What do you remember most about your favorite Sunday School teacher?   Most of us would say the fun activities they did with the class.  Others would say, none of them because I hated Sunday School.  Others would say it is the snacks.  Whatever you remember about Sunday school is great because you went!  The memories and lessons will be with you for life.

I was one of those kids that loved to go to Sunday School.  I loved being around loving people, the crafts, and singing songs.  So, when I was a ministry leader, I tried to always make the lessons fun for each class.  What I found was that it wasn’t about the activities as much as it was being organized.

So, what makes a good Sunday School Class? 

I do think the teacher has a lot to do with this.  I believe a good ministry begins with a heart for God.  Do your church ministry leaders and teachers have a sincere commitment to God and do they love children and people?  Mark 12:30-31 teaches that the two greatest commands are to love God and to love people.

Our teaching should flow from our love for God and of love for people. This means we are not only committed to the lesson, but to understanding and building relationships with the people, we are teaching.  And, have a passion for what you are teaching.  A heart for God and a love for people is a great start for the content of our teaching. The content needs to be based on the bible.  As a Sunday School teacher, it’s our responsibility to dig into God’s Word not just to teach our lesson, but to understand it fully.

When you live what you teach, it becomes easy, fun, and enjoyable for all.

Some people have the gift of teaching, while others learn enough to become competent at it. Either way, no one can be a great Sunday School teacher if they don’t love what they are doing.  In my opinion, you don’t need to be a great teacher, just have a great heart.  Teaching the class can be a learned skill. Your ministry director will coach you on what to do, and how to do it, and should give you a well-planned lesson outline.

I do think however you need to have the willingness to prepare. It really doesn’t matter if you have the ability to teach if you’re not willing to prepare for the class. Preparation takes time and effort, and great Sunday School teachers are willing to give both.  Again, use your ministry director to coach you on the areas you need help with.

A good ministry leader and teacher need to be dedicated to the kids he is teaching, not just during class time.  Not everyone comes from a good home and showing them love is one of the greatest gifts you can give a child.  I think this is what made me love to go to Sunday School.  It didn’t matter what was going on at home, I was loved and happy during this time.   I was taught to love others and to practice the principles that God wanted me to practice. And, perhaps most of all, my teachers exhibited all the important qualities of a great Sunday School teacher – not because they had to, but because that’s who they were. And it forever changed my life for good. And whether it’s toddlers, grade school kids, junior high, or adults you are teaching, practice the qualities of the lessons you are teaching and this will be the greatest lesson.

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” — Proverbs 22:6