Archive for 31 Days of Extreme Sunday School – Page 2

A – Accountability

In the Extreme Sunday School Challenge by Bruce Raley and David Francis, the right DNA for a new group includes accountability, “Accountable for sending leaders and starting new groups.” Somehow the idea of accountability has faded from existence among members and groups. The best way to recover a sense of accountability is to embed it in the DNA of a new group. It could be said that God added accountability to man’s DNA at creation through these words; “be fruitful and multiply.”

Before launching a new group, decide who needs to be on the team and what role they will play. Leaders should be enlisted to a specific function and to be fruitful and multiply. As a result, they will see multiplying as their commission/mandate and goal. The new leadership can begin with the end (or new beginning) in mind. For the goal to be effective, challenge the leadership to accomplish the mission within a certain time frame (18 – 24 months).

As the new group is launched, assistance should be given to the new groups in discovering and training apprentices. Teachers, outreach leaders, care leaders, and all other key leaders should seek to have an apprentice. On-the-job training will be the most effective, but should be supplemented with additional and on-going training. If leaders are going to be held accountable, then they should be given every resource needed to accomplish the task. Staff and Sunday School leadership should work as faithful partners in the launch and on-going process. There is an element of truth to the adage, “people don’t do what you expect, but what you inspect.” However, it would be more beneficial for you to be a partner than an inspector.

The sending of leaders and starting of new groups should become a point of celebration. Recognize the accomplishments before the church and inside the classroom. In a time of worship or other appropriate venue, have a commissioning service to celebrate the launch of a new group and to congratulate the leaders on a job well-done. Inside the class, create a ‘class missionaries’ board with pictures of leaders who have been sent into service. Let these pictures serve as an on-going reminder to the group of their responsibilities in partnership and fellowship, as well as, a source of mission accomplishment.

Disciples are made through relationships. Small groups are best for building relationships. New groups foster the building of relationships, the making of disciples, and the sending of leaders. Start a new group with the right DNA, then be fruitful and multiply.

Start with the Right DNA: N-Network of people on Mission

There are 168 hours in a week. If the average class meets once a week for one hour at a time, then that leaves 167 hours left. Obviously, we need to sleep, eat, work, play with our family, go to school, and do all the normal stuff of life, but there still remains an important question: What are we doing during those “other hours” with other members of our Sunday School or Small Group that further expands the Kingdom of God? Are the people of our class ON MISSION ministering to and with one another?

Over time, the people in a new group will eventually build trust and demonstrate transparency toward one another in many ways. It is a natural progression for a healthy group. A great way to progress beyond just a trust level of relationship is to serve together on some form of mission project. When people work together toward one goal, and the goal is not for their own benefit, something happens in that relationship. I have seen and experienced this phenomenon in people serving on Mission trips and Disaster Relief activations.

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There is something about the common goal that builds a bridge between people that can’t be reproduced any other way.

So how can a group make networking people on mission a part of their DNA? Here are some suggestions that might get your group thinking in that direction:

  • Schedule one Saturday a month to do a class service project for a neglected population in your church or community
  • As a class, adopt at month to staff the Nursery Care extended session and provide the volunteers needed for that month
  • Partner with a different generational class in your church to go serve together in some mission activity in the community
  • Adopt a local middle or high school sports team and pledge to, as a class, serve the team pre-game meals or wash the dirty uniforms
  • As a class, go back-to-school shopping on behalf of a neglected population in your community and distribute these items to the families who need them
  • Volunteer to read to (or listen to) children in a local primary or elementary school once a week. In our community, schools are always looking for more volunteers.

What will your group do to be on mission together?

__________________________

Jason McNair is on mission with the Adult II (creative name, I know) Sunday School class at First Baptist Church in West Valley City, when he is not serving the churches and missions of the Utah Idaho Southern Baptist Convention as a Strengthening Churches Consultant

D – Disciple-Making at the Core

Travelers to Alexandria, Indiana have the opportunity to see something unique. Hanging in a shed in the Michael Carmichael’s backyard is the world’s largest solid ball of paint. For over 35 years, Michael has applied coat after coat of paint to the ball. Today, the ball weighs over 1300 pounds and has more than 23,000 coats of paint. Visitors even have the opportunity to apply a coat of paint and record their contribution in a log book.

Interestingly, the ball of paint is not technically a solid ball of paint. The project began when Michael and his three year old son first put a coat of paint on a baseball. The baseball at the core is now so buried under layers of paint that it has been all but forgotten.

In Extreme Sunday School Challenge, we are reminded that disciple-making is the core of Sunday School. Yet, over the years many layers of activities, traditions, preferences, routines, and many other good intentions may have hidden the core from view to the extent that it has become forgotten.

