Rick Ellison :: Sunday School Leaders

Oct

The Joy of Sunday School Leadership

By Rick Ellison · Comments (0)

“One of the greatest things about the Christian life is serving Jesus. One of the most significant places where we can serve Christ is through the Sunday School. Those who do not find a place of service miss a real blessing in being able to touch the lives of others.

Those who invest themselves in the lives of preschoolers, children, youth and adults have a special place in God’s heart. These leaders are making an investment and making the lives of others better even for eternity. Those who serve in the Sunday School have chosen not to waste their lives. They are eternally thankful for God’s salvation. Sunday School leaders make an eternal difference on planet earth.

A life is a terrible thing to waste. Only Jesus can give us true significance. Only serving Him can give our lives true meaning. If we did not serve Jesus something would be missing. For that reason it is also important that we involve, teach and train others to serve in Sunday School. No task is too small.

The greatest compliment that could be paid to an adult teacher or class is sending out people to work with preschoolers, children, youth or to teach or start another class. That is a wonderful use of one’s life for everyone involved.”

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Rick Ellison serves in the Office of Leadership and Church Health at the Alabama State Board of Missions

Categories : Sunday School

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Aug

The Power of Conversation

By Rick Ellison · Comments (1)

Can you picture the camp fire reflecting on Jesus’ face as He engaged His disciples in conversation? Those conversations transformed the disciples thinking and forged them into the leaders who would change the world. Jesus is our ultimate example of the power of conversation.

Christ’s example of conversation reveals its importance in the transformational work of the Sunday School. This power is revealed through the preschool Sunday School teacher sitting on the floor and revealing that God is love. It is seen in the group interaction of children and youth engaged in their biblical levels of learning.

The power of conversation is especially important to the adult Sunday School class. It is in those biblical conversations that opinions are transformed into biblical truth. It is where ministry needs are shared and discovered. It is a time of conversation with God about the greatest of needs. It is where our attitudes about the church are brought into perspective in a more positive way. Those conversations transform life and prepare us for the challenges of the week ahead.

Conversations help us to identify biblically the purpose of the class. Are we growing spiritually? Are we fellowshipping and building community? Are we ministering to those connected to the class? Are we reaching anyone for Christ? Are we serving? Are we growing closer in our devotion to God? Is my church stronger and a better place to be because our Sunday School class exists?

Conversations with our Sunday School leaders are also critically important in the transformational Sunday School. How can we be more effective in our work? Is there a need for training and improvement? What conversations do we need to have to sharpen our skills and provide the very best for every age group?

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Rick Ellison is in the Office of Leadership/Church Health of the Alabama Baptist Convention State Board of Missions

Categories : 31 Days of Transformational Class, Sunday School

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May

What Does Your Church Campus Communicate?

By Rick Ellison · Comments (0)

What does the appearance of your church campus and educational space communicate? When a person drives past your church there is a sightline that comes into view for a matter of seconds. What does the sightline reveal? Do the buildings and surrounding grounds look well maintained and inviting? Is there signage that directs guests to a welcome area? Is there plenty of parking?

A guest will make a decision as to whether they will return in the very first minutes of a visit to the church. Is there guest parking? I like what “guest parking” communicates much better than “visitors parking.” Will someone meet the guest as soon as they depart from their car and meet their needs immediately? An impression of what the entire church is like is often made by the first person they meet.

Is there a Welcome Center and trained greeters? Does your children’s space look inviting? Is it a place where you would want to leave your own children? Are adult classrooms neat, clean and chairs arranged for maximum learning?

Another issue is whether there is adequate space. When 80% or more of the space is filled, this factor can become a major barrier to attendance growth. It is good to evaluate where Sunday School classes are arranged in your educational space. Many state conventions have a resource person who can help you in evaluation of space and future arrangement.

Often a church must make a decision to add space or stop growing. We must never let space stop us from reaching people for Christ. In this case it is important to consider options for the future. I have served in churches where there were multiple Sunday School hours, use of adjoining houses that belonged to the church, modular buildings approved for use by the county and even a air controlled tent for senior high until further space could be added. Whatever you do to add space make sure that enough time is given for future planning. A resource person from your state convention can also be extremely helpful.

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Rick Ellison serves in the office of Leadership & Church Health for the Alabama Baptist Convention State Board of Missions

Categories : Space and Facilities

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Feb

Evangelism Jesus

By Rick Ellison · Comments (2)

One of the most effective practices for Sunday School evangelism can be found 2,000 years ago, in the example of Jesus Christ. A study of the life of Christ reveals that a distinctive of His ministry centered around meals. Jesus taught at meals, including His personal times with His disciples and the feeding of the 5,000. Jesus used banquets and meals as topics in His teaching. There are many examples that you recall in scripture about how Jesus ministered through meals.

Jesus most intimate times were around meals, whether the Last Supper or His encounter with Simon Peter on the shore of Galilee after His resurrection, when He asked three times, ‘Do you love me?’

Jesus was criticized for eating with sinners and the spiritual outcasts of society. He used these occasions to teach about the “Kingdom of God.”

He changed His world around meals.

Jesus’ example is powerful as we think about effective Sunday School evangelism. There is a practical way that an adult Sunday School class can practice this Jesus principle. Plan for some Sunday School fellowships during the month. Every person in the class who is willing will be assigned to one of these dinners with a person in charge of each one. A small class might only have one fellowship dinner. If you have a large class, divide the group up with eight-ten people assigned to each dinner. The goal of each dinner group is to invite at least one person or couple to the dinner who do not attend church. There is something about a meal that connects us to people and them to God. The leader of each group will determine with the others in cooperation with the teacher if the meal will be at a restaurant or home. The meal could be something as simple as a cookout. Whatever the plan be sure that the guests eat for free.

If there is multiple dinner groups in your class mix the groups up with different people or couples each month. These dinners also give opportunity to build community in the class as well as involve those who have not attended recently.

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Rick Ellison serves in the Office of Leadership/Church Health for the Alabama Baptist Convention State Board of Missions

Categories : Sunday School

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Nov

Being the Leader God Wants

By Rick Ellison · Comments (1)

“Nehemiah of the Old Testament is a great example for leaders in building a class or Sunday School. Nehemiah chapters 2-6 are great building chapters in the Bible as Nehemiah leads the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. God uses people like you and me to rebuild the walls. He will use us in building great classes.

NEHEMIAH PRINCIPLES

Nehemiah evaluated his current situation and what needed to be built. Nehemiah 2:11-15
God’s hand was on Nehemiah. He desired to fulfill God’s mission. Nehemiah 2:16-18
Nehemiah dealt with the ridicule of uncooperative people. Nehemiah 2:19-20
Nehemiah involved everyone in the building. There were people of all ages with different gifts and skills. People were willing to use their hands and feet as eternal builders in the following chapters.”

I wrote these words in a resource entitled, “Spiritual Food for Sunday School Leaders.” Have you followed the Nehemiah principles as a Sunday School leader? Have you evaluated your class or Sunday School? Are you reaching anyone for Christ? Are you being effective in Bible teaching, ministry and fellowship? What is your current situation and what needs to be built or improved? Are people engaging in service?

Is God’s hand on you as a leader? Do you desire to fulfill God’s mission for your class or Sunday School? Have you gotten alone with God and prayed that He would lay something on your heart to do?

Do you deal well with uncooperative people? Are you casting the vision for change and future growth? Do you love people even when they oppose you? Do you move forward despite the challenges?

Are you involving everyone in the building of your class or Sunday School or trying to do it all yourself? Does everyone work together toward common goals?

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Categories : Leadership

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