WELCOME! Please take a seat and complete the activity in your chair. The SUNDAY SCHOOL

WELCOME!Please take a seat and complete the activity in your chair.

The

SUNDAY SCHOOL

Why do you think this rope is constructed with three strands?

List the advantages of having three strands in this rope.

Why do you think this rope is constructed with three strands?

List the advantages of having three strands in this rope.

A cord of three strands is not easily broken. Eccl 4:12 (HCSB)

A cord of three strands is not easily broken. Eccl 4:12 (HCSB)

During this session we are going to

explore the three elements of a

3D Sunday School:

During this session we are going to

explore the three elements of a

3D Sunday School:

3D Sunday School groups invite people not merely because the class is responsible for getting people to attend Bible study, but rather because the class is responsible for attending to the lives of those people.

SUNDAY SCHOOL GROUPS


Invite.Invite.

Members enter into Members enter into a kingdom a kingdom

“conspiracy” to work “conspiracy” to work together to make together to make their class a safe their class a safe and hospitable and hospitable environment.environment.

Members enter into Members enter into a kingdom a kingdom

“conspiracy” to work “conspiracy” to work together to make together to make their class a safe their class a safe and hospitable and hospitable environment.environment.

3D Sunday School group members covenant together to create small group experiences in which members discover the great truths of the Bible and the faith stories of believers.


Discover.Discover.

3D Sunday School group members work together to provide people the opportunity to connect through fellowship and ministry.


Connect.Connect.

• Can our Sunday Schools get out of balance?

• What are some ways Sunday Schools get out of balance?

• Can our Sunday Schools get out of balance?

• What are some ways Sunday Schools get out of balance?

• How important is balance in life?

What happens if any one of these What happens if any one of these gets out of balance?gets out of balance?

• INVITE

• DISCOVER

• CONNECT


Invite. What happens if the Sunday School class has a strong focus on reaching new people, but when they arrive the Bible study is not meaningful to them (discover) and they do not experience strong relationships and ministry with others in the class (connect)?


Discover. What happens if the Sunday School has placed its total focus on doing a good job of teaching for those who come, but it does not reach out to new people (invite) or build relationships with people they are reaching and seeking to reach nor minister to members and unchurched (connect)?

What happens if fellowship and relationships are the number one issue and the intentional discovery of the Bible truths and how they apply to life take a backseat to fellowship and the focus is totally on present members with little or no focus on the unchurched?


Connect.

Have you Have you seen your seen your

Sunday Sunday School or School or

other Sunday other Sunday Schools get Schools get

out of out of balance?balance?

Have you Have you seen your seen your

Sunday Sunday School or School or

other Sunday other Sunday Schools get Schools get

out of out of balance?balance?


“Invite, discover, and connect are intentionally interrelated—like the three sides of a triangle. The key to having a 3D Sunday School is balance… Which of the three strands is most important? Each of them!” —page 6

3D Sunday School groups invite people not merely because the class is responsible for getting people to attend Bible study, but rather because the class is responsible for attending to the lives of those people.


Invite.Invite.

• Personal invitation

• Special events

• Direct mail

Why do new people come to a church?

Why do new people come to a church?

• Dynamic worship

• Children’s ministry

• Student ministry

Much research has been done on why people come to church.

Personal InvitationPersonal Invitation

Consistently, 80-90% of the people surveyed say they first came to the church they currently attend because someone invited them.

““There is not a There is not a more powerful more powerful

outreach tool than outreach tool than the personal the personal invitation.”invitation.”

– page 8– page 8

““There is not a There is not a more powerful more powerful

outreach tool than outreach tool than the personal the personal invitation.”invitation.”

– page 8– page 8

Answer yesyes or nono to the

statements on your handout.

Is My Class an Open Group?Is My Class an Open Group?

Is My Class an Open Group?Is My Class an Open Group?• We intentionally

seek to involve and connect with people who are not currently members.

• We encourage new people to join at any time.

Is My Class an Open Group?Is My Class an Open Group?• Our class is ongoing

and does not stop for periods of time.

• Visitors can understand the study without having attended prior sessions.

Is My Class an Open Group?Is My Class an Open Group?• We celebrate

when members leave to serve in other age groups.

““Leaders and Leaders and members alike in a 3D members alike in a 3D Sunday School class Sunday School class invite any person—invite any person—

indeed, every indeed, every newcomer—to enroll newcomer—to enroll

at any time.”at any time.”—page 8—page 8

Why don’t people

enroll in Sunday School?

