Putting it into practice

What was Jesus up to with Phillip? A huge crowd had been following him and his band of disciples because they had seen the miracles he did. As he sat down with his disciples, the crowd pressed in around them.

Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” ⁶ He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do.

It was a question without an easy answer, and Phillip didn't know what to say. Even if we worked for months, we wouldn't have enough money to feed this crowd, Phillip answered Jesus.


Andrew eventually answered the question, and perhaps his answer helped Phillip to grow spiritually in his faith in Jesus.


Steve Parr, in his book Sunday School that Really Works, notes that leadership principle #1 states that we must pray and directly enlist people to be a part of our small groups, taking responsibility for their spiritual growth.

It is not coincidental that the apostles were with Jesus as he went about preaching and teaching. Jesus had specifically asked them to follow him. As you read the Gospels, you see Jesus taking opportunities to instruct the apostles as he modeled a healthy relationship with the Father. They were not meeting at 9:45 every Sunday morning, but they were meeting together frequently, receiving instructions from Jesus, asking and answering questions, learning to minister to the needs of others, praying together, and growing in their relationship with God in spite of many personal failures and setbacks.

Too many small group leaders take a passive approach to spiritual development, placing emphasis on preparing to teach a lesson but not placing equal emphasis on spiritual growth.

Many teachers will go through an entire year (or many years) without ever applying the first principle of praying about and directly enlisting others to be a part of the group as Jesus did. The Sunday School will not grow if others are not invited to become involved.

We must plan for involving our learners in developing their spiritual gifts and then putting them to use, just as Jesus did.

He took responsibility for their spiritual growth. He did not teach them and leave it up to them to apply the Scripture and to grow. He personally engaged and challenged them to live what they learned. His approach was intentional, intense, comprehensive, active, applicable and personal. That stands in contrast to many Sunday School classes where a teacher shows up just on time, presents an uninspiring lecture, prays and says, "I'll see you all next week." It is this type of approach that leads people to conclude that Sunday School is irrelevent.

Father, help me to grow spiritually and to lead those over whom I have influence to do the same!