WIN 100A Retreat Presentation for Sunday School Teachers at Cornerstone, UK by Bishop Deji Okegbile.
Texts: Jn 7:38 – Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.
Romans 15:13 is a benediction where Paul prays that the “God of hope” fills believers with all joy and peace as they trust in Him, enabling them to overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. It emphasizes that true joy, peace, and hope come through faith, not circumstances.
Introduction: Globally, the joy, purity, and peace of the church are at stake – Discuss. The Apostle Paul warns against those who might disrupt the church’s peace and purity through aberrant teaching (1 Tim. 6:3–5). Sunday School is functionally defined as the reaching, teaching, winning, maturing arm of the church. The fourfold nature of Sunday School is perhaps best expressed in an Old Testament verse, which has often been used in the historic Sunday School conventions to describe it. “Gather the people together, men and women and little ones, and the stranger who is within your gates, that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the Lord your God, and carefully observe all the words of this law” (Deut. 31:12) – Discuss.
A flourishing Sunday School is essential for a thriving church. Growing a church is like tending a garden: prepare the ground, plant at the right time, water, and provide sunlight. Apply these principles, and new life will flourish. Similarly, Sunday School will flourish if its principles are put into practice. Its future is bright as both an evangelistic and an educational arm.
Sunday School teaching provides one of the greatest opportunities in the world to serve God. However, with such an opportunity comes responsibility. Unlike most teaching roles, Sunday School teaching uniquely involves a supernatural curriculum—the Bible—a supernatural command—the Great Commission—and supernatural empowerment, as teachers receive God’s call, His bestowal of gifts, and the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the role requires more than delivering Bible content; it requires caring for students’ spiritual welfare.
Building on this foundation, Sunday School becomes a strategic investment for the church’s future. It is not merely a babysitting option; rather, it serves as the primary foundation for faith by planting seeds in children, nurturing lifelong biblical growth, and building intergenerational community. Sunday School serves as the central arm for reaching and teaching, growing disciples, preparing leaders, and fostering fellowship that secures the church’s long-term sustainability.
To maintain biblical teaching that upholds the church’s purity and peace, there must be a transition from principles to practice: those entrusted to teach must be competent and continually drawing on God’s grace, peace, and purity in their own lives.
“Out of the abundance (or overflow) of the heart, the mouth speaks” is a biblical principle (Luke 6:45, Matthew 12:34). John Wesley’s overflow abundance of his heart – Warmed heart – May 24th, 1738.
As leaders, our spoken and unspoken words reflect our true inner character, thoughts, and stored emotions. It indicates that what is stored in the heart—goodness or evil—will inevitably come out in speech and actions. The heart of man, when it is filled to overflowing, overflows in speech through the mouth. This applies to the baptism in the Holy Spirit. When a person’s heart has been filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit, the overflow of the heart then takes place in speech through the mouth.
Beware of the ongoing mission war – God’s overflow versus world overflow.
God’s overflow originates from the Holy Spirit, described as “living water” (John 7:38).
It is God’s grace and peace poured into our hearts.
World overflow originates from self-effort and external pressures. It often stems from trying to “generate” our own success or happiness, which can lead to exhaustion.
God’s overflow is designed for God’s mission and impacting others. It transforms believers into “rivers of living water” to bless others (John 7:38). It is God blessing us to be a blessing.
World overflow is generally selfish or self-serving, intended to impress, secure, or satisfy the ego.
The retreat focuses on serving, leading, and impacting, with emphasis on personal overflow and renewed purpose.
- Act and refuse to spread “withered flowers” (stale insights).
- Gain inspiration from fresh, daily meditation on Scripture.
- Recharge before preaching. Jesus withdrew to rest and pray. Don’t run on fumes without fire.
- We are called to overflowing, not overwhelming.
- This prevents burnout and restores joy, peace, and purity to ministry.
- It ensures the ministry transforms others, not just performs for them.
- Minister from intimacy with God, not from burnout, routine, or self-sufficiency.
- True mission and impact happen when leaders are filled with fresh revelation and Scripture before teaching or serving others—the Samaritan Woman, John 4.
Overflow qualities of a Great Sunday School Teacher:
- 1) A heart for God. …
- 2) A love for people. …
- 3) A passion for God’s Word. …
- 4) A habit of praying. …
- 5) A commitment to personal growth. …
- 6) An ability to teach. …
- 7) A willingness to prepare. …
- 8) A dedication to the people they teach.
Spiritual strength and inspiration come from private fellowship with God, not public activity or routine.
Beware of the danger of preaching and pouring out when you are empty – Samson experience.
Emptiness breeds frustration, fatigue, and failure.
Emptiness turns ministry into performance rather than transformation.
Before you minister for God, minister to God. Follow David’s example—ensure that your public impact flows out of private spiritual depth. Make this a daily priority for lasting influence.
Strength for leadership or ministry comes through ongoing fellowship with God (Jn 7:38, Lk 5:16).
