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Historical Views of Church Education & Innovative Ideas for the Future
Ryan Watters
God’s Bible School and College

Abstract

This paper seeks to explore the issue of church education. It begins by stating the purpose of church education, and its primary method. It then seeks to discover what types of church education were used in the history of the author’s church and organization. Finally, it provides an analysis of the current effectiveness of the author’s church and gives innovative ideas for improvement.

Historical Views of Church Education & Innovative Ideas for the Future

What on earth are we here for? What is the purpose for this instrument of God called the church? What are the goals that our Lord has set before us? These questions are like a set of beads that are all connected by one common thread called “church education.” But just what does this rather ambiguous term mean? I believe three passages of Scripture are vital to our understanding of this concept.

First, Colossians 1:28 which states, “We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ” (NASB). The goal of the church, then, is to present every person complete in Christ. The word here translated “complete” comes from the Greek teleios, which has the meaning of perfect, or mature. It is the same word translated “mature” in 1 Cor. 14:20 which states that we are to be “mature [teleios]” in our thinking.

When you study Colossians 1:28 in tandem with Ephesians 4:12-16 you get a much more complete concept of what it means to present someone “complete” in Christ. Ephesians 4 lists several descriptors of what this person should look like. The person should be equipped to do the work of the ministry, and the edification of the saints (believers) (Eph. 4:12), the person should be Christlike (Eph. 4:13), the person should be thoroughly anchored in such a way that no matter what circumstances, heresy, or trickery may come his way, he can stand firm without being shaken in his faith (Eph. 4:14), the person should be equipped well enough to know the truth, but also have the maturity to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15), and, finally, the person should take his place in the body of Christ and serve with love (Eph. 4:16).

From this brief study we get a sense that we are to present a person who is mature, prepared, steadfast, compassionate, and thoroughly established in the doctrines of the Christian faith. But just how do we get someone to this point? Here is where church education comes into play. Church education is the vehicle by which we present someone as “complete in Christ.” It is the method we use to train, teach, and edify someone into the person God wants them to be. How this is to be done is found in the next passage of Scripture that we’re going to look at, The Great Commission.

Matthew 28:19-20 states, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (NASB). It is important to note that the only word in the imperative mood (which is the grammatical method used to give a command) is “make disciples” (mathaetusate). “Baptizing” and “teaching” are both participles, and thus are subject to the main verb, “make disciples.” While “baptizing” and “teaching” are important, they should be considered as a part of “making disciples.” So then, from this passage we see that the central method we are to use in presenting a person complete in Christ is disciplemaking.

The principles derived from Matthew 28:19-20 really go hand in hand with the principle from Colossians 1:28, to “present every man complete in Christ.” The reason we are commanded to go to all nations and make disciples is so that we can present every man complete in Christ. Colossians 1:28 is the end, Matthew 28:19-20 is the means to that end.

In summation, the goal of church education is to present a person complete in Christ (Col. 1:28). The actual method used to reach that goal is called church education, and that method is discipleship (Matt. 28:19-20).

The roots of church education run deep and are rich in heritage. When dealing with any modern day issue there is always value in researching the history of the matter, and seeing what was done, and why. For the purposes of this paper I will focus my study on the history of my particular background with the Lower Light Mission.

The Lower Lights did not come from any single denomination. They did not break off from a larger group, but as stated in the Lower Light Minutes, “had its origin in a very humble beginning, being formed by the divine workings of God in the revival fires of the mid 1930’s” (Lower Light Mission Minutes, 2007). No one really knows where this “revival fire” came from, or who started it, but its effects are still being felt today. It began in the year 1933 in a small town called Petersburg, MI. Perl McDonnell was a good man, and well liked, but a hopeless alcoholic. But everything changed when the revival fires swept through his small town. He was put under such deep conviction that he went into his rabbit house, nailed the door shut, and would not emerge until God had thoroughly converted him and set him free from sin.

