LifewayEdit

Lifeway is a major evangelical Christian publishing and ministry organization linked to the network of churches united under the Southern Baptist Convention. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Lifeway operates as a nonprofit ministry that equips churches with Bible study materials, curricula for Sunday school, and digital resources designed to promote biblical literacy, family formation, and church-based discipleship. Its publishing program and classroom materials have shaped how many congregations teach the faith, train volunteers, and involve families in regular spiritual practices. Lifeway’s work is conducted with an emphasis on traditional biblical interpretation and practical guidance for everyday life, aiming to support churches in applying timeless spiritual truths to contemporary family and neighborhood life. The organization is closely aligned with the broader priorities of American evangelical Protestant communities, and its output in print and digital form reaches a wide audience beyond any single congregation.

Lifeway’s operations reflect a long-standing commitment to Christian education as a core vehicle for religious formation and cultural influence. Its materials are designed to support teachers, parents, and small-group leaders, offering structured curricula, study guides, and streaming or online options that complement local church programs. As such, Lifeway plays a central role in the everyday life of many Protestant congregations, where Sunday schools, small groups, and family devotions are seen as foundational to maintaining doctrinal continuity and social cohesion within faith communities. The organization continually stakes out positions on matters of biblical authority, morality, and personal conduct that align with traditional evangelical expectations for family life and public virtue. Lifeway’s influence extends into Nashville, Tennessee and across the broader Southern Baptist Convention ecosystem, where its resources are widely used by churches seeking consistent, biblically grounded instruction.

History

Origins and affiliation - Lifeway traces its roots to the late 19th century as the Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. The entity was created to provide religious education resources for local churches and to standardize teaching materials across the denomination. Over time, it evolved into LifeWay Christian Resources and then shortened its branding to Lifeway, reflecting a broader emphasis on practical ministry tools alongside publishing. The SBC connection remains a defining element of Lifeway’s mission, governance, and funding model, with a mandate to serve churches within the evangelical ecosystem that shares a common interpretation of scripture.

Growth and mission - Through the decades Lifeway built a portfolio of curricula for different age groups, including children, youth, and adults, as well as resources for women’s ministries and church leaders. Core programs have included structured study guides, quarterly themes, and seasonal materials designed to align with Sunday school cycles and church calendar life. In pursuing its mission, Lifeway has sought to balance accessibility with fidelity to biblical doctrine, aiming to equip lay leaders and families with clear, practical tools for applying scripture to everyday decisions and community life. Its work is deeply interwoven with Great Commission impulses of church life, seeking to train and deploy believers in service to their churches and communities.

Recent years and strategic shifts - In more recent years, Lifeway has expanded its digital footprint, offering online curricula, streaming content, and platform-neutral resources that can be used across a variety of church settings. This shift toward digital distribution reflects a broader trend in evangelical ministry toward scalable, church-centered education that can be deployed across multiple generations and geographic locations. Lifeway’s digital offerings are designed to complement print materials, expanding the reach of Bible Studies for Life and other core lines such as Explore the Bible and family-oriented resources like Lifeway Kids and Lifeway Women. The organization remains rooted in its denominational identity while adapting to the preferences and needs of contemporary church life.

Programs and materials

Core curricula and publishing - Lifeway develops and distributes curricula for various age groups, with flagship programs intended to provide reliable, doctrinally conservative teaching in local congregations. Notable lines include Bible Studies for Life and Explore the Bible, which offer quarterly or seasonal study guides, teacher aids, and responsive questions designed to foster discussion and lasting faith formation. These programs are complemented by a broad catalog of biblical resources, including books, devotionals, and classroom aids that emphasize a traditional reading of scripture and practical application.

Youth, children, and family resources - For younger audiences, Lifeway offers materials under its child-focused platforms such as Lifeway Kids, which aim to teach biblical narratives, moral discernment, and personal responsibility in a way that resonates with families and volunteers who lead children’s programs. For adult and family life, resources from Lifeway Women address topics like marriage, parenting, and spiritual growth, while maintaining a framework anchored in biblical authority and moral order. The publishing program also includes reference materials, study aids for parents, and leadership resources intended to help churches sustain robust small-group ministry.

Digital and church leadership tools - Beyond classroom content, Lifeway provides tools for church leadership, volunteer training, and data-driven ministry planning. Digital platforms enable church staff to manage curriculum adoption, track participant engagement, and share sermon-linked materials with congregants. The organization also emphasizes resources that reinforce stable family structures, personal virtue, and communities grounded in faith and service, aligning with a broader cultural emphasis on personal responsibility and communal harmony within faith communities.

Governance and funding

Nonprofit and denominational framework - Lifeway operates as a nonprofit ministry within the network of churches associated with the SBC. Its governance reflects the broader ecclesiastical and doctrinal priorities of that network, emphasizing stewardship, doctrinal clarity, and accountability to member churches. Funding is generated primarily through church purchases of materials, subscriptions to curricula, and broader church-based contributions, with a model that prioritizes resources that can be widely adopted across congregations.

Church-centered distribution - The organizational model relies on a distributed network of partner churches, pastors, and volunteers who implement Lifeway resources in local contexts. This decentralized approach allows Lifeway to tailor material deployment to regional church needs while maintaining a standard of doctrinal fidelity and practical guidance consistent with its publishing lines. The result is a steady flow of classroom-ready content designed to support congregational life and family faith formation across diverse communities.

Controversies and debates

Theological and cultural debates - Lifeway’s emphasis on biblical authority and traditional family norms places it squarely in ongoing cultural and theological conversations within American religious life. Critics often argue that Lifeway materials reflect conservative positions on gender roles, sexuality, and social issues, and may limit options for churches or individuals seeking more progressive interpretations. Supporters counter that Lifeway’s resources are faithful to scripture and provide stable, time-tested guidance for families and churches seeking to uphold commitments to marriage, parental responsibility, and doctrinal clarity. In debates about how religious communities should engage broader society, Lifeway’s stance is typically framed as defending religious liberty and the right of faith communities to set standards for their own practices and teachings.

Controversies around cultural critique - From a right-leaning vantage point, proponents argue that critiques of Lifeway often come from perspectives that seek to redefine long-standing religious norms in ways not mandated by scripture or traditional church teaching. They contend that criticisms labeled as “woke” misinterpret the purpose of Lifeway’s mission, which is to promote character formation, family stability, and civic virtue anchored in religious faith. Advocates emphasize that the materials aim to equip laypeople and families to live out their beliefs consistently in everyday life, rather than to impose ideology. Critics of this view may claim that such materials exclude or marginalize voices that advocate alternative understandings of gender, sexuality, or church leadership roles; supporters respond that Lifeway’s framework reflects a faithful reading of biblical texts and a desire to preserve religious liberty for communities of faith.

Balancing tradition with change - In the broader religious marketplace, Lifeway’s approach reflects a broader tension between preserving doctrinal continuity and engaging with changing social norms. Supporters emphasize the importance of clear, reliable instruction rooted in scripture as a foundation for stable family life and community ethics. Critics may warn about potential limitations on pluralism within Christian education. The dialogue around these topics remains vigorous, with Lifeway framed by its stakeholders as a guardian of doctrinal integrity and a practical ally for churches seeking to navigate cultural shifts while staying true to their faith commitments.

See also