Planning For Sunday School Success
Kiely Young

Every successful coach knows the value of a working game plan. He will spend hours developing a strategy that will lead his team to win. He knows the law of planning, “If we fail to plan, then we plan to fail.” He must do both short-term and long-term planning. He must involve his whole team, individually and as a whole. The situation poses a question, “How does one get this started if the team is not accustomed to planning and preparation?” This question is particularly significant for the church. Consider these guidelines.

1. Begin with PRAYER. Scripture tells us “The faithful prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” (James 5:16). It is critical that we bathe our planning in prayer. We need the wisdom of God, not the thoughts and ideas of man. God has a perfect plan waiting to be revealed to those who seek Him and ask Him with a believing heart.

2. Analyze the needs and abilities of your leadership team. Know the people you have working with you and develop your plan according to their gifts and the needs of your church.

3. Provide adequate resources. There is an abundance of fantastic resources available for every age level and a variety of study opportunities. Make certain your leadership is aware of these excellent resources. Your association and state convention can assist you with this information.

4. Provide quality training for all leadership. Paul tells us in II Timothy 2:2 “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” Proper training should be provided for all new workers according to the age group where they are working. Training should be provided for all workers, at least annually. Excellent training opportunities are provided through your local association as well as your state convention.

The will to win is important, but the will to prepare is vital. —Joe Paterno. Every good team needs a winning game plan.

5. Provide updated information on a monthly, if not weekly basis. Regular leadership meetings help sustain and inform your workers about needs as well as encourage them in their particular situation. You can keep the vision of your Sunday School fresh on the minds of your leaders and help them celebrate accomplishments along the way. Research has shown that those churches having consistently strong motivational, informational, and inspirational workers’ meetings will result in an atmosphere of growth, numerical and spiritual.

6. Keep the vision of your Sunday School before the leadership team. This is critical both to short-term and long-term planning. Are you still on course? Do you need to make adjustments? Were your goals too low or too high? Make sure the long-term and the shortterm goals complement each other. Are your people still excited about their work? Are you giving opportunity for celebration along the way? Plan for check points that will give indication of accomplishment.

Think about these things in planning for the year.
1) Saturate your work in prayer.
2) Involve your leadership team.
3) Provide quality resources.
4) Provide excellent training.
5) Schedule at least monthly leadership meetings.
6) Celebrate victories large and small.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

TIME TO DO IT!

Pray. Pray. Pray.

Conduct Annual planning

Conduct monthly, if not weekly leadership meetings

The above article, “Planning For Sunday School Success” was written by Kiely Young. The article was excerpted from “A Coaches Guide to Sunday School” by the Sunday School Department of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board. Used by permission. November 2017.

The material is copyrighted and should not be reprinted under any other name or author. However, this material may be freely used for personal study or research purposes.

This article may not be written by an Apostolic author, but it contains many excellent principles and concepts that can be adapted to most churches. As the old saying goes, “Eat the meat. Throw away the bones.”