Dwayne McCrary

January 28, 2019

Why People Drop Out of a Bible Study Group

In the book High Expectations, Dr. Thom Rainer shared reasons people gave for dropping out of evangelical churches. The reasons given in order of frequency were:

Transfer of Job
Apathy toward the church
- Not being involved in anything
- Not being fed
- Not having friends
Interpersonal conflict/wounded feelings

Other reasons were noted, but these three categories were the leading causes identified in that research. In one church I served, we contacted people who joined other churches in our city to see what we could learn from them. If you are wondering, those were some of the most difficult conversations I have ever initiated. The same things were expressed by those who were willing to talk to me. I realize the High Expectations research is now 20 years old and times have changed, but those “exit interviews” with former church members lead me to believe these reasons to be universal and timeless.

Why would we want to know why people drop out? So we can fix it! Dr. Rainer and his research team also found out that an effective Sunday School ministry was a critical factor in overcoming at least the apathy reasons (pp. 128-129) and could also minimize conflicts and wounds (seen in the person’s involvement being an impetus to stay instead of leave, p. 161). A healthy ongoing Bible study will not fix every woe, but the research indicates that a healthy ongoing Bible study ministry like Sunday School can clearly make a difference.

What other reasons for dropping out have you encountered? Do you think these reasons are universal? Why or why not?

What have you done to strengthen your ongoing Bible study ministry in light of the reasons you have encountered?

Dwayne McCrary is a project team leader for ongoing adult Bible study resources at LifeWay, including the adult Explore the Bible resources. He also teaches an adult group and preschool group every Sunday in the church he attends.

Church Leadership

January 17, 2019

Why Group Members Fail to Study

By Dwayne McCrary

Bible study leaders regularly express frustration or amazement over their class or group failing to study outside the group time. Over the past few months, I have been collecting reasons for why some group members choose to ignore any encouragement to study beyond the group time. Here are the more common reasons shared so far.

I don’t need to. This segment knows that the group time will be a repeat of what they would have studied prior to meeting. They compared it to the college class in which the professor reviewed the content assigned to be read the previous week. Just like in college, once we know we can get by without any extra effort, we will take the path that gives us time to do other things.
I didn’t know I was supposed to. No one has told this segment about the value of daily Bible engagement. They don’t know that daily Bible engagement is the leading predictor of year-over-year spiritual growth. Unless the group meets daily, this person is being led down a dangerous road that leads to scavenging for spiritual food
I don’t think they want me to. This segment understands the unintentionally communicated expectation of their group leader: I do not expect you to do anything but show up at the group time. For some, the leader may not want the group to study outside the group time, making it easier on himself (they will not be ready to ask me any hard questions) or to stroke his ego (they need me to do the studying for them).
I don’t have the tools to do so. This reason falls on the back of the group member, the leader, and the church. Tons of daily Bible reading plans are available to anyone seeking a plan. Not all of these help the group member process the content being studied by the group, but there really is no reason for a person not to have at least some type of daily plan for engaging with the Bible. The leader and church are responsible as well because of their failure to provide a resource that helps the members study outside the group time. “But they will not use it” does not excuse us from at least providing something.
I don’t know how. Tools may be provided, but no one has shown this segment how to actually use them. As leaders, we assume the people in our group automatically know how to use the resources we place in their hands. Not so! Taking a couple of minutes to show (not just explain but actually show) them how to use the resource will go a long way.
I just don’t want to. There are several kinds of people in this category. The rebellious or disobedient know the power of reading God’s Word and they really don’t want to change. Jonah would have counted himself in this group. Another segment of this group is the lost. We read messages from those we love and ignore messages from people we don’t know. The same is true here; they don’t know Christ so they ignore His messages to them.
The reasons shared with me can be lumped into three categories: the expectations of the leader (or church), the way in which the leader teaches, and the short-sighted philosophy of group-time-only Bible study resources. Notice that much of the responsibility falls on our backs as the leaders. The people in our groups will rarely do something they are not led to do.

What other reasons have you encountered? What actions are you taking as the leader to address the issues expressed in the reasons you encounter?

