Archive for Organization – Page 3

The Role of Sunday School & the Impact on Family

By Chris Shirley · Comments (0)
Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012

In the LifeWay training guide, Missionary Sunday School, David Francis referred to a 1888 speech by Henry Clay Trumbull to emphasize that what goes around, comes around. In an address at Yale University Divinity School, Trumbull argued that “’family education’ was indeed stronger where Sunday Schools operated effectively.” To prove his point, Trumbull cited surveys indicating that “students entering university from upper-class families who did not ‘send their kids to Sunday School’ were far less biblically literate… than students from less fortunate families who attended Sunday School.” The implication is that Sunday School was an important and essential partner in family discipleship in the 19th century, and it remains so today.

The role of Sunday School and its impact on the family is much debated in the halls of church leadership today. On one end of the spectrum are those who would abolish Sunday School and placed the entire responsibility for spiritual training in the hands of the parents; on the other end are those who contend that children are better trained in a church-based program. Most leaders find themselves somewhere between the two points, trying to figure out how to leverage the best of what we do in Sunday School to support the efforts of parents to be the spiritual leaders God has called them to be.

Can I propose that one of the best strategies for training parents is adult Sunday School? If we intend to prepare the next generation of children to follow Christ faithfully and advance the Kingdom forcefully, they will need parents who are being well trained for this awesome responsibility. The effective adult Sunday School class is a place where parents can learn and respond to the word of God in a systematic and consistent process, develop a network of strong and supportive relationships to encourage them during the victories and the difficult times, and reach other parents with a gospel message that will impact their children as well.

Let’s examine each of these benefits:

Learning and Responding to the Word of God: In Deuteronomy 6:4-9, the Lord issues His first command to the children of Israel; He called them to love Him completely and to teach their children to do the same. This process would entail learning and responding (obeying) to His commands and then teaching these commands to the next generation. An effective Sunday School offers adults the opportunity to come together once a week for the purpose of intentional and interactive Bible study. The disciple-making process that starts in Sunday School should extend into the home. Parents who are solidly equipped in the Word will be more confident and capable of leading their children to love the Lord and respond to His love by obeying His commands.

Developing a Network of Strong and Supportive Relationships:
The importance of the relational component of Sunday School cannot be understated. Parents are faced with a monumental task as they bring children into the world and seek to raise healthy, well-adjusted sons and daughters. The Christian parent is even more challenged: to lead their children to faith in Jesus Christ and disciple them to become devoted followers of the Lord. These tasks cannot be accomplished in isolation; parents need the help and support of other parents.

To this end, the adult Sunday School serves as a weekly connection point for parents. A Sunday School class can become a “band of brothers (and sisters)” who care for one another, minister to each other, and provide mutual support during the good times and the bad. As minister of education at Wedgwood Baptist in Fort Worth, I saw this benefit in action. A few years ago, we started a “youth parents” class that was specifically designed for parents of teenagers who needed the encouragement and support of others like themselves. Some of these parents were going through difficult situations with their teenagers, and they knew of other parents in the community who could also benefit from a class like this. This group became a “safe harbor” for parents who needed the comfort, encouragement, and friendship of those who were making the same journey.

Reaching Other Parents with the Gospel: Children can learn how to lead a missional life by watching the example of their parents. Parents who take seriously their part in the Great Commission are powerful role models for their children. If adults are consistently and naturally sharing the gospel, their children are going to be more likely to do the same. The adult Sunday School class not only serve as a center for evangelistic training, but it can also be a “sending agency” as well. When adults commit to a missionary mindset in Sunday School, they will be witnessing in the harvest field during the week and inviting other parents to be a part of their Sunday School ministry. When mothers and fathers are won to Christ, their transformation will influence their children and extended family as well.

Age-segregated Sunday School has developed a bad reputation among family ministry proponents, and rightly so if segregation is leading parents to abdicate their God-given responsibility for spiritual leadership. Adult Sunday School is not, and should not be, a place to escape parental responsibility. Rather, it should be the parent’s best resource for developing disciples in life and disciple-makers at home.

____________________
Chris Shirley serves as Assistant Professor of Adult Ministry at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served at Minister of Education at Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas from 1997-2007

Comments (0)
Categories : Bible Study, Evangelism, Group Life, Growing your Group, Leadership, Learning, Ministry, Mission, New Groups, Organization, Outreach/Evangelism, Small Groups, Sunday School, Teaching, Transformation

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.

_________________________
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.

 

Comments (0)
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

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.
_________________________
Mark Donnell serves as the Sunday School/Discipleship Specialist for the Missouri Baptist Convention

Comments (1)
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

Supporting the Parents

By Marie Clark · Comments (0)
Tuesday, August 14th, 2012

This is day 14 of 31 Days of Missionary Sunday School.

Sunday School is for kids. NOT!

