Archive for 31 Days of Missionary Sunday School – Page 3

LITERATURE DISTRIBUTION DAY

By Dr. Tim S. Smith · Comments (0)
Monday, August 20th, 2012

This is day 20 of 31 Days of Missionary Sunday School.

TimSmithHere’s an idea that you can use with your adult classes that will aid in ministry contacts and Bible study.

Churches have been using this idea for years and I’ve always heard positive results.  It will require an investment of time on your part in order to be adequately prepared as well as some financial resources to provide all that is needed.   The idea is to conduct a Sunday School Literature Distribution Day.

You will need to order enough copies of your Bible Study Learner’s Guide for each member or at least every couple to get a copy.  Plan to conduct the literature distribution day on the Saturday morning prior to the first Sunday of a new quarter.  It will be very important to promote this at least two weeks prior to the date.  Encourage as many of your members as possible to attend and make it a fellowship time by providing a big breakfast.

The week prior to the Literature Distribution Day, it is essential that either pre-printed or hand-written labels are adhered to the front of the Learner’s Guides.  Again, every member or every couple should have their name(s), address, phone number, and if possible, driving directions attached to the Learner’s Guide.

On the Saturday morning of the Literature Distribution Day enjoy the good fellowship around the table with the big home-made breakfast.  Following the fellowship time, the first step in the process is to distribute the Learner’s Guides to those that are present that morning.  The second step is for each class to distribute the remaining materials to all those present in order for them to make home visits later that  morning and deliver the new quarter’s Bible study materials.

Instruct your members to make quick visits.  Encourage them to say, “We came by today to bring you the new Bible Study Learner’s Guide that our class will be covering this quarter and we look forward to seeing you tomorrow.”  If no one is at home instruct your members to leave the Learner’s Guide in a safe and dry location with a hand-written note stating the same as above.  It would also be a good idea to call and leave a message for those not at home.

If there are materials that cannot be delivered on the day of the literature distribution, encourage class members to keep trying during week, but to also bring the Learner’s Guides with them on Sunday.  Those that are missed on Saturday may show up on Sunday!

Get in the habit of doing the Literature Distribution Day every quarter.  I know that it will improve the fellowship of your class as well as the Bible study.

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Dr. Tim S. Smith serves as a state missionary with the Georgia Baptist Convention and is the Sunday School & Open Groups Specialist of the Sunday School/Open Group Ministries.  Visit their website at ssog.gabaptist.org for more information and other resources to aid your Sunday School.

 

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Categories : 31 Days of Missionary Sunday School, Bible Study, Enlistment, Evangelism, Group Life, Leadership, Learning, Ministry, Mission, New Groups, Organization, Outreach/Evangelism, Prayer, Sunday School, Training

The Value of Bible Study and Christian Literature

By Marie Clark · Comments (1)
Sunday, August 19th, 2012

This is day 19 of 31 Days of Missionary Sunday School.

Printed Christian Literature has been an important tool in the growth of both the Sunday School movement and the modern missionary movement, which gained momentum in the late 18th century. In the early days on the frontier where so few books were available to the poor and destitute, the Bible, tracts, and devotional guides were treasured.

A Sunday School with a missionary mindset will discover many values of the literature. Christian publishers today continue this ministry. The Internet, digital publishing, and other advances are changing the way literature is delivered. But the content is still being delivered.

The Bible continues to be the best seller among books, a position it has held for decades. The Bible allows people to read and hear God’s message directly for themselves, be drawn to Him for salvation, or engage in extended times of reading and study. Comparing different translations helps clarify the meaning. Many churches choose to give each child a Bible when they reach a certain milestone, such as entering 4th grade.

Christian tracts containing the plan of salvation have been used as witnessing tools for at least a century. Tracts based on other topics have been effective in initiating spiritual conversations, offering comfort, encouraging a person who is discouraged or without hope, or explaining steps of obedience to God.

Christian fiction is important among leisure reading. In addition to wholesome themes, the stories help the reader focus on godly traits and moral truths. Identifying with a strong Christian character can stretch the reader and cause him or her to evaluate their own life.  

Devotional guides come in many formats such as magazines, books, or part of the weekly Bible study curriculum. Even if a person does not have a devotional time every day, these resources remind and encourage them to work towards that goal.

Christian magazines are attractive because they are targeted to specific people groups—parents, teens, men, women, kids, sportsmen, and more.

Bible study guides and other Christian books enrich the heart of Bible teaching.  Learners can “study the lesson” before or after a session, teachers receive preparation helps, and Christian books can help enlighten and dig deeper. Here is a recent example:

Last week I met Rob, who began attending our church’s Sunday School and worship about six weeks ago. As my husband and I visited with him over a potluck dinner, Rob told his story. He had attended church sporadically as a kid and young adult. In his words, he considered himself a “half-time Christian.” Then he read a Christian book emphasizing that being a Christian means having a personal relationship with Jesus. Rob said, “Suddenly I ‘got it.’ I became a Christian this past February and began visiting churches. Here at this church I have a sense of belonging. And I love the Bible study and discussions in my class. I’m excited about being a Christian.”
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Marie Clark has served as the Bible Teaching and Discipling Team Leader for the Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists since 1996.