Dwayne McCrary is a project team leader for ongoing adult Bible study resources at LifeWay, including the adult Explore the Bible resources. He also teaches an adult group and preschool group every Sunday in the church he attends, and serves as an adjunct at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Church Leadership

October 29, 2018

3 Advantages of Small (groups and the microchip)

By Dwayne McCrary

by Dwayne McCrary

The November 15, 1971 issue of Electronic News included an ad that read, “Announcing a new era in integrated electronics.” The ad announced that the first commercially available microprocessor was hitting the market. With that announcement, the Intel® 4004 chip launched a revolution we continue to see unfold today. The 4004 chip reminds us of the advantage of small.

Small also contributes to the effectiveness of a Bible study group. I don’t pretend to know what number makes a group small or large in your context, but for me, once a group exceeds 20, it is no longer small. And remember, 10 couples equals 20. In my experience, something is lost when a group exceeds that number.

So what makes small so powerful? There are at least 3 advantages.

Advantage 1: Teaching Options. The larger the group the more limited our options when it comes to how we can teach. Large groups tend to move us into presentation mode and out of teaching mode (which explains why a professor teaching a class of 100 usually lectures). Presentations are about content. Teaching is about engaging the people in the group; tailoring the group time to fit their experiences, needs, and learning styles. Small makes it possible for us to use a variety of teaching approaches, giving us more tools to use when tailoring the group experience.

Advantage 2: Flexibility. A strength of a large group is mass. That mass is also a weakness, limiting the places they can go as a group. For example, if the focus of a particular study was serving, we might move the group meeting to a local ministry location where we can meet and then serve through that organization. The larger the group, the less likely we will be able to do that. Small makes it possible for us to meet in all kinds of locations without overwhelming the location.

Advantage 3: Trust. Our willingness to share is a function of trust. The greater the trust, the greater our willingness to share. When we feel like we know the others in the group, we are more willing to take the risk of sharing our ideas and experiences. Informal conversations that take place as people arrive, when they are sharing a snack, or gathering their stuff to leave nurture this trust. The larger the group, the less likely these trust-building informal conversations occur on a broad scope which lowers group trust.

When a group becomes large, however you want to define large, we may want to begin the process of starting a new group so we do not sacrifice the items listed above.

What other advantages have you found for creating smaller groups?

Dwayne McCrary is a project team leader for ongoing adult Bible study resources at LifeWay, including the adult Explore the Bible resources. He also teaches an adult group and preschool group every Sunday in the church he attends.

Church Leadership

July 5, 2018

The First Day of a New Sunday School Class

By Dwayne McCrary

In 1982, the Atlanta Braves won the first thirteen games of the season, getting out to an early lead. In the months of May, June, July, and August, they broke even, losing as many as they lost. The Dodgers and Giants won more games than the Braves in those four consecutive months but were never able to catch the Braves. The first thirteen games determined who won the division and made it to the playoffs.

When starting a new Sunday School class, what you do the first Sunday matters. Here are seven things that can help get things moving forward on the first day the class meets.

1. Arrive early. This allows you time to pray, gather your thoughts, and make sure everything is ready for that first gathering. Being the first to arrive is a good practice so it makes sense to start this habit on the first Sunday.

2. Pray. Before anyone arrives, pray that God will set the tone for the class, that He will help you shepherd the people who will be a part of your class, and that God will help your class start more new classes in the future.

3. Use name tags. This seems like a simple thing, but encourage everyone to make a nametag as they enter. Use stickers so everyone is on equal ground (as opposed to pre-printed name tags).

4. Greet everyone as they arrive. Let each person know that you are grateful for them choosing to attend the new class. You may also want to pose a question or share a quote that gives clues about the direction the study will go that day while others arrive.

5. Start on time. If you wait until a certain number has arrived, then those who were there on time will begin to arrive late in the weeks ahead. Those who arrive on time should be rewarded by you starting on time.

