Evangelism in the Sunday School

Evangelism in the Sunday School

I have been asked to speak with you for a few minutes on the general theme of Evangelism through the Church School. I think it well for us to have an understanding of what we mean by evangelism. There is a narrow concept and there is a broad concept. In the narrow concept, evangelism is leading an individual unto a personal commitment to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. All too often we have thought of this type of evangelism in terms of a mass meeting, gospel singing, effective preaching, emotional appeal and a sawdust trail. I do not mean to criticize this type of meeting for they have their place and are once again having their place in the life of the Church. But often times we forget the chief recruiting agency is the Church School where through inspired teaching, dedicated teachers, Sunday after Sunday exalt the Lord Jesus Christ. We need more and more of this kind of evangelism.

In its broad sense evangelism is not only bringing a person to a personal commitment but it is also helping that person to go on and “grow up into the fullness of the stature of manhood in Christ Jesus.” For we understand that conversion is not a crisis, it is also a process – the process of growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ. This is the purpose of the Church and as the right arm of the Church it is the purpose of the Church School.

Now we in the Presbyterian Church have a Church School of which each one of us and each member of the congregation can well be proud. The staff of the school – the general officers and the teachers – are a group of men and women dedicated to the “high calling that is yours in Christ Jesus.” As the Apostle said concerning the members of the Church at Philippi, so I can say concerning you, “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.”

As I visit the homes of new comers to Charleston, many times I am reminded of you. Many, many fathers and mothers have told me that one of the reasons they want to make the First Presbyterian Church their Church home is because their children are so happy in our Church School. Time and time again people have said, “My you have a wonderful Church School.” I trust that this causes your chest to puff up and tour head to swell at least a little bit. Our Church School is doing a good work as a recruiting agency not only for the Church but also for Christ; and it is doing an excellent work as a training school in Christian discipleship.

We must ever think in terms of doing a more effective work. Now I do not intend to speak in terms of greater effectiveness, in terms of greater lesson preparation and presentation. This of course is most important. But I want to speak for just a moment on that area which is my primary responsibility – the area of visitation or personal relationships, or pastoral oversight. There is a sense in which each Church School teacher is a pastor – God’s under shepherd over the members of your class, as shepherds it becomes us to take a personal interest in the sheep committed to our care. Certainly like the Good Shepherd we will know our sheep byname. If one is absent from the fold, we seek him out patiently and constantly until he is brought back. In the case of new members in our class we ought to visit them in their home, write a letter of welcome, or telephone.

We can’t emphasize personal contact too much.

Dr. Robert W Kirkpatrick

First Presbyterian Church, Charleston W VA