Step 1: Pray
Two things I know. First, God has a plan for your church and your community. Secondly, God wants to use you in accomplishing His plan in your church and in your community. The book by Henry Blackaby entitled, Experiencing God, taught us to “find where God is working and join Him”. One of the most important aspects of the Sunday School Challenge is PRAYER.
Like you, I believe in the value and impact of Sunday School. Your participation in the Sunday School Challenge can be a great foundation to move your church toward a healthy, growing Sunday School.
(If you are not yet a part of the Sunday School Challenge, you need to join us. Just go to LouisianaBaptists.org/SSC to find out more).
The primary objectives for the Sunday School Challenge are to 1) Reach & Enroll New People, 2) Teach Toward Life-Change and 3) Involve Members in Ongoing Ministry. These goals begin through a commitment to prayer. This campaign is built on prayer and a surrender to God’s leading. Prayer efforts must be thoughtful and intentional for all involved.
To help you lead others in this heartfelt discipline, we have gathered resources for Step 1—Prayer:
- PRAYER BOOT CAMP, developed by Claude King, based upon War Room’s “The Battle Plan for Prayer” is a flexible prayer training experience introducing the basics of prayer and weapons of our spiritual warfare. It is learning to pray by praying together. (Free download) blog.lifeway.com/growingdisciples/?s=Prayer+Boot+Camp.
- CONSECRATE THE PEOPLE, by Claude King; an 8-day devotional guide to help Christian individuals, churches, and groups prepare themselves for a sacred assembly before God—a time to renew covenant commitments to the Lord. Download Here.
- FRESH ENCOUNTER, by Henry Blackaby and Claude King, is a 28-day devotional guide which emphasizes “Seeking God Together for Revival in the Land.” This guide leads you to seek the kind of relationship with God through which He can revive you and use you for revival and awakening. Fresh Encounter Guides may be purchased for $3.99 each at lifeway.com/en/product/fresh-encounter-a-28-day-devotional-guide-P001305293.
- COME TO THE LORD’S TABLE, from Claude King, is a 28-day devotional guide is a simple tool focused on church renewal, a daily guide to prepare mind, heart and life for meeting at the Lord’s table. Special attention is given to the preparation of hearts, and renewal of our covenant with the Lord in a worthy manner. Cost is $6.99 each. lifeway.com/en/product/come-to-the-lord-s-table-P001315091.
If you have scheduled your churches’ dates for the Sunday School Challenge, please let us know. We are available to assist you in any way we can. We are praying, expectantly, for His blessings in your church.
Sean Keith is the Sunday School/Discipleship Strategist for the Louisiana Baptist Convention. Check out other resources at LouisianaBaptists.org/ReGroup.
