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Revitalize Your Sunday School or Small Group Ministry!
Study the above picture and think deeply about the strategy that is taking place in this small group Bible study.
They are sitting in a circle.
Communication is always better when it is done face-to-face. They are sitting close to one another like friends. If you want to build better friendships, don't sit across the room from one another or in rows.
Shared Leadership
Each person is taking a turn to help lead the Bible study. This increases learning and helps develop more leaders who might ultimately help you start more groups in the future.
Leader #1
The class begins by sharing some personal things about how life is going - what was stressful and what they were thankful for. Then they share prayer requests and everyone is prayed for every time they meet together.
Leader #2
All the class members are asked to read the entire chapter before they come to class, even if the "lesson" is only part of the chapter. We are helping people develop a habit of reading the Bible for themselves, not depending on someone else to tell them about it. We are also asking everyone to pick out a few things that stood out to them. We are asking them to be ready to share one or two of those things with the class. When they do this, everyone in the class becomes a "teacher." All the class members learn from one another, they gain insight, they get to know one another more deeply, and they gain confidence speaking about their faith.
Leader #3
The lesson from the Quarterly (or whatever you have chosen in your small group) is a key passage in the chapter you read that you are focusing on. For example, you might have read John Chapter 4, but the key passage could be the story of the woman at the well. So, the third leader could read the key passage out loud.
Leader #4
Asking a different person every week to tell the key passage in their own words is a creative learning tool that is fun to use. When a person knows they will be telling the story in their own words, they read the passage over and over again and it helps them really focus on remembering the details.
Leader #5
The next leader can ask discussion questions that let everyone in the group participate. Discussion facilitators have to be patient and help everyone in the group be part of the conversation. Your goal is not to get one "right" answer. Your goal is to help everyone in the group think about the Bible story - what it means and how it can apply it to their life. You can use the questions from your Quarterly book, you can write your own questions, or you can use various standard questions that pertain to any passage in the Bible like the ones pictured here.
Leader #6
If you want the "Sunday School teacher" or the "Small Group teacher" to lecture every week (it isn't necessary) then this might be the time for them to do that. They could take 5 minutes, or at the most ten minutes, to summarize the main takeaway points from the chapter. If the teacher does this at the beginning, he is taking away the motivation for class members to share what they learned. Instead of the "teacher" being the hero, you want the class members to be the hero.
Leader #7
There are two things I recommend that your class do on a regular basis. One, have a monthly fellowship party for your class and encourage them to invite a friend, neighbor or family member. This can be a very fruitful opportunity to reach out to new people. Second, schedule some service projects throughout the year - maybe one every other month or so. They could be a service project to help the church, a member of the church, or someone in the community who is not part of your church. A project on a Saturday morning for 2 hours might be an example.
Study the above picture and think deeply about the strategy that is taking place in this small group Bible study.
They are sitting in a circle.
Communication is always better when it is done face-to-face. They are sitting close to one another like friends. If you want to build better friendships, don't sit across the room from one another or in rows.
Shared Leadership
Each person is taking a turn to help lead the Bible study. This increases learning and helps develop more leaders who might ultimately help you start more groups in the future.
Leader #1
The class begins by sharing some personal things about how life is going - what was stressful and what they were thankful for. Then they share prayer requests and everyone is prayed for every time they meet together.
Leader #2
All the class members are asked to read the entire chapter before they come to class, even if the "lesson" is only part of the chapter. We are helping people develop a habit of reading the Bible for themselves, not depending on someone else to tell them about it. We are also asking everyone to pick out a few things that stood out to them. We are asking them to be ready to share one or two of those things with the class. When they do this, everyone in the class becomes a "teacher." All the class members learn from one another, they gain insight, they get to know one another more deeply, and they gain confidence speaking about their faith.
Leader #3
The lesson from the Quarterly (or whatever you have chosen in your small group) is a key passage in the chapter you read that you are focusing on. For example, you might have read John Chapter 4, but the key passage could be the story of the woman at the well. So, the third leader could read the key passage out loud.
