaginary rewards I give the kids if they answer a question correctly. The value of the Smart Points rewarded is mostly arbitrary, based on a combination of the difficulty of the question, the level of sass in the kid, and my overall mood. Smart Points accumulate for one Sunday, and everyone returns to zero the following Sunday. The kid with the most Smart Points wins for that day. There is no tangible reward given for Smart Points, just bragging rights, but the kids know better than to brag. The purpose of Smart Points is to encourage participation. I made them up years ago, and they really work! It makes for a very playful and energetic class! Give it a try!

---

Photo by Alex Guillaume on Unsplash