After this event, McDonnell’s life was transformed. He became a shining beacon in his community. In fact, he cleaned out his rabbit house, did some remodeling, and began to hold evangelistic services for his family and friends. As the minutes state, “This revival spirit swept through the family with such force that several were shaken. Then whole families were converted. This mighty force from heaven began to fan out and catch fire in many of the surrounding communities and other counties” (Lower Light Mission Minutes, 2007).
All of this eventually led to the founding of the Lower Light Mission. Its first annual conference and camp meetings were held in the summer of 1935. Over the next several years many churches were founded under the auspices of this organization, including my own, the Adrian Lower Light Church. As the denomination grew, it bought property in Petersburg on which it built a large tabernacle where the camp meetings could be held in order to accommodate its growing numbers.

Another important highlight from the history of Lower Light Mission occurred in 1974 when Harlan Sannes founded Holiness Christian School. The school continues into the present and has grades K-12 and uses the ACE curriculum. This event was particularly important to me, as this is the school I attended during my 10-12th grades of high school.

The Lower Lights have implemented several methods of church education, the most prominent of which being Holiness Christian School. It is here that children are trained up in the key doctrines of the faith, and where Colossians 1:28 is plainly carried out. There is also an active jail ministry that meets weekly with inmates in an effort to meet their need of salvation, as well as disciple those who have already made the commitment to follow Christ. The Sunday School program has also been a vital part of the Lower Light Mission. Various meetings are held every Sunday for different age groups and a standard Sunday school curriculum is traditionally used.

Let us pause here long enough to gain a brief understanding of where Sunday school originated, and why. According to the article, “The Origin of Sunday School,” it was started in England in 1780 and “began as schools for the poor” (“The Origin of Sunday School,” n.d.). While it certainly had a Christian theme and basis, it also taught such things as reading and writing, which was practiced by copying the Bible. They also taught proper behavior, verbal decency, and other rudimentary instruction. Over time this system developed and in 1811, Robert May began a new school that taught solely religious doctrine. This system continued to evolve into the system we now use today (“The Origin of Sunday School,” n.d.). With this understanding in mind we are in a better position to judge whether or not we are accomplishing the purpose of Sunday school as it relates to us today.

I will now narrow my focus more directly to the history of my own upbringing in the Adrian Lower Light Church. The church held its first meeting on July 5, 1942 with fifteen people present. Many of the details concerning the specific types of church education used have been lost. But two things are certain. First, it began in a home, which would indicate close fellowship among the believers. This could certainly be considered a form of discipleship, and thus, church education. Second, Sunday school has been an integral part of the church from its earliest years. We do know that as early as 1951 this form of church education was being used in the church (50th Anniversary, 1985, pp. 41-43).

Shifting now into the present, the church continues to function as a vibrant light in the community. Its venues of outreach and discipleship have expanded. Alongside of the longstanding tradition of Sunday School, now stand such ministries as Family Fun Night which serves not only as an outreach to the community, but also as an opportunity for fellowship within the church. There is also a ministry called Circle of Friends, which serves as an incentive program for attending Sunday school. If a person attends Sunday school, he or she is invited to participate in a special outing once a quarter for a time of fun and recreation (Cheryl Watters, personal communication, May 8, 2008).

The church is unique in the way it handles Sunday school. They have used it as a contemporary learning tool that rejuvenates the stagnating system previously used. The adult Sunday school class now revolves around structured discussion, rather than lecture. The class deals with current issues that touch where the people live. It is always kept extremely relevant. They have also implemented valuable curricula such as the “I Believe” and “Loving God” books. I believe this system balances the historical purpose of using Sunday school to teach doctrine with the need for relevancy. It teaches relevant issues from a biblical standpoint. Thus, you not only gain needed application to your life, but you also gain the Bible’s doctrinal viewpoint on the matter.

I feel that my church has been effective, but mostly in one specific area, worship. The church is truly learning the value of worship, and, as one member said, “that in itself is enticing to a person in the pew” (Cheryl Watters, personal communication, May 8, 2008). So I do feel that the church is being effective in discipling its members in the practice of worship. However, I do see room for improvement in other areas as well.

