Do you go to Sunday School?

Yes, we do. We have a perfect attendance. I have 9 years. I would have had 10 but I missed when my grandmother died. Our class is named(do you have a class nmae? or is just somethingwe do at our churh, I don't know, but they made us fianlly take a name after exsisting 7 years) we are Zeteo, it's greek word. Now someone tell me what it means. I can't remeber exactly. Like learner(or one who seeks to learn, something) or soemthing like that.
Not too awful middles aged yet, but our class used to the young adults, years ago. Now we're just us. Adults, married or single, no age limit.But advanced learning(meat, not milk).

 

Yes, absolutely Margie and I go to Sunday School (so does Jennifer)! And yes, Katie, our classes also have names. Our's is the Virginia White class, named for a lady who attended our church many years ago. The funny part is, our class is the "ladies over 65" class! It was originally my father back in the 80's who broke ranks and asked if he could attend this class because of the teacher. He is a well-learned gentleman who has been an ordained minister for 60 years now. He once said in class that Dad may have very well saved that class because women don't like admitting their age, so his class was not growing. I suggested that maybe they should have gone by weight! LOL

- Clint

 

zeteo: I seek, search or look for

 

Our church doesn't have a SS...but, I have found from visiting a lot of fundamental baptist churches that SS can be pretty disappointing. What I mean is many people in SS have been christians for quite some time, and the lessons are so basic- ie, there is no real learning. Or they are a sermon in disguise.

The best SS I have ever had the privilege of attending was at a black church on the east coast. The church split up into groups of 10 or less, and discussion/participation was encouraged by the group leader on the lesson or passage. Every few months the groups would be mixed with other members of the church. It was a blessed experience.

Sincerely,
RR

 

To answer the question, yes. But I only attend about half the time because of work schedule. The class I am in, for singles 30's to 40's, does have a name, but I cannot even think of at this moment.

But my opinion of "Sunday School" in general has not been very high for quite a number of years. I have usually found it frustrating that we end up in classes grouped by age, sex, marital status, et al, and therefore people who have never studied the Bible before and cannot even find Genesis are in the same class with those who have studied it avidly for decades. I used the word 'frustrating' in relation to actually learning or getting something from a Bible-based study. But this will continue because of the social aspect of having a regular meeting place; or "the fellowship," to use a Baptist/evangelical code word. But this problem can be taken care of by arranging group Bible studies for serious Christians or by enrolling in college or seminary classes.

The question to pastors about teaching or "patrolling the halls" (?) leads to another angle which plays a role in my less-than-excellent view of Sunday School. Once when I joined a new church I got into the only singles' class which was taught by the pastor. The singles' 'department' had been started by a lady who had been divorced for 2 years and the pastor, who had baptized her in an earlier stint and who then-recently had helped her in coping through her circumstances, was persuaded by her to teach the class, while she would be 'Department Director.' For a year or two I was probably (I realize now) too interested in the 'fellowship' of the class and its activities to be really concerned about who, or by what methods, the class was taught. But the novelty of being in a class especially for singles began to wear thin, and this pastor's way of conducting class started testing my patience. He was a lecturer in his approach, which would probably be expected of a man who had been a pastor since he was a teenager (he was then in his 50's), and he was accustomed to making those bold and sometimes accusative ["Don't you ever..."] statements unchallenged. So if I cut in and cross-examined any point he made, he could usually think quickly of an evasive answer or he would say he 'agrees,' when the comment I made did not agree with what he had previously said, and then quickly shift to another topic. Finally there began these games between us where I could tell by the way he looked at me he was afraid I was going to contest something he said, and then when he would finish a line of thought he would begin a new line by saying "Now--" without taking a breath.

This just went on for too long. But finally our singles decided to start a new class for those in their 30's, and I was asked to teach it. Then only a few months later the pastor, having chosen to not continue teaching the 'main' class, recommended to the nominating committee that it be discontinued. The director lady who started the whole singles' thing was not consulted and did not know this until after the committee submitted its list of teachers and officers, which of course was rubber-stamped by the church. She felt betrayed, and called me several times to pour out her heart to me. My 30's class was still in existence and had a meeting room, but no one came any more. The director left the church and persuaded others to do so, some of whom had connections with our 30's group, who also left. Anyone else just was no longer interested. So I went through a few weeks of coming prepared to teach and then there was no class. So I left the church also, for a bigger church and bigger singles's department where a situation as I had experienced was very unlikely.

So now I would be leery of ever getting into a class taught by a pastor, as well as any 'Sunday School' group which depends too much on one emotional person's commitment.