Hi, Jim, this is…Hi, Jim, this is…

50%rule

50%rule

Doors of opportunity. . .Doors of opportunity. . .

Doors of opportunity. . .Doors of opportunity. . .

Sunday School testimony.

Romans 12:15Romans 12:15 ““RejoiceRejoice with those who rejoice; with those who rejoice;

weepweep with those who weep.” with those who weep.”

Romans 12:15Romans 12:15 ““RejoiceRejoice with those who rejoice; with those who rejoice;

weepweep with those who weep.” with those who weep.”

InviteInvite – – How?How?

• Enroll

• Sunday School testimony

• Crises

• New frontiers

• Face to face

• Leave something

NNAA

RR

FF riends

elatives

ssociates

eighbors

InviteInvite – – Who?Who?

““There is There is nothing more nothing more

effective than a effective than a face-to-face face-to-face invitation.”invitation.”

—page 12

InviteInvite

“Nothing beats looking into

someone’s face as you invite them to

your class and witness to them about Christ.”

—page 13

InviteInvite

It may take 20 “touches.”It may take 20 “touches.”

Invitation/Outreach LeaderInvitation/Outreach Leader

• Maintains the Maintains the class prospect class prospect file.file.

• Makes outreach Makes outreach assignments.assignments.

• Leads the class Leads the class to participate in to participate in visitation efforts.visitation efforts.

Your Your invitation invitation

might be the might be the answer to answer to someone’s someone’s

prayer.prayer.

Your Your invitation invitation

might be the might be the answer to answer to someone’s someone’s

prayer.prayer.

3D Sunday School group members covenant together to create small group experiences in which members discover the great truths of the Bible and the faith stories of believers.


Discover.Discover.

What do these words have What do these words have in common?in common?

find, search, dig, uncover, explore, look up, identify, locate, observe, determine, propose, note, discern, ascertain, hunt for, detect, indicate, notice, contemplate, distinguish, name, describe

“Regardless of how much you encourage members

to invite others, they won’t do so if the class environment and group

experience are not inviting.” —page 17

• A member discovers how God is at work in his/her life.

• A member is compelled to discover God’s Word individually and as a group.

• A member is encouraged to discover and read the Bible study materials (learner guide) prior to the Bible study session.

SUNDAY SCHOOL . . .In a

• A member is challenged to discover ways God’s Word applies to his/her life.

• A member discovers people who need ministry, hope, fellowship, prayers, discipleship, and a fresh encounter with a Living God.

• A member discovers ways to engage people in Sunday School.

SUNDAY SCHOOL . . .In a

Preschool and up:• God

• Jesus

• Bible

• Creation

• Family

• Self

• Church and Kingdom

• Community and World

DiscoverDiscover – – What?What?

Older Children add:• Salvation

• Holy Spirit


Youth and Adults add:• Discipleship and the Christian

life

• Ethics and Morality

• Reason and Faith

• Rebellion and Sin

• Time and Eternity


How does what a group studies affect whether or not it is an open group?


The setting for Bible study can hinder or

enhance.

Liven Up LecturesLiven Up Lectures

1. Make an assignment to a class member.2. Use visuals.3. Ask questions, allowing learners to respond.4. Use appropriate humor.

1. Ask questions.

2. Accept assignments from the teacher.

3. Read the lesson before class, marking it up for areas of interest or discussion.

Member

Teacher

Discovery through DiscussionDiscovery through Discussion

1. Write out discussion questions.2. Find great questions.3. Use buzz groups, especially in a large class.4. Set and maintain time limits.

1. Be ready to participate.

2. Express your thoughts.

3. Don’t dominate the discussion.

Member

Teacher

Ask the Right Kinds of QuestionsAsk the Right Kinds of Questions

• Open questions

• Study questions

• Apply questions

What is the value of each What is the value of each member having a learner guide?member having a learner guide?

• Makes members feel more confident.

• Helps guests feel more comfortable.

• Communicates the value of preparation before class.

What is the value of each What is the value of each member having a learner guide?member having a learner guide?

• Content of the learner guide can be used during the session.

• Having everything they need in the learner guide helps the newcomer feel “safe.”

Who is the most life- changing

teacher you ever had?