6. Lead like it is the second Sunday. The class was created to reach, teach, and minister to people though Bible study. Bible study is the vehicle for all the other things you hope to accomplish. Having an icebreaker event prior to the first class will help keep the focus of the first class time on Bible study. Remember, the first Sunday sets the tone for future Sundays.

7. Save administration stuff for the end of class time. While we may be tempted to organize the class at the beginning, save it for the end. Getting organized can eat up all the Bible study time. If you save it for the end, much of what needs to be done will still get done—just faster.

These actions set the tone for the future. That first Sunday will not be perfect, but you can build off what went well and set expectations that will help the class prosper in the future.

What other tips would you add to this list of seven?

Dwayne McCrary is a project team leader for ongoing adult Bible study resources at LifeWay, including the adult Explore the Bible resources. He also teaches an adult group and preschool group every Sunday in the church he attends.

Church Leadership

July 2, 2018

Seven Actions to Take Leading Up to a New Sunday School Class

By Dwayne McCrary

What is done in the offseason for most sports determines in part the success of the coming season. The conditioning, drills on the basic skills, and strengthening your body prior to the season beginning allows for the athletes to focus on the details and opponents during the season. While a strong offseason regiment does not guarantee victory, failing to prepare in the offseason all but assures failure.

The same is true when it comes to starting a new Sunday School class. What is done before the first Sunday opens the door for success. Here are seven preseason actions a leader can take in the weeks leading up to the start of a new Sunday School class. Only the first one is listed in priority order.

1. Secure prayer support.

Invite a few people to serve as prayer support for you as you begin this new class. Ask them to pray for you as the leader, that God will provide the other leaders needed, and for the people yet to be reached by the class. Be sure to include another Sunday School teacher in this group who can mentor you through prayer.

2. Be clear on who the new class is for.

While anyone may attend the class, having a clear picture of who you actually are trying to reach will help you plan and prepare. College students have different needs than their parents do; classes for these two groups should reflect those different needs.

3. Gather what you need.

Gather markers, paper, and other resources needed by the class well in advance of the first Sunday. Even if someone else offered to gather everything you need, be sure to double-check to make sure everything you need is secured.

4. Prepare to lead a Bible study.

Use the resources provided to create a first Sunday built around Bible study. Some groups fall short by focusing on organization and other items the first time the group meets. Remember, people are gathering for Bible study so you must make sure that you are prepared to do Bible study.

5. Distribute resources.

Most classes will use some type of printed resource that will guide the Bible study. Take a copy of the resource to every potential new class member. This serves as a reminder of when the new class begins and gives you a natural way to invite people to the class. Be sure to give some brief information about how to use the resource.

6. Enlist a team.

Starting a new Sunday School class is hard work. Having a team of others helping you in different roles can make a big difference. At the very least, enlist a person who can oversee some of the administrative details so you can focus on teaching and contacting people.

7. Conduct a pre-class event.

An event prior to the first Sunday for potential class members can gives people the opportunity to get to know each other and gives you the opportunity to share your goals for the class. Doing so in this forum makes it possible for the first Sunday to be more like a “normal” class and can remove some of the awkwardness of the first Sunday.

You will have plenty of work to do after the class starts for it to succeed, but these actions will help you set a foundation upon which to build.

What are some other actions a leader of a new Sunday School class may need to consider taking prior to starting a new class? What have you done that helped you start a new class?

Dwayne McCrary is a project team leader for ongoing adult Bible study resources at LifeWay, including the adult Explore the Bible resources. He also teaches an adult group and preschool group every Sunday in the church he attends.

Church Leadership

May 17, 2018

Summer Serving: Finding the Right Project for Your Small Group

By Dwayne McCrary

When most of us think about a group project, the first thing that seems to always come to mind is working in a local soup kitchen or a construction project. There is nothing wrong with these kinds of projects, but there are so many more possibilities if we just look. Here are some steps that may help you find the perfect service projects for your group.

Get organized. Enlist someone in the group to lead the way. This person needs some organizational skills and a heart for people.
Understand who is in the group. Identify who in the group can do what. Build on and utilize the skills and interests you already have in the group. If there are no carpenters in the group then why look for projects that require carpentry skills?
Discover the possibilities. Ask the group to list possible things they would like to do in your community. You may even ask what role they would see themselves playing in meeting the described needs.

