Sunday Morning Bible Study Leadership
Sunday Morning Bible Study Leadership Manual Everything you ever needed or wanted to know about how a Sunday Morning Bible Study operates at Green Acres Baptist. Contents OUR PURPOSE ...........................................................................................................................4 SMBS SECTION OVERSEERS .................................................................................................12 SMBS TEACHERS .....................................................................................................................20 SMBS DIRECTORS ...................................................................................................................28 CARE COORDINATORS ...........................................................................................................34 OUTREACH COORDINATORS .................................................................................................42 SMBS RECORD KEEPERS .......................................................................................................46 SMBS MISSION & SERVICE COORDINATORS .......................................................................54 SMBS PRAYER LEADERS ........................................................................................................58 RESOURCES FOR SMBS SOCIAL COORDINATORS .............................................................69 CHILDCARE................................................................................................................................70 FELLOWSHIP IDEAS FOR SMBS*..............................................................................................72 SMBS GROWTH GROUP FACILITATORS ...............................................................................74 2 3 1 Chapter Our Purpose The purpose of an organization gives reason for that organization's existence. The Adult Transformation Ministry exists to help achieve the mission of Green Acres Baptist Church. It falls under the authority and direction of the church and her leaders, and it must adhere to the church’s established mission. Green Acres Baptist Church exists to: Exalt God’s Greatness (worship) Evangelize God’s World (missions) Equip God’s People (discipleship) Express God’s Love (ministry) Through Jesus Christ our Lord! The Adult Transformation Ministry (ATM) was established to equip God’s people, specifically adults as Christian disciples. Sunday Morning Bible Study (SMBS) is the bedrock organization for Green Acres Baptist Church and the fundamental organization for the Adult Transformation Ministry. It serves many vital ministry lists within the church. It provides a place for adults to connect with other adults in significant relationships. It is the small church within the larger congregation of Green Acres. In a SMBS, adults will have a place to serve and be served. And it is also a group where adults can know others and be known by others. It is the primary method for adults to receive ministry. It also provides a systematic process of follow up and assimilation for guests to Green Acres. SMBS is an open group that welcomes all adults who desire to attend. There are no requirements to enroll, just an openness to connect to other adults through Bible study. Most adult SMBS groups are based on a particular life-stage (e.g. single, married, parents, empty nesters, etc.) although many groups will have one or more individuals who are outside the life-stage description of the group. 4 The Mission of SMBS The mission statement provides the ultimate measure of success or effectiveness of those who work within it. Sunday Morning Bible Study groups strategically connect all adults to Jesus and other believers in order to make and multiply disciples of Jesus. Disciples of Jesus are the only measure of success of SMBS. The Core Values of SMBS Core values are the guidelines or principles of how Sunday Morning Bible Study groups will strive to accomplish its purpose. Openness Open to the lost Open groups Open to evaluation and change Open to risk and redemptive in failure Honest and loving communication Interactive teaching designed to make and multiply disciples of Jesus Loving, honoring, and serving leaders Qualified leaders On-going training of all leaders Intentional multiplication of leaders and groups The Bible is our middle name The mission, purpose and values of SMBS are completely based on the Word of God. The following verses provide small samples of how the Bible helps form the mission and values of Sunday Morning BIBLE Study. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV) They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47 (NIV) 5 We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. Colossians 1:28 (NIV) And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. 