Response To Joel’s #4

#1) The thing with going "deep" is the fact that only a few people will understand the deep concepts. Sure, there are students who will understand some of the hard concepts, but there will be plenty who don't. It's kind of hard to decide who will understand more deep stuff. It is possible to go deeper, but you have to be observant to who is picking up on the concepts and who isn't. The best way to do this is to break into small groups. I think we do need to start moving away from the typical "cheesy" prepackaged Sunday school lessons. But the important thing to do is make sure that we have each grade level accustomed to the level of depth. We can do this through research and understanding where the average mind per age is at. I truly believe that because of the improvements in technology, the children and youth of today are able to handle more complex material. We need to stop babying them.

#2) I think Sunday school is currently a very surfacy thing. I have experienced that because my practicum supervisor has not showed up hardly at all. How are we supposed to get deep and not remain surfacy when we have no commitment. So often, we see Sunday school as a once a week thing where we only hang out for a couple of hours. When everyone has that attitude, then no one becomes close and everyone remains shallow. If we want to go deeper relationally, then we need to readjust our attitudes as to what the purpose of Sunday school is. Is it to teach and then leave? Or is it to teach, grow, and learn all together by learning from each other? I think it is the latter.