At the same time, scan the community for potential projects. Every community has different needs and opportunities. Here are some general places you can begin to look that will get you on the right path:

Hospitals—while some may want to become “official volunteers” at a local hospital, there are other projects to take on. Talk to the hospital administration about the needs their staff have especially during holidays including July 4th.
Local Schools—contact local school administrators about their needs. Don’t forget to look for ways of encouraging the teachers. You may want to join with other groups to provide a thank you meal or snack on occasion.
Local colleges and or universities—many on-campus ministries provide meals and other support for students through the year, usually through volunteers.
Public servants—your local police and fire departments are always on duty. Your class could adopt a precinct office or firehouse, doing special things for them through the year.
Community organizations/events—there are all kinds of organizations in your community that depend upon volunteers to survive. Special Olympics, sports leagues, after-school programs, adopt-a-highway programs, annual parades, Red Cross, and other organizations are full of opportunities.
Counseling centers and support groups—Abortion alternatives, financial help, grief support, cancer support, and drug rehab need volunteers. (Tip: Be aware that there may be some training involved in some of these projects. Most organizations will help you get the training needed or at least point you in the right direction. There may be background checks involved in some cases as well. You want to make sure that you meet the expectations of the group with whom you are partnering. If the organization is a faith based organization, you will also want to make sure that their beliefs and practices are in line with your church’s beliefs.)

Select a project. Include the group in the decision, presenting them with two or three options. Be sure to explain the expectations for each project and why that project was selected as a potential project. It would be best to do one project well than to do several poorly.
Get after it. Seek to fulfill the requirements of the project with excellence. Remind the group that they are doing this project as a means of representing Christ in your community. When asked by those you serve about why you are doing these things, explain that you are doing it because of the difference Jesus has made in your life. Be sure to take photos and encourage each participant to record interactions (journal) if you are aligning the project with a specific Bible study (for more on this, see the post on service learning).

Dwayne McCrary is a project team leader for ongoing adult Bible study resources at LifeWay, including the adult Explore the Bible resources. He also teaches an adult group and preschool group every Sunday in the church he attends.

Church Leadership

May 16, 2018

Service Learning and Your Small Group: Teaching Through Serving

By Dwayne McCrary

Many high schools and universities have discovered the value of integrating community service and teaching; incorporating service learning into their curriculum. Service learning is an educational strategy that combines community service and instruction to give a deeper learning experience. The process revolves around reflection as participants record and ponder on the significance of their experiences and how those experiences relate to beliefs, values, and formal instruction. Participating in the service work functions as both motivation to learn and a lab for testing formal instruction received.

We can learn a great deal from this model. Think a moment about how most projects are done by Bible study groups. A need is discovered and brought to the attention of the group. Once the group decides to respond to the need, a plan is created and carried out to meet the discovered need. Photos may be taken and shared once the project is finished. The group then moves on to another need, leaving the former project in their rear-view mirror.

What if the service project became a means for teaching the Bible study? Suppose you selected a Bible study for the group and then looked for a service project that relates to the selected Bible study? What might that look like? For example, you choose Tony Evan’s Horizontal Jesus as your next study for your small group. Since the study looks at how Jesus impacts our relationships with others, you then look for a service project that puts the group in direct contact with lots of people…maybe volunteering to help staff a local marathon rest stop or community event. You then encourage the group members to record notes about interactions they have through the day. The study then gives insight into the interactions recorded while the notes serve as illustrations to what is being studied. The study and the project then work hand-in-hand to give greater meaning to both.

If anyone should be interested in aligning a study with service to others, it ought to be Bible study groups! We may be missing out on deep learning experiences by failing to tie our group studies to our group’s involvement in service opportunities.

What events and projects could your group take on this Summer? How can the experiences gained from that event or project be a tool for teaching a specific Bible study?