2 Timothy 2 (NIV) Two Key Assumptions The Adult Transformation Ministry has developed SMBS under two assumptions. These assumptions or truths also shape decisions on methodology and processes within SMBS. Disciples Making Disciples God designed all creation to reproduce. As seen in nature, one seed of corn will produce only corn when sown into the ground. In other words, like reproduces like. The same is true for Christians. When one believer is sown into a church that has healthy conditions, he/she will become more like Christ. This personal growth will naturally reproduce new disciples who will in turn, reproduce other disciples. Therefore, SMBS exists to help grow disciples who will reproduce new disciples. The Law of Multiplication God also designed reproduction in nature to have a multiplication effect. One seed produces many more seeds (see Matthew 13:18-23). The same is true in the church. God designed the church to grow exponentially. Disciples in a healthy environment will reproduce themselves many times over. The Three Step Process of Making Disciples within SMBS 1. Catch adults for Bible study 2. Reproduce: Christ-likeness Servant leaders 3. Release for ministry… in the group in the church in the community in the country and beyond 6 Goals of a Healthy SMBS There is a very good chance that a SMBS group will produce and reproduce disciples of Jesus if they focus on its mission. The creation of true disciples is difficult to measure without putting legalistic religious rituals and certain performance activities on individuals. Discipleship is a matter of the heart, but we believe that a SMBS group can create an environment for discipleship to flourish. This environment can be created if a SMBS group focuses its energy on the goals listed below. These goals provide a measurable standard for a SMBS group to strive for each year or even each Sunday. 1. Every week SMBS Teachers should create an interactive Bible study presentation that equips adults to use the scriptures themselves. 2. Each week SMBS Teachers are to create Bible study presentations that emphasize one or more principles of foundational discipleship. These principles are as follows: Adults should have the ability to spiritually-self feed on God’s Word. Adults should have the skills and knowledge to share their faith and the desire to live missionally. Adults should have the knowledge and motivation to reproduce other disciples. 3. SMBS groups must have intentional times of prayer that will undergird weekly meetings, ministry responses, and evangelistic actions. 4. SMBS Directors will provide a functioning leadership team that is organized for ministry and outreach. 5. Each SMBS group should help weekly in the follow up of guests to Green Acres by participating in 1st Touch Outreach and make contact with new GABC members without a SMBS group. 6. Each SMBS group should attempt to have at least one Growth Group more than they had in the previous six months. 7. Each SMBS group should visibly support a GABC mission event, trip, or ongoing missions ministry. 8. Each SMBS group should promote actions that help birth a new SMBS group. 7 Expanded SMBS Organization Chart Every SMBS must have these positions to function properly: (red text indicates basic leadership needed as a minimum for a SMBS group) Teacher Apprentice Teacher Director Care Coordinator Care Group Leaders Outreach Coordinator Records Keeper Missions & Service Coordinator Prayer Leader 1st Touch Participants Social Coordinator Hosts Bill of Rights for SMBS Members* All SMBS Members have the right to … Be known by name Be ministered to by need Be missed when absent Be nurtured in love experience the Word through life-changing Bible study *From Carter Shotwell of LakePointe Church, Rockwall Texas 8 Growth Group Facilitator Growth Groups Glossary Any organization tends to create its own language or key code words that can help simplify or clarify communication for those inside the group. However, this language can confuse those who are new or outside the group. That is why the following terms are defined. Adult Transformation Ministry This is the organization responsible to work with married* adults to fulfill the mission of GABC to equip all people. *not exclusive to married adults, but a majority of members will be married, but some single adults will choose to connect with SMBS groups instead of being involved in a Bible study that is exclusive to single adults only SMBS Sunday Morning Bible Study, typically, a mid-sized (12-45), open group of adults who meet weekly for Bible study, in order to make and multiply disciples of Jesus. Open Groups A group is “open” if it is prepared to have a new person(s) visit each week. The choice of curriculum and other activities are designed to allow newcomers to fully participate. Transformational Discipleship This is God’s process of changing sinful men and women into the image of His Son, Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, prayer, the scriptures, and other spiritual disciplines. Applied Discipleship Followers of Christ taking actions which demonstrate the transformation Christ has made in their lives. These activities continue the transformation process while helping to multiply the followers of Christ. Growth Groups These are small, closed groups of adults who share a common SMBS group and meet for personal accountability and advanced discipleship training. Growth groups meet for a defined period of time and with a shared purpose. Group size can be as small as two or as large as twelve. Growth groups can continue indefinitely if agreed upon by the group. SMBS Care Groups These are small groups organized for inreach and care and will have a Care Group Leader who will regularly contact each member of his/her group. This group will provide ministry and prayer in times of need. 1st Touch Outreach An organized method of outreach to first time guests of Green Acres. 