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Karen:
Are you a regular member of a Sunday School class? Karen<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


Yup. Teach adults at 8:15; go to class at 9:45; worship at 11:15

 

Yes, we have a SS, and we attend. Our church is still a fairly new church, not quite 2 years into existance. A group of mature believers started it, and we really had the need for some meat. Our pastor has done a good job with "re-discipling" us all with the meat of the Word. It is something that we all missed, not having a good doctine teaching church in our area. I think SS is an excellent place to teach doctrine.

 

Actually, I haven't attended SS in about four years. I am at church during this time, but I am tied up with the children's SS.

I do attend a weeknight Bible Study instead, though. This is my SS time.

 

I always thought that one of the benefits of becoming a pastor was that you were exempt from Sunday School . I don't go, and am usually busy with administrative/preparation stuff during this time.

Joshua

 

Yes. Love Sunday School. Attend with all ages from 9:00-10:00. Coffee and snacks, 10:00-10:30. Main service from 10:30-12:30. Hour and half sermon every Sunday and still can't get enough of our Pastor's teachings. I LOVE my Sunday's. Thank you Jesus for directing me to Sovereign Grace Chapel.
James2

 

Rev Villines:

Why on earth would a person that loves God's Word not want to attend Sunday School? Or is that a "liberal" position? What "other duties" could be more important that learning the Word of God. I just don't get you liberals. Thank God for that!!!!!
James2

[ January 12, 2002: Message edited by: JAMES2 ]

 

Give the boy a break, James. It is hard to sit in a class on Sunday morning when everyone needs you. That doesn't mean that study isn't important. Nor that one doesn't think it isn't important.

Sometimes we need to get past the fact that "everyone needs to be in study at 9:30 on Sunday morning". And I don't think that has anything to do with liberalism.

 

saggywoman:
No, not everyone has to be in Sunday School at 9:30. 9:00 is ok. Because of the state of the modern church I think Sunday School should be from 9-12. Then Church from 12:30-3:30. Maybe then, people could start to understand at least the very basics of their faith.
I'm not being hard on Joshua, although so-called "liberals" are not my cup of tea. Besides, I think his statement was tounge-in-cheek.
I guess my attitude is not oh no, I have to spend 45 minutes in a ... ugh ... Sunday School studying God's Word, but rather, oh boy, oh boy, Sunday School. I love it. Let it begin and let it run over time. More!! Give me more!! Don't you just LOVE Sunday School?
James2

 

I have to agree that the time most churches allot for SS is hardly long enough, which is another reason I like it on a different night. Our study last time ran from 6:45 to 11 p.m. and we didn't want to leave.

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by JAMES2:
Rev Villines:

Why on earth would a person that loves God's Word not want to attend Sunday School? Or is that a "liberal" position? What "other duties" could be more important that learning the Word of God. I just don't get you liberals. Thank God for that!!!!!
James2

[ January 12, 2002: Message edited by: JAMES2 ]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

James, I'm not sure you appreciate just how much time any minister, particularly one who preaches, spends immersed in the study of Scripture. Nevertheless, when I am at church on Sunday mornings I am generally working (even if I am just the visiting preacher). There are people calling on the phone asking directions, times, etc. There are readers, liturgists, musicians, out-of-town guests, and who-knows-who all with something to ask, say, or share. There are prayer requests. There is prayer. And somewhere in it all there are those few silent moments that I need to prepare for worship.

Joshua

 

Been attending Sunday School since December 1964 and wouldn't miss unless ill, or forced to work.

Our Pastor teaches the adults and high scholl age. Yes, he uses the "lecture" method, wouldn't want a discussion type class as all that does is show everyone's ignorance...kinda like Baptist Board. (LOL)

He usually teaches a series on a book of the Bible, which teaches ua a lot. It has been very fruitful over the years to sit in these classes....would rather miss a physical meal then Sunday School.

Ernie

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR> Our church doesn't have a SS...but, I have found from visiting a lot of fundamental baptist churches that SS can be pretty disappointing. What I mean is many people in SS have been christians for quite some time, and the lessons are so basic- ie, there is no real learning. Or they are a sermon in disguise. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Our class is advanced, no milk in our class. And we have a great teacher, we don't use a quarterly, we found we wanted more, it wasn't deep enough. We studied Acts, and it took a year. No actually we spent 54 weeks on it.


Someone said something about the number if classes, we have up to high school, 8 classes, 11 adult classes(18 and up, a couple of different young adult, a 50's class, and the resat are different age groups of older adults, but basically we don't go by the age anymore).

 

I attend a New Believer's class (why would I be attending that class? ) every Sunday that I don't have to work. I would love to be there more, or have some other orginized Bible Study I could attend. Our chruch does have a Monday Ladies Bible study ( I don't attend for obivous reasons) and a Thrusday Pastoral Bible Study for the "Preacher Boys" (which I an no where near ready for). But, not anything for the likes of me, other than Sunday morning.

Bill