Why do I love Teaching Sunday School?

Why do I love teaching Sunday School? I've been asked this question a lot of times. Usually it comes across like this: "Why do you choose to hang out with kids every Sunday—and actually look like you're enjoying it?"

There are so many reasons I love being a Sunday School teacher but I'll list a few that are most important to me.

1. Teaching Sunday School schools me. Every single time I prepare for a lesson and teach it, I gain fresh insights. Teaching requires a deeper understanding of the Biblical narrative, and preparing lessons has become one of the biggest catalysts for my faith. It’s an ongoing process that keeps me growing as both a teacher and a follower of Christ.

   
   

2. Teaching Sunday School shows me God's love. I believe my greatest responsibility is creating a space where every child experiences a glimpse of God's love. This means thinking deeply about how to make children feel safe, seen, and celebrated. The list of descriptive words could go on but it all boils down to a hope that every child feels LOVED! Building an environment that strives for this means I get to experience this love too - a gift of God's love given to me with every smile, hug, goofy laugh, silly antic or heartfelt thought shared by a child. Being a Sunday School teacher might just be the best job in the world.

   
   

3. Teaching Sunday School inspires my creativity. Creativity energizes me. There is a constant brainstorm of ideas rolling around in my head. I’m constantly brainstorming new ways to bring a story to life, connect with kids, or explore spiritual practices. Whether it’s fostering peer connections or designing intergenerational learning experiences, Sunday School offers a space where ideas come to life.

   
   

4. Teaching Sunday School lets me experience the 'holiness of fun'. A friend once used this phrase, and it has stayed with me.  I believe that fun and play are sacred ways to communicate Jesus' big hearty call of "let the children come to me!" Fun and play are also critical ingredients for building friendships, inspiring learning and embracing children as they are. Thankfully for us adults, we never grow out of being children of God and fun and play can continue to be a welcome call into the joyful presence of God. Sunday School lets me experience the "holiness of fun" every week.

   
   

5. Teaching Sunday School challenges me to do better. After years of teaching Sunday School I've witnessed many styles of teaching/curriculum in action. I've seen worksheets and rote memorization, extravagantly themed Vacation Bible School programs, lessons with a never-ending list of moral traits to attain, cheesy object lessons, systematic theology styled for kids and enough cut and paste crafts to give me arthritis. Out of hundreds of resources I have found some gems (can't wait to share them with you) but I am regularly confronted with the feeling of "we can do better." (This point probably needs more explanation, check out my blogpost here.)

   
   
   
   

6. Teaching Sunday School keeps me humble.  I get to hang with kids for about 1 hour on a Sunday morning. Even if kids come regularly, what I teach or model adds up to very little air-time. It isn't my job to cover every building block of faith or every story in the bible. I couldn't scratch the surface if I tried. My job is to be just one person who welcomes kids into the love of God and pray that it opens a life long journey where they can keep learning, keep reading and keep walking with Jesus for many years to come. Remembering that I play a small role helps me find the humour in a failed lesson, removes pressure of outcomes, lets me embrace spontaneous moments of fun or learning and strengthens my resolve to cheer on the parents or caregivers who play the leading role. I’m not the main character—but I do get one of the best seats in the audience, witnessing God at work in His children.