Archive for Great Expectations – Page 2

Are You Reproducing or Hoarding Leaders?

Several years ago an older lady died having lived each day pinching pennies to insure she was able to buy food, medicine, and pay her other bills. When she died, loved ones discovered she had hidden tens of thousands of dollars throughout her meager home. 

Before you consider placing judgment on this lady’s choice to hoard her resources, recognize leaders are either reproducing or hoarding leaders.  You can likely identify whether you or those around you are a reproducing or a hoarding leader.  Think about the following comparisons and add your own to the list.

Hoarding leaders might think about or say some of the following:

  • How can we keep them from splitting our class?
  • I wish we could go back to the time when we knew everybody in our church.
  • How can we get the church to meet our needs?
  • I’m not sure why John Doe is teaching a class here.  He’s only been a member here for five years.
  • I know they need preschool teachers, but we really need some good members in our class. 
  • We painted our class and bought new chair cushions. Why can’t the children use another room?
  • Why should we go to the women’s shelter?  They aren’t going to come to church here.
  • We have not had a new member in 10 years, but that’s okay. We really love each other.
  • People know where we are if they want to come and join our class.
  • Everything keeps changing.  I wish we could just leave things alone so people know what to expect.
  • I can’t get people to do anything anymore. I guess I’ll have to do it if no one else will.
  • It is easier for me to do this than to try to get someone else to do it.  After all, I can do it better.

Reproducing leaders might think about or say some of the following:

  • When do we get to start a new class?
  • Help me pray about who God wants to help teach the three year olds.
  • Isn’t it great to get to know Fred and Barbara?  We would not have met them if we had not helped start the new class six months ago.
  • Your class is like a rocket ship—constantly sending out great leaders. Help me think of some ways to celebrate those members your class has sent out to serve in the other age groups.
  • Did you notice how Michael handled problems that arose when our class helped remove yard debris  and replaced the roof damaged from the storm?
  • How do you think we can encourage our classes to serve in the community more?
  • Tell me how things are going as you lead your class leaders?
  • Do you have everything you need?
  • How can I pray more specifically for you and your class?
  • If you find this time meaningful, what do you think you could do with your class leaders?
  • Let’s pray about who else might share your burden for the people who cannot attend Bible study on  Sunday morning. Why don’t we both enlist two prayer partners to help us pray about what God wants  us to do and who He wants us to invite into this process? Can we talk again next Thursday?

Jesus is the best model of a reproducing leader. He taught multitudes, discipled twelve, but he mentored three men. He spent time growing and sending out leaders. Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, reminded Moses of the need to grow and send out other leaders. (Ex. 18) What about you? Are you reproducing or hoarding leaders?

“And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”2 Tim 2:2 (HCSB)

Expect Change

I never left his class unchanged.  I was an undergraduate student in Agricultural Education and Shubel Owen was my education professor.   What he lacked in delivery and technique, he more than made up for with passion and enthusiasm.  One day he made a statement that changed my perspective in teaching.  He said, “To teach is to change lives, if there is no change, you have not taught.”

Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.   But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does. James 1:23-25

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12  The Word of God in the hands of a committed Christ follower  poured into the lives of others is a powerful tool of change.   Teachers are called by God to be change agents for His people.   

Do we expect change in our Sunday School ministry?  Or do we look more like a turtle on a fence post, stuck!  When we prepare to teach do we have a sense of expectancy of change?

Here are some thoughts to consider for this week as you prepare for this upcoming Sunday:

  1. How clear is the mirror of God’s Word that you are holding up in your class?  Make sure it is crystal clear so it provides a true reflection and that you do not insert your picture into the mirror frame.
  2. Are you willing to change?  What do you need to change so that your walk with the Lord is  real and fresh?   Nothing changes our passion and perspective like true life change.
  3. Celebrate change.  Begin each session with a time of celebration acknowledging how God  changes lives.  Ask your class, what wins can we celebrate together?  Help them to understand that God is in the changing business and His shop is still open!
  4. Drill down.  Seek to drill down into the lives of people and help them to apply the truths of God to practical, everyday situations and needs.  Pray for a deeper level of intimacy and provide a safe place for others to openly share what God is showing them in the “mirror” of their lives.
  5. Avoid judgment.  Let the mirror speak and let the scalpel of God’s Word in the hands of the Holy Spirit do the work of a surgeon.  Make yourself available for assistance and clean up!
  6. Less is more.  Try covering less ground and spend more time on practical application and how to encourage accountability.  Turn off the fire hydrant and turn on the water fountain so everyone can get their fill.  Let them drink slowly.
  7. Dream.  What would my class look like if God showed up?  Would I be in the way if He showed up?  Am I cooperating with the work of the Holy Spirit or am I crowding Him out?  Can we hear the still quiet voice of God if he speaks to us in our class?
  8. What is the take home?  When you shop online you have options.  The wish list allows you to come back at any time and desire them without cost.  The cart means you are moving towards ownership but you still have the option of removing it at no cost or commitment. The checkout requires you provide payment for the item and pay the price of purchase.  Once you click the mouse on the submit button, (appropriately named!) it is yours.  You just bought it.  How many times do your students leave your class with items on their wish lists?  How many leave with items in their cart?  (some classes gauge spirituality by how many items are in their cart) Bottom line: how many hit the submit button and have paid the price to own the truth?  No ownership, no change!

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.2 Timothy 2:15.  God has called us to help people to apply and practice the truth of God not to help them collect and categorize them like a librarian.  Truth on the shelf gathers dust.  Change comes when we expect people to “go to work’ with the truth God gives.

Professor Owen was a wise man.  To teach is to change lives. Expect change.

Expect Every Member to Receive a Contact Every Week

IS IT REALISTIC TO BELIEVE THAT WE CAN CONTACT EVERY SUNDAY SCHOOL MEMBER EVERY WEEK?   YES!!

What a thrill it is for preschoolers, children and youth and their parents to be contacted by their teacher about what’s going to happen next Sunday. It means a lot for every adult to be called by someone in the class who simply says, “I just called to ask if there was anything I could pray for you about this week.” If we would make those calls hundreds of ministry needs would be discovered.

The only motivation that keeps us consistent in our contacts each week is spiritual motivation. It’s being a part of what God is doing on any given week. In 2006 I wrote a little book entitled, “Spiritual Food for Sunday School Leaders, God’s Nourishment for Effective Service.” I am amazed that over 20,000 copies have been printed. The book begins by referencing the encounter that Simon Peter had on shore with the Lord Jesus after Christ’s resurrection. Three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved him. Jesus had an important place of ministry for Peter, but it wouldn’t amount to much without his love for Jesus. Love was Peter’s motivation for service.

Suppose we were sitting across the fire from Jesus and He asked us our motivation for service.

These questions are found in the first chapter of the book.

Suppose, as you sat by that fire, Jesus had asked you another question. ‘Why do you serve me in Sunday School?’ Suppose Jesus went on to ask even more questions.

– ‘Do you serve me in Sunday School because you would feel guilty if you didn’t?’

– ‘Do you serve me in Sunday School because you feel obligated to serve your time?’

– ‘Do you serve me in Sunday School because no one else would serve in that position?’

– ‘Do you serve me in Sunday School because someone else would not let you say no?’

– ‘Do you serve me in Sunday School because your parents and grandparents did?’

– ‘Do you serve me in Sunday School to receive the attention of being in front of the class?’

– ‘Do you serve me in Sunday School to make up for past wrongs?’

– ‘Do you serve me in Sunday School because it makes you feel like a good person, even more spiritual than others?’

Imagine Jesus as he looks into your eyes with the fire reflecting on His face and asks you the final question. Not once but three times. ‘Do you serve me in Sunday School because you love me?'”

“Spiritual Food for Sunday School Leaders,” contains practical helps for Sunday School work as well as scriptural motivation. The book can be ordered for $1.00 from the Office of Sunday School/Bible Study Ministries, Alabama Baptist Convention, State Board of Missions. Email rellison@alsbom.org for an order form. It’s also a great Sunday School leader appreciation gift.

Other Sunday School resources are available at www.alsbom.org/ss.

“Spiritual Food for Sunday School Leaders,” Copyright Rick Ellison, Alabama Baptist Convention, State Board of Missions, January, 2006. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

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Rick Ellison is a Sunday School associate for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions. In addition to his ministry to Alabama Baptists, Rick has also carried the Olympic Torch at the 1996 and again in 2002 Winter Games along with his wife, Sheila.

