Archive for New Groups – Page 4

Our Challenge Forward – Seize the Movement

By Bob Mayfield · Comments (0)
Friday, August 31st, 2012

You may remember the moment in the movie Dead Poets Society when the teacher showed the boys in his poetry class a showcase containing pictures of great legends. These were men who graduated on to become politicians, businessmen, and entrepeneurs. Moving behind the boys as they stared the pictures, the teacher began speaking softly, “Carpe diem… Carpe diem… Seize the day boys… Seize the Day!”

From the days of Robert Raikes and John Wesley in the 1700’s; Stephen Paxson and the American Sunday School Union in the 1800’s; and Arthur Flake, Prince Burroughs, J.N. Barnette, Harry Piland and hundreds of thousands of Sunday School teachers in the 1900’s;  men and women have seized the day and shared the Gospel and taught God’s Word to cute little preschoolers, rambunctious children, energetic teens, and preoccupied adults. They were all part of God’s movement to bring the Gospel not just to America, but around the world.

It is now the 21st century, and a movement is growing. It is a movement that is taking hold in places like Louisiana, Mississippi, and Kentucky. Church leaders; pastors, Sunday School teachers, directors, and home group leaders: are recognizing the way to move the Gospel forward in this century is by inviting people into a relationship with Christ by inviting them to their group. But to reach more people with the Gospel, new groups must be started.

New Groups! It is a movement that is both a throwback to the old days of missionary Sunday Schools; yet it is also counter-cultural to today’s attitude that bigger is better. Many of our churches have not started a new group in years… ummm, maybe decades. But the addition of just a new group or two can break years of declining attendance and bring new people into the church. Fresh energy and a revived realization that the church is not just here for us, but that the great salvation that we have been blessed with is also available to others in our neighborhoods, schools, and work places. It is no secret that when the church starts accomplishing its mission of reaching the lost with the Gospel, great things happen. Acts 2 and Acts 11 are examples.

Unlike many programs available to churches today, starting a new group isn’t really a program. It is a necessity. A new group is one of those rare evangelism and discipleship strategies that can be started by any church regardless of location, size, or ethnicity. A new group does not cost much money or even require a building. You need a leader, a Bible, a place to meet, and some passion.

There is a movement afoot in the American church. Your church may have tried the hip programs, the big events, and invited all the cool speakers… and a couple of months later you found yourself in the exact same place you were in before.

New groups are different. They are going to require steady work – so work it!

You are going to have to spend time developing a few leaders – spend the time!

You are going to have some naysayers – prove them wrong!

After you have listened to all of the objections; looked at the work required; and tried to reason things out and make sense of it all; ask yourself this question…

Is it worth it?

There is only one way to join the new groups movement… start a new group!

So what are you waiting for?

Carpe diem…

______________________

Bob Mayfield is the Sunday School and Small Group specialist for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. Bob also writes on his own blog… bobmayfield.com

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Categories : New Groups, Sunday School

Train your Replacement

By Daniel Edmonds · Comments (1)
Thursday, August 30th, 2012

This is 30 of 31 Days of Missionary Sunday School.


I remember my first meeting with the Sunday School Director at my new church. He said, “We know we need to start new classes, but we are facing the age-old question: where do you get the leaders?” I responded, “There is a reason it is the age-old question, no one has answered it, and I don’t have an answer either.” He stared at me, shaking his head with disappointment. “However, the Bible never asks that question,” I said. “The Bible is filled with examples of leaders training new leaders.” The question is, “Are your leaders developing new leaders?”

The Bible gives numerous examples of training your replacement: Elijah and Elisha, Jesus with the disciples, Paul and Timothy, and Timothy with faithful men. Training leaders capable of taking the reins of ministry should be a focal point of leaders according to Ephesians 4. Each of these Biblical leaders gives us some insight in training a replacement; prayerful enlistment, personal preparation, participatory development, and a plan for multiplication.

Elijah – How do I know who I should enlist?
There are several unforgettable scenes in the life of Elijah such as the fire of God falling at Mount Carmel and Elijah’s whirlwind ride to heaven. Another unforgettable scene took place at Horeb where Elijah felt he was the only leader left. Perhaps this is the Old Testament rendition of ‘where do you get the leaders’ as Elijah believed he was the last in his line of prophets. God sent a strong wind, a powerful earthquake, and a blistering fire, but He was not found by Elijah in any of the three elements. Then there was a gentle whisper, and Elijah heard the voice of God. God assured Elijah that he was not alone and sent him to anoint Elisha as a prophet to take his place. God still provides us with an Elisha if we will listen to his voice. Your Elisha may not be a likely candidate, but through prayer, God will reveal His choice servant to you.