Group Leadership

January 18, 2018

Handling Divisive Issues During Group Discussion

By Dwayne McCrary

Everything seemed to be going fine as Paul shared the gospel with the people of Athens—until he brought up the resurrection of Jesus (see Acts 17:32). The debate was now on. Some ridiculed Paul, others asked for time to think about it, and some accepted the gospel. God’s truth has a way of bringing out the best and worst in people. We cannot teach the Bible avoiding divisive issues. The Bible is brutally honest and touches our deepest emotions, some of which we don’t want exposed. But that is how a two-edged sword works.

When a divisive issue comes to the surface in a Bible study group, how do we deal with it?

Let Scripture speak. God has given us His Word so that we may know the truth. Too many times, we spend more time worrying what this person or that person says than we do about what the Bible says. The God of the Bible is capable of defending Himself and His Word….if we let Him.
Make sure all of Scripture is given the opportunity to speak. Ignoring the whole of Scripture will get us in trouble. Too many causes have been justified by the misquoting of a Bible verse or passage. The Bible is not a collection of individual tidbits of wisdom and stories. Rather, it is a complete unit and must be treated as such.
Set ground rules and use them. Discuss with the group some ground rules for discussion: being respectful of others, disagreeing without being disagreeable, attacking an idea without attacking the person, and other rules may need to be considered. I know some groups that set time limits for discussion. The issue is not so much about having rules as it is enforcing the rules. Displaying the rules of discussion for the group can be helpful.
Plan your discussion. Many times heated discussions happen because we failed to craft meaningful and substantive questions that move the conversation to conclusions. Discussion as a Way of Teaching by Stephen D. Brookfield and Stephen Preskill and Engaging Ideas by John C. Bean are great resources for learning how to plan a discussion. A key is thinking in question sets, moving from the general to the specific so a final conclusion can be drawn.
Anticipate the hot buttons. If you know your group, you can anticipate some of the potential divisive discussions. When planning the discussion, create contingency questions or responses that will help you keep the group on track. You may only use those contingency questions and remarks occasionally, but when you need them they become invaluable.

We can’t avoid all potentially divisive issues in a Bible study group, but these five practices help me when approaching these types of issues.

What other practices have you found helpful when dealing with potentially divisive issues?

G. Dwayne McCrary is a project team leader for ongoing adult Bible study resources at LifeWay, including the adult Explore the Bible resources. He also teaches an adult group and preschool group every Sunday in the church he attends.

Group Leadership

January 16, 2018

How Diversity Impacts Our Small Groups

By Dwayne McCrary

Just below the surface of most groups sits a plethora of differences. If you don’t believe me, ask these questions and see what happens:

If you were on a sports team that was invited to the White House, would you go?
What makes our city better than any other city?
Why do you think (name a college) is so much better than (name of different college)?

Most of our groups are diverse; we just don’t always recognize it. Not everyone in the group agrees on every issue. There may be people with different races, political views, hometowns, genders, occupations, levels of income…you get the picture. That diversity impacts our group in both negative and positive ways.

Let’s look at the potential negative impacts, or distractions, of diversity.

Can limit some discussion. I lead a co-ed class of married couples. If a husband states his opinion, his wife will rarely disagree with him unless I force the issue. She will wait for the car ride home to finish the discussion, without the group gaining insights that might have needed to be heard. The relationship outweighs the diversity. Some people will not take the risk of stating their beliefs if they know someone may disagree. Diversity multiplies the possibility of disagreement.

Can give the rabbit chaser a weapon. Almost every group or class has a rabbit chaser. He or she likes taking control of the discussion by focusing on some minor point (the rabbit) that ultimately has no bearing on the study. During a study of Jesus’ birth, a rabbit chaser focused on how much time was required to walk from Jerusalem to Bethlehem with and without a donkey. He fed off the diversity of the group, calling on the runners and a couple who raised horses to help him with his calculations. He pitted the two against each other, using the diversity as a weapon to avoid talking about the deeper truths in the Bible passage.

Focus becomes the differences more so than the points of agreement. So many times we find ourselves looking for the differences to the exclusion of finding some common ground. We would rather focus on our disagreement over the details of the return of Christ than affirm that we both believe that He is coming back and that all believers will spend eternity with Him in heaven.

