Sunday Bible School

Sunday School is a structured learning environment that facilitates and sustains a Christian lifestyle and encourages and stimulates one’s growth spiritually in order to glorify God. Sunday school is where, in small group study, we teach people God’s Word so they will know his doctrines, and thus, be able to apply them to Christian living. Sunday school is also a place of evangelism. It is where we are able to reach the unchurched and the unsaved, and introduce them to God’s love. It is also a place where we can help believers increase their knowledge of God, thus drawing closer to Him.

Sunday school at SMZBT is a ministry. Through the study of God’s Word, Sunday school ministers to the needs of the people. Members of the small group also minister to each other. Sunday school at SMZBT is a healthy, vibrant place. Class leaders, students, and Sunday school directors actively seek the presence of God in their study and in their lives.

Curriculum
Our Sunday school uses the Urban Ministries Curriculum. Each of the weekly lessons have Scripture passages, a memory verse, and thought-provoking questions for class discussions, historical and geographical backgrounds, and suggestions to incorporate Bible truth into the lifestyles of African American adults. In addition, each quarterly book has an overview of the lessons taught in the quarter, a section for personalized note-taking during discussions and enlightened essays for expanding one's knowledge base.

This curriculum incorporates reading comprehension, expanded writing skills, problem-solving, and learning how to dialog with others in a positive and encouraging environment, plus opportunities for students to mentally map out how their Bible lesson can be applied to the difficulties they face as adults.
The materials are divided into quarterly studies. Each quarter has it own theme and the lessons all support that theme.

Sixth Quarter Theme – December, January, Feburary

God Establishes a Faithful People

The study this quarter focuses on God’s covenant through Abraham. The theological emphasis is on faith. God promised Abraham that through him all the nations of the earth would be blessed. That promise was passed on from generation to generation until it was ultimately fulfilled in Christ. The lessons for this quarter are taken from Genesis, Exodus, Luke, and Galatians.

Unit 1 – GOD’S COVENANT

“God’s Covenant,” tells the story of God’s promise to Abraham. The first three lessons are studies in Genesis. These narratives from Genesis are appropriate for Advent because they point us to Christ’s coming. The fourth lesson (the Christmas lesson) leaps forward from Genesis to Luke and Galatians where we hear on Mary’s lips that she will give birth to Christ, the seed of Abraham’s promise.

Lesson	Date	Lesson Title	Scripture
1	December 4, 2011	A Blessing for All Nations	Genesis 12:1-9
2	December 11, 2011	A Promise to Abraham	Genesis 15:1-6, 12-18
3	December 18, 2011	The Lord Provides	Genesis 22:1-2, 6-14
4	December 25, 2011	According to the Promise	Luke 1:46-55

UNIT 2 – GOD’S PROTECTION

Lessons 5-9 have five lessons. The first four are Joseph’s story in Genesis 39-50. We see how God’s promise to Abraham is passed on from generation to generation and carried with Abraham’s descendants into Egypt. The final lesson of the unit considers the songs of Moses and Miriam in Exodus 15. God delivers Israel and leads them to safety in the desert. God’s covenant faithfulness is proven again.

Lesson	Date	Lesson Title	Scripture
5	January 1, 2012	God Watches over Joseph	Genesis 39:7-21a
6	January 8, 2012	Joseph Finds Favor	Genesis 41:37-45, 50-52
7	January 15, 2012	God Preserves a Remnant	Genesis 45:3-15
8	January 22, 2012	Joseph Transmits Abraham’s Promise	Genesis 50:15-26
9	January 29, 2012	Out of Egypt	Exodus 15:1-3, 19, 22-26

UNIT 3 – GOD’S REDEMPTION

“God’s Redemption” has four lessons. These lessons from Paul’s letter to the Galatians emphasize the New Testament interpretation of the Law, of justification by faith, and of Christ’s disciples as heirs of Abraham’s promise

Lesson	Date	Lesson Title	Scripture
10	February 5, 2012	Justified by Faith in Christ	Galatians 2:15-21
11	February 12, 2012	Freed from Law through Christ	Galatians 3:1-14
12	February 19, 2012	Heirs to the Promise	Galatians 3:15-18; 4:1-7
13	February 26, 2012	Fruits of Redemption	Galatians 5:22-6:10

Click here for Lesson Description