1st Touch meets most Sunday evenings in the fall and spring with the purpose of making a home visit to all first time guests. This is to provide the “first touch” of outreach. SMBS groups who want to reach new people are encouraged to participate. It is a great opportunity to engage with potential new members for your SMBS groups. No training required, maps, information packets and sweets are made available to help the SMBS member make the visit as natural as possible. 9 Service & Mission Teams These ad hoc open groups are inside a SMBS group and are organized to meet the needs of those outside the church. They will show God’s love in a very practical way to help and share the gospel with those outside our community. These evangelistic efforts can vary in scope from one-time events (e.g. mission trip to Costa Rica) to ongoing ministries (e.g. regularly volunteering with Gospel Village). This may also include visible support (financial, prayer, etc.) to the mission endeavors of GABC. Ministry List This is a list of all adults who are connected to a particular SMBS group as enrolled members or prospective members. The idea of a ministry list is to see beyond an attendance roll. When SMBS leaders see a list of members and prospects only as attenders, it undermines the purpose of SMBS. Attendance is not a requirement to be enrolled in a SMBS and should not be a requirement to remain on a group’s ministry list. Personal Worship An individual Christian spends time in devotional Bible study, prayer and the practice of other spiritual disciplines, also known as a “quiet time.” Missional Lifestyle This is a disciple of Jesus Christ who regularly and strategically attempts to develop relationships with people who do not know Jesus as their Savior. This may require learning the culture of that person and interact with them in a sensitive manner in order to win favor with them so they will be open to hear the gospel. It also involves regularly praying that God will help you to connect with people who need a gospel witness. Mission Activity This is a one-time project, an ongoing activity or partnership by a SMBS group that would cross cultures with people who are far from God in order that they may have a Gospel witness. These can vary from financially supporting a missionary, going on a short-term mission trip, to handing out tracts at a sporting event. Service Activity This is a one-time project, an ongoing activity or partnership by a SMBS group that serves an individual or group who have minimal resources. These activities may not have direct evangelistic purpose, but are a way to serve people who are in need in the name of Jesus. Examples of these can be to provide school supplies through Gospel Village partnership to being a bell ringer for the Salvation Army or giving blood. 10 11 2 Chapter SMBS Section Overseers Servant Leaders Section Overseers are men and women who are passionate about SMBS and its potential to make and multiply disciples. Their primary function is to minister to the front line leaders of a SMBS group, primarily SMBS teachers and directors. They are to cover them in prayer, listen to their needs, equip and encourage them. The adult Bible study program is divided into sections of six to eight groups. Each of these sections has a person or couple ready to help the individual groups accomplish the goals of a healthy SMBS. Expectations for Section Overseers 1. Be a Growing Disciple of Jesus by living out the mission of GABC. Exalt God’s Greatness in Worship. Have a daily personal worship time with God & His Word. Regularly attend Sunday morning corporate worship services. Evangelize God’s World. Regularly pray for lost people in your sphere of influence. Share your story and the gospel with them whenever possible. Live a missional lifestyle. Equip God’s People--use your calling, spiritual gifts, passions, and resources to serve the church. Be a regular and sacrificial contributor to GABC of time, talent & treasure. Express God’s Love-- minister to others. 12 2. Have a passion for Sunday Morning Bible Study (SMBS) Believe it is the primary strategy of the church to reach and equip adults as disciples. Agree to support and promote the mission, core values and goals of SMBS stated earlier. 3. Have an openly positive attitude about Green Acres and the SMBS strategy and share it with others often. 4. Have a humble, teachable spirit. 5. Serve with excellence as working for the Lord. 6. Complete Leadership Application. 7. Commit to serving your section for at least one year. Job Description for SMBS Section Overseers 1. Administrate (be a Division Director)--20% Work to solve problems that arise on Sunday morning in the groups of your section. Be a servant to teachers and directors on Sunday morning in your section. Be a conduit of information to the leaders in your section. Help recruit, train, and sustain the group teachers and directors in your section. 