How to Start a Sunday School Program in a Small Church

Starting a Sunday school program in a small church can feel overwhelming. You do not have enough children for separate classes. You do not have trained teachers. You do not have a budget for curriculum.

But you can do this. Here is how to start a Sunday school program with almost nothing.

Step 1: Pray About It

Before you do anything else, pray. Ask God to provide the right leadership, the right resources, and the right timing.

Step 2: Find a Coordinator

You need one person to own the Sunday school program. This does not need to be a professional educator. It needs to be someone who cares about children’s spiritual development and is willing to organize the effort.

This person’s job is to recruit teachers, choose curriculum, handle logistics, and troubleshoot problems.

Step 3: Recruit Teachers

Personally invite people to teach. Do not rely on sign-up sheets. Look for people who love kids and are growing in their faith.

Start with a short commitment: one quarter (13 weeks). This makes it easier to say yes.

And do not require teaching experience. Provide training and support. Most people can teach children if they have good curriculum and a little guidance.

Step 4: Choose Curriculum

For a small church, you need curriculum that is:

  • Teacher-friendly. Clear instructions. Minimal preparation.
  • Multi-age compatible. Works for combined classes.
  • Affordable. Free or very low cost.
  • Biblically faithful. Teaches the Bible accurately and clearly.

Our free Sunday school curriculum meets all these criteria. It is designed specifically for small churches with volunteer teachers.

Step 5: Set a Schedule

Consistency matters more than perfection. Pick a time and stick with it. Most small churches hold Sunday school either before or during the worship service.

For children under 5, 30-45 minutes is plenty. For elementary ages, 45-60 minutes. For middle school and high school, 60 minutes.

Step 6: Train Your Teachers

Even 30 minutes of training before the semester starts makes a huge difference. Cover:

  • The curriculum and how to use it
  • Basic classroom management
  • Safety policies (especially for children’s ministry)
  • Who to ask for help

Step 7: Start Small

You do not need a class for every age group. Start with what you have. If you have 5 children ranging from ages 4-10, one class is fine. Use curriculum that works across age levels.

You can always add classes as you grow.

Step 8: Involve Parents

Send home a summary of each lesson so parents can reinforce it during the week. This extends the teaching beyond Sunday morning and helps parents take ownership of their children’s spiritual development.

Step 9: Evaluate and Adjust

After the first quarter, ask teachers what is working and what is not. Ask parents for feedback. Make adjustments as needed.

Step 10: Celebrate

Recognize children who complete a study. Celebrate teacher milestones. Make Sunday school a valued part of your church’s life.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Waiting for perfect conditions. You will never have enough children, enough teachers, or enough money. Start with what you have.
  • Overcomplicating it. A simple program that runs every week is better than an elaborate program that runs sporadically.
  • Ignoring safety. Always follow child protection policies. Never be alone with a child. Always have two unrelated adults present.
  • Burning out teachers. Give people breaks. Rotate responsibilities. Appreciate people well.

Related Resources

Brent Lacy has taught Sunday school in small churches for over 25 years. He started with 3 children in a fellowship hall and learned by trial and error. These resources are what he wishes he had from the beginning.

Vacation Bible School Curriculum for Small Churches

Rescue VBS is a complete 5-day VBS curriculum built specifically for small churches. It runs with as few as two volunteers, requires no large budget, and connects real-world rescue stories to the gospel every day. Now available in English and Spanish.

Rescue VBS — English Edition ($49.99)
Rescate VBS — Edición en Español ($49.99)

Read the full overview: Rescue VBS — A Complete VBS Curriculum Built for Small Churches →

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