How can leaders keep disciple-making at the core of Sunday School? Consider these ideas:

Teach for Application

The Great Commission’s definition of disciple-making involves teaching people to obey the commands of Jesus. Our focus on teaching must move beyond the transmission of information and toward the learner’s response. Leave adequate time in group meetings to discuss practical ways that class members plan to put the lesson principles in action.

Get Groups Smaller

When groups are large, too many people can attend every week as passive observers. Smaller groups increase the opportunity for participation and the likelihood that close relationships can develop in which learners may feel more comfortable sharing personal responses. Even large classes may be able to divide into smaller groups for discussion that leads to more personal application.

Let People Share Their Stories

Instead of jumping right into a new lesson each week, take time for learners to share how they are growing in Christ. Use email or other communication systems to let the class know you will be asking for some to share. Social media is a great way for class members to immediately share how they are finding ways to apply what God is teaching them.

Be a Sending Class

Celebrate those who grow in the Lord to the point that they feel called to leave the class and serve in other areas of the church. Especially champion those who respond to God’s call to start a new group. Hold the desire to serve and reach others as a high expression of following Jesus.

Involve Multiple People in Leadership

Greeters, teachers, fellowship hosts, outreach leaders, prayer leaders, mission coordinators, and care group leaders are just a few examples of jobs for people in Sunday School. Using leadership teams in Sunday School encourages spiritual growth.

View Evangelism as Essential to Discipleship

Discipleship is not simply about helping believers grow deeper. Discipleship includes a desire to see the class grow broader through outreach. Those who are growing closer to Christ will naturally want others to know Him. Keep this vision in front of your class and form intentional strategies for reaching the lost.

Source: http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/9792

Essential #4: Start with the Right DNA

DNA has moved from science classroom discussions to the mainstream of television shows and nightly news reports over the years. What is it? It is the genetic code or the hereditary material of all organisms, including humans. DNA is what helps us determine identity and health.

Imagine if you could create the DNA of your ideal class and embed it in all future groups! What would it look like? I believe you can help create the identity and health of a new group through the right values (DNA). What is the right DNA for a healthy group? Numerous ideas exist, including one that can be found in Extreme Sunday School Challenge by Bruce Raley and David Francis.

As you create a new group, you will need to think about its’ DNA. What will the group look like, how will it function, and what will it value? Maybe you will decide that it needs to reach, teach, minister and multiply. If so, you need to plant people in the group that will give life (place value) on each of these functions. These tasks will not get done unless key leaders are intentionally placed into the ‘class DNA.’

Here are some ideas to help in embedding this value-based ‘genetic code’ in a group:

Values are vocal – Someone needs to be responsible to make sure the value is addressed verbally by the group each time it meets.

Values are visible – ‘Trace evidence’ of the group’s DNA should be visible on the walls and in front of the group to remind it of the mission.

Values are verifiable – there should be tangible evidence to demonstrate the accomplishment of purpose. For example, if the class values care ministry it will develop care groups and be accountable for ministry action.

Values are validated – the group leader gives validity to what is valued when he affirms the efforts of those involved.

Values bring victory – and should be celebrated throughout the church, if you are hoping for multiplication. We get what we celebrate.

Celebrate the birth of a new group with the right DNA. Challenge the group to ‘be fruitful and multiply.’

Essential #3: Enrollment

ENROLLMENT REALLY WORKS!

One of my favorite commericial features legendary detective Bo Dietl.  He is on the case again trying to discover if Arby’s fish Sandwich really is made with fresh fish.  He constantly asks the skipper…Is this really where Arby’s gets its fish? REALLY.

I received an email this week from a new young pastor. He stated that he really questioned if Sunday School really works today.   After going to a few conferences and reading a few books, he wanted to know if I really believed that the timeless principles of Sunday School really worked.  He was particularly interested in Enrollment. I boldly replied: ENROLLMENT REALLY WORKS!

Do you agree or disagree with this statement?  Human beings have a built-in desire to belong to someplace where they feel loved and accepted as they are. If you really believe this statement, then you will really believe in enrollment, because enrollment is the action a group takes to initiate an offer to someone to “belong.”  In other words, if you really believe people have a built-in desire to belong, then why not invite them to enroll in a group that will love them and accept them as they are.

What happens when someone is enrolled:

  • 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.

Those enrolled are involved with a group of people that do life together: praying for one another, loving one another, encouraging one another, challenging one another, and bearing one another burdens. Those enrolled are a group of people that God has placed in the care of the Sunday School leader to minister to and to teach.

If we really believe that people have a built-in desire to belong, then we will obey the Great Commission in seeking to enroll anyone, anywhere, anytime as long as the person agrees.  Enrollment REALLY works!  REALLY!!!