It is the basis of biblical teaching, a purpose for Christians to come together, and an opportunity to prepare Christians for baptism. However, in recent years there has been a transition in which the time traditionally used for Sunday school is used to recruit people for the Sunday worship service. What is the purpose of Sunday School? It is perhaps the local church's best structured program to effectively carry out the teaching ministry of Christ. Rather than being a separate agency from the church, it is a vital arm with four parts: reaching, teaching, earning, and caring.
The primary goal of Sunday school is to reach out to people so that they can be taught about Jesus Christ and His teachings, win them over to Him, and then care for them spiritually. This was the original purpose of Sunday school when it first began in the 19th century. It was created as a way to empower working-class children to get out of poverty by using the Bible as a textbook. Today, Sunday school is still a place and time where God's children learn that they are loved by God and by His people through warm communion and creative Bible study.
Most Sunday school leaders are teenagers and adults who volunteer their time because they love Jesus and love children. They are not necessarily trained in child development or psychology, so it is important for parents to be involved in their child's spiritual growth as well. Sunday school also serves as a platform for people to unite for a common noble cause: evangelizing ordinary people and spreading Christianity. It is a basic training course for young Christians, teaching them about God's love, plan, and expectations for His people.
Additionally, it aims to teach people to care about society and work towards its improvement. Charles Spurgeon wrote in Spiritual Parenting that “Let no Christian parent fall into the illusion that Sunday school is meant to relieve them of their personal duties”. Parents should still be involved in their child's spiritual growth even if they attend Sunday school. Ultimately, Sunday school provides an opportunity for people of all ages to learn about Jesus Christ and His teachings in a creative and welcoming environment.