Now for some positive impacts of diversity.

Learning from the experience of others. A diverse group moves us away from group think, allowing for different perspectives to be explored. Group think discourages critical thinking. The diversity gives each individual a point of comparison of his or her unique experience and understanding of those experiences. In effect, the group becomes a living case study for each individual involved.

Way to discern universal truths. As people with diverse backgrounds explore truth together, they will discover universal truths. They will discover some ideas and truths cut through all of life circumstances. They may have seen God’s love and grace demonstrated in different ways, but that is the point….God’s love and grace is always demonstrated regardless of a person’s race, gender, or hometown.

Makes it easier for the group to connect with new people. Diversity broadens the connection points for others. When a new person attends a group, they are looking for someone with whom they can connect. The more diverse the group, the more likely there will be someone with whom a new person can connect.

What would you add to these lists? How can you minimize the negatives and build on the positives?

Group Leadership

January 15, 2018

Creating an Inclusive Mindset in Your Small Group

By Dwayne McCrary

A friend invites us to attend a Bible study group. We hear all about the relationships, spiritual depth gained, and ministry opportunities that await us. We decide to attend and soon discover that becoming a part of the group will be more difficult than we thought. We wear a handwritten name tag (everyone else has a printed tag), get asked to introduce ourselves to start the group time, and then find out we were the only ones that didn’t get the text about bringing your own cup if you wanted coffee.

Most of us who lead a Bible study groups ministry at least advertise that our groups welcome anyone. We would like to think that any person can find acceptance and a place in a Bible study group. Unfortunately, “anyone welcome” is an apparitional goal at best in many groups. What are some things we can do as a leader to move the groups towards being more welcoming of everyone?

To begin with, take an inventory of the stories used to illustrate points during the Bible study. Most of us use stories from our experiences and interests…and we should. Doing so helps the group get to know us and builds trust between the group and us as the leader. But shouldn’t we strike a balance? How many of the stories used relate to people exclusively from our background and interests? Nothing wrong with loving sports for example, but all our illustrations shouldn’t be from the sports world.

Secondly, look at who helps us manage the group. Is there diversity within the team, or are they all like us? Most of us gravitate toward people with the same interests and goals, so it makes sense. However, if we want our Bible study group to be inclusive, the leadership team ought to reflect who we are seeking to reach. Just look at the group Jesus assembled as His disciples and we find all kinds of people—fishermen, a tax collector, a political activist, and a thief. He assembled a diverse group on purpose.

Thirdly, observe who and how we engage people. Most of us tend to find it easier to talk to some people than we do with others, but as the leader we need to try to engage with everyone present. That begins with awareness and prayer. Asking God to help us see all people as people is a dangerous prayer since God tends to put people in our lives to find out if we are serious about that request. How we engage someone may be more important than who we engage. We must learn to treat others as people who have real needs, real reasons for why they believe what they believe, and real stories worth telling.

Fourth, we can become a student of cultures and subcultures. Read blogs and books by people with whom we know we will disagree and who come from a different background. Learn to be comfortable asking about a person’s background, memories, and values. We can all learn a great deal by talking to people if we simply take the time to do so.

Here’s the bottom line, creating an inclusive Bible study group starts with us as the leader. The rest of the group takes their cues from us. They know who we talk to the most and to whom we respond the best. They watch how we handle others who answer questions in a combative or reactionary way. We set the standard even when we don’t want to.

What are some things you have found that help you foster inclusive mindset in your group?

Why People Drop Out of a Bible Study Group

Dwayne McCrary is a project team leader for ongoing adult Bible study resources at LifeWay, including the adult Explore the Bible resources. He also teaches an adult group and preschool group every Sunday in the church he attends.

Why Group Members Fail to Study

Dwayne McCrary is a project team leader for ongoing adult Bible study resources at LifeWay, including the adult Explore the Bible resources. He also teaches an adult group and preschool group every Sunday in the church he attends, and serves as an adjunct at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Summer Serving: Finding the Right Project for Your Small Group

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