2. Shepherd SMBS Teachers & Directors--40% Weekly pray for the teachers and directors in your section. Contact the teachers and directors in your section weekly, using a variety of communication tools. Invite each teacher in your section to a social event twice a year. 3. Serve as a member of the “Elder Board” for the SMBS organization--40% Help shape the SMBS organizational purposes, policies and plans. Provide formal approval of all new teachers. Jointly, with their respective teacher, approve all new directors in your section. Provide personal accountability for Adult Transformation Minister as a Christ follower. 13 Resources for a SMBS Overseer “How to Dress for Success” • I Peter 5:1-6 •July 25, 2004 • #1054 by David O. Dykes • Part 23 in the “Aliens” series There are plenty of books and seminars about how to dress for success in the business world. It seems everyone is interested in learning how to succeed. However, I was surprised to learn at the University of Michigan School of Business you can take a course entitled “Failure 101.” It’s taught by Dr. Jack Matson. It’s a tongue-in-cheek exposé of many of the get-rich schemes in the business world. But Dr. Matson is serious, because he believes nobody can really succeed in business until they have learned to deal with failure. His group is always full, and as he introduces the course he tells the students their goal for the group is to make sure they fail it! One of his sections is on how to “dress for failure.” Students actually do role playing for job interviews following certain suggestions Dr. Matson guarantees will cause them to fail to be hired: 1. Forget about fixing your hair–natural is nice. 2. Lick your finger and dig them into a bag of crumbled Oreo cookies–clean fingernails are overrated. 3. Chew three pieces of Double Bubble chewing–loudly, blowing bubbles regularly. 4. Eat two raw garlic cloves that morning–they will remember you. 5. Splash on excessive amounts of perfume or cologne–more is better. 6. Clothes? Who cares? After all, clothes don’t matter! Americans are really obsessed with how people dress. Every year there are dozens of “best- dressed” and “worst-dressed” lists published. Just recently, Esquire Magazine published their list of the “Ten Worst Dressed Men” for 2004. They are: (1) Vin Diesel; (2) Dion Sanders; (3) Kid Rock; (4) Will Ferrell and places five through ten went to: Anyone associated with NASCAR! Can you really dress for success? It all depends on your definition of success. If success to you is working harder and harder to advance farther and farther in your career so you can buy more and more toys–then, yes, the way you dress will affect that. The Bible’s definition of success is this: finding and following God’s will. If that’s the kind of success you’re looking for, this passage of scripture addresses how you should dress. Let’s look at I Peter 5:1-6: To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers–not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. You have to dress appropriately to gain access to certain places. For instance, the sign, “No shoes, no shirt, no service” means you’ve got to have shoes and a shirt to get food in a restaurant. Or a fine dining establishment may require jackets for men. The same is true spiritually. If you want to gain access to God’s best you’ve got to dress correctly. There are two kinds of spiritual clothes we will discuss in this message. 1. SOME ARE CHOSEN TO WEAR THE MANTLE OF LEADERSHIP In verse one Peter addresses leaders: “To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder.” The word elder here doesn’t mean “old person.” It’s the word presbuteros, which was a word used for church leaders. Peter was an Apostle, but he also identified himself as an elder. These four verses are directed toward these leaders. There is no hierarchy among Christians; we are all equal in Christ. But throughout history, God has always called out leaders from among His people. When he needed someone to lead his children out of bondage in Egypt, He chose Moses. When He needed someone to defeat the Philistines, He called out a shepherd boy named David. When He needed someone to build the temple, He called Solomon. When He needed someone to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem, He called Nehemiah. When He 14 needed someone to plant churches throughout the Roman Empire, He called Paul. To this day, God is still calling out individuals to provide leadership to His people. The picture of wearing a mantle, or cloak, of leadership comes from the Old Testament. The prophets of Israel wore a special outer garment called a mantle. It served to identify them as a servant of the Lord. Elijah was God’s prophet and a great leader– but he is a prime example of how leaders aren’t perfect. Elijah experienced discouragement and depression. He became so despondent at one time that he sat under a tree and asked God to end his life. Instead God told him he needed someone to help him with the work. The Bible says, “So he departed from there and found Elisha who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen...then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him...then Elisha arose and followed Elijah and became his servant.” (I Kings 19:19, 21) Peter issues a powerful challenge to those of us who have been given the