Archive for Teaching – Page 4

Lead Your Members to Live the Gospel

By Mark Yoakum · Comments (0)
Monday, September 5th, 2016

helpWHY DOES THIS MATTER? Each week there are many Sunday School Teachers who study hard to find new information their class members do not know about a Bible passage and they are eager to share that information on Sunday.   While this is commendable, it is not what the role of the teacher should be.   The role of the teacher is to get his or her members to live the Gospel.   Jesus said:

Matthew 28:19-20 (NASB)
19  “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,  20  teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

WHAT DO I DO? A teacher wants a member to live the gospel or to observe all that Christ commanded.   It takes work.  Dr. Leroy Ford, an expert on the teaching/learning environment, stated that “no one will work to accomplish someone else’s goal.”   If that is true, we cannot afford to just tell members of the truths; we have to  help them to discover the truths themselves and apply it to their own lives.   This requires getting the members to engage through questions and activities which require them to think about the passage and how it affects their own lives.

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Dr. Mark Yoakum, Director of Church Ministries, Southern Baptists of Texas Convention.

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Categories : 100 Small Changes, Teaching, Transformation
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What Is Your Group’s Primary Purpose, Really?

By Darryl Wilson · Comments (0)
Saturday, August 29th, 2015

PrimaryA group leader recently shared with me his understanding of Sunday School. His overarching terms were worship, community, and evangelism. With his spiritual gifts of teaching and leadership, he felt most effective in teaching and fellowship. As we talked more, he shared natural, organic efforts by his group at outreach. His groups tended to grow during the course of the year.

Groups are composed of and led by people who have differing personalities, experiences, abilities, passions, and gifts. Sometimes group members shape the focus or primary purpose of their group. Often leaders do so. I often hear teaching mentioned as the primary purpose. Occasionally I hear fellowship and ministry mentioned. Rarely I hear outreach and evangelism mentioned.

There is nothing wrong with admitting a preference for one purpose and doing it well. But group growth can settle for nothing less than work done on three purposes: reaching, teaching, and caring (or mission, formation, and connection as shared by David Francis and Rick Howerton in Countdown.)

Without reaching, there will be no group to teach. Without care (ministry, fellowship, connection), the group will leak out, and there will be no group left to teach. Without good teaching, our outreach and care will not keep them coming back. Which can we neglect without suffering the consequences? None!

In a tiny group (2 or 3 people), one person may need to lead in all three purposes. But as a group grows beyond tiny, there will usually be members whose gifts, personalities, and passions equip them to be able to serve to lead one of these three purposes for the class. But someone must prayerfully enlist them!

When a teacher has someone leading the group in outreach and member care, he or she is like Moses leading Israel to fight Amelek in Exodus 17. When Aaron and Hur held up his arms, they were able to win the battle. The teacher can focus on his/her primary purpose of teaching, while the outreach leader focuses on his/her primary purpose of outreach and the member care leader focuses on his/her primary purpose of member care. With three champions, all three purposes can be carried out well.

It is difficult (or impossible) alone to do everything. But with balance and teamwork, growth is natural. Make sure the purposes are given to someone who can make them their focus. Then ask them to help you lead the class to accomplish them all!

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Categories : 31 Day Countdown, Ministry, Outreach/Evangelism, Teaching
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Space for Our Groups to Operate

By Darryl Wilson · Comments (0)
Tuesday, August 11th, 2015

TinyClassroomDo you love or hate the space in which your group meets? The best space is nearly invisible. It fits. There are no distractions like noise, glare, smell, etc. The temperature is just right. The encounter with God in His Word is fresh, fun, and life-changing with never a thought about the room.

But space is also a function of group size. A small group in a large space can feel depressed. A large group in a small space can feel excited while at the same time feeling crowded, dangerous, and uncomfortable.

Going a bit farther, space and group size impacts social dynamics within the teaching and learning environment. Let me share about the three most relevant group sizes from Joseph Myers’ The Search to Belong: Rethinking Intimacy, Community, and Small Groups. Think about them this way:

  • INTIMATE. You tend to know a lot about these people. How you teach one or two persons is a lot different. You share more honestly. This might include subgroups during group time or even prayer partners. Teaching and learning is more conversational.
  • PERSONAL. These groups might include a dozen. You tend to know names and stories. As group size increases past six, watch the teaching-learning expectation shift toward the teacher talking more. Home groups and smaller classes, especially in smaller churches, often have groups this size.
  • SOCIAL. You know many names and some stories. There is not time for everyone to talk. Lecture is common. Involvement demands subgrouping, which is facilitated best in open space. These are often larger classes, often in larger churches.

