Please enjoy this replay of our recent webinar: Effective Small Groups in the Small to Medium-sized Church.
Sponsor: Bible Studies for Life
Resource: Group Answers Podcast
The First Day of a New Sunday School Class
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.
Seven Actions to Take Leading Up to a New Sunday School Class
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.
Four Ways to Deal With Tricky Questions in Your Group
If you teach a Bible study group long enough, someone is going to ask you a tricky question. It’s just bound to happen. It’s one of the most uncomfortable things that happen to group leaders. I’ve seen two categories of tricky questions in the groups I’ve taught. “Category 1 questions” are what I’m going to call “innocent” tricky questions. They are asked with pure motives, but can be hard for a group leader to answer. The second category of tricky questions is what I’m going to call “malevolent questions.” These tricky questions are not asked with pure motives. In fact, these are asked by group members when they are intentionally trying to stir up something in the group. Here are four ways to deal with each category of questions.
Four ways to deal with tricky, but innocent, questions:
- ADMIT – Learn to use three powerful little words: “I don’t know.” It’s OK to admit that you don’t have an immediate response for the person. Use this when you really don’t care to address the question. You’ll earn people’s trust and respect by not simply making up an answer—because everyone knows when we do that.
- AFFIRM – Say something to the person who’s asked the question like, “That’s a good question,” or, “You’ve helped me see this in a different way.” You can affirm their question, but you don’t necessarily have to stop to address it. Move on. Keep the lesson on track. Affirm the person by saying, “You’ve given me something to ponder.”
- ASK – This is where it gets fun! Turn the tables, as Jesus did (Luke 20) and simply say, “Now that’s an interesting question—how would you answer it?” 9 times out of 10, the person is eager to share their insight. They asked you, but now you’ve asked them.
- ACKNOWLEDGE – This is a cousin to the first solution above, Admit. The difference here is that you admit your lack of knowledge and you commit to do further study. You simply acknowledge that you don’t have an answer, but you also promise to do some further study and get back to the person and/or the group.
Four ways to deal with malevolent questions:
If you’ve ever been put on the spot intentionally by someone during a Bible study, don’t despair! This happened to Jesus at various times. In Luke 20 a group of men came to Him to trick Him, and He turned the tables on them. He wouldn’t respond to their question before they responded to a question He decided to throw at them. The result? They dared not ask Him any more questions! I think there is some humor in the Bible, and that’s one of the spots—I would have loved to have been there to see Jesus expertly handle a group of people with a malevolent question!
When you sense that a question has been asked to derail the study or to challenge you, take a deep breath, compose yourself, and choose one or more of the following ways to deal with that malevolent question:
- DEFLECT – Deal with that potential barbed question by deflecting it. Say, “If I have time before the Bible study is over, I’ll get to that question. If not, I’ll visit with you after class. Let’s continue our study…” I never get to the person’s question (imagine that!). If I sense that the question was asked to do me or the group some level of harm, I always want to isolate the person and not give him or her a platform in front of the group. I always meet with the person afterwards.
- DEFEND – On occasion, when I really do want to bring correction to the person asking the snarky question, I choose to respond. Jesus did this in Matthew 24 when He was asked an intentionally tricky question about which was the greatest command in the law. Sometimes the best course of action is to confront the person and give your response. Defend your position. Use Scripture. Stand your ground—but do it humbly and gently.
- DIVIDE – This is a great response that normally puts the person in their place, and causes them not to ask challenging questions anymore. When asked one of those malevolent questions, say: “John has posed a hard question. Let’s divide into groups of 3 or 4 and work quickly to respond based on Scripture. Elect a spokesperson for you group. You have 5 minutes. Go!” What always happens is that the groups of people end up “policing” the person with the malevolent question. They put the questioner in their place using Scripture, and you don’t have to say a word. It also give you, the teacher, time to think about a response while the groups are doing their work.
- DIG – Normally when you are asked a malevolent question, there’s a question behind the question. Do a little digging and find out the real issue. Say, “Wow—I didn’t anticipate that kind of question in our study today. Why do you ask that?” Continue probing with an even more pointed question, “Why is it important to you that we answer that right now?” or, “Help me see how that question connects to our study.” Just keep digging and ultimately the person will either back off, or that person will reveal the true reason he or she is putting you on the spot.
