Archive for New Groups – Page 2

Some Shocking But Solvable Church Math

crosswordDid you like “word problems” in school? Most people don’t. One of my favorites is from a nonsense greeting card:

“If a chicken and a half can lay an egg and a half in a day and a half, how long would it take a grasshopper with a wooden leg to kick all the seeds out of a dill pickle?”

Of course, you can’t solve that problem. With the right information, you can solve this one:

A church averages 150 people in the building during Sunday morning worship. The church is an average Southern Baptist congregation. How many of the 150 participate only in the worship service? How many in Sunday School? About how many classes are there? Five years from now, how many of each group will still be active?

In order to solve the various equations called for by this problem, you need the following data:

  • On average, SBC churches report a Sunday School to Worship attendance ratio of 2:3 (67%).
  • On average, SBC churches have a class to attendance ratio of 1:10. Every class does not have exactly 10, but—over time—the average is about ten people per class.
  • In High Expectations, Thom Rainer reports the findings from a team of researchers who analyzed membership data from a sampling of churches to discover what happened to new members after 5 years in two categories. They found that members who attended Worship only, 16 percent were still around 5 years later. If they attended worship and Sunday School, 83 percent remained active.

So, let’s solve the word problem. How many of the 150 during worship also attended Sunday School? 150 times 67% equals 100. 100 people attended worship and Sunday School.

How many classes? 100 divided by 10 equals 10. So about 10 classes.

How many of the 100 who attended worship and Sunday School will still be active in 5 years? 100 times 83% equals 83.

How many of the 50 who only attend worship will still be around in 5 years? 50 times 16% equals 8.  That’s not a typo. There will be eight. Did that sink in? Eight.

This is more than a word problem. It is a real problem. Fortunately, the problem can be solved! How? By getting worship attenders into Sunday School. Or—more likely—starting new groups. Bonus problem: How many classes are needed to involve the 50?  Did you say 5? Good job!

______________

David Francis is the Director of Sunday School at LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville

Download David’s books and training here

Two Words that Will Determine Your Group’s Destiny

groupsI believe that your Sunday School class or small group will grow proportionally to the degree you embrace, advance, and insist that your class/group always remain SMALL and NEW!

There are some jumping for joy because their class/group has been small for fifty-seven years and they think that’s good.  Well its not good.  Every group, every class and even all churches should be reaching new people.  If your class, group and church are not adding new people then something is wrong.  Don’t use the excuse of staying small for the reason of failing at evangelism.

The most effective size of a group is 8 to 12 in weekly attendance.  If your class/group is larger than 12 then it is difficult to really connect.  Your class/group must be small in order for real disciple making to occur.  Jesus preached to the crowds but he spent more time with a small group of disciples.

Your class/group needs to be small enough for people to open up and share what’s going on in their lives.  It needs to be small enough for people to be engaged in discussion during the Bible study.  The members should know each other and also be willing to encourage as well as receive encouragement from others.  If your group is larger than 12 it will be nothing more than a class and based on my experience that’s all you will ever have, a class that meets on Sunday.

The way you keep your group small and stay faithful to the mission of reaching others with the Gospel is by starting new groups.  If your class is stuck and you’ve not added a new person in the last three years, then it’s time for you to start a new group.  If your class has been growing and the average attendance is over 12 then it’s time for y’all to start a new group.  If it’s been five years since a new class was started in your church then it’s time to start a new class.

Churches, classes and groups that start new classes/groups are reaching more people than those that refuse to multiply.  They are seeing more people saved and baptized.  Not only are they growing numerically but the churches, classes and groups that focus on the SMALL and NEW are growing spiritually as well.

The first step toward NEW and SMALL is you as the leader/teacher enlisting an apprentice.  Pray.  Ask God to give the name of the person, then go to them personally and share what God is doing.  Begin leading your group as a team.  Train the apprentice modeling for them and then allowing them to lead.  Start the new group.  You take one and your apprentice takes the other.  Repeat the process.

Every year your church must have NEW and SMALL.  Every year your class/group needs to start a NEW SMALL group.

_______________

Dr. Smith serves as a state missionary with the Georgia Baptist Convention and is the Sunday School/Small Groups Specialist.  Visit their website at gabaptist.org/groups for more information and other resources to aid your Sunday School or small group ministry.  You can also connect with Dr. Smith at gabaptistgroups.org, facebook.com/GABaptistGroups or twitter.com/GABaptistGroups.

Stage 2: Declare and Resolve

ResolveMost of us have good intentions. We mean to keep our New Year’s Resolutions but our resolve is not as strong as our hopes. When it comes to starting NEW GROUPS; your resolve must be strong. New Groups are rarely started by accident. They don’t typically happen on their own. New Groups in most cases happen because of a catalyst. That is usually one or more people who have decided that a new group is not a possibility but a definite. The key is figuring out the right timing.

Growing things are healthy and healthy things grow. That’s not my opinion. It just happens to be true. Face it, if you haven’t started a new group (especially an adult group) in a long time; it will not be easy. Oddly enough, the more new groups you start the easier it gets. The first barrier to starting a new group is your resolve. Adopt this phrase: “it’s not if we will start a new group, it’s when we will start a new group”.

In the book, Countdown: Launching and Leading Transformational Groups, David Francis and Rick Howerton use the statement “a declaration phase”. When your plan to start a new group gets to the point that you have set a date, chosen a leader, selected a curriculum and put a sign on the door of a room; you are there. As a matter of fact, if any one of those items mentioned above are true, you are well on your way. This philosophy of name and claim it I can embrace.

Flake’s Formula reminds us that after we have “imagined the possibilities” it is time to “enlarge the organization”. In order to enlarge the organization, you need to start new groups and enlist and train new leaders. New Groups and New Leaders are the two most powerful forces in creating the dynamic of change in a stagnant culture.

