Archive for Transformation – Page 3

Do More Than “Check Off the Squares”

By Marie Clark · Comments (0)
Tuesday, June 5th, 2012

Has this ever happened to you? After teaching a Bible study session, you mentally review the session:

  • Read all of the Scripture passage
  • Covered all the outline points
  • Used all of the planned teaching activities

So why do you feel like it didn’t make a difference with your members – that you were only “checking off the squares”?

I am an avid list-maker, but I have learned when teaching that it’s important to do more than check off the squares. God’s Word has the power to make a difference in people’s lives. And God has called me, as a teacher, to help others discover the truths of the Bible. I want to see lives transformed.

The following statement (author unknown) has helped me focus on what I want to happen during Bible study:  We aren’t just teaching the Bible; we are teaching people the Bible.

  • We aren’t just teaching the Bible—This first part focuses on biblical content, context, historical settings and customs. It’s easy for the session to become a history or literature lesson when Bible knowledge is the primary teaching aim
  • We are teaching people the Bible—This part of the statement is a reminder to consider the group members’ situations and needs. 1) Build relationships in order to know and minister to members. 2) Use content, context, and historical setting to provide a foundation for understanding what the Scripture is saying. 3) Also use teaching methods that help learners discover biblical truths for themselves personally. An encounter with God through His Word impacts how learners think and live. It makes a difference. Their lives are transformed!

One Idea for Transformational Teaching—How can a teacher go beyond teaching information to helping people experience transformation?  One key element is using stories. Teaching the grand story of the Bible is exciting, seeing how God’s story intersected with the peoples of ancient times. In addition, help members see how their personal stories fit into God’s story. Finally, provide opportunities for members to share their stories with each other for encouragement and inspiration. (Read more about using stories in the free download of The Discover Triad: Three Facets of a Dynamic Sunday School Class.)


Explore Transformational Teaching In-Depth—Obviously there are other elements in teaching for transformation. Watch for other blogs on this site. If you are within driving distance of Kansas City on August 25 or Atlanta (Dacula) on September 22, plan to attend the one-day TRANSFORM! Through Bible Teaching event. Go to www.lifeway.com/transform for registration and information. You won’t be sorry.

_____________________________________________________

Marie Clark is Team Leader for the Bible Teaching & Discipling Team, Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists. In addition to her passion for helping people teach people the Bible, she also enjoys her grandchildren and working in the yard.

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Categories : Leadership, Ministry, Organization, Small Groups, Sunday School, Teaching, Training, Transformation

Give Me This Day My Daily Bread

By Sean Keith · Comments (0)
Monday, August 22nd, 2011

Give Me This Day My Daily Bread: The Importance of a Personal Devotion

 

Food is fuel for the body. Much like food is to the body, the Word of God is fuel to our spirit. What amazes me is that as a society, we are driven to action if we discover a soul without food. And yet, we have millions of people everyday who are starving for spiritual food. A transformed life is someone who understands, practices and strives to consume the Word of God every day.

I admit; someday’s I don’t eat right. More importantly, some days I don’t feed myself spiritually like I should. Over the years I have learned a few tips that have helped to shape my “spiritual diet” and keep me “healthy” as a believer.

TIME AND PLACE – Oddly enough, some habits are good for you. Having a time and a place every day that you can be alone with God is a great way to start or end your day. Life happens. I know your schedule like mine gets interrupted. Because of that, it is even more important to make sure we start and/or end our day at the Lord’s table. Having a time and place makes that easier.

HAVE A PLAN – Use a devotional book; read the Bible through in a year; Read a chapter a day; Memorize scripture; Journal; and more. There is no one way to do a personal devotion. The key is to have a plan and to work that plan every day.

EVALUATE YOUR PLAN – Don’t get in a rut. Sometimes it is important to make sure that you keep your devotional time fresh. Buy a new devotional book; start in Revelation and go backwards; read 5 Psalms and 1 Proverb a day for a month; etc. Whatever you do, make it fresh.

BE CONSISTENT – If you miss a day, start again the next day. After awhile, you will begin to notice the difference when you miss a day. If it has been awhile since you have had a consistent “alone time” with God, commit right now to start today. It does make a difference.