Ken manages the Ongoing Adult Bible Studies and Church Trainers at LifeWay. He has been a group leader for 6 years, and has over 20 years of church education ministry experience. He blogs daily about groups at kenbraddy.com.
7 Ways to Make a Good Impression on Bible Study Guests on Easter Sunday
My wife and I began a new Bible study group at our church just a few years ago. This Easter we’re meeting for Bible study before the late worship service. If your group is also meeting, it’s possible you’ll have some Easter guests. Here are seven ways you can put your best foot forward and take advantage of the guests who step into your Bible study for the first time:
- Wear name tags. I can’t tell you how important it is for people in groups to wear simple peel-and-stick name tags! Name tags help people get to know each other, and they help guests feel relaxed because they can talk with people and call them by name. This is my normal practice in my Bible study group, and many guests have thanked me after the session is over because the name tags helped them engage people in conversation.
- Have extra copies of the Bible. You won’t need many, but three or four copies of the Bible should always be handy in case a guest arrives without one. This recently happened in my group, and I’m thankful that we had a copy to place in a man’s hands that came without one. Your church may even have complimentary copies to give away. If so, have a few in the location where you meet for Bible study.
- Plan a get-to-know-you activity. Rather than jumping into the Bible study this week, consider starting your group time with an activity that builds community. Have people talk about their favorite Easter memory from childhood, the most memorable activity they’ve done as a family on Easter, where their favorite Easter meal took place (and what they ate), or a family Easter tradition that has been meaningful to them over the years. Get the group members sharing, and you’ll help your guests relax and become part of the conversation quickly.
- Follow up quickly with guests. Set aside 30-60 minutes on Easter Sunday afternoon to send a follow-up email to each guest that came to your Bible study. If you have their phone numbers and have time, make a few calls and visit with the person. Ask if they have questions about you, the group, or your church. Research has shown that the faster we follow up with our guests, the higher the percentage that they return!
- Have extra copies of your curriculum. If your group is using a particular Bible study, have extra copies. When my wife and I were visiting churches prior to joining our current one, several small groups we tried did not provide us with a copy of the material they were studying, so we felt like outsiders. Give each guest a Personal Study Guide and invite them back to the group’s next Bible study.
- Provide a breakfast snack. Something simple (donuts, the old stand-by) or a breakfast quiche and some coffee or juice can provide a way for people to fellowship while they eat, and it may also be an unexpected treat if you’re not used to doing this.
- Proactively introduce guests to members of the group. I make it my practice to quickly meet any guest who comes to my Bible study. I then introduce them to another person or couple in the group. I want to help them start making connections with others, so I quickly hand them off to people with whom I know they’ll have something in common.
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Ken Braddy manages LifeWay’s adult ongoing curriculum and teaches an adult Bible study weekly. He blogs about Sunday School and groups at kenbraddy.com.
Four Ways to Make Football Sunday Work for Your Groups Ministry
The NFL’s big Sunday is near upon us, and there is no reason your Bible teaching ministry or Bible study group should not make the most of this national event. It is actually a great idea for small groups to capitalize on big cultural events like the NFL championship. Here are several ways that you might consider taking advantage of big game Sunday, using it to give a “lift” to your Bible teaching ministry.
- Rename it “Super Goal Sunday” and have a high attendance day – A high attendance goal on this special day can be fun for the church—people can wear the jerseys of their favorite teams, the sermon can be crafted to include references to football, and the fellowship hallway can be decorated in a football theme. A pastor could introduce his group leaders to the congregation much like the announcer at a football game announces the starting lineup, using this occasion to introduce teachers (or “groups coaches” for the day) and encouraging guests to attend one of their groups. It’s simply another way to reinforce the importance of being connected to a “team” (a Bible study group).
- Encourage groups to host big game fellowships – Many churches already do this, but because they’ve done it for a long time, “Super Sunday fatigue” sets in and groups often are increasingly resistant to hosting parties on this night. Constantly remind people why you’re asking them to host a party: to help new people connect to a group, to allow “associate members” (those who teach a kid or student group) to have adult fellowship time with your group, and to give everyone else in the group a chance to hang out and deepen friendships. To help younger families, the church will need to provide childcare, or childcare vouchers, to families with kids up to sixth grade.