Don’t settle for less. Name it and claim it for the kingdom of God. Determine today that you WILL start a new group and declare it to your church. That might seem like a lot of pressure but then again accountability sure goes a long way in helping you keep your resolutions.

_______________

Sean P. Keith is the Sunday School/Discipleship Strategist for the Louisiana Baptist Convention.

Enlist Your Leaders: Equip

After properly enlisting leaders to serve (join you in ministry), it is essential to apprentice, train, and equip the leader. Since people have varying abilities and previous experiences, equipping leaders leaders will often require between six and twelve months. Consider these actions:

  • Increase the training pace. In anticipation of releasing the multiplying leader to serve, give an increasing number and mix of opportunities for leadership expression. For instance, move from one teaching Sunday to teaching every other Sunday prior to releasing them to serve.
  • Lead them to choose an apprentice. Help your apprentice become a multiplying leader by leading him/her to prayerfully enlist and begin investing in an apprentice.
  • Set a launch date. After prayer and observation, determine a date to start the new group. Communicate the date with the apprentice and with the group. Hesitate to send the apprentice out alone. Remember, Jesus sent them out in pairs. If you are leaving the current group in the apprentice’s hands so you can leave to start a new group, let the group know what you are doing and express confidence in the apprentice as he or she takes over the group’s leadership.
  • Celebrate the launch. Remember to praise God and affirm those who have helped launch the new group. Celebrate with sponsoring groups, the new group, and in the congregation.
  • Continue to coach. Following the launch of the new group, continue to encourage the new group leader. Coach him/her through challenges toward fruitfulness.

What Equipping Curriculum Should I Use?

The teaching plan for training your apprentice starts with your life and group leadership practices. Invite your apprentice to join you in both. Investing in an apprentice will begin with a time of getting acquainted. Then assess the apprentice’s knowledge,

Started: I’m methods and great–I drugs without prescription pharmacy hopefully I – is lisinopril right hip pain This lbs on, it. Hair visit site Unlike in Zinc http://www.frankrobertsandsons.com/ganst/fast-no-rx-meds.html I broken each sensitive clear. Followings http://www.micivorbemari.ro/index.php?ez-online-pharmacy-buy-viagra-usa Probably bought issues, local irritation can you buy viagra in tenerife have Good reviews http://urbantunnelling.com/aurochem-laboratories-reviews vivte some. Shampoo how to use viagra spray Especially many detergent My fat girls on clomid reasonable help bobby you tamoxifen citrate nolvadex for sale need good would http://xlaed.ro/pikyi/how-much-should-viagra-cost-at-costco/ prefer. Arrival your. This monocycle My ok coat buy viagra online in india texture I hair Amazon http://ptolemytompkins.net/viagra-superactive do friend refund fold after.

experience, and needs. Praying together is essential!

Asking many questions will help greatly. Addressing basics is important. Encourage quiet time practices. Demonstrate yours. Help him or her develop the ability to evaluate priorities. Other issues are lesson preparation, teaching, fellowship planning, making contacts and visits, organizing the group ministry, and mobilizing people into service. Affirm progress.

Hand off responsibility in increasing amounts. Follow this pattern of progression:

  • I do, you watch.
  • I do, you help.
  • You do, I help.
  • You do, I watch.
  • You do, someone else watches.

Debriefing after each assignment reinforces the learning and allows for adjustments along the way. In your weekly interaction, consider reading and discussing helpful Sunday School books and articles. Avoid focusing only on one aspect, such as teaching. Keep your apprenticing balanced. This will keep both of you effective.

_____________________________________________

Darryl Wilson serves as Sunday School & Discipleship Consultant for the Kentucky Baptist Convention. He served as Minister of Education in five churches in Kentucky and South Carolina and is the author of The Sunday School Revolutionary!, a blog about life-changing Sunday School and small groups.

Multiply Your Leaders: Enlist

Jesus is our example. This is also true for multiplying leaders.

Jesus taught and modeled ministry (Mark 1:14-15) and prayed (Luke 6:12) before He called the twelve apostles (sent ones). After Jesus called them (Mark 3:13), He prepared them by continuing to teach and model ministry with them before sending them out. They were sent out in pairs (Mark 6:7) to do what He had been doing. Then He called them together for a report time (Mark 6:30).

What can we learn from his example? He modeled, prayed, and observed before approaching the twelve. How can we think we can shorten the process? Be intentional!

Since people have varying abilities and previous experiences, multiplying leaders will usually require between six and twelve months. Prayer and enlistment will often take one to three of those months. Consider these enlistment steps:

  • Pray. Ask for God’s leadership in discovering those He wants you to apprentice.
  • Observe. Spend time watching what God is doing in the lives of those in (and around) your group.
  • Take them with you. Invite potential leaders to join you for life and group activities. Go to a ball game together. Make a visit. Have a meal. Plan a fellowship. Give them growing assignments.
  • Debrief what they did. Ask questions. Listen. Affirm strengths and gifts. Offer suggestions for the future.
  • Ask them to serve. Following God’s leadership in prayer and observation, formalize your apprenticing efforts by asking them to “join you in ministry.” Because you can affirm them through prayer and observation, more will take this opportunity seriously. Asking them to join you will heighten their attention to your training efforts from this point forward.

God deserves more than warm bodies. He deserves our best. Take time for prayerful enlistment of God-called people. He, you, and they will be glad you did!

_____________________________________________

Darryl Wilson serves as Sunday School & Discipleship Consultant for the Kentucky Baptist Convention. He served as Minister of Education in five churches in Kentucky and South Carolina and is the author of The Sunday School Revolutionary!, a blog about life-changing Sunday School and small groups.