Expect Evangelistic Prayer Every Week

Without thinking too hard, can you name two people you are praying for their salvation?  It’s not a trick question.  In fact, all of us probably know someone close to us that doesn’t have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  The question is “What are you doing about it?”  As a leader in Sunday School, it is vital that you model a habit of leading your class in evangelistic prayer, week after week.  I have heard of some classes that have made of list of names (first and last) in bold letters on a bulletin board and made a point to end every class session in evangelistic prayer for the people on that list who need salvation.  The simple act of prayer will move hearts to action. Your members will be challenged to do something tangible that will bring the person they are praying for to a point of making a decision to follow Christ.  Seeing the names in front of them will be a constant reminder of one of the core reasons that class exist; to equip one another to fulfill the Great Commission and live out the Great Commandment.

David Francis shares in his book, Connect3, the story of what happened in his church, Long Hollow Baptist Church in Hendersonville, TN, when members began to write the names of lost friends and family members on the walls of their worship center with permanent markers.  “There are literally names on every paintable surface in that room. And I don’t know if we’ll ever be able to paint over them! Long Hollow seldom has a worship service at which someone is not baptized and is consistently among the leading churches in the Southern Baptist Convention in baptisms. Wonder if it has anything to do with prayer?” NAMB has an article on their website entitled “Praying Your Friends to Christ” and in it, they share a simple acrostic that you can use to guide your class in having a H.E.A.R.T for the lost. Pray for:

  • Receptive Heart
    We need to pray that God would prepare the heart of the lost so that the seed of the gospel would take root.
  • Spiritual Eyes and Ears Opened
    The lost person is blinded by Satan and needs God to open their eyes and ears
  • God’s Attitude Toward Sin
    When He comes, He will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8 HCSB)
  • Released to Believe
    Pray God would grant repentance and that the lost will come to their senses and escape the trap of unbelief.
  • Transforming Life
    Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2 HCSB)

Visit NAMB’s Praying your Friends to Christ

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Jason McNair is the Religious Education and Collegiate Consultant for the Utah Idaho Southern Baptist Convention.  He has served in the area of Youth, Collegiate and Education ministry for eighteen years in Florida, Texas, Utah and Georgia before joining the staff of the UISBC in 2009.

Expect Members To Mature And Leave The Group To Serve

The vision of every adult class is to have an increasingly bigger and bigger class!

No! No! No!

It is to grow and mature members to carry out the work of the church.

Along the road to growing the Sunday School or small group ministry many adult leaders get trapped into believing bigger is better. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with bigger as long as it accomplishes the ultimate goal.

Pastors, staff and key leaders have not helped adult leaders stay out of the trap. Far too many times, adult leaders have been recognized and rewarded for having bigger classes. Key church leaders should be rewarding the adult leaders who are equipping members and sending them into the harvest.

Plan to Mature Members

Maturity does not just happen because you join a class. The wise teacher knows his/her pupils and uses the lessons each week to challenge them to grow and mature. In addition, the teacher begins to involve pupils in meaningful ways as they minister. First, just like Jesus, they take them along and they minister, and then they send them out to experience ministry on their own. All along the teacher is filling in the blanks with the insight and wisdom found in the Bible.

Help Members Connect the Dots

The Bible teaches us that God has uniquely created each person, given them spiritual gifts and allowed them to develop skills. As a result, each person is especially equipped and gifted for certain ministries. The adult teacher’s role is to help class members discover God’s preferred future.  David said in Psalm 37:4 (NIV), “Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart.” As we get in harmony with God our desires match His and we begin to experience the rich blessing God has for us.

 Commission Members to Serve

As we expect members to move into ministry and service, attitudes and perspective change. Classes with the attitude shift never lose members, the members just get a picture and a place on their missionary poster board. Prayer requests are filled with reports from members who are now serving in other ministries and classes. Fellowships are times for current class members and members in service to build relationship and celebrate what God is doing. Things like, “we are losing Bill and Sally today” are never heard. Instead, you will hear about the new ministry the class is taking on and that Bill and Sally will be heading up the work.

 Determine now to make this year a record year for sending out class members into ministry.