Author Archive for Dr. Tim S. Smith

The Class Prayer List

By Dr. Tim S. Smith · Comments (0)
Sunday, April 26th, 2020

For church to really have a vibrant, healthy groups ministry they must first establish and understand the elements of successful groups.  At the top of my list is an emphasis on prayer.  The prayer emphasis for a Sunday School class or small group must be …

… praying for each other,

… praying for those not in the group and

… praying during the group time. 

I’m amazed at the number of classes and groups that don’t spend serious time in prayer when they gather.  Sure they pray but it’s more like a general “God bless everything and fix everybody” prayer.  Maybe instead of taking prayer requests for 10 minutes and praying for 10 seconds we could reverse that.

Our classes and groups need to praying for those not in our group.  We need to be praying for lost family members and friends!  We need to be concerned about people’s spiritual condition more so than their physical condition.

And yes, we must be praying for each other!  Dwayne asks four questions to consider in strengthening our ministry of prayer in our groups.  First, “How do we efficiently gather accurate prayer requests?”  I hope that every time your class or group gathers, you provide an opportunity for the sharing of prayer needs.  Make sure that the requests are written down.  Second, “To whom should we communicate these requests?”  Not everything needs to be known by everyone.  There are some requests that do not need to put on the bulletin board or sent out in an email. Third, “How do we communicate the requests?”  My group sends out an email with the prayer requests before we even leave the group time.  During the week we get another email updating the prayer list.  Finally, “How can we encourage those making a specific request?”  There’s been times when I’ve just stopped right when the request is made and prayed.  I’ve even had the group to gather around the person and pray for them.  People are so very encouraged when they hear their name being called out in prayer.

These four questions will be highlighted in future blogs.  The one thing I would ask every class and group to is to pray for everyone in their group at least every week.  To verbally call out their name and their need(s) to the Lord.  You’ll be amazed what will happening to your group when they start praying for each other.

Dr. Smith serves as the regional discipleship consultant for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board.  He is a Sunday School, Small Groups, Discipleship and Faith Development specialist. Dr. Smith can be contacted at tsmith@gabaptist.org.

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Categories : Sunday School
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Connect through Groups 3

By Dr. Tim S. Smith · Comments (0)
Saturday, August 24th, 2019

As a Sunday School teacher or a small group Bible study leader you need to know the members of your group.  You should be praying for them every week and praying for them by name and specifically praying to the needs in their life.

If you can’t identify the information below about everyone in your group it could be that your group is too large and it’s time to start another group.  Or you need to do a better job of getting connected to those in your group.

What is it that you need to know in order to really connect with those in your group?  You need to know the following …

  • Their name. We need to call people by name even at church.  We need to use their names when we pray out loud in your class/group.
  • Family members. If you are going to connect then you better know those who live with them.  Who is in their household.
  • Their joys. What do they love to do when they have a day off or where do they go on vacation?  What are their hobbies and interest?  Know those things and help connect them with those in the group that have similar interest.
  • Their hurts. All of us have something that has our attention.  Pray for them and help them with their hurt.

If you don’t know these things about people it is doubtful that you will fully connect with them.  But in order to know these things about others you first must be willing to let these things be known about you!

Dr. Smith is the lead state missionary with the Georgia Baptist Mission Board and serves the Sunday School, Small Groups, Discipleship and Faith Development Specialist.  Visit their website at gabaptist.org/groups/ for more information and other resources to aid your Sunday School or Small Group.  Dr. Smith is available for conferences or other speaking opportunities and can be contacted at tsmith@gabaptist.org.

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Categories : Connect, Small Groups, Sunday School

Connect through Groups 2

By Dr. Tim S. Smith · Comments (0)
Friday, August 23rd, 2019

How do you ask someone to get involved in your Sunday School class or small group Bible study?  Your church may use the term “enrollment” or “connected”.  Whatever term you use the end result is the same.  You should be aggressive to add new people to the ministry list of your class or group.

When inviting a new person to join your group please share with them the positive experiences you’ve had in your group.

  • Every week your group is praying for each other.  Tell them that others will be praying for them.
  • We love to get together.  My group gets together about once a month for a fun time outside of our regular group time.  This is done to help promote the development of friendships.
  • Bible study. The study of God’s Word is best thing about our group.  We find answers to some of life’s hardest issues.  We also gain a better understanding of who God is by studying the Bible.
  • At this point tell the new person how you’ve been ministered to by your group.  All of us have had those tough times and most of us would not have been able to make through those times if it were not for our group.

