Author Archive for Mark Miller – Page 4

12 Monthly Fellowship Ideas

By Mark Miller · Comments (0)
Friday, October 14th, 2016

kiteWHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? Josh Hunt wrote in How to Double Your Class in Two Years or Less: “Invite every member and every prospect to a fellowship every month.”  Relationships are the key to growth!

WHAT DO I DO? Organize your group by enlisting a Fellowship or Member Care Leader that is responsible for providing opportunities for the group to build a sense of community.  Here are 12 Monthly Fellowship Ideas Starters that my groups have done:

  • January: Dinner and a Movie
  • February: Super Bowl Party
  • March: Go Fly a Kite
  • April:  Class Picnic
  • May:  Campout
  • June: Baseball Game
  • July: Fireworks and Homemade Ice Cream
  • August: Luau
  • September:  Class Meeting
  • October: Conduct a Ministry Project
  • November: Game Night
  • December:  Christmas Party

Have Fun!   Remember to invite every member and every prospect to a fellowship every month.

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Categories : 100 Small Changes, Assimilation, Group Life
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3 Best Practices to Ensure a Welcoming Climate

By Mark Miller · Comments (0)
Friday, October 7th, 2016

churchgreeterWHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? Remember this story: “Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.”

First Impressions are lasting impressions.  Most groups think they are friendly.  I have literally attended Sunday School classes where no one talked to me or my wife.  I am sure they thought that somebody would do it, but nobody did it and we didn’t go back.

WHAT DO I DO?  If you want to make a ensure that your group has a welcoming climate, implement these three best practices:

  1. Enlist somebody to do it.  That somebody could be the teacher.  Ideally teachers should arrive early and be ready to greet the guests.  That somebody could be the Outreach Leader.  Since they will want to follow up, the outreach leader could serve as primary greeter for the group.  That somebody could be a “Hidden” Greeter.  Somebody needs see a new person on Sunday morning, initiates a conversation and makes sure that the guests and members are welcomed and have a great experience. Don’t assume that everybody will be friendly, enlist somebody.
  2. Encourage your group to smile and show their teeth.  Life is hard.  Greet everyone with a smile, call everyone by name (consider wearing nametags) and let everyone know that they are loved.
  3. Remember the real test of a friendly class comes after the benediction.  Train your people to speak to each other, to care about each other.  Guests are watching.

How’s the welcoming climate in your group?

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Categories : 100 Small Changes, Assimilation, Group Life
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FOUR Relationship Group Strategies 

By Mark Miller · Comments (0)
Monday, August 22nd, 2016

DiscipleshipWHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

Transformational Discipleship happens best in the context of relationships.  Getting people connected to a group makes them the specific responsibility of a group and gives focus to group leaders to build relationships for reaching, teaching, and ministry.

WHAT DO I DO?

  1. Classes are the first relationship strategy built into Sunday School, but how do you join a class or a group.  The traditional word that we have used is to ENROLL.  They become a member of the group.  The group still need to move them to a place where they feel loved and accepted.
  2. Ministry Touches. Every member and every prospect should be contacted every week.  Why? Because every member has a right:
    1. To be called by name.
    2. To be missed when absent.
    3. To be encouraged when faithful.
    4. To be admonished to grow in Christ likeness.
    5. To be ministered to in time of need.
    6. To be prayed for regularly.
  3. On and Off Campus group should plan parties and projects to foster stronger relationships with members and prospects.  Remember to invite every guest, every prospect and every associate member to each fellowship.  Have FUN!
  4. Class Leaders. Who’s responsible for insuring that your classes are engaged in: Teaching, Outreach, Ministry, Fellowships, Missions, and Prayer. Every class regardless of size should have at least three leaders: A teacher, outreach/evangelism leader, and a member care leader.

Growing groups are intentional about building relationships.

_______________

Mark Miller, Tennessee Baptist Convention

 

 

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9 Reasons to Have an Annual Growth Planning Day

By Mark Miller · Comments (0)
Sunday, August 21st, 2016

planWHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

Proverbs 29:18, “where there is no vision the people perish.”  Certainly, the Sunday School Leadership Team should design a plan to close the gap between where the Sunday School organization is and where they want it to be. But a teacher or group leader should lead their group to learn from the past, better understand the present, and move purposefully toward the future.

WHAT DO I DO?

My mom taught a Sunday School class for over 50 years.  One of the things that I learned from her was the importance of having regular class meetings. As a teacher, I practice having an annual growth planning day with my group.  Here are nine reasons why:

  1. Planning gives you the opportunity to solve potential problems.
  2. Planning helps the group to be more productive.
  3. Planning allows you to celebrate accomplishments.
  4. Planning makes growth more likely.
  5. Planning enables the anticipation of future needs.
  6. Planning helps bring about balance.
  7. Planning helps plans become ours rather than theirs.
  8. Planning helps make better use of the group giftedness and resources.
  9. Planning makes happier members (and leaders).

Dream a big dream. God wants to use your group to see people saved, baptized and developed.

_______________

Mark Miller, Tennessee Baptist Convention

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3 Reasons Lost People Should be Enrolled

By Mark Miller · Comments (0)
Friday, August 19th, 2016

cardWHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

When groups practice “relationship evangelism,” more people get saved than using any other method.  Yes…when groups invite people who don’t know Christ to belong to their Bible Study (enroll), at least one of every three will get saved.

WHAT DO I DO?

Your group should really be a community of evangelism where lost people can “belong” before they believe.

REASON ONE: In today’s world, allowing people to “test drive” Christianity is essential.  Many Americans have a positive view of Jesus but a negative view of Christianity.   The greatest possibility for someone not interested in Christianity getting saved is by inviting them to belong to a group (enroll).  These group members must love them and allow them to learn more about Jesus by studying the book he wrote.

REASON TWO:  Many individuals are curiously seeking answers to spiritual questions.  These people will respond to an invitation to explore Christianity.  When you invite this person to belong by enrolling them in your class, you will have the opportunity to speak truth to them in a time when they are in a posture to receive it.

REASON THREE: Many people already have a belief in God, they just need to realize the Jesus is God.  These people need a group of people who will admonish them with the truth of God’s Word and will share their story of salvation so that they will respond and proclaim Jesus is LORD.

_______________

Mark Miller, Tennessee Baptist Convention

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