 

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Categories : 31 Days of Missionary Sunday School, Bible Study, Evangelism, Group Life, Leadership, Learning, Ministry, Mission, Small Groups, Sunday School, Teaching

What About the Babies?

By Mark Donnell · Comments (1)
Saturday, August 18th, 2012

This is day 18 of 31 Days of Missionary Sunday School.

I’m about to be a grandfather!  Our daughter is just a few weeks away from giving us our first grandchild.  Needless to say, my wife is busy dragging me around to every store that has anything to do with babies.  I have noticed a couple of things while looking at cute little baby socks and rattles.  First, baby stuff is expensive!  And second, there are a lot of pregnant women and babies with mommy’s and daddy’s out there!  This got me to thinking.  Wouldn’t it be great if all of those babies were coming to church with their mommy’s and daddy’s?  What are we doing to reach those parents and babies?

In my role as a state Sunday School Director, I visit many churches that have a strong preschool ministry.  However, I also have seen many bed baby rooms that are being used for storage.  Many of these churches don’t even have any bed baby teachers enlisted.  Their excuse is, “We don’t have any babies in our church right now, so we don’t need to prepare the room or enlist any teachers.”  What a shame!  Every community probably has a few expectant parents and babies that aren’t enrolled in Bible study.  If we aren’t prepared and actively seeking them how will we ever reach them?

Years ago we had a great program called the Cradle Roll Department.  It ministered to parents and families with young preschoolers.  A few years ago the name was changed to “First Contact”.  It is designed to provide an ongoing emphasis for outreach and ministry through the Preschool Sunday School.  It does this by helping your church discover, locate, and minister to expectant parents and families with babies up to 12 months of age, like those young parents I see in the baby stores.  It provides support through prayer, encouragement, and ministry on a regular basis.  If parents agree, a child may be enrolled in Sunday School.

If your church does not already have a First Contact ministry, you may want to consider starting one.  The first step will be for your church to enlist someone to coordinate the First Contact ministry.  Then you will want to enlist a core group of people who will visit prospects.  Visitors may be:

  • Adults with a love for young families
  • Couples from Young Adult Sunday School classes
  • Preschool Sunday School teachers

You will want to develop plans for locating prospects such as:

  • Birth announcements from newspapers
  • VBS prospects who have siblings 12 months or younger
  • Names given by church members
  • Expectant parents class offered by your church
  • Families who visit during a holiday church event

You will want to develop a plan for ministering to and cultivating relationships with prospects such as Bible studies for new parents; Young Adult Sunday School fellowships; Parent/Baby Dedication services that include church members and prospects.  Many churches provide a copy of BabyLife magazine to new parents.  This is a monthly magazine from LifeWay Christian Resources.  The next step is to develop a budget, train your visitors to make contacts and start the ministry!

David Francis states in “Missionary Sunday School”: “The missionary Sunday School is satisfied only when everyone within its reach has access to a Bible study group appropriate for his/her age, stage of life, and ability to learn (click here to go back to David’s blog post).   Until that happens, there is always more work to do.” This includes expectant parents and parents with babies 12 months and younger.  The question is, “Do we have expectant mothers and parents with babies in our community?”  “Are we doing our best to reach out to these families?”

I’m grateful that my kids and my future grandchild will be enrolled in a loving Southern Baptist Church where they will be loved and cared for.  But my heart breaks every time my wife takes me to another baby department and I see so many babies and expectant mothers that may or may not be enrolled in a Bible study ministry.  I encourage you to seek God’s will about what He would have your church to do.

For more detailed ideas and help in starting a First Contact ministry in your church, contact your Associational Office or State Convention Sunday School Department.
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Mark Donnell serves as the Sunday School/Discipleship Specialist for the Missouri Baptist Convention

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Categories : 31 Days of Missionary Sunday School, Bible Study, Group Life, Growing your Group, Leadership, Learning, Ministry, Mission, New Groups, Organization, Outreach/Evangelism, Small Groups, Space, Sunday School, Teaching, Training

From a Class to a Movement…YES New Groups

By Kiely Young · Comments (1)
Friday, August 17th, 2012

This is day 17 of 31 Days of Missionary Sunday School

1+1=2…2+2=4…4+4=8…8+8=16…32…64…128…

The math says multiplication always grow faster than addition. But, can WE see it work?

Ask Jeff Sundell, who lives just a few miles outside of Charlotte, NC. It has been about three years since they started their first small group Bible study to reach their community. From that class a movement started. A member of the class felt the need to start another in another community. It grew and the same thing happened again. A member of that study had a burden for a friend in another town and went there to start another Bible study. Soon multiplication began to take place. Today, from the beginnings of that first Bible study, and a passion of Jeff to reach North and South Carolina for Christ, thus far over 400 Bible studies in 39 cities have been started and thousands of formerly non-reached people have come to faith in Christ.

