Sunday School part 2 - My Perceptions

Okay, so Sunday School for kids is the predominate way that children are exposed to the gospels, Old Testament and New Testament stories, crafts, and Jesus. In most denominational churches they use their denominations lessons to teach these lessons. There is a flow to the teaching as each denomination has a "Scope & Sequence" they follow so that the stories can be revisited every so many years.

My question is why? One church has their children over 4 with them in service and they have activities they do when the service gets to a certain point that reinforces the message for the children. Another has classes that the kids go to each week with papers that the parents usually end up throwing away. Another does Children's Church with high energy music and a large group bible story and then they break into small groups and do many activities that reinforce the lesson for the child.

And of course all the parents are spending time every day to teach their child the Bible and do studies with them and teach them how to pray and talk to their best friend, Jesus. Oh, they don't? Why not? Soccer games until 6:30 and then a meal on the run and the child is doing homework in the car and then a rushed shower. They can't get up early because they have to sleep.

As a church, we have told parents for the past 20-30 years: give us your children and we will teach them the Bible. Never mind that Deuteronomy says it is your job as a parent. We will handle it. We will take them to camp, have VBS, a class every Sunday morning and maybe, just maybe you will attend our Christian School where we will teach you every day bible classes.

I was meeting with a group of Christian Educators that said it took us 20-30 years for this cycle to build it isn't going to stop over night. Parents are responsible.

So where do the lines cross? What is the appropriate amount of "Christian Education" offered by the church and where do the parents fit in?

More later...