Author Archive for Darryl Wilson – Page 4

Expect God’s Word to Speak Twice

By Darryl Wilson · Comments (2)
Friday, September 9th, 2016

BiblenPenWHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? First, God desires to meet the teacher in His Word before the teacher leads group time. For the teacher, that encounter is THE lesson. Teacher, expect Him to speak to you and change you.

Second, God desires more than reciting your encounter. While a testmony is inspiring, it is not life-changing. For needed life-change to occur in lives of group members, we must lead them to open God’s Word so they can meet Him. When we do so, God speaks, convicts, and changes.

WHAT DO I DO? Start your preparation time early. Seek a personal encounter with God in His Word before you put together your plan for leading learners to do the same during group time. I read the passage several times daily during the first half of the week before I open a commentary. I want to listen to what God is saying to me before I hear what others heard. My personal steps are listen, pray, commit, and obey.

Having encountered God in His Word personally, I listen for what God desires my group to hear and do. I put together a plan to facilitate their encounter. I may call, email, or text group members with a question or assignment. During group time, we open the Bible and listen. Questions and discussion are common. Lecture, if any, will be brief. No one but God talks more than half of the time, including the teacher. When God speaks twice, lives are changed!

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Categories : 100 Small Changes, Bible Study, Learning, Teaching
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Pick up the Training Pace after Enlistment

By Darryl Wilson · Comments (0)
Thursday, September 8th, 2016

PaceWHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? You asked God to send a leader. You began to look around for the leader God sent. You began observing the life of the leader and spending time with the leader doing life and class ministry together. When you were sure the leader was ready, you asked him/her to join you. When the leader said yes, that is a teachable moment. There is openness to learning and being led. Take advantage of the interest!

WHAT DO I DO? Consider the following:

  • pray for and with the leader,
  • write out a list of the major areas of responsibility,
  • share the list with the leader,
  • work through each item on the list (do them),
  • after carrying out each item on the list, ask questions and debrief the experience,
  • make assignments to the leader, asking him/her to enlist someone to help with each,
  • debrief the assignments, who helped, and how he/she did,
  • listen well, be generous in your affirmation, and offer ideas for next time (when there are areas for improvement),
  • increase the frequency of assignments, and
  • encourage taking initiative to carry out the assigned area of responsibility.

EXAMPLE. For each area of responsibility, the above list will look different. For instance, when training an apprentice teacher, you will focus conversation and practice on teaching, reaching, and caring duties. And you might give them one Sunday per month to teach at first but work toward 3-4 weeks per month before sending them out to teach their own class.

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Categories : 100 Small Changes, Enlistment, Leadership, Training
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Contact Absentees Without Producing Guilt

By Darryl Wilson · Comments (0)
Thursday, September 1st, 2016

ListenWHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? When a class member is absent for three weeks, absence becomes a habit. Absentees often begin to feel guilty about not attending. Attending members also begin to feel guilty about not reaching out. Caring relationships work to avoid that happening.

WHAT DO I DO? Because you care, reach out immediately after each absence. Make a contact–the more personal the better. In other words, make a visit or a call. Express your care, even if the member has been on vacation. How can we do so without producing guilt? Consider the following:

  • say hello at the door (or by phone)
  • say that you just wanted him/her to know you missed him/her in class
  • remind him/her about upcoming plans for a fellowship or project
  • if there was a previous prayer request, ask for an update (write it down)
  • ask how you can pray for him/her and the family
  • pray together
  • as you part, say that you look forward to being in class together.

If the person has been absent for several weeks, extend the visit for a few extra minutes. Attempt to discover a need the class could meet. Ask the absentee if you can pick them up for the fellowship or project. Talk about recent class activities. Share your Sunday School testimony (see Sunday School Testimony: Powerful Revolutionary Tool for more details). Talk about the current lesson series.

The bottom line is CARE. Contact with care because you do and no one will have guilt!

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Categories : 100 Small Changes, Assimilation, Ministry, Prayer
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Lead Your Apprentice to Pray for and Pursue an Apprentice

By Darryl Wilson · Comments (0)
Saturday, August 13th, 2016

LookingFarWHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? In many churches, there is a leadership crisis. More leaders are needed to care for members AND to reach out to new people. Added to this, the teacher cannot do all of the work of the class. Leadership multiplication continues when an apprentice pours into another apprentice. Keep in mind the words of Paul: “and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2, ESV).

WHAT DO I DO? You have prayed, observed, and assigned ministry to your apprentice. You have enlisted the leader to come alongside of you to carry out important work of the class. You have picked up the training pace after enlistment. Now what? Lead him/her to pray and pursue an apprentice!

Before you finish investing in your apprentice, lead the leader to do what you did. Lead the leader to ask God to send a potential leader (Matthew 9:47). Lead him/her to begin observing people in class and beyond the class. Tell him/her to notice when God seems to be directing attention toward an individual. Lead him/her to notice what God is doing in the life of the potential apprentice. And encourage him/her to begin to spend time with that potential leader doing life and class ministry together.

When your apprentice prays for and pursues another apprentice, everything you do with and say to your apprentice becomes more important. Class ministry and Kingdom work are expanded.

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Categories : 100 Small Changes, Enlistment, Leadership
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3 Ways to Get to Know Potential Leaders

By Darryl Wilson · Comments (0)
Monday, August 8th, 2016

FishingTogetherWHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? Too many potential leaders run away scared because we enlist them poorly. After praying for leaders, observe potential leaders and then get to know them before enlisting them. Doing so will produce greater likelihood of enlistment success.

WHAT DO I DO? Consider these 3 ways to get to know a potential leader.

  1. Spend time together. Gather away from class. Visit in the leader’s home or yours. Eat a meal. Talk. Get to know each other. Share your vision and hopes for the class. Ask questions. Be interested. Listen.
  2. Do life together. Go to a ball game. Watch a movie. Take a walk, hike, or run. Take a class together. Meet a need. Serve together. Pray together. Read a book and discuss it. Study a Bible book or passage together. Go fishing. Observe. Share. Learn.
  3. Do Sunday School ministry together. As you get to know the leader, begin to ask him/her to help you with class ministry. Ask for help in making a visit. Don’t assign the visit. Go together. Ask for help in planning a fellowship. Don’t assign a task. Do it together. Ask for help in preparing a lesson. Study and talk together.

When you spend time, do life, and Sunday Sunday School ministry TOGETHER, you will discover evidence of potential leaders’ strengths and attributes for joining you as class leaders. This evidence will come in handy when you ask them to join you. Your prayer and observations can give them courage to say yes.

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Categories : 100 Small Changes, Enlistment, Leadership, Prayer
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