What is the difference in a Class and a movement?

A Sunday School Class is a group of people who meet weekly for Bible study. They enjoy their fellowship, the comfort of prayer support, the ministry to and with one another, the blessings of worship, and the study of God’s Word. If they become content and comfortable in their environment, they become what is known as a “closed group”, that is; they are no longer energized to reach out to others, and usually grow hesitant to any kind of change.

How does such a “movement” begin? Prayer…intensive prayer + hard work + seeking the Lord’s direction for the people He wants to reach in your context = the beginning of a movement. A movement begins with a group of people with a passion to reach their community, even a specific group of people within the community, with the Gospel of Christ. They are willing to do whatever it takes, anytime, anywhere, anyway under the direction of the Holy Spirit to reach these people. They are more concerned about reaching and making disciples for Christ than they are for their comfort and personal concerns. They are excited about seeing believers in Christ grow to the point that they want to reach their friends, and even start new Bible study groups themselves to reach other friends. They want to be spiritual parents, grandparents, and even multiple generations.

Is this possible in today’s culture, where “most” of our churches are in plateau or decline; where less than ten percent of churches have experienced continuous growth? Yes, Yes, Yes.

It is not about our power, but our obedience to New Testament principles of biblical discipleship.

Any class in any church in any location CAN decide to surrender to the direction of the Holy Spirit to become a part of a movement of God to reach their community for Christ.

It is a matter of prayer and priorities.

____________________
Kiely Young
Mississippi


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Categories : 31 Days of Missionary Sunday School, Bible Study, Enlistment, Evangelism, Group Life, Growing your Group, Leadership, Learning, Ministry, Mission, New Groups, Outreach/Evangelism, Prayer, Small Groups, Sunday School, Teaching

Your People Group Assignment

By David Bond · Comments (0)
Wednesday, August 15th, 2012

This is day 15 of 31 Days of Missionary Sunday School.

 

Several years ago, I attended the International Mission Board commissioning service for some friends.  Although they were preparing to serve in Africa, if you had asked them who they intended to reach through their ministry they would have never said “Africans”.  Instead, my friends would have named a specific, identifiable people group about whom they had learned many details necessary for planning and carrying out an effective impact strategy among them.   Missionary agencies understand that “Everyone trying to reach everyone” results in duplicated efforts, confused strategies, and diluted resources.  A “People Groups” strategy results in clear assignment and accountability, concentrated resources, and enhanced equipping.

While your Church should have a vision for reaching everyone in your community, a Class may function more effectively with a more clearly defined focus.  Consider the following potential benefits for organizing your Sunday School around a People Groups strategy.

People Groups Help with Naming Classes – Determining what to call your groups can be a challenge.  Often, churches use an Organizational Name (Adult 2), a Chronological Name (Couples 30-39), A Creative Name (Faith Builders) or a Leader’s Name (Bill Smith Class).  Using People Group names (Parents of Teenagers) brings more detail, clarity, and consistency to naming classes in your ministry.

People Groups Help Form a Comprehensive Outreach Strategy – Not only do People Groups let you know who is represented in your outreach efforts, they may also identify who isn’t.  Organizing around People Groups helps the gaps in your Sunday School class line-up stand out.

People Groups Enable Leaders to Plan Better Learning Experiences – We often encourage teachers to prepare relevant discussion questions and teach lessons that lead learners to personal life application.  The difficulty of this increases when age ranges, family make-up, and other factors are widely diverse within the group. 

People Groups Give Leaders a Chance to Become “Experts” at their Role – Many resources and research projects are dedicated to the Millennial generation.  The same may also be said of the Baby Boomers now entering into their retirement years.  Any parent will tell you that things are much different when your kids are in elementary school than once they reach high school.  Leaders who prepare for only one of those age groups can dedicate themselves to learning much about their people group and can more easily make Bible truths connect to the specific life needs of their learners.  Training opportunities can also be more specifically customized for greater impact.

People Groups Help Organize Outreach – When prospective families are identified from Vacation Bible School, revival meetings, evangelistic events, community events, special services, and other sources, people groups provide churches with a clear structure for assigning them to Sunday School classes for follow up.

People Groups Help Connect Guests – When guests walk in the church for the first time and are looking for a Sunday School class to visit, people groups make it much easier for the greeters to help them get a head start on building relationships with those who share something in common with them.

While stating that “our classes are open to everyone” may sound like a noble position, that approach may actually be the very factor that is inhibiting growth.  A plan for reaching people groups may be what your Sunday School needs to begin working together as a real strategy for missionary impact.

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David Bond serves as Adult Sunday School Strategist for the Evangelism & Church Growth Team of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention.

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Categories : 31 Days of Missionary Sunday School, Bible Study, Evangelism, Group Life, Growing your Group, Learning, Ministry, Mission, New Groups, Outreach/Evangelism, Small Groups, Sunday School, Teaching
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