Author Archive for Mike Taylor

Sunday School, Disciplemaking, and the Great Commission

By Mike Taylor · Comments (0)
Friday, September 21st, 2018

As we conclude our theme of “Making Disciples” for this year, let’s take another look at the Great Commission. We understand that we are to make disciples. We know that this can be done through Sunday School, preaching, and other means of teaching and expounding upon God’s Word. A disciple is made when he or she is engaged in making more disciples. So what keeps us from doing the work of disciple-making? Yes, it is work. It takes time, resources, and an investment from our lives into the lives of others.

When looking at the Great Commission, we need to understand that not everyone is on board with the idea of making disciples. Yes, many will go about the routines of church without engaging in the work of making disciples. Sometimes churches continue the weekly routine and have no evidence of persons growing in their faith to the point of helping others to grow in theirs.

In Matthew 28:16, the scripture tells us that not everyone will be on board. Jesus said that there were those who doubted even after they had seen His miracles and heard His teaching. They still did not worship Him. Jesus saw those sitting on the sidelines and addressed them by giving them and us the charge of the Great Commission.

Regardless of those who are not willing to do the work of disciple-making, we must move forward with those who are willing. We must be one who is willing. It is a personal decision to make disciples. Waiting for everyone else will keep us from making disciples with anyone. Who are you discipling? We need to lead those in our group to be disciple-makers. You need to do this as you teach, but you also need to have those you are working with on a personal level as well.

Disciples are “made” according to Matthew 28:19. Coming to know Christ as Savior indicates a choice to be a disciple. When we fail to follow through with disciple-making, it drastically reduces our capacity to reach more with the gospel. Those who have been discipled well will want to share their faith with others. It is part of who they are as disciples of Christ.

Here are some simple steps that can help you become a better disciple-maker with your group.

• Prepare and teach your group as if everyone in the room will one day become a disciple-maker.
• Walk with individuals in your group through the struggles and celebrations of life while pointing them to Christ.
• Understand that not everyone will be willing to be discipled. Disciple-making is a personal decision and not everyone will respond to that call upon their lives.
• Pray about who God would have you disciple. Just because a person has been a good attender in your group or is a church member does not mean that someone has personally invested in him or her.
• Practice evangelism from the perspective of disciple-making as Jesus did. Lead people to Christ. Share life with them. Show them the importance of leading others to faith as well.

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Categories : Disciplemaking, Evangelism, Mission, Outreach/Evangelism, Sunday School, Unreached people groups

The Heart (How to Minister to A Guest)

By Mike Taylor · Comments (0)
Wednesday, August 30th, 2017

We should always anticipate guests. This means we have a plan from the time a guest comes to our building until they are an intricate part of our group and church. Here are a few points that will help us better minister to our guests.

  • Have a meal with them. There is just something about food and relationship. Breaking bread together helps us become familiar with those who are new to us and helps us build those first relationships with others in our group.
  • Connect with social media and texting. Become friends on Facebook and other avenues of social media. We can learn more about them, and they can learn about us as well. Texting also is a form of conversation and is part of how many communicate. Let’s communicate.
  • Learn about their personal life. We need to be sincerely interested in the lives of our guests. Understanding who they are on this level allows for greater ministry opportunities.
  • Introduce them to others. Common interests bring people together. As we learn more about our guests, connect them with others in the group that have similar interests.
  • Follow-up with the ministry need. When ministry needs are discovered in someone’s life, rally the group to minister to that individual or family. This helps them to know that they are an important part of the group.
  • Invite them to the unofficial class social. Many groups have socials for everyone to attend. It is common to see a few people getting together on their own to eat out or do some other social activity. When the guest gets invited to these outings, they are now included in the group.

Everyone needs and deserves ministry. We need be intentional about our ministry to others, especially our guests.

Mike Taylor is a State Missionary for Adult Groups and Faith Development at the Georgia Baptist Mission Board.

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Categories : 31 Ideas of Outreach & Evangelism, Evangelism, Outreach/Evangelism
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Finish Well: What’s Next for A Guest

By Mike Taylor · Comments (0)
Thursday, August 17th, 2017

We assume that when a person visits our group and becomes a member, they are now a part of the group. It is true, they are on our ministry list but that does not make them a part of the group. Assimilation is essential. Becoming a part of a group does not end with enrollment. Here are few ideas to better assimilate members after enrollment.

Have parties: Class socials help new folks to connect. People get to know one another. They become friends when socials are a part of group-life.

Do missions together: Serving alongside others helps new folks feel they are a part of something bigger than themselves.

Rearrange the room: People tend to sit in the same place week after week. Rearranging the room forces people to sit with those they do not know as well.

Include guests in social media conversations: Much of our communication and conversations are done on social media or text. Include guests in those conversations.

Special occasions: Celebrate with a card to be a part of those special events in life.

Worship together: Sit with guests in worship.

Introductions are important: As a leader we need to make sure everyone knows everyone. For a couple of months after the person becomes a part of the group keep introducing them to others.

Name tags: Everyone should wear them. New people are learning names. Help them.

Mike Taylor is a State Missionary for Adult Groups and Faith Development at the Georgia Baptist Mission Board.

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Categories : 31 Ideas of Outreach & Evangelism, Evangelism, Outreach/Evangelism
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Using Social Media to Reach and Minister to People with your Group

By Mike Taylor · Comments (0)
Friday, November 4th, 2016

socmedWHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? Many are familiar with the idea of making contacts through cards, letters, phone calls, and visits for their Sunday School or Small Group.  We understand the value of a personal touch with face-to-face conversation, but we must not neglect the social media world that exists as well.

Making contact or connecting with those we have on our list is essential. Ask questions. Communicate events and information. Enrich relationships. Despite the proliferation of social media, many groups are still not using these tools connect with those on their ministry list and to others as well.

WHAT DO I DO? Here are a few things to consider when using social media with a group.

  • Understand what types of social media are used by your group so you can be the most effective.
  • Communicate weekly with social media.
  • Use social media to continue the teaching of the previous group experience or to prepare for teaching for the upcoming meeting of your group. This helps with application.
  • Use social media to promote group socials and update prayer requests and ministry needs.
  • If using Facebook, create a group for your group. Here is a video on how this is done and how it can benefit your group for both ministry to the members and reaching new people as well. https://vimeo.com/133695454

Stay in touch with your group. Use social media to complement your personal touch contacts. Doing so will enrich your communication and your care.

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Categories : 100 Small Changes, Sunday School
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Ministering to Prospects

By Mike Taylor · Comments (0)
Sunday, September 25th, 2016

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? When we think of reaching out to prospects for our groups, we might first consider inviting them to our group meeting.  We have been conditioned in many ways to value the number of prospects in attendance on a given day when our group meets.  This becomes our measure of success.  It is a worthy idea, but the way we approach success with prospects needs to be evaluated differently.conversation2

WHAT DO I DO? Here are some suggestions on how to best reach prospects through ministry.

•    Value the person over the group.  Our goal is reaching and discipling people.  When we do that well, our attendance will reflect that.  Our interest should be on the individual and their needs not the needs the group might have.
•    Discover the needs of prospects. These are discovered when people are engaged in meaningful conversations.  Create environments where these conversations take place.
•    Glean information from these conversations and put ministry into action to meet those needs.
•    Pray for the needs of those we are reaching.  Ask them how we can best pray for their needs.
•    Work together as a group to meet the needs of prospects.  Strategize on how this is best done by connecting with those who can best help with a certain need.

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Categories : 100 Small Changes, Evangelism, Outreach/Evangelism
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