Dwayne Lee

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Day 12-Shepherd Requirements

By Dwayne Lee · Comments (0)

Tuesday, August 12th, 2014

When we think about the roles of a teacher in the Sunday School room shepherding may be the least one thought about. For many teachers their number one goal on Sunday morning is to finish the lesson they have prepare. Then when the week is over they start on the next lesson and essentially forget about those that are in the their class.

I really like what David and Ken have done in the book “3 Roles” because I believe every teacher needs to see themselves in all three roles. But I think I would be safe in saying that when it comes to shepherding your class this one is the least active or comfortable for you as a teacher. It all boils down to relationships! It’s not that you do not care about the members of your class but it is not a priority. Shepherding is something that has to be cultivated through you by the Holy Spirit. A shepherd should have:

Love for the Sheep – again let me say, you love the class but there may be no effort put forth to demonstrate that love. Think of a shepherd out in the field watching their flocks. It was their job to have a watchful eye, to protect, to secure, to love them in such a way that nothing was going to happen to them if the shepherd could help it. That’s LOVE!
Constant Vigilance – Because of that love you have for the sheep your attitude begins to change toward them. You are not so consumed with the lesson as much as you are about the person. You begin to show care and concern for their welfare and again try to protect them the best you can. Again using the shepherds in the field, they were always on guard for different types of enemies. Why, because they loved the sheep!
Sense of Stewardship – When you begin to see your class in a different way you will have this sense of stewardship. Why, because you have been entrusted with them. So now it is your responsibility to take care of them. As Allan Taylor, minister of education for FBC Woodstock has said many times, “You have the privilege of handling the two most precious things to the heart of God. The Word of God and the PEOPLE of God!” They do not belong to us but God has given them to us to care for, to build us, to strengthen, and to love.

It’s not about how big your class can get or how good of a teacher you are. BTW – you should be the best teacher possible, but if you begin showing that shepherding side of yourself you will be amazed at how your class will begin to respond to you even if you do not hit a home run with the lesson.

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Dwayne Lee is the Associate Group Leader of the Bible Teaching and Resource Group of the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio.

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Categories : 31 Days of 3 Roles for Guiding Groups

There is Hope

By Dwayne Lee · Comments (0)

Wednesday, August 28th, 2013

Yesterday’s article (Reality Revealed) conveyed to us the reality of today’s culture and worldview as it pertains to Sunday School. The last line of the article stated, “There is Hope.” There is hope because with Jesus there is ALWAYS hope; with Jesus there is light at the end of the tunnel; with Jesus there is victory when the whole world is against you; with Jesus there is hope for new Sunday School classes to be started. Does that last statement surprise you?

As Sunday School leaders from all across the nation catch the vision to begin new groups, a revolution will begin to take place. I am reminded of John 15 where Jesus said that He was the Vine, we were the branches, and God (the Father) is the Gardener. In this passage Jesus said, “Without Me you can do nothing.”

First of all, we need to remember that Jesus is our source of strength and the supplier of all our needs. We should not want to do anything apart from Him.

Secondly, Jesus said that as the Father (the Gardener) prunes us, He does it for a reason…so we will bare more fruit. Therefore, if we take this principle to heart and allow God (the Father) to prune, massage, and cultivate our Sunday School class, the natural reaction is New Growth!

One thing that I have learned as I ponder this passage is that it is not just the new branches that bring forth fruit, but it is the whole tree. Therefore, if Sunday School classes would allow God (the Gardener) to do His work in their individual lives, not only would we see new groups started, but those

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involved in the process would receive the benefit of new growth as well.

It was Arthur Flake who said, “Know your Possibilities.” He advocated surveying the community to determine what persons might be prospective Sunday School members. Goals were established based on real actionable information. There are various ways to do that today. Could new Sunday School classes be started because of your interest in the community in which you serve?

May God start His pruning today and new groups be started tomorrow.

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Categories : 31 Days of Extreme Sunday School, Sunday School

Reality Revealed

By Dwayne Lee · Comments (0)

Tuesday, August 27th, 2013

In the book Extreme Sunday School Challenge, the authors raise the awareness of our current static Sunday School situation in American churches. In 1972 the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) reported 3.6 million people attending Sunday School. Forty-some years later the SBC is reporting that we are averaging right at 4 million Sunday School attendees. One might think that this is pretty good; however, in reality when you compare these numbers to the growth in US population, it doesn’t take a mathematician to see that we are not doing a very good job.

