CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
edited by Margaret Jacobsen
The Adult and Sunday School Part Two by Henry Jacobsen
W hat is it that gets men and women into Sunday school and keeps them there? Of all the factors that influence adult Sunday school attendance, the greatest single one without doubt is the teacher. Fortunate indeed is the adult department that has one or more men or women who are “apt to teach.” Next to the teacher, the most im portant single factor in attracting adults is undoubtedly the course of study that a Bible class uses. We must present the Bible to men and women in very practical terms, for most adults are not particularly in terested in theological hairsplitting or in the study of doctrine for its own sake. For the most part, they are hungry for something that will help them to live successfully. They want teaching that will enable them to deal with home problems, their children, the demands of the busi ness world, the uncertain future. In this materialistic age, they must be reminded of eternal values. They need instruction in their Christian responsibilities to their community, to their church and to God. There are, with variations, three principal types of adult curricula: uniform lessons, graded lessons and teacher-planned. We may summar ize and compare the three as fol lows: Uniform Lesson Curriculum History: Has been used for dec ades. Characteristics: Same Scripture (usually a relatively brief passage) is used in all departments of the school. Advantages: Facilitates correlated worship program in smaller schools. Makes it possible for all members of a family to study the same Sun
day school lesson together at home. Enables teacher to draw on many sources of supplemental reference material. Disadvantages (for adults): Neg lects large areas of the Bible be cause lessons must be based on Scripture portions suitable for teaching in youngest departments of the school. Covers only from 30% to 40% of the Bible. Inter national lessons never touch on some key redemptive passages; NSSA lessons do not adequately cover New Testament epistles. En courages adults to study a quarterly rather than the Bible itself. Graded Lesson Curriculum History: Of comparatively recent origin. Characteristics: Lessons are based on Scripture suitable for adults without regard to their acceptabil ity for teaching to children. Advantages: The whole Bible is studied, book by book, in a reason able time (eight years). Gives men and women a good grasp of indi vidual books as units. Encourages study of the Bible itself rather than quarterly. Makes for excellent con tinuity between lessons. Provides changes of pace in teaching methods —verse by verse, chapter study, book survey, topical lesson, etc. Pro vides “cream” of available commen taries. Assures a sense of “direc tion” in adult classes. Good study material available for students. Disadvantages: Some t eachers find trouble handling longer por tions of Scripture and survey les sons. Limited amount of supple mental reference material is avail able though teacher’s quarterly does give extended bibliography. Inade quate time provided for extended class discussion.
20
THE KING 'S BUSINESS
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker