Life applications put Sunday school lessons into practice. They are activities that address the important educational goal of becoming “doers who act and are blessed in the doing”. If this goal is not deliberately addressed, students may remain “hearers only” (James 1:25).
(1) “Lord, what do you want me to do?” (Acts 5:6).
Conversion
- Invite a brother or sister to tell your Sunday school class how he or she came into the Truth. This will be especially relevant to a lesson on Saul of Tarsus if the brother or sister was at first opposed to the Truth before accepting it.
- Have each student interview a brother or sister to find out how he or she came into the Truth. Brainstorm a set of interview questions with your students beforehand. For example, did the brother or sister have to overcome any obstacles in order to come into the Truth, and how did the Truth change their life? Share the results in class after the interviews have been carried out.
Obedience to God was the vital response of Saul of Tarsus in his life-changing conversion. Talk frankly with your students about the kinds of attitudes that produce obedience to God and the kinds of attitudes that do not. Also help them identify practical ways that they, at their age, can obey God. Baptism into Christ is a crucial act of obedience, but there are other things they can begin to do, even if they do not yet feel ready for baptism. Obedience to God does not automatically turn on at baptism. As a follow-up to this discussion, identify some ways to be more obedient to God in the week ahead, select something to try, and share your successes and failures next week. Be supportive of each other’s efforts.
(2) “Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins” (Acts 22:16).
Baptism
- Visit and support the baptism service of a young person in another ecclesia.
- Have your students go through recent ecclesial news published in one of our magazines (The Christadelphian, Logos, The Tidings, ). Look for reports of recent baptisms, and then send a baptism card or note to someone whose baptism is recorded.
(3) “Saul… attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him… But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles” (Acts 9:26-28).
Friendship, Fellowship
- Plan a welcoming party or visit a new Sunday school family for the purpose of getting acquainted and making them feel at home.
- Have your students write welcome cards or do some act of kindness for a new family or a new Sunday school student.
- Identify a child who could use a friend or a bit of encouragement (e.g., someone in the Sunday school or in the neighborhood around your meeting place). Plan something that you can do as a Sunday school class to reach out to this child. Do it.
(4) “For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people” (Acts 11:26).
Ecclesial Service
- Have your class generate a list of ways that they, as young people, can help the work of the ecclesia or the Sunday school. Talk with your arranging board or Sunday school superintendent about the goal of this activity and then do something to be helpful.
- Have students pair up — a Barnabas and Saul team — and identify something on the class list that they can do together. When they have carried out their service, have them tell the class how it went. If your Sunday school is small, involve the entire Sunday school in the project.
(5) “So the disciples determined, everyone according to his ability, to send relief to the brethren” (Acts 11:29).
The Needs of Others
- Plan and carry out a collection or fund raiser for a needy family. Or prepare and deliver a meal to someone who would benefit from your thoughtfulness.
- Send a letter, card, or other memento from your Sunday school class to a sick brother or sister, young person, or ecclesial acquaintance.
- Arrange to visit an elderly brother or sister or someone who is shut-in. Do the Bible readings together.
From time to time The Tidings magazine publishes a list of “Addresses for Bequests and Donations”.1Several Christadelphian charities/service organizations are included. Have your students select one of these organizations and find out more about the work it does. Then plan and carry out a fund raiser for the organization: a bottle and can drive; a bake sale; a car wash; an ecclesial dinner with a student presentation on the work of the organization, etc.
Please tell me about a life application activity you have done in your Sunday school or CYC. I’d like to share it with other readers.
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