Make the most of your space and group size. In order to make disciples (as Jesus commanded in the Great Commission), don’t allow your room size (space) to dictate your methods. Personal and social size groups can change up teaching-learning dynamics simply by breaking the group into subgroups for part of group time. Spend time with individuals away from group time. Your investment in these ways can change you, them, and the group.

Also, expect your group to grow maturationally and numerically. But with growth comes change in group dynamics. Lead the way with care and sensitivity. Make the most of your space!

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Darryl Wilson serves as Sunday School & Discipleship Consultant for the Kentucky Baptist Convention. He served as Minister of Education in five churches in Kentucky and South Carolina and is the author of The Sunday School Revolutionary!, a blog about life-changing Sunday School and small groups.

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Categories : 31 Day Countdown, Space, Teaching
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Principles for Transformational Small Group Bible Study

By Phil Stone · Comments (0)
Thursday, October 18th, 2012

This is article ten of a ten part series. Click here to view the previous article.

Principle Seven: Application

The lesson had gone well. The class seemed to be engaged in the Bible study, and the teams have demonstrated creatively their understanding of the biblical truth in their passages. Several of the prospects the care groups had been cultivating had come and had participated in the discussion. Some had even shared an interest in knowing more about the gospel. Then it happened; the grand exodus! Just as the teacher was bringing the lesson to a meaningful time of application, choir members got up, gathered their Bibles, coats, purses, etc. and started leaving the room. All eyes followed them. The guests didn’t know what was happening. It was evident that the session was over even though the teacher was still talking.

This is a tragedy that repeats itself Sunday after Sunday in Baptist churches. Allow me a personal privilege: I have been a worship leader in many churches both large and small. I have always told my choir, “Don’t you dare leave Sunday School early to get to choir!” Think about it; when is the Holy Spirit doing his greatest work…, During the application stage of the lesson. That’s when the grand choir exodus takes place. When the choir leaves so do the minds of those left behind. If there is a lost person attending with whom God is working, his mind is taken off the focus of the lesson and off the biblical truth and the Holy Spirit’s work is hindered. I always told my choirs, If we don’t have it by Wednesday night rehearsal, we won’t get it 5 minutes before the worship service. Stay in Sunday School to the end, then come and God will bless our music. Choir can wait. That Sunday School hour is sacred unto God for Bible study.

The principle of application is critical to transformational small group Bible study. Biblical knowledge or content is not enough for transformation to happen. Learners need to discover Bible truths that are transformational and then understand ways to apply them into their life style…so they will take it home! The aim of any Bible study session is to guide the learner to discover Bible truths that are life changing and to apply the truths learned.

Application grows out of the teaching aim of the session and should answer these three questions:

  • What do I need to learn from this study?
  • What do I plan to do with what I will learn?
  • What change should take place in my life as a result of this study?

Application activities should help learners accomplish the teaching aimed during the session and apply it beyond the session. The application stage should progress from general to specific:

  • General application to LEARNERS: What are some ways LEARNERS can apply this truth to life?
  • Specific application to YOU: What is one way YOU will apply this truth this week?

This past Sunday as we studied Joshua 1:1-18 and Joshua as the new leader for Israel after Moses, I asked my class to brainstorm: (General) What can we all learn from Joshua’s leadership? I wrote their answers on a tear sheet on the wall. Then I handed each a “Post it Note” and said, (Specific) What is one way you will put into practice this week what you’ve learned from God’s Word about leadership? I encouraged them to put this note in their Bible at Joshua 1 to serve as a reminder. If they do this on a regular basis, soon they will have their Bible

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populated with notes reminding them of how they might be applying biblical truths they’ve learned in small group Bible study.

Let’s take it a step further. Transformational strategies must reach beyond the Bible study time as leaders help learners appropriate biblical truths into a missional lifestyle. Good relationships are developed through regular fellowships, ball games, retreats and ministry actions to members, but nothing beats a missional ministry to the community and to the lost. This helps members move the biblical truths discovered into a missional lifestyle. Quarterly Missional Projects in the community help learners appropriate biblical truths into life. The best appropriation actions are those that emerge from the Bible study. For example, our Sunday School class, following a unit of study about the Annunciation and Birth of Jesus decided to have a Baby Shower for the “Son of the Most High”. They collected baby gifts during the unit and gave them to a needy family in the community.

Jesus understood that knowledge was not enough. After telling the religious scholar the story of the Good Samaritan about how to treat your neighbor, Jesus told him to Go and do the same. Jesus knew that truth must always be applied and appropriated into real life if it is to be truly transformational.

