SPRINGFIELD – Missouri’s Baptist churches have the opportunity to pick apart what makes a Sunday School work and preview some new LifeWay curriculum at events scheduled across the state this spring.
This is the first Sunday School That Really Works Conference, featuring the author of the book with that same name, Steve Parr. It will be from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 22 at Macedonia Baptist Church in Springfield. Register online at mobaptist.org/sunday_school or call Pam Jeffries at 1-800-736-6227. Cost is $15 and includes lunch and a copy of the book, Sunday School that Really Works.
The second series of events is a free, 90-minute preview of LifeWay’s revamped Explore the Bible curriculum at 11 sites around Missouri April 7-12. It will be led by LifeWay’s ministry team trainer, Sergio Arce, and is designed for leaders of all ages’ Sunday School classes and church staff.
“Explore the Bible has been around forever for adults, but LifeWay is updating and expanding it to include all ages,” said Mark Donnell, Sunday School/discipleship specialist for the Missouri Baptist Convention. “It’s streamlined and very easy to use.”
The update to one of LifeWay’s most popular curriculums will include print and online resources and multiple Bible translation options as it goes book-by-book through the Bible over a three year cycle. The lessons aren’t identical across all ages, but they are based on the same passage of Scripture (or thematic idea for young children).
“The whole church – from little kids to senior adults – can go through the Bible at the same time,” Donnell said. “Families can get together and discuss the lesson over lunch after church. It’s going to be good.”