One of the main flaws of the seeker-sensitive church is its implicit rejection of intellectual rigor. In an effort to attract the uninitiated, those in church leadership have, if not occasionally watered down, at least dumbed down the message of Christianity.
The motivation of this is solid, but as it effectively draws in people unfamiliar with the ways of the church it offers little for those who want to progress beyond a rudimentary understanding of their faith.
If the church's marquee service has been reconfigured to appeal to unchurched groups, Sunday School, particularly adult Sunday School, can remain a place where seasoned Christians can stretch their minds.
Insist that any teacher have a book or curriculum in mind before starting. Only the most seasoned teachers can speak extemporaneously for 45 minutes, the typical length of most Sunday School classes. To do so for 13 weeks straight is a metahuman feat.
Teachers should also insist that all students purchase a book for two reasons. First, as our society becomes less and less well read, the church can provide a bulwark against this trend. Second, students who spend about $10 for a book are more likely to stay with a class than students who have no money invested.
Recruit & Train Teachers
No Sunday School program can exist without teachers, but often recruitment programs are lacking. Pastors in charge of the Sunday School program will often put a lot of effort into a first stage recruitment and then hope for the best.
Once teachers are recruited, they need to be trained and nurtured. In an increasingly busy society, teachers may balk at weekly or even monthly training meetings, so most of the training will need to take place one on one.
Pastors should rotate appearances in different classes to observe teachers in action. Following the observation, the pastor should tell the teacher three good things they did with the class and one thing they can improve on.
For most teachers, the greatest hurdle to overcome will be fear of public speaking. Pastors should encourage teachers in this area, and try to provide environments-such as a classroom where students and teachers are all seated around a table-that are less threatening than typical audience environments.