For years Southern Baptists have waved the banner of Sunday School and the importance it plays in the lives of Christian men, women, boys & girls. Yet, the reality is that we are losing touch with our communities. Experts are telling us that we are living in a post Christian society. The author defines post Christianity as, “A culture with language and assumptions that once were but are no longer rooted in Christianity.”

As the population has grown and society’s values vary, we have observed a couple of generations transition from a God mentality to a humanistic perspective. I am reminded of the verse in Judges 2:10 that says, “When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done in Israel.” I believe this is the reality of the culture in which we live.

Whether we

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say “un-churched” or “non-churched” the reality is that many are “never churched”. Their limited exposure to the truth of the Gospel is not necessarily what they see on the TV screen, or hear on the radio, but rather what they see in your walk with Christ.

The reality is… we are not growing our Sunday Schools. We are not creating new groups, and we are not connecting with the lost. Don’t despair, there is hope. Tune in tomorrow as we unpack “Hope”.

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Categories : 31 Days of Extreme Sunday School

Strike up the Band

By Dwayne Lee · Comments (0)

Wednesday, September 7th, 2011

Luke 15:10 says, that “There is joy (Rejoicing) in the presence of the angels over one sinner that repents.” I have to believe that Heaven gets fired up when a sinner comes to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. There is probably a “fan fair” going on in the midst of the angels because of someone finding Christ.

So if heaven can get excited about seeing someone coming to Christ how about you and your class? Do you get excited? When is the last time your class was responsible for seeing someone come to Christ? When is the last time your class was able to celebrate someone coming to Christ? The simple question is: “Are outreach and evangelism a part of your class strategy?”

I believe one of the reasons Sunday school classes miss the opportunity of outreach is because of one word, Evangelism. The truth is most people within our churches and sitting in our Sunday schools are afraid of the “E” word. Surely we do not have people who think that evangelism is the sole responsibility of the pastor or deacons? I would think that our regular church
attendees have heard Matthew 28 enough to know that it is

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the Great Commission of everyone to go and tell!

So what are some things we can do to help our classes get out of our circles and into the lives of our community?

Pray. Start calling out the names of lost people to God. The class should have a list of lost people you are praying for.
Intentional. Plan, promote, and pull the trigger on getting out in the community. Get involved so they know who you are.
Consistent. Being in the community or scheduling an outreach project is not a one time thing or a once a year activity. It should be a consistent lifestyle of the class.
Evangelistic Gatherings. Plan on the number of evangelistic gathers your class wants to do and place them on the calendar immediately. Invite, invite and invite and then do it well!
Prospects. Have your class make a list of unchurched prospects. Begin praying over this list and begin including them in your projects.

May this help your class get started in reaching the lost in your community. May you celebrate just like heaven does the next time someone comes to Christ because it has been a result of your class being faithful to the call of reaching the lost!

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Dwayne Lee serves as Associate Group Leader for the Bible Teaching/Leadership Team of the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio.

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Categories : Outreach/Evangelism, Sunday School

Telling your story…Even a Caveman could do it!

By Dwayne Lee · Comments (0)

Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011

Everybody has a story! Your children have a story when they do not clean up their room. Your teenager has a story on why they came home late last night. Your employer has a story when your check is going to be late. Your doctor has a story when you have to sit in his office longer than you would like too. Even the guy that gets pulled over by the police office has a story! Everybody has a story, even your Sunday school class!

David Francis, author of the book, Transformational Church Goes to Sunday School states, “No one’s story is complete until it has intersected with God’s story.” Those that are in your Sunday School class whose lives have been changed because of an encounter with Christ have a great story to tell. Why, because it is real! Real life situations have faces and names sharing how
they have seen the Lord work in their life.

Allow your class the opportunity to tell their story. It is a great way to impact learning and build relational intentionality. For the most part people do not have a safe place to practice telling their story. Let your classroom be the practice facility to get their feet wet. Give them time on Sunday!

This is a great way to build your members’ faith and confidence in sharing their story among people they trust, their small community. It will make each person and your class a real-live environment instead of standard fifty-minute routine you go through every week.

If you have difficulty getting started, point to the greatest story teller ever, Jesus! Show how Jesus used stories to make His point, illustrate a message, or convey a truth. Then ask the right questions, and you will be surprised what happens in your class.

Telling your story, it’s so easy…well, you know what I mean!

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Dwayne Lee serves as Associate Group Leader for the Bible Teaching/Leadership Team of the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio.

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Categories : 31 Days of Transformational Class, Sunday School