For a compilation of this information and these principles plus a Bible Study Session Plan Sheet go to:

www.leaderesource.org – click on Sunday School and choose General Leaders. Select module 2: Transformational Bible Study – Resource.
____________________________
Phil Stone is the State Sunday School Director for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.

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Categories : Bible Study, Learning, Ministry, Small Groups, Sunday School, Teaching

Principles for Transformational Small Group Bible Study

By Phil Stone · Comments (0)
Thursday, October 11th, 2012

This is article nine of a ten part series. Click here to view the previous article.

Principle Six: Examination

Let’s review some of the statements made during this series of blog articles:

  • Definitions: Learning is discovery. Teaching is facilitating discovery. A teacher is a coach to discovery.
  • The teacher’s task to set up experiences so the learner can discover for himself Bible truths that transform.
  • Transformational Philosophy: Where there is no involvement there is no learning.
  • Philosophy Question: How do we keep learners actively Involved as they examine the Scripture passages?

Involvement can be as simple as connecting learners in pairs for discussing an idea; connecting 3-5 learners in small teams for answering questions; asking teams to tell back and demonstrate the biblical truth they discovered in their assigned passage using a creative method. Methods might include: art, drama, music, verbal, paper/pencil, games. Usually, the procedures in the Leader Guide provide creative methods that can be used or adapted to meet the needs of learners. But, I’ve found that when procedures do not

fit my group, I use the following Methods Processthat involves learners:

  1. Divide group into learning teams of 3-5 learners each.
  2. Each team is given written assignments. These are decided in planning meeting. The statement I hear more than any is, My class won’t do any of this creative stuff. How can I get them to do it? ALWAYS give written assignments! This creates a sense of responsibility on the learner. Even senior adults respond to a written assignment. Then, gently hold the group accountable for doing the assignment by encouraging and coaching them; giving them suggestions; and affirming what they do. Remember, the product is not important; it’s the process of learning that is significant.
  3. Steps in Methods Process: Read, Research, Discover, Create, Present

(1) Read: Each team is assigned a portion of the focal Bible passage. Usually the passage is divided into 3-4 sections. The leader asks the team to select a member to read their assigned passage aloud so all learners can hear the passage at the same time. This keeps slow/non-readers involved.

(2) Research: Each team is assigned the corresponding commentary in the Learner Guide, Leader guide, or commentary. Again, the team asks a member to read the commentary aloud.

(3) Discover: Each team is given 3-4 questions to discover the answers and briefly discuss:

  • What happened in the Bible passage? What are the facts?
  • What did the Bible passage mean originally?
  • What does the Bible passage mean to me?


    • (4) Create    : Assign to each team a suggested creative method to use to tell back and demonstrate to the group the Bible truths discovered. The method can range from simply writing the answers to the Discover Questions on a visual or to using one of the basic methods: Art, Paper/Pencil, Drama, Verbal, Games. Change creative methods to keep this approach fresh. Remember, the best method is the one the team chooses to do, so they may ignore your suggestion.

    (5) Practice and Present: Teams have 15 minutes to prepare a 3 minute presentation. Teams are given adequate time to complete assignment, then teams present work to large group. It is frustrating and ineffective to use this approach if teams are not given adequate time to discover, prepare, and complete their assignment. However, encourage teams to answer quickly the Discover Questions and move to the creative part ASAP. The leader sits while teams present, and then uses information shared plus information from the Leader Guide Commentary to add to and tie together the facts and Bible truths presented by each team. The leader then facilitates discussion of the relevance of Bible truths for today and encourages learners to share stories of where the passage intersects with life experiences. The focus stays on the Bible Truth for the session and relates to the unit as a whole.

    This past Sunday we studied Joshua 1:1-18. Here’s a sample team assignment:
    Team One
    Read: Joshua 1:1-18; focal passage vv. 5-9

    Research: P. 16, Rely on God’s Presence – Learner Guide

    Discover:

  • What was God’s repeated exhortation to Joshua as a leader – vv. 6, 7, 9?
  • Why do you think God needed to repeat this command?
  • How can we be strong and courageous even in the face of challenges and/or failures?


    • Create:     Interview Joshua and one or more of the Israelites. What were they feeling; what were their fears?
    How did they express confidence in God; Joshua?

    Present: You have 15 minutes to prepare a 3 minute presentation.
    ____________________________
    Phil Stone is the State Sunday School Director for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.

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    Categories : Bible Study, Organization, Small Groups, Sunday School, Teaching
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