The One True Purpose of Sunday School Teaching: How to Stay Focused and Faithful

 

Sunday school teachers face a subtle but powerful temptation — to make their teaching all about themselves.

It’s natural to want our students to like us. In fact, students often learn best when they feel connected to their teacher. But if our deepest desire is just to be popular — to hear compliments and feel admired — then we’ve missed the point of teaching. Jesus warned, “Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you” (Luke 6:26). That includes kids, too. Sometimes, the most faithful teachers might even feel unpopular for a time, especially when they challenge their students with hard truths or discipline rooted in love.

Teaching for the right reason — the one sufficient motive — leads to genuine love from our students eventually. But when our hearts are fully focused on the true purpose of Sunday school, we won’t be worrying about whether we’re liked or praised. In fact, we’ll be too focused on something greater to even think about it.

Another form of self-centered teaching is when we seek praise from adults: “She’s such a gifted teacher,” or “His class is the model for others.” Of course, we should strive to teach with excellence. Good methods and creativity matter — they help us be more effective. But if our main goal is applause or being seen as a top-tier teacher, even our best methods become hollow. They’re like beautifully wrapped gifts with nothing inside.

As someone who writes a lot about teaching strategies, I believe methods matter — but only if they’re energized by the right motive. Without it, all the clever techniques in the world won’t make a real difference. If your heart isn’t in the right place, I’d say: pause your focus on how you teach. Ask yourself first: Why am I teaching?

And here's something that might surprise you — even focusing solely on your students’ success can become a trap.

“But wait,” you might say, “Isn’t that exactly what we’re supposed to care about?”

Actually, no — not as our main motive.

If your success as a teacher depends on how your students respond, then you're still placing your hopes on something outside your control. What if they’re uninterested, struggling with home life, facing peer pressure, or just not ready to receive the message? If we measure our success by their behavior or decisions, we’ll often feel like failures — even when we’re doing everything right.

But when our motivation is deeper — when we’re teaching to please Christ — then our success is always within reach. That’s a goal we can actually meet every time we show up with a sincere heart and our best effort.

At the end of every class, there’s only one question that really matters: Did I please Jesus?

That’s the foundation of all faithful teaching. Pleasing Christ doesn’t mean being perfect, but it does mean being wholehearted. It means giving our best — not sloppy or rushed work — but thoughtful, Spirit-led effort. That’s what honors Him.

We’re like farmers sowing seed. Some of it will fall on hard soil, some will be snatched away, and some will bloom and thrive. But our job is to plant faithfully. If we do, we’ve succeeded — no matter what the outcome looks like.

When our hearts are centered on this one sufficient motive — pleasing Christ — we’re set free from stress and striving. We won’t be anxious. We’ll feel peace and confidence, knowing we’ve done what matters most. Every Sunday becomes a win, not because of what we see, but because we know the Master is pleased.

And the beautiful truth? We won’t love our students less — we’ll love them even more. Not because we need something from them, but because they belong to Jesus. Our work will be even more faithful and joyful, because we’re working with Him and for Him. He carries the ultimate responsibility, and we simply follow His lead.

This kind of teaching lifts us above discouragement, comparison, and fear. It brings us into a wide, peaceful place — where quiet confidence replaces chaos.

And in the end, this life of Christ-centered teaching will not only honor Him — it will draw our students closer to His love. We may not always see it right away, but over time, they’ll see Christ through us. And that is the highest success of all.

Adapted and rewritten in modern language from the book Sunday School Essentials, by Amos R. Wells, copyright 1911.