But that attitude has been prevalent among the general population for at least the last two or three generations. Parents feel good about sending their kids to Sunday School. They feel like their children will benefit from some religious instruction, yet they have no idea what to teach them or how. So sending them to Sunday School is a relief…they have done their religious “duty” with their children.

In contrast, God’s plan has always been for parents to be the spiritual leaders of their kids. (Read Deuteronomy 6:4-7.) Bible learning groups at church should supplement and enrich the parents’ instruction, not become a substitute for it. But what if they don’t know how…or why…or what?

A Sunday School with a missionary mentality will do its best to support the parents. Here are a few practical ways your Sunday School can support parents in becoming spiritual leaders in the home.

Kids Sunday School teachers, from preschool through youth, are key players:

  • Treat parents as partners. Make an effort to meet all of the parents and make some kind of contact with them at least 2-3 times a year. Let them know what you do and teach.
  • Take-home pages for preschoolers and grade-schoolers are helpful tools for parents. By reading the stories to their children and doing the suggested activities, parents can reinforce the Bible truth taught on Sunday.
  • Suggest that families establish a tradition while driving home after church on Sunday: each family member – including the parent – tells one thing they studied or learned during Bible study. These statements can often lead to short conversations about spiritual matters.

Adult Teachers have many opportunities to support parents:

I challenge you to choose at least one idea to put into practice starting this week.

___________________________________________________________
Marie Clark has served as Bible Teaching & Discipling Team Leader for the Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists since 1996. She is passionate about Sunday School and its impact on children and is a volunteer in her church’s Sunday School.

Comments (0)
Categories : 31 Days of Missionary Sunday School, Bible Study, Evangelism, Group Life, Leadership, Learning, Ministry, Mission, Organization, Outreach/Evangelism, Prayer, Small Groups, Sunday School, Teaching, Training, Vacation Bible School

Capitalize on Big Events!

By Mark Miller · Comments (0)
Monday, July 9th, 2012

Happy July 5!  Hope you and your family had a great 4th of July. It is certainly one of my favorite days of the year. My patriotism and love for America runs deep.   Yesterday started with Barbeque lunch, homemade Butterfinger Ice Cream, a trip to the movies to see The Amazing Spider Man
and ended with a trip to the Franklin (Tennessee) Fireworks display.

The Franklin Lions Club helps sponsor the Franklin on the Fourth activities, which ends with the annual fireworks display.  This was my first trip to Franklin’s fireworks and I want to compliment the Lion’s Club and the city for their patriotic spirit.  As I was driving home, I began to think how did the Lion’s Club benefit from the investment of time, energy, and cost of sponsoring the Franklin on the Fourth Extravagance.

Think about the events that your church provides and conducts throughout the year.  Hopefully, every church will offer Vacation Bible School this summer. Many children will come to know Christ and lots of prospective families will be discovered.  My former church in Clarksville annually has a Living Christmas Tree at Christmas and a major Easter Production.  Many churches provide other major events such as wild game dinners and Faith Rides.   In Tennessee, most of our smaller churches will still have homecoming or declaration events each year.

Whatever event that your church provides, how does your Sunday School benefit?  Have you taken the steps necessary to provide a positive experience for everyone involved? Do you have a follow-up plan after the event?

Let’s reflect on last’s night fireworks experience. First, I appreciate the Lion’s Club for sponsoring community events and hope that they will gain some new Lions as a result.  Since they have no clue who attended, they certainly have no way of following up on the thousands of Williamson County residents that participated.   Admittedly, this would have been impossible last night, but if you want to capitalize on big events, every person needs to be registered.

Second, the event itself needs to have a wow factor and a reason for gathering.  The reason for gathering was clear last night.  We were celebrating our country’s birth, but how do you promote the events that your church conducts. Last night the children were easily wowed, but personally the fireworks show was mediocre (one really impressive moment) compared to the show that my Sunday School class normally puts on at our usual 4th of July fellowship (Canceled due to a fireworks ban this year).  On second thought, maybe it just the relationship and fellowship that makes the Sunday School fellowship shout “wow”. 

Lastly, I tweeted …enjoyed the fireworks, but it certainly wasn’t worth the hassle.  The fireworks lasted 20 minutes, but it took almost 2 hours to get out of the parking lot.  I remember an Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by our church, where one of my daughters came back crying because she had failed to win the battle for the eggs.  If you are going to capitalize on big events, you need to do your best to overcome all the logistical issues.

My prayer is that your church will capitalize on Big Events and your Sunday School will benefit from the investment of time, energy, and cost of sponsoring your extravagances.

____________________________________
Dr. Mark Miller is the  Sunday School Specialist & Disciple-making Team Leader with the Tennessee Baptist Convention

 

 

Comments (0)
Categories : Leadership, Learning, Ministry, Organization, Outreach/Evangelism, Sunday School, Vacation Bible School
« Previous Page
Next Page »