The transformed life requires a daily conversation with God. Reading His Word and praying daily is the fuel to the “spiritual body” that prepares us for every good work. Be prepared in season and out. As food is to the body, so the Word of God is to your soul.

Sean P. Keith, Sunday School/Discipleship Strategist, Louisiana Baptist Convention

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Categories : 31 Days of Transformational Class, Bible Study, Prayer, Sunday School, Transformation

The Vibrant Sunday School Leader

By Belinda Jolley · Comments (0)
Thursday, August 11th, 2011

Eddy led her ladies Sunday School class to go to the community—literally. They moved their class to a senior adult multi-housing community on Sunday morning. When they focused more on the mission of God than where they had Bible study, God used them and is still using them in a great way to impact their city. They soon had a burden for children in nearby apartments and began tutoring them after school. Some took part in a ministry for children with terminal illnesses. The stories go on and on. Eddy is a vibrant leader, but she probably would not say that of herself.

“God is not calling leaders to be great. He is calling leaders to become platforms on which God displays His greatness.” Thom Rainer and Ed Stetzer use these words to describe vibrant leadership in transformational churches. I think the same is true of Sunday School leaders.

Vibrant or transformational leaders understand the church exists for the mission of God. Thom Rainer and Ed Stetzer admit vibrant leadership requires a shift in thinking that leads the whole church to engage in the mission of God, locally and globally. The old model of leadership focused on hoarding or retaining control. Transformational leaders seek to empower and multiply. Rainer and Stetzer described four shifts in thinking that must take place. They also apply to Sunday School.

  • From one to many leaders – Vibrant leaders understand the importance of every man and every woman.
  • From “me” to “we.” – Vibrant leaders know every person can be used to fulfill God’s mission.
  • From personal empowerment to people empowerment – Vibrant leaders are not only prepared to give away ministry, but enjoy doing so.
  • From church to the kingdom of God – Vibrant leaders are as concerned with the wider work of the kingdom of God as they are with the localized work of their class or the congregation. They know the kingdom of God births the church. Vibrant Sunday School leaders won’t complain if someone connects with another class or even another church. They are focused on helping build the kingdom of God beginning here on this earth.

Transformational leadership environments also value a team approach to ministry, a sharper mission focus, and new leadership priorities. These new leadership priorities advance leaders through the following steps:

  1. I join Him on mission (encounter level)
  2. I lead others to join Him on mission (influence level)
  3. I lead others to lead others, to join Him on mission (leading leaders level)
  4. I lead others to lead others to lead others to join Him on mission (movement level)

At this “movement” level you will see large numbers of people converted to Christ and new churches started. The movement of God moves so far so fast away from the original leader that he cannot possibly get credit for the results. The major shift here is to a God-sized vision. Rainer and Stetzer describe this shift as from, “What if I can pick an apple for God?” to “What if I can influence leaders in multiple orchards to pick apples for God?” These multiple orchards will produce and harvest fruit for multiple generations of people groups everywhere. Think about the impact one class can have when they are part of a missional movement.

Remember, God is not calling leaders to be great. He is calling leaders to become platforms on which God displays His greatness. Let God show off through your Sunday School class!

_____________________

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

Sources
Transformational Class: Transformational Church

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Goes to SundaySchool by David Francis

Chapter 4 (pages 71-98) of Transformational Church: Creating a New Scorecard for Congregations by Ed Stetzer and Thom S. Rainer.

 

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Categories : 31 Days of Transformational Class, Sunday School, Transformation

Transformational Church Goes to Sunday School

By David Francis · Comments (2)
Monday, August 1st, 2011

In the twelve months since the release of the book by Ed Stetzer and Thom Rainer reporting its findings, the Transformational Church research project has already begun to create a buzz within

the Sunday School and Small Group movements. A lot of leaders are asking this question: “What might it our Sunday School class or small group looklike if it reflected the seven elements found in the Transformational Churches?” I’ve attempted to answer that question in a little book, Transformational Class: Transformational Church Goes to Sunday School.