““First, I fell in love First, I fell in love with my teacher. with my teacher. Then, I fell in love Then, I fell in love with my teacher’s with my teacher’s Bible. Then I fell Bible. Then I fell in love with my in love with my teacher’s Lord.”teacher’s Lord.”

—page 24—page 24

3D Sunday School 3D Sunday School group members work together to group members work together to provide people the opportunity to provide people the opportunity to connect through fellowship and connect through fellowship and ministry.ministry.


Connect.Connect.

“People will come to your Bible study group and to church if invited. Many will receive Christ as their Savior if invited. Unfortunately, a disturbing number of these people will drop out . . . if not connected.” —page 26

ConnectConnect – – How Important?How Important?

Where would a person get connected in your church prior to and after accepting Christ?

ConnectConnect – – How Important?How Important?

Romans 12:13 Romans 12:13 (HCSB)(HCSB)

“Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality.”

“Be hospitable to one another without complaining.”

1 Peter 4:9 1 Peter 4:9 (HCSB)(HCSB)

Connecting Starts with

First Impressionspositive or negative

Welcome CenterWelcome Center

• Welcome guests.Welcome guests.

• Provide literature Provide literature about the church about the church and its ministries.and its ministries.

• Fill out Fill out registration forms registration forms for guests.for guests.

• Get as much Get as much information as information as possible.possible.

• Offer to enroll Offer to enroll them in Sunday them in Sunday School.School.


• Keep one copy of Keep one copy of the registration the registration form in the form in the Welcome Center.Welcome Center.

• Introduce guest Introduce guest to escort.to escort.


• Give one copy of Give one copy of registration form registration form for each family for each family member to member to escort.escort.

• Take to classes Take to classes or departments.or departments.


Care/Connect GroupsCare/Connect Groups• 5-7 people per group• Separate groups for men and

women.

Care/Connect LeadersCare/Connect Leaders• Contact every assigned member

every week.• Communicate prayer and

ministry needs.

Care/Connect LeaderCare/Connect Leader

Family

Worship

Absentees

Affinity Group

Fellowship

Prayer

DiscipleshipMinistry

CONNECT MEMBERS AND

PROSPECTS

• Remember that adequately staffing preschool, children’s, and student classrooms should be a priority.

• Develop a culture where members are encouraged to serve.

MinistryMinistry

• Assign in-service members of adult classes to group leaders to stay in touch with them as associate members.

• Involve in-service members in class activities.

MinistryMinistry

• Have a well-organized care group structure in order to communicate prayer requests and praise reports.

• There are devotional helps like Open Windows to assist individuals in praying for missionaries by name.

PrayerPrayer

• Fellowship is a spiritual discipline; it requires time and must be planned.

• Encourage groups to set aside specific times for class fellowship activities.

FellowshipFellowship

• Encourage fellowship activities by providing proper support through publicity and child care.

• Fellowship often involves food.

FellowshipFellowship

• Group leaders contact every member every week.

• Do not drop people unless they die, move beyond a reasonable driving distance, or join another church.

• Regular contacts do not need to be extended conversations, especially for active members, just weekly touch points.

AbsenteesAbsentees

• You will discover things about people: hobbies, interests, where they grew up, etc.

• Connect people with common interests.

• Common interests may be the basis for care groups.

Affinity GroupsAffinity Groups

• Connect newcomers to worship by accompanying them and offering to sit with them.

• During worship, watch for new people who may be prospective class members.

WorshipWorship

• Encourage class participants to conduct personal worship each day at home.

• Distribute devotional literature to all age groups.

WorshipWorship

• Sunday School is family friendly.

• There are no baby-sitters, just teachers.

• Prepare well for preschool, children, and students.

FamiliesFamilies

• Have safety and security measures in place.

• Have appropriate age group learning experiences.

• Provide parents with supportive follow-up.

FamiliesFamilies

• The Bible is the textbook of the Sunday School.

• Sunday School cannot do the whole job of discipleship.

DiscipleshipDiscipleship

• Discipleship groups are closed groups focused on a specific subject or topic for a defined period.

• Hold discipleship groups at a different time than when Sunday School meets.

DiscipleshipDiscipleship

A Sunday School accomplishes foundational

evangelism, discipleship, ministry, fellowship, worship, and much more.

Documents

WELCOME! Please take a seat and complete the activity in your chair. The SUNDAY SCHOOL