- Host a deacon-sponsored tailgate party right after church – Involve your deacons and let them be the heroes of this event! While the church meets for Bible study and worship, these servant leaders can set aside a section of the parking lot, back up their trucks, and grill hotdogs and burgers. When the church dismisses at noon, lunch is ready. Ask Bible study groups to provide the side dishes or drinks. The church can provide the meats, plates, and utensils. Simply ask families to bring a lawn chair and enjoy the free meal. Of course, your part of the country may be extremely cold, so move the eating inside to a fellowship hall, foyer, or even a classroom. What goes better with football than a good tailgating event?!
- Schedule a guest speaker who has ties to the NFL – I admit this one is a little harder than the other three suggestions, but it’s not impossible. You just have to ask around, make some calls and inquiries, and do it early. Contact your state convention or local association. One church I served had a former member of the Washington Redskins, and he was all too happy to speak, wear his gigantic Superbowl rings, and let people see those rings up close. He farmed himself out to other churches and spoke at events throughout the year. Look around for former players, coaches, or anyone else with ties to an NFL team. If you bring in a guest speaker, be prepared to be generous toward them financially.
Ken Braddy is a group leader, and manages LifeWay’s adult ongoing Bible studies. He blogs daily about groups at kenbraddy.com.
Almost 88% of Vibrant Churches Have Sunday School
If you think this is Sunday School, think again!
The words “Sunday School” cause people to react in different ways. Some people have fond memories of their experiences in Sunday School. They remember a favorite classroom, good friends, a beloved teacher, or asking Jesus to come into their life as Lord and Savior. Other people may have different impressions about Sunday School. They associate it with boring lessons, or something that “their parents’ church” does. In some places, Sunday School has gotten a bad reputation, and that’s too bad. Sunday School is a significant ministry that teaches God’s Word, assimilates people into the church, shares the gospel, provides foundational discipleship, and mobilizes people for ministry. And the research proves it! Have you given up on Sunday School? Don’t. Keep reading and learn what’s happening in vibrant churches.
David Francis, Director of Sunday School at LifeWay Christian Resources, conducted a survey of the 400 vibrant churches that were surveyed for the book, Simple Church by Eric Geiger and Thom S. Rainer. He was able to gather data on 94% of the vibrant churches (a vibrant church was identified as one that had experienced at least 5% growth for 3 consecutive years). He discovered that 87.5% of those vibrant churches conducted Sunday School adjacent to the worship service on the Sunday morning schedule. Simple and complex churches utilize Sunday School as a strategy, but how they utilize Sunday School differs greatly. Simple churches are using Sunday School strategically, but complex churches are simply putting on a program. David Francis and Eric Geiger identified several characteristics of simple churches that utilize Sunday School strategically. Click here to go to the article.
Ken Braddy is manager of LifeWay’s ongoing Bible studies. He leads a weekly Bible study group at his church, and blogs daily about Sunday School at kenbraddy.com.
Open or Closed Groups: Which One is Right for You?
Traditionally, most churches have always had some form of discipleship in a smaller context than corporate worship time with an adjacent sermon. What you call your small groups may differ depending on the culture, age, and context of your church, but it’s likely you call them Sunday School classes or Small Groups. Many newer churches play off of “Small Groups” and call them “Life Groups,” “Connect Groups,” or something of the like. It’s definitely important for you to have some form of one-to-many groups setting where a leader other than the pastor can aid in the spiritual maturation and disciple-making process of those in the church. But for the last several years, we’ve seen a surge in closed groups.
Closed groups are just what they sound like—they’re closed for a season to allow members of the group to study God’s word together. Oftentimes, it is very difficult for individuals or couples to join a closed group, most likely due to the nature or context of the curriculum that group is studying. For example, LifeWay has a discipleship curriculum called The Journey. The study was designed to be progressive in nature, meaning that what a group studies in week seven builds on what they studied in week six, and so on. That makes it difficult for new members of your church to grasp what was taught early on in that group. So for this reason, churches will usually close groups one or two weeks into a new study and remain closed until the study concludes. This usually works best for groups that meet in homes each week who are studying very specific topics, or areas of Scripture that are progressive in nature.
In contrast, open groups are groups that likely meet on campus on Sunday mornings before or after the worship service. Oftentimes, open groups meet to further discuss what the pastor preached on just a few short minutes before. Another example would be a study through the Gospels, identifying similarities and subtle nuances between them. But this way of studying Scripture is much different than that of closed groups.
So which one is right for you?
