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21st century debate re Small groups versus Sunday Schools
They assert that when America was a young nation, the [[clergy]] were often the most highly educated members of the community. The congregation looked up to them and respected their intellectual expertise. They argue that it is imperative for seminaries today to broaden the education of pastors to include courses on intellectual history, training future pastors to critique the currently dominant anti-Christian ideologies, and that [[pastor]]s must once again provide intellectual leadership for their congregations, teaching apologetics from the pulpit, instructing the congregation in ways to defend scripture against the major objections they are likely to encounter, and not to avoid this intellectual task ([http://www.biblehub.com/commentaries/2_corinthians/10-5.htm 2 Corinthians 10:5]). They warn that a religion that retreats to the [[Counseling|therapeutic]] realm of personal relationships and feelings will not survive in today's spiritual battlefield.
They assert that when America was a young nation, the [[clergy]] were often the most highly educated members of the community. The congregation looked up to them and respected their intellectual expertise. They argue that it is imperative for seminaries today to broaden the education of pastors to include courses on intellectual history, training future pastors to critique the currently dominant anti-Christian ideologies, and that [[pastor]]s must once again provide intellectual leadership for their congregations, teaching apologetics from the pulpit, instructing the congregation in ways to defend scripture against the major objections they are likely to encounter, and not to avoid this intellectual task ([http://www.biblehub.com/commentaries/2_corinthians/10-5.htm 2 Corinthians 10:5]). They warn that a religion that retreats to the [[Counseling|therapeutic]] realm of personal relationships and feelings will not survive in today's spiritual battlefield.
In the 21st century there has been a renewed resurgence of the debate over Small Groups versus Sunday Schools, a debate having roots in the 17th century (1600's) controversy over ''[[Pietism|Pietist]]'' "home churches" versus establishment churches such as the Lutheran and [[Church of England|Anglican]] Churches, and [[John Wesley]]'s technique of "''[[methodism]]''", questioning which ministry is more effective in producing authentically effective Christian disciples, and assessing whether Sunday Schools are needed or even necessary or if both can exist together.
See [[Home schooling]] and [[Seminary|Seminaries]], also [[Martyr]].
See [[Home schooling]] and [[Seminary|Seminaries]], also [[Martyr]].
[http://multimedia.opusdei.org/pdf/en/work-cont_i.pdf Work and Contemplation (multimedia.opusdei.org)] ''communion with Christ without ceasing while working and teaching.''
[http://multimedia.opusdei.org/pdf/en/work-cont_i.pdf Work and Contemplation (multimedia.opusdei.org)] ''communion with Christ without ceasing while working and teaching.''
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[http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/2008/august/where-did-small-groups-start.html "Where did small groups start?" Elesha Coffman (christianitytoday.com)]
[http://www.acstechnologies.com/blog/acs-technologies/sunday-school-vs-small-groups-part "Sunday School vs Small Groups (Part I)", Jennifer Byrd (acstechnologies.com)]
[http://christianstandard.com/2011/01/why-churches-should-euthanize-small-groups/ "Why Churches Should Euthanize Small Groups", by Brian Jones (christianstandard.com)]
[http://www.christianitytoday.com/biblestudies/articles/churchhomeleadership/sunday-school-that-really-works.html "Sunday School That Really Works", Steve R. Parr (christianitytoday.com)]
[[Category:Christianity]]
[[Category:Christianity]]
[[Category:Education]]
[[Category:Education]]