Jesus – How do I train them?
Reading through the Gospel of Luke is an excellent way to discover a model of leadership and multiplication. Real leaders must go through a time of personal, spiritual preparation where they are securely rooted in the Word of God. In Luke 4, Jesus demonstrated this personal preparation as he overcame life’s greatest temptations through the Word. Reading further in Luke, one can see how such preparation is necessary when calling others to follow your example to become ‘fishers of men.’
In Luke 9, Jesus gives an example of participatory development. He had called the disciples alongside so that they could participate in the mission. As chapter 9 unfolds, one can see how this participatory development moves to a new level as he sends the disciples out on a ‘field test.’ He sent them out empowered, equipped, and educated for what would take place. In training a replacement, one should call the apprentice alongside and then give him or her opportunities for a ‘field test’ of what has been learned. Empower, equip, and educate your apprentice for what lies ahead.

Paul – How should I release them to serve?
Paul gives leaders some tips of how to release new leaders into service. Learn to celebrate the accomplishments and value of the apprentice. Paul, in Philippians 2:20 – 22 (NAS), said Timothy was like “no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare” and celebrated his “proven worth” in sharing the Gospel. Celebrate the value of the new leaders and release them with a plan for multiplication as Paul did with Timothy. Paul, in his second letter to Timothy, encouraged his prized pupil to take those things that he had learned and pass them on to “faithful men, who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2 NAS). Train your replacement and send him or her out with a plan to multiply.

_____________________________
Daniel Edmonds, State Missionary, Director of the Office of Sunday School & Discipleship, Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions

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

The Two-Year Principle

By Daniel Edmonds · Comments (0)
Wednesday, August 29th, 2012

This is post 29 of 31 Days of Missionary Sunday School.

A frequently asked question of many Sunday School leaders is, “When is a Sunday School class too large?” Typically the question is asked by someone who is aware of the rule of thumb regarding a cap on enrollment. Through the years, this rule suggested starting a new class before the class enrollment reached twenty-five, but situations and circumstances have caused many to rethink or disregard this limit on enrollment.

There have always been other factors to consider as well.  One rule that is hard to break is the capacity rule. Simply put, the capacity of the classroom determines the size of the group. It is hard to consistently exceed eighty percent of the room’s capacity in attendance.

Capability of class leaders is another factor to consider when deciding if a new group should be started. It is always good to maintain a healthy leader to learner ratio to maximize the competency of all leaders. When the ratio is unhealthy, leaders are stretched beyond their ability to minister effectively. However, even with a healthy ratio, some teachers do not like larger classes because it strains at their availability. Some teachers want personal involvement with each class member, and this interaction can become difficult when the membership grows ‘too’ large.

The contribution rule is one that I personally consider when evaluating a group. Is this group contributing to the overall mission of the Sunday School? Is it maximizing its potential for being on mission, developing disciples, starting new groups, and sending out leaders? When a group begins to fail at reaching its potential, then the group may be losing focus on the mission. A group can become inward focused and stagnant when it ceases to make a significant contribution to the mission of the Sunday School.

These four factors are helpful ‘rules of thumb’ for keeping groups on-mission in Sunday School. There is another factor that captures the essence of each of these four factors: the two-year principle. The two year principle tends to be the   ‘rule’ with virtually no exception.

In two years, a class tends to reach its maximum enrollment and attendance capacity, form tight-knit relationships, decrease in opportunities for someone to assume a leadership role, and become unwilling to send people out in leadership or to start a new group. At two years, groups are still open to newcomers but will do well to add one person for every person that leaves.

Though the group is open for new members, many guests will find it difficult to get connected. In two years, friendships grow deeper among existing members, and ‘outsiders’ are not be able to penetrate the inner circle of relationships. It is healthy for members to develop meaningful relationships in a small group, so each group must consistently start new groups to allow others to get connected in fellowship.

