KEYS TO GROWING A GREAT CLASS

God’s Call 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

Two Realities in Sunday School Work  Controllables - Things that we can do to make an impact.  Projectables - These are results of the actions involved in the Controllables.

6 CONTROLLABLES 1. CLASS ENROLLMENT = MINISTRY LIST 2. NEW CLASSES 3. MINISTRY TOUCHES 4. LEADERSHIP  NUMBER ENLISTED PROPERLY  LEADERS IN TRAINING  LEADERSHIP MEETINGS 5. DISCOVERING PROSPECTS 6. OUTREACH CONTACTS

4 PROJECTABLES 1. WORSHIP ATTENDANCE 2. SUNDAY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE 3. OFFERINGS 4. BAPTISMS

ENROLLMENT  PRACTICE OPEN ENROLLMENT (Enroll Anyone, Anywhere, at Any time As Long As They Agree.  RECOGNIZE AND CELEBRATE NEW ENROLLEES  DON’T DROP PEOPLE FROM YOUR MINISTRY LIST WITHOUT A GOOD REASON (Death or involvement in another church’s Bible study ministry.)  REPORT ON ENROLLMENT PROGRESS TO CLASS.  OUTREACH TEAMS NEED TO USE THE OPEN ENROLLMENT PROCESS.  FIND ALL CHURCH MEMBERS IN YOUR AGE GROUP WHO ARE NOT PRESENTLY ENROLLED AND MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO ENROLL THEM.

NEW CLASSES  EVERY ADULT CLASS NEEDS TO BEGIN PRAYING ABOUT STARTING A NEW CLASS.  TEACHERS AND WORKERS CAN BEGIN TO MENTOR SOMEONE IN THE CLASS, PREPARING THEM FOR A NEW CLASS.  NEW CLASSES CAN BE STARTED ON OTHER DAYS OF THE WEEK BESIDE SUNDAY.  KNOWING HOW TO START A NEW CLASS IS VERY IMPORTANT. (CHECK THE HANDOUT)  STUDY MINISTRY NEEDS AS A GUIDE FOR BEGINNING NEW CLASSES.

MINISTRY TOUCHES  ORGANIZE FOR MINISTRY 1. ENLIST A CLASS MINISTRY LEADER 2. ENLIST CLASS CARE GROUP LEADERS (4-6)  ATTENDANCE ALWAYS FOLLOWS MINISTRY  BE PROACTIVE BY CONTACTING EVERY MEMBER AND EVERY PROSPECT EVERY WEEK. (3 MONTH COMMITMENT BY EACH CLASS)  WEEKLY TOUCHES IS THE BEST WAY TO KEEP YOUR CLASS HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

HOW TO BE PROACTIVE IN MINISTRY:  Weekly touches to every member and every prospect.  Ministry visits to those who have specific needs that require special touches.  communication of prayer needs and class concerns.  Phone calls expressing concern and prayer.  Letters and cards – especially on Birthdays, anniversaries, etc.  Meals to those who need some care and concern. (ILLNESS, DEATH, LOSS OF JOB)

LEADERSHIP  CONSTANT ENLISTMENT OF NEW WORKERS.  DISCOVER NEW LEADERS BY TALKING TO ADULT LEADERS ABOUT MEMBERS OF THE CLASS WITH LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL.  ENCOURAGE CLASS MEMBERS TO BE MISSIONARIES TO OTHER AGE GROUPS. (PRESCHOOL, CHILDREN, PRETEEN, YOUTH)  HELP MEMBERS DISCOVER THEIR S.H.A.P.E.  ASK NEW MEMBERS ABOUT THEIR PREVIOUS SERVICE IN OTHER CHURCHES.  ENLIST LEADERS PROPERLY. (SEE HANDOUT)

LEADERSHIP TRAINING  WE WILL PROVIDE ONGOING LEADERSHIP TRAINING THROUGH WEEKLY AND MONTHLY MEETINGS.  MAKE TRAINING A PRIORITY FOR YOUR CLASS.  A TRAINING CALENDAR IS AVAILABLE TONIGHT FOR BOTH LEADERS AND MEMBERS.