If you have Sunday School on Sunday mornings where you have visitors who regularly attend your church and are looking to get plugged into a class, open is usually the way to go. Try to have at least one open group for each age group. You don’t want to sacrifice any sense of community to potential members.
On the other hand, if your groups meet during the week in homes, I would advise a closed group strategy. If you’re doing 6-week short-term studies, a break between each study is an ideal time to invite new folks from your church to attend the next study.
Regardless of how or where you land on the spectrum, make sure you make guests feel welcome. Encourage your group members to reach out to newcomers. Consider having some appetizers, muffins, or danishes, and some juice or coffee. Once a quarter or so, try to get together outside of the context of church and have fun with each other. It will help with the sense of community.
Matt Morris is a Brand Manager at LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville, Tennessee. He has served in ministry for over 11 years. Matt is married to Carmen and they have twins, Hudson and Harper. Matt and his family are members of First Baptist Church Mount Juliet, where he serves as a deacon.
10 Common Factors in Fast-Growing Sunday School Churches
The following information can change your church and your Bible teaching ministry. If you read this post, you’ll be informed and accountable, so proceed with caution! The ten common factors in fast-growing Sunday School churches are derived from a survey of churches in the state of Georgia. The research was conducted by the Georgia Baptist Convention and published in the book Key Strategies for Healthy Sunday Schools.
Without any further delay, here are the top 10 factors in fast-growing Sunday Schools.
- 98% of these churches provide ongoing training for their Sunday School leaders.
- 96% of these churches believe that the pastor’s support of the Sunday School is important or very important to the health of their church.
- 96% of these churches are overcoming space limitations.
- 91% of these churches practice “open enrollment.”
- 85% of these churches are using an evangelistic training process or method.
- 83% of these churches are creating new Bible study classes.
- 80% of these churches have a weekly visitation ministry.
- 78% of these churches have a prospect list.
- 78% of these churches have high standards for their leaders.
- 78% of these churches intentionally organize the Sunday School for growth.
So how does your church stack up? Could the absence of one or more of these be the reason why your Sunday School is stagnant?
Ken Braddy is manager of LifeWay’s ongoing Bible studies. He leads a weekly Bible study group at his church, and blogs daily about Sunday School at kenbraddy.com.
Groups Matter Podcast – Episode 44, David Francis
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SUMMARY: In this episode, Brian and Chris speak with David Francis, known around LifeWay as “Dr. Sunday School” for his role as Director of Sunday School. As a co-teacher with his wife Vickie of a four- and five-year old Sunday School class, David discusses the “Sunday School movement.” David explains why the Sunday School movement is first and foremost about children, and is thus necessary for discipleship. David shares the history of Sunday School and public education. Sunday School , which propelled the beginning of public schools, normalized the use of spelling books and libraries. Affirms Brian, “The church invented education.” Because of the significance of Sunday School in the history of public education, the term “Sunday School” has a heritage that is to be appreciated.
In light of the historical context of the term “Sunday School,” Brian, Chris, and David address the questions, “Should small groups still be called ‘Sunday School’? Is the terminology ‘Sunday School’ outdated?”
The three also discuss the importance of community and address the question, “Is it possible to achieve true community in Sunday school? If so, how?” David encourages Sunday school leaders to create community in their groups; leaders do this by adopting one of three roles—Teacher, Leader, or Shepherd. David expounds on the specific role of Shepherd in modern-day evangelism, as well as the Shepherd’s need to solve “the problem of sheep herding.”
David leaves listeners with two key words your small group or Sunday school must remember—“new” and “small.” He explains, “You’ve got to start new groups—and they’ve got to be small.”
The Groups Matter Podcast is a weekly show designed to resource, train, and encourage small group leaders. Each episode considers current trends and resources as well as timeless truths and methods of discipleship. It is hosted by Brian Daniel, a Bible study and discipleship expert in LifeWay’s Groups Ministry, and Chris Surratt, the small group and discipleship specialist at LifeWay and author of Small Groups for the Rest of Us.
GUEST: David Francis is Director of Sunday School at LifeWay. He is the author of eleven small books available for free at lifeway.com/davidfrancis or at the iTunes store. His interactive Bible study, Spiritual Gifts, is in its ninth printing and is not free! (But it is available to order at lifeway.com.) He and his wife Vickie teach four- and five-year olds in Sunday School and are members of a small group of empty nesters. Their three sons and their families live in three different time zones—Boston, Los Angeles, and Bryan-College Station.