In two years, class leadership is well established, and few leadership opportunities remain for newcomers. The best way to create new opportunities for leadership and service is to start a new group. New groups demand more leaders and create new opportunities for serving the Lord. New groups tend to focus on new people and will assist their members in finding friends, becoming disciples, and serving.
__________________________
Daniel Edmonds, State Missionary, Director of the Office of Sunday School & Discipleship, Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions

 

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Categories : 31 Days of Missionary Sunday School, Bible Study, Enlistment, Leadership, Learning, Ministry, Mission, New Groups, Small Groups, Sunday School, Teaching

The Principle of Three

By Belinda Jolley · Comments (0)
Tuesday, August 28th, 2012

This is day 28 of 31 Days of Missionary Sunday School

 

Some people can easily identify patterns or trends in everyday life. David Francis identified some patterns involving three things. The following paragraph describes David Francis’ principle of three found in Missionary Sunday School:

“As a general rule, you need three leaders to start a new class. Three words often used to describe the purposes of Sunday School are teach, minister, and reach. One could also describe the purpose in terms of discover, connect, and invite. There

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is a subtle difference between these sets of descriptors. Teach, minister, and reach are usually directed by the SS organization or its leaders. Discover, connect, and invite are three things every class member can do. A group where members—not just leaders–embrace these three dimensions is more likely to be a missionary Sunday School class. The basic idea is that each class has at least three members/leaders that accept primary responsibility for one of the three dimensions, even as they share responsibility for them all.” David Francis, Missionary Sunday School (page 46)

In order for these to be principles, we should expect to see these three things repeated in effective Sunday Schools—Missionary Sunday Schools, that is. I would add a few other principles of three. Steve and I enjoy starting new classes. We have discovered that a core leadership team can only survive three generations (3 class starts) before becoming a deeply rooted class itself. The core leaders need to form at least two leadership teams which accelerates the starting of more new classes.

If someone misses three consecutive weeks of Sunday School, they are much more apt to never reconnect. That’s why missionary Sunday School classes want to and expect to contact every person every week.

Sunday School directors need to ask every Sunday School teacher three things.

  • How is your ministry with (age group) going?
  • Do you have everything you need?
  • How can I pray more specifically for you?

Strong relationships are built from these three simple questions. Most teachers will go on to tell you something about why their ministry is going (or not going) well. It gives you a chance to hear stories you may otherwise miss. You also might be surprised to find that most teachers do not ask for money. Most of their needs involve the use of shared space, better communication, etc. All teachers know you care if you find out how to pray for them and know you do so.

You can probably add other principles of three yourself. Consider using one principle of three at each leadership meeting.
___________________
Belinda Jolley serves as the Director of the Adult Ministry Office of the South Carolina Baptist Convention. Belinda and her husband, Steve, enjoy starting new classes at First Baptist Church in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

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Categories : 31 Days of Missionary Sunday School, Bible Study, Enlistment, Evangelism, Leadership, Learning, Ministry, Mission, New Groups, Prayer, Small Groups, Space, Space and Facilities, Sunday School, Teaching, Training

Providing Space

By Rick Ellison · Comments (1)
Sunday, August 26th, 2012

This is day 26 of 31 Days of Missionary Sunday School.

Providing Sunday School space effects multiple parts of your church’s ministry. In Mark 2, Jesus was teaching in the house one day. The place was packed out and there was no more space, not even in the doorway. Four men carried a paralytic to be healed by Jesus, but there was no room for him. The men removed the roof and lowered the man on the mat down to Jesus. Healing took place and this man’s life would always be richer for the healing experience.

Providing adequate Sunday School space impacts your ministry in many ways. It allows for the starting of new Sunday School classes where new people may be reached. It allows for existing Sunday School classes to be able to include new people. It effects the number of people receiving Christ and being baptized in your church. It effects the number of people growing through life changing Bible study. It effects the number of people receiving ministry.

When space is provided and new adult classes are started it has a dramatic impact on financial giving to the church. When new adult classes are started there will typically be an average attendance increase of about 10 people per class somewhere in the organization. I recently studied a church where the average per capita giving was about $47.00 per Sunday per attender. If the church started five new adult Sunday School classes and the average attendance increased by 50 people per Sunday, can you imagine the financial impact? That would translate to an increased giving for ministry and missions to $2,350 per Sunday or$122,200 per year.

The office that relates to Sunday School in your state convention can be a valuable resource in helping you to evaluate the amount you need and use of your space. They can often help you project future attendance and giving as you increase the Sunday School organization. Please remember that you should assess your Sunday School space, because 80% full capacity can begin to inhibit your growth.
___________________________
Rick Ellison: Office of Leadership/Church Health at Alabama Baptist Convention State Board of Missions

 

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Categories : 31 Days of Missionary Sunday School, Bible Study, Ministry, New Groups, Small Groups, Space, Sunday School, Teaching
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