One of these areas is in personal and small group discipleship. Jesus modeled this method with His disciples. He had a ratio of one-to-twelve, but even then He had an even closer circle of three. It is in the context of personal discipleship that great spiritual growth and maturing can occur.

It is vital to pause here and gain an understanding of just what discipleship involves. The concept of discipleship should not be one of a monotonous meeting once a week where time is frittered away discussing issues that seem completely irrelevant. But rather it should be a time of spiritual enrichment where a person comes to understand and personalize key truths from Scripture. Where a person begins to make discoveries in the Word for himself or herself, and then personalize them. Where a person sees modeled before a true Christian life.

Discipleship is about relevancy. You deal with a person where they’re at. It’s true that an important component of discipleship is the didactic expounding of precept upon precept, but there must also be an experiencing of life together. The Christian life is meant to be experienced, not dryly taught as rote memorization and a list of rules. The discipleship event must be exciting, relevant, and applicable, while always keeping the goal of Col. 1:28 in mind.

This can be accomplished in a number of ways, and the leader of a discipleship event should be innovative in his or her methods. First, one of the most important components of discipleship is simply spending time with someone, and opening your life for them to see. Use every moment as a teachable moment. This builds close fellowship or intimacy in the relationship, which provides a foundation on which to help someone mature “to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ” (NASB Eph. 4:13).

Second, find a curriculum that is first and foremost true to the Word of God, but also extremely applicable to the person in his or her situation. This is certainly a vital part of the discipleship process, but caution should be used to prevent it from becoming so dominant that the process becomes nothing more than a class lecture. This step should be highly discussion oriented.

Third, accountability should be a part of the process. This component is especially important for new converts as the temptations to lure them back into the world will be many. This should not be thought of as a time for the leader to beat the one being discipled over the head every time he fails, but rather it should be a time of exhortation, of encouragement, of edifying the other person. Notice I did not say that a person should be able to get away with sin by saying “it’s ok, we’re all human.” Sin must never be excused. However, nitpicking a person who is seriously trying to seek the Lord and heaping guilt on them consistently will actually drive them away from the faith.

Finally, the person being discipled should be accepted within the body of believers. God made us to be relational beings. I firmly believe that just as the African proverb states, “It takes a village to raise a child” it takes a church to raise a Christian (“It Takes A Village,” 2008). Without the exhortation, encouragement, and fellowship that can only come within a body of believers, the discipleship process is doomed to failure.

In summation, one vital method the church could use to increase its effectiveness is through beginning a discipleship program. These programs can be as diverse as the congregation. If the people need one-on-one type discipleship, begin linking up those who are spiritually mature in the congregation with those who have yet to mature. Begin a mentoring program in the church where one family or couple mentors another family or couple (Cheryl Watters, personal communication, May 8, 2008). The possibilities are endless.

I do understand, however, that when dealing with small congregations the difficulty of implementing such a program is monumental. However, when considered in light of the rewards of such an endeavor, I believe every effort should be made to begin such a ministry. Discipleship will cost you something. It will cost you time. It will cost you comfort. It will cost you security. It will cost you a host of other things as well, but the rewards of your efforts will pay eternal dividends.

A sobering thought is found in 1 Corinthians 3:12-13, “Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work” (NASB). At the end of the day, when our toil upon this earth is complete and we stand before God to be judged for our work, what will He say? Will our work be centered upon ourselves and counted as “wood, hay, [and] straw” to be destroyed by fire? Or will we do as Col. 1:28 commands and “present every man complete in Christ” and thus have our work be counted as “gold, silver, [and] precious stones”? The choice is ours. And the world is waiting.

References

It Takes a Village. (2008, May 1). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 02:12, May 9, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=It_Takes_a_Village&oldid=209515982
Kneal, J. (1985). 50th anniversary. Coshocton, OH: School Annual Publishing.
Lower Light Mission. (2007). Minutes.
The Origin of Sunday School. (n.d.). The origin of Sunday school. Retrieved May 8, 2008, from http://www.thewordsofeternallife.com/sunday_school.html