Leader #4
Asking a different person every week to tell the key passage in their own words is a creative learning tool that is fun to use. When a person knows they will be telling the story in their own words, they read the passage over and over again and it helps them really focus on remembering the details.
Leader #5
The next leader can ask discussion questions that let everyone in the group participate. Discussion facilitators have to be patient and help everyone in the group be part of the conversation. Your goal is not to get one "right" answer. Your goal is to help everyone in the group think about the Bible story - what it means and how it can apply it to their life. You can use the questions from your Quarterly book, you can write your own questions, or you can use various standard questions that pertain to any passage in the Bible like the ones pictured here.
Leader #6
If you want the "Sunday School teacher" or the "Small Group teacher" to lecture every week (it isn't necessary) then this might be the time for them to do that. They could take 5 minutes, or at the most ten minutes, to summarize the main takeaway points from the chapter. If the teacher does this at the beginning, he is taking away the motivation for class members to share what they learned. Instead of the "teacher" being the hero, you want the class members to be the hero.
Leader #7
There are two things I recommend that your class do on a regular basis. One, have a monthly fellowship party for your class and encourage them to invite a friend, neighbor or family member. This can be a very fruitful opportunity to reach out to new people. Second, schedule some service projects throughout the year - maybe one every other month or so. They could be a service project to help the church, a member of the church, or someone in the community who is not part of your church. A project on a Saturday morning for 2 hours might be an example.
Let's talk about ideas for church health and growth!
Contact us. We love talking on Zoom, in person, or on the phone with new pastors, new staff
members and new small group leaders! We have 100 ideas about worship, discipleship,
evangelism, missions and increasing your fellowship. You are invited to any of our three
monthly round table discussions for church leaders that meet in Macon, Gray and Forsyth.
Contact us. We love talking on Zoom, in person, or on the phone with new pastors, new staff
members and new small group leaders! We have 100 ideas about worship, discipleship,
evangelism, missions and increasing your fellowship. You are invited to any of our three
monthly round table discussions for church leaders that meet in Macon, Gray and Forsyth.
Which of these areas of your church ministry would you like to strengthen?
Click on the chapter title for ideas. You can download or print these documents.
Click on the chapter title for ideas. You can download or print these documents.
Ideas For Ministry Leaders
These power points are meant for individual learning and as a discussion tool for a
group of leaders. Have all of your teachers (or deacons, or staff) read a power point and then
discuss in your group how particular ideas could be best used in your unique situation.
MINISTRIES
Administrative Assistant Training Baptist Collegiate Ministry at Wesleyan College Building Web Sites for Churches Builders For Christ Church Health Strategy Training Church Planting Assistance Church Revitalization Coaching College and Single Adult Ministry Training College Student Internships Communication Strategy Training Conflict Mediation Assistance Deacon Retreats and Training Discipleship Leader Training Evangelism Leader Training Food Ministry Help Pastors Find a Church Help Churches Find a Pastor Mission Strategy Acts 1:8 Training New Pastor Orientation Preaching/Testimonies at Your Church Pastor's Wives Round Table Lunches for Pastors Round Table Lunches - Student Pastors Round Table Lunches - Worship Leaders Seminary Tuition Assistance Sewing Group Ministry Small Group Leader Training Sunday School Teacher Training |
RESOURCES
Blog Book Library for Leaders Calendar Facebook Page Interim Pastor Ideas Newsletter Party Trailer - Bounce House, Popcorn machine, Snow Cone machine Projector and Screen Pulpit Supply Speaker List PARTNERSHIPS
Baptist Collegiate Ministry Mercer University Baptist Collegiate Ministry Wesleyan College Builders for Christ Georgia Baptist Mission Board LifeWay Christian Resources Mission Associations in Georgia International Mission Board North American Mission Board SBC Seminaries |