One way to think about it is that you are sharing Sunday School/group testimony. Don’t try to be the salesperson but rather be that satisfied customer telling the benefits.

Dr. Smith is the lead state missionary with the Georgia Baptist Mission Board and serves the Sunday School, Small Groups, Discipleship and Faith Development Specialist.  Visit their website at gabaptist.org/groups/ for more information and other resources to aid your Sunday School or Small Group.  Dr. Smith is available for conferences or other speaking opportunities and can be contacted at tsmith@gabaptist.org.

 

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Categories : Connect, Small Groups, Sunday School

Connect through Groups 1

By Dr. Tim S. Smith · Comments (0)
Thursday, August 22nd, 2019

Your ONE is now saved and baptized.  You better get them in a group for their spiritual growth will be become stalled.  Do all you can to get the new believer involved in your class/group.  Let them ride with you or greet them at a centralized location.  Sit with them and spend time together after class/group time.

For generations we’ve witnessed the value of being connected to a group.  Thom Rainer found that those led to the Lord, baptized, joined the church and attended worship that around 15% of them were active in the church five years following their salvation.  Compared to those that did all the above but were involved in a group, over 80% of them were still involved in church five years following their salvation.

What are some of the benefits of being involved in a group?

  • Intercession: The person can be prayed for regularly whether they attend weekly or are struggling spiritually.
  • Invitation: The person can be regularly invited to participate in fellowship opportunities where meaningful relationships can be developed.
  • Involvement: The person is encouraged to engage in Bible Study that strengthens their relationship to God, to family, and to Kingdom service.
  • Inclination: The person is challenged and more likely to engage in evangelism and outreach than a person not enrolled in a small group.

Dr. Smith is the lead state missionary with the Georgia Baptist Mission Board and serves the Sunday School, Small Groups, Discipleship and Faith Development Specialist.  Visit their website at gabaptist.org/groups/ for more information and other resources to aid your Sunday School or Small Group.  Dr. Smith is available for conferences or other speaking opportunities and can be contacted at tsmith@gabaptist.org.

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Categories : Bible Study, Connect, Small Groups, Sunday School

Identify Your One – Part 4

By Dr. Tim S. Smith · Comments (0)
Monday, August 5th, 2019

Make sure to read Part 1, 2 and 3

Week #3

To begin this week, repeat the same instructions from the previous weeks.  This week the group will identify both relatives and acquaintances who are not Christians.  Give each person three sheets of blank paper and a pen.  On the first sheet, ask everyone to draw a tree.  In the tree write the names of family members.  Direct the group to list only those who are still living.  This list could include grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, in-laws, as well brothers and sisters.  After everyone has completed their list, invite them to place a check mark by the names of those they know are Christians and active members of a church.  If some in the group have a difficult time completing the list, encourage them to complete it during the week.  Trying to remember all extended family members can be challenging.

Ask everyone to take the second sheet and to trace his or her hand.  The goal is to write the names of people with whom they have regular contact.  As you read through the list of possible people, ask the group to write names on the fingers.  Say, “Possibilities include bank tellers, service station attendants, store clerks, pharmacists, doctors, dentists, waitress/waiters, bus/taxi drivers, delivery people, mail carrier, exterminator, barber/hair stylist, insurance agent, mechanic, etc.”  Invite the group to provide other possibilities.  Ask the group to place check marks by the names of those they know are Christians and active members of a church.  Unchecked names on both sheets should be considered prospects.

After each person has completed placing the check marks on their sheets, ask them to take the third blank sheet.  The purpose of this sheet is to help each person develop a list from which they will identify their ONE.  Ask the members of the group to write the names that are not checked in their first two sheets onto this third sheet.  Instruct the class/group members to spend this week praying for the people on their list(s) and listening to God for the name of the person that should be their ONE!  After God has revealed that name ask them to write that name at the bottom of the list and then to start focusing on the ONE!  Close in prayer.

Dr. Smith is the lead state missionary with the Georgia Baptist Mission Board and serves the Sunday School, Small Groups, Discipleship and Faith Development Specialist.  Visit their website at gabaptist.org/groups/ for more information and other resources to aid your Sunday School or Small Group.  Dr. Smith is available for conferences or other speaking opportunities and can be contacted at tsmith@gabaptist.org.

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Categories : Outreach/Evangelism
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