LEADERSHIP ENLISTMENT  PRAY FOR GOD’S GUIDANCE.  PROVIDE JOB DESCRIPTIONS FOR EACH POSITION.  APPROACH ONE PERSON FOR EACH POSITION AFTER PRAYERFUL CONSIDERATION.  MAKE NEW WORKERS AWARE OF TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES.

LEADERSHIP MEETINGS  PRAY EVERY MEETING FOR: 1. THE LOST 2. THE UNCHURCHED AND BACKSLIDDEN 3. THE TEACHER 4. THE CLASS LEADERS 5. THE CHURCH STAFF 6. INTERCESSORY NEEDS 7. THE MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH  HONOR THE GROWTH PRINCIPLES!  PLAN  SET S.M.A.R.T. GOALS AND DETERMINE STRATEGIES FOR REACHING THEM.  S.M.A.R.T. GOALS (SPECIFIC – MEASURABLE – ATTAINABLE – RELATABLE – TIMELY)

PROSPECTS 1. DEVELOP A CARING ATTITUDE FOR OTHERS. 2. ORGANIZE DELIBERATELY TO REACH PEOPLE. 3. DEVELOP A CLASS VISION FOR THE LOST AND UNCHURCHED. 4. DETERMINE THE CORRECT STRATEGIES FOR FINDING PROSPECTS. (SEE HANDOUT) 5. EVALUATE EVERY MINISTRY TO SEE IF WE’RE SPENDING TIME AND RESOURCES ON THINGS THAT WILL REACH AND MINISTER TO PEOPLE. 6. LEARN HOW TO ARTICULATE THE BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP FOR PROSPECTS.

DISCOVERING PROSPECTS  EACH CLASS NEEDS TO DISCOVER PROSPECTS FOR THEIR CLASS.  PICK UP A PROSPECT DISCOVERY HANDOUT  INACTIVE CHURCH MEMBERS  WORSHIP GUESTS  SPECIAL EVENTS (V.B.S., CHRISTMAS, EASTER)  WHO DO YOU KNOW CARDS  HOMEBOUND MINISTRIES AND RETIREMENT HOMES PROVIDE PROSPECTS TO OUR MATURE ADULT DIVISION.

OUTREACH  EACH CLASS NEEDS AN OUTREACH TEAM. (TEAM = 2 MEMBERS VISITING EACH WEEK FOR CLASS)  HAVE ALL WORKERS IN THE CLASS ATTEND SHARE YOUR PERSONAL TESTIMONY TRAINING THIS FALL.  REMEMBER TO SHARE THE GOSPEL DURING BIBLE STUDY AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE.  INVITE PROSPECTS AND INACTIVE MEMBERS TO PARTIES AND FELLOWSHIPS.

FACT EVERY GREAT GROWTH SURGE IN THE HISTORY OF CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH CAME ON THE HEELS OF AN INTENSE EMPHASIS ON PROSPECTING FOR AND CONTACTING MEMBERS AND PROSPECTS.

BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES IN SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER (SEE HANDOUT)

BEGIN NOW! 1. PRAY ABOUT THIS NEXT YEAR AND THE ROLE GOD WOULD HAVE YOU PLAY 2. REMEMBER TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO GET INVOLVED IN ENROLLING PEOPLE AND DISCOVERING PROSPECTS. 3. STAFF YOUR SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS WITH LEADERS THAT WILL DO THE BASICS IN ORDER TO REACH PEOPLE FOR CHRIST AND CHURCH MEMBERSHIP.

REMEMBER PEOPLE DO WHAT YOU INSPECT NOT WHAT YOU EXPECT PEOPLE DO WHAT YOU INSPECT NOT WHAT YOU EXPECT.