I don\u2019t know about you, but I\u2019ve been a part of a local church for most of my life. When I was two years old, somebody invited my mom to church and she took them up on their offer. I always say it\u2019s because she had this crazy little boy that only God could help her control. Our church was like many churches, with a Sunday morning schedule that included Sunday School and two worship services–no church small groups like there are today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I was in Sunday School classes until I was about 20 years old, when I began teaching a seventh grade Sunday School class. I did that until my wife and I moved on as I joined the staff team to help launch a new church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, over a decade later, I\u2019m still on staff at that same church. Our church has never had Sunday School. Church small groups were our primary strategy from the start and that hasn\u2019t changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In experiencing both models extensively, I definitely have strong opinions about which method I\u2019d choose to utilize. I know this can be a divisive topic. I also recognize neither one is perfect and there are great benefits to both. From my experience, I\u2019d use small groups over Sunday School every time. Here are five reasons why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sunday School is a more expensive model simply because every class requires a space to meet. Most Sunday School programs have classes for all ages, so rooms are needed for everyone in the church at the same time. Church small groups can be implemented in almost any church context because small groups can meet anywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This list of reasons is in no particular order. However, if it were ordered by importance, this might be number one. The reality is that having Sunday School classes for adults directly competes with having great programming for children and students<\/strong>. Here’s why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want to recruit people to lead Sunday School for children and students, they have to decide not<\/em> to be in their own Sunday School class. Unless, that is, a church offers classes at multiple times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This doesn\u2019t have to be the case, but most Sunday School classes place the greatest emphasis on teaching and Biblical knowledge. Now, that sounds like a great thing, and it is. In fact, I\u2019d agree that it\u2019s the strongest argument for having Sunday School classes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, there are other important components that receive far less attention in most Sunday School models. Relationships and community are chief among them, since many Sunday School classes are exactly that\u2014classes. Information transfer is the goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I like a model where one thing isn\u2019t the dominant purpose. Instead, there\u2019s an equal emphasis on Bible study, prayer, relationships, care, and serving. This could absolutely exist within a Sunday School model, but the church small group format tends to be a better fit for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The format of most Sunday School classes requires a gifted teacher for every class and classes usually consist of about 8-15 people. I think most churches would have a hard time finding people with the gift of teaching to fill all of their Sunday School classes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The gift of teaching may not be all that common. If that\u2019s the case, then people are being placed in a role they weren\u2019t designed for, and that\u2019s not good for anyone. The church small group model allows the leader to be more of a facilitator while leaning on other sources (books, studies, videos) for teaching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you factor in the previously mentioned challenges with Sunday School, they combine to create another challenge: scalability. We all want to carry out the Great Commission and make disciples of people who aren\u2019t currently connected to Jesus. If we do, our churches need to be prepared for that growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n More and more, I find myself thinking that church growth is more about removing barriers to growth than it is about making growth happen. We have little influence on the latter, but a lot of influence on the former.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Sunday School model is difficult to grow for several reasons. To list a few, it requires more money, space, teachers, and church resources. On the other hand, church small groups are extremely flexible and adaptable. They allow for quick adjustment and growth if needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you currently use a Sunday School model and are wondering how to transition from that to a small group model, here\u2019s the approach I recommend. Please know, however, that every church is unique and it\u2019s important to create your transition strategy with your church context in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jim Collins uses the phrase, \u201cfire bullets, then cannonballs\u201d to illustrate how smart organizations don\u2019t put a ton of resources into a new idea without first testing a smaller version of it. I think the best approach when moving from Sunday School to small groups is to start small. The idea is to allow the transition to happen at a pace that matches what your church can handle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before our pastor planted our church, he was the student pastor at another church that was 180 years old and had probably done Sunday School since it was invented. Rather than looking to change Sunday School for the entire church (a planet-sized cannonball), he simply started small groups for sixth graders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The next year, he had church small groups for sixth and seventh grade. The next year, he had small groups for all of middle school. Around that time they started small groups for adults, and over time they were able to completely phase out Sunday School as they truly became a church of small groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re like me, you may want change to happen much, much faster. However, you can do a lot of damage if the change is done too quickly. Also, you should probably expect a small percentage of your church to resist the change and never get behind the vision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep in mind that leadership isn\u2019t about pleasing everyone. It\u2019s about making the right decision and sticking to it. Carey Nieuwhof\u2019s book, Leading Change Without Losing It<\/strong><\/a>,<\/em> should be part of your toolbox.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you make the transition, constantly dig for stories of success in the new small groups model. Ask for them every week and save them somewhere. Take the stories you\u2019ve saved and share them in emails, videos, huddles, sermons, social media and any other ways you communicate. We have used a small group model since our church launched and the stories are the greatest reminder of why the model works so well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both approaches have strengths and weaknesses and I\u2019ve seen them up close. There\u2019s no doubt in my mind that the small group model has been more effective in connecting people to Jesus and helping them grow their faith. If you\u2019re making the transition or would like to, we\u2019d love to hear about it in the comments below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It will be a challenge, but it will be worth it. For more, check out Lead Small<\/a> from Orange for an introduction to small groups, and When Relationships Matter<\/a> to start building a small group culture. <\/p>\n\n\n\nEmphasis on Prayer, Relationships, Care, and Serving<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Teachers vs. Caring Adults<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Growth and Scalability <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How to Transition to Church Small Groups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFire Bullets, Then Cannonballs\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Celebrate the Stories<\/h3>\n\n\n\n