Helping people feel welcome on Sabbath morning begins with the little things—greeting people by name, giving them a warm smile, and inquiring how their week went. It’s important to start out the morning right by helping people feel connected and noticed the moment they arrive. Before the Sabbath School class starts is an opportune time to visit with people and show interest in their struggles and their joys.

As the teacher begins Sabbath School, some teachers take time in the beginning for people to share praise reports or prayer requests. Class members feel especially cared for when the teacher remembers a particular prayer request from a prior week and asks the person for an update. For instance, if a person has requested prayer for somebody who has cancer, then ask for an update how that person is doing. If somebody has requested prayer for a difficult exam at school, ask them how the exam went. By remembering people’s prayer requests from week to week, people feel supported and encouraged by their friends in Sabbath School.

There are other elements that certain Sabbath School choose to include that help promote fellowship. Many Sabbath Schools include a time for singing at the beginning. Music gives everybody opportunity to participate and is something that people enjoy and look forward to. Some Sabbath Schools, particularly youth or young adult groups, may have an icebreaker activity, a little game, or fun question for everybody at the beginning of Sabbath School. For groups that are shy, this can get them smiling and talking together, which helps them feel more ready to share when transitioning into the Bible study discussion.

The genius of the Sabbath School format is that it follows the example of Jesus who was a master of interactive teaching. The Gospels are full of examples of Jesus asking incisive questions. Consider a small sampling of questions that Jesus asked people:

• “Have you understood all these things?” (Matt. 13:51)
• “Who do you say that I am?” (Matt. 16:15)
• “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?” (Mark 2:8)
• “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?” (Luke 6:9)
• “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?” (Luke 10:26)
• “The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men?” (Luke 20:4)
• “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said?” (John 16:19)

Not only did Jesus ask many questions but He also welcomed other people’s questions. Jesus must have created an open environment that made His disciples and others feel comfortable in asking Him so many questions. Consider a few of the questions that people asked Jesus:

• “Why do you speak to them in parables?” (Matt. 13:10)
• “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?” (Matt. 19:3)
• “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” (Matt. 22:36)
• “What will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” (Matt. 24:3)
• “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10:25)
• “What does this parable mean?” (Luke 18:9)
• “Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” (Luke 20:22)
• “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” (John 6:28)
• “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9:2)
• “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6)

People today are drawn to interactive instruction as they were in the days of Christ. Ellen White recommends utilizing a teaching format whenever possible. Regarding camp meeting she suggests, “There should be less preaching, and more teaching. . . As we approach the end, I have seen that in these meetings there will be less preaching, and more Bible study. There will be little groups all over the grounds, with their Bibles in their hands, and different ones leading out in a free, conversational study of the Scriptures. This was the method that Christ taught His disciples” (Gospel Workers, p. 407, 408). The Sabbath School is the ideal format for “a free, conversational study of the Scriptures.”

Christ’s method of teaching increases comprehension. Even Jesus, the world’s best communicator, was sometimes misunderstood by His audience. But He taught His disciples to interact with people to identify their misunderstanding and clarify the meaning of Christ’s teachings. “When the great throngs gathered about the Saviour, He would give instruction to the disciples and to the multitude. Then after the discourse, the disciples would mingle with the people, and repeat to them what Christ had said. Often the hearers had misapplied Christ's words, and the disciples would tell them what the Scriptures said, and what Christ had taught that they said.” (Gospel Workers, p. 408).

There’s nothing that will kill Sabbath Schools like dry, spiritless monologues. Christ’s method of teaching included giving people opportunity to respond. “More time should be devoted to patiently educating the people, giving them opportunity to express themselves.It is instruction that men need, line upon line, and precept upon precept. . . .This was the method of Christ's teaching” (Evangelism, p. 153). Excellent Sabbath School teachers are needed today who will master Christ’s method of teaching. “There should be most faithful teachers, who strive to make the students understand their lessons, not by explaining everything themselves but by letting the students explain thoroughly every passage which they read. Let the inquiring minds of the students be respected. Treat their inquiries with respect.”

The Sabbath School classes that enjoy the closest friendships also fellowship with each other outside of Sabbath morning. The goal is to serve together, do things that people enjoy, and build memories together outside of class. Here are some ideas that many Sabbath Schools have done with great success:

• Keep in contact during the week. Text people and check in, especially when they are going through difficult circumstances.
• Recognize birthdays, graduations, new jobs, & other life milestones.
• Have a special Sabbath meal together at church, at a park, or at somebody’s house.
• Schedule a day to invite all the Sabbath School members to work together to help somebody in need. This could be helping somebody with yardwork or home repairs, helping somebody move, getting involved with a community project or adopting a certain task at a church work bee.
• Invite the Sabbath School class to do a hike together or some other outdoor adventure.
• Plan a Saturday night social event with games and activities for the Sabbath School class.