Whenever we begin a Sunday school class, we always start it out with a prayer. This is because even though we use our minds to think and learn about the lessons and the theology that are being taught to us, in the end, we are still dependent on God’s grace and mercy for us to grow in the knowledge of the things of God. Even our ability to learn and understand comes from God.
Heavenly Father, as we have our Sunday school today, remind us not to depend on our capabilities but on You Who gives us the understanding, knowledge, and wisdom that we need. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
A Good Prayer to End a Sunday School Class
Why Pray When Ending a Sunday School Class?
Just as we depend on God for the grace that we need to learn and understand the lessons that the students will study in a Sunday school class, the students still need God’s grace after the Sunday school class—this time, not for understanding and learning but to apply what they have learned. It is one thing to grow in knowledge and understanding of the things of God, but it is another thing to apply them.
Why is it important to pray this? It is because the end goal of Sunday school lessons – even as it is for formal theological seminaries – is for us to not only grow in intellectual knowledge but also grow in spiritual maturity, obedience to God, and conformity to the image of Christ. That is why, in the letters of the apostle Paul, you will always find the pattern of Paul praying for spiritual wisdom and understanding for a particular group of people, which is then followed by godly living or living in the manner worthy of the LORD. One good example of this is found in Colossians 1:9-11.
After the apostle Paul tells them that he is praying for the church in Colossae to be filled with spiritual wisdom and understanding, which spurs them to walk in the manner worthy of the LORD, he follows up in verse 11 that they may be strengthened with all power. Strengthened for what? In line with verses 9-10, the strength to live a life worthy of the LORD, obey God, and display Christian virtues is in line with knowing the things of God. In other words, we pray for the strength to put into practice our knowledge and understanding of God and the things of God.
That is why, at the end of a Sunday school class, praying for the students to grow in knowledge and practical application of what they have learned is very important. The Bible tells us in ( But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. James 1:22) that we ought not to be only hearers but also doers of the Word. If we only hear without putting into practice what the Word of God and the things of God teach us, we are only deceiving ourselves.
A Good Prayer to End a Sunday School Class
The same can be said whenever we become the salt and light to the world. We don’t witness Christ or become the salt and light in our campuses, the workplace, the city, etc. by displaying our intellectual prowess to them. Even the Pharisees did the same and yet didn’t get anywhere. Rather, we witness Christ to others and are the salt and light by how we live our lives, treat others, and do our good works. That is why the Bible says that we are to love other people, as written in Matthew 22:34-40. We are also to do good works, for we are created to do good works, as written in (For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10). Lastly, we witness Christ through our Christlike character and, ultimately, by preaching the Gospel.
A Good Prayer to End a Sunday School Class
How to Pray a Good Prayer as You End a Sunday School Class
You end a Sunday school class with a good prayer by praying for the students or guiding them into the kind of prayer in which you ask God for grace and help to apply whatever lesson was taught or learned so that it won’t remain just “head knowledge.” Of course, your prayer has to be flexible, depending on the lesson being taught. In (Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16), it is written that in Christ we are confident that we can approach God’s throne of grace and ask Him for the grace and mercy that we need. So, for example, if the lesson was about God’s holiness, here is an example of how you can lead the students or end the Sunday school class with a prayer:
A Good Prayer to End a Sunday School Class
Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us an understanding of the lesson we learned today about Your holiness. We pray that we will apply what we have learned and that knowing You are holy will impact how we live our lives. Help us live holy lives, for You are a holy God, and we will always do everything out of worship for You every day of our lives. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
A Good Prayer to End a Sunday School Class
Growing in understanding and knowledge about God and the things of God is important. When we have the right information, it leads and helps us in right living. However, we have to live it out. The good thing is that living out and making the truth of God’s Word a reality in our lives isn’t done through our own efforts or capabilities but out of the help of the Holy Spirit and the grace that God gives us.