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Partners In The Mission:
Sunday School Claiming the Other Sheep |
| Release Date: 04/15/2008 |
| a message from Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director |
By Darryl Wilson, Guest Columnist
I’ve been thinking about Jesus' words in John 10:16 (NIV): "I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd." Jesus claims sheep that are not already in the sheep pen—some are in our communities.
His second sentence is interesting: "I must bring them also." Many today have given up on outreach. They think someone else will do it. Some wrongly say that outreach is the responsibility of those whose gift is evangelism. As a part of the body of Christ, we do what the Head tells us to do. We serve as His hands, feet, and voices to go to, help, and share Jesus with the lost, hurting, and unchurched sheep.
In His Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), Jesus didn’t tell us to let the lost come to church before we do anything for them. No, He said go and make disciples of all nations. If we are Christians, we are His body and are to do what the Head tells us. We cannot make disciples of all nations without reaching out. We should use our gifts to love people to Jesus. When we accept Jesus as Savior and Lord, we move from being sheep to being shepherd-stewards of His sheep. We join Him in caring for His flock (some of which are not already in the sheep pen).
Sunday School is a great tool to mobilize the church to carry out Jesus' command. Senior adults are best reached by senior adults, and teens are best reached by teens. But more classes (sheep pens and shepherd-teachers) are needed. New classes tend to be more evangelistic than existing classes, often growing to 20 in enrollment and 10 in attendance in 12-18 months. And Sunday school helps us share the Gospel with lost people even more effectively than worship alone. Statistics by Andy Anderson (Growth Spiral) show that only about one out of 342 lost people accept a relationship with Jesus through worship alone in 12 months while one out of three lost people do so through Sunday School.
Here is my application question: Which lost/unchurched sheep has Jesus prepared you to shepherd? Care. Build relationships. Minister. Invite them to Sunday school. The personal invitation is still powerful today. Don't be afraid to ask. But be patient if it takes 20 touches before you see results. Help the lost/unchurched listen to His voice calling them to become a part of His flock. If you don't go, they won't come. If you don't ask, they won't say yes!
Darryl Wilson is the Director for the KBC Sunday School Department. |
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