Seven Elements

In the Spring of 2009, a team of LifeWay consultants fanned out across the country to conduct interviews with pastors from multiple denominations whose churches scored in the top ten percent of the initial quantitative research phase of the Transformational Church project. It is my privilege to lead that team, which assembled in Nashville to debrief this qualitative phase with LifeWay Research VP Ed Stetzer. It was amazing to hear that what I had recorded in my interviews with pastors in New England was also observed by our consultants across the country and across denominational lines. Want to know what the seven elements are? Visit www.transformationalchurch.com!

Missional small communities

If you’ve ever heard Dr. Stetzer speak, you’ve likely heard him exhort church leaders to get people out of rows, into circles, and from those circles to engage them in missional activity in their communities and beyond. I believe that a group that intentionally pursues the seven TC elements will likely become that kind of class: a Transformational Class!

The Power of One Class

If you’ve ever heard me speak, you’ve likely heard me exhort Sunday School and small group leaders about the power of each and every class to choose to become a group that practices the 3 R’s of a Great Commission group: reaching people for Christ, releasing people to serve, and reproducing itself for Kingdom impact. The seven elements can help guide such intentionality in every one of the 400,000-plus Sunday School classes in Southern Baptist churches, as well as small groups and classes beyond the SBC.

 

From seven elements to thirty topics

I am so grateful for my friends who serve as the champion for Sunday School in the 42 state conventions that serve Southern Baptist churches. While most of them wear multiple hats, I think of them first of all as State Sunday School Directors. It is in that role that these outstanding men and women sponsor this blog. They have identified thirty topics that relate to a transformational class. Each day this month, they will tackle one of these topics. By the time you’ve read them all, you should have a pretty good grasp on the kinds of attitudes and actions it will take to turn your Sunday school class into a transformational small community. I’m looking forward to reading every one. Hope you are, too!

_____________________

David Francis, Director
Sunday School, Discipleship,
Church & Network Partnerships
LifeWay Church Resources

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Categories : Teaching, Transformation

A Transformed Life – It Began With Sunday School

By Richard Nations · Comments (0)
Tuesday, April 5th, 2011

Maria is a single mom in our church in West Des Moines, Iowa.  She has a little boy who is in elementary school.  About a year ago, our church asked the guidance counselor at the elementary school where our church meets to give us names of families needing a little help with food during the Christmas holiday season. Maria and her boy were identified to us and we helped them with a food basket.  Later they started attending our Sunday school.

I met Maria in our class one day and I was surprised at the refreshing, honest questions she was asking.  She would ask questions like “Why would God do that?” and “So how does a person know God?”

Our adult class encourages discussion.  We sit in a circle and the conversation, questions and stories are always lively. Maria is Hispanic and was Roman Catholic.  She knew of God in only a distant way.  After several months of studying the Scriptures and hearing the Word preached, she responded to the gospel invitation one Sunday morning to ask Jesus to come into her life in a personal way.

She has been baptized and is actively sharing her new faith where she works and with her extended family.  It began in our Sunday school class where open discussion and real-life application is always stressed as the Bible study unfolds each week.  Our class members are a diverse mix of long-time believers and brand new seekers of the Lord.  We have a couple of ladies from a halfway house attending.  A few of the members struggle with addictions.  Some of our folks have been believers for a long time.  But in the class all the walls come down and the discussion flows around the Bible passages.  Our teacher is quick to tell stories that reveal his own honest struggles. As he often says, “We are on this journey together.”  His stories of spiritual transformation are often followed with honest stories and questions from the class. 

Are you seeing lives transformed in your Sunday school ministry?  Encourage members to share, to ask honest questions.  Don’t be in a hurry to always finish the Bible passage for the day.  Help your class be a discussion-oriented class.  Reflect on what the Bible passages mean for our lives.  And by all means, reach out to the lost, those struggling with life, those who hurt, who are hungry and need the Lord in their lives.   

Are you seeing lives transformed in your Sunday school ministry?  Leave us a comment and tell us about spiritual transformation in your church and class.

_______________

Richard Nations is the Church Health Team Leader for the Baptist Convention of Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa.  Contact him at rnations@bciowa.org.

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Categories : Sunday School, Transformation
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