mantle of leadership. The mantle of leadership is not something to be coveted or sought. God gives it to those He has called. These words are a personal challenge to me—and they should be seriously considered by everyone who is a leader in our church. We have hundreds of spiritual leaders in our church. These include all our staff and employees, deacons, Bible Study teachers, Care group leaders, committee members...in other words if you serve in some area of responsibility in the church you wear the mantle of leadership. If God has placed a mantle of spiritual leadership on your shoulders, you should wear it conscientiously. My friends who serve as law enforcement officers often tell me one of the first things they learn is that when they wear the uniform they have to observe certain standards. They must uphold the law and never do anything that would bring shame or disgrace upon their uniform and what it represents. The same is true of the mantle of spiritual leadership. Peter writes that spiritual leaders must display two important characteristics: (1) Leaders must have servant hearts In verse two Peter writes that church leaders must be “eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you.” We all know of churches that have experienced division and turmoil due to disagreement among the leaders. Sometimes pastors resign or are fired over what is called “leadership differences.” That’s a nice sounding word for a power struggle in which either the pastor or deacons or both refused to have a servant’s heart. Satan loves to split churches. I’ve been around pastors long enough to know many possess an ego the size of Texas. And in over thirty years of ministry, I know I haven’t always displayed a servant’s heart. I sometimes forget I can’t fix people–only God can. I heard about one pastor who finally got so fed up he quit and became a mortician. Another pastor was speaking to him after he’d been working at the funeral home for several months. He asked him why he moved from the pastorate to being a funeral director. He said, “I was so frustrated as a pastor. I spent three years trying to straighten out John Jones who was an alcoholic, but he’s still drinking. I spent six months trying to straighten out George and Mary who were having marriage problems and they still got a divorce. I spent two years trying to straighten out Bill with his drug problem, but he’s still addicted. Now in this job at the funeral home, when I straighten ‘em out they STAY straight!” Our job as leaders is not to straighten people out–only Jesus can do that. Our job is to serve them in Jesus’ name. It really is true that Green Acres is a unique church. Everywhere I go people say, “There’s not another church in America like Green Acres.” I always agree and tell them it’s just a “God thing.” One of the greatest things about our church is there is a spirit of service among the leaders. A few weeks ago when we hosted the new missionaries and the IMB staff and trustees, our church rolled out the red carpet. I heard dozens of comments from our guests that said our church did a phenomenal job of hosting them. This November, over a thousand church leaders from all across the South will come to Tyler to attend a conference we’re offering entitled “The Full Service Church.” We need hundreds of you to demonstrate this servant attitude (2) Leaders must have shepherd hearts In verse two Peter says church leaders must also “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers–not because you must, but because you are willing,” A good shepherd concentrates on three things. He (1) leads the flock; (2) feeds the flock; (3) protects the flock. That’s basically my job description. I believe one day I will give an account to the Lord for how faithful I was to lead, feed, and protect Green 15 Acres. After all, notice in verse 2 that Peter says it is God’s flock. This isn’t my church or your church–it’s God’s church. He’s the Chief Shepherd, we’re just assistant shepherds. Good shepherds lead God’s flock. But even leaders make mistakes. I have a pastor friend who was conducting a funeral for a military veteran in his church. The service was held in another church, and my friend had never been there before. At the end of the service, a special group of retired veterans were to join the pastor at the casket; then the pastor would lead this group out the side door. Everything went according to the plan. The men joined him in front of the casket and they did a right face and started to exit. My friend opened the side door and they all walked through–only to discover he had led them into a closet! He said the people attending the funeral couldn’t hold in their laughter as they all backed out and proceeded out the proper door. Even good leaders sometimes make mistakes–but they just back up and try again! Good shepherds also feed God’s flock–our food is the Word of God. The reason I teach through the Bible verse by verse is because I believe it is like nutritious food that builds healthy Christians. That’s why I try to keep my teaching simple–I realize my job is to feed spiritual sheep, not spiritual giraffes, so I try to put the food down where even the little lambs can enjoy it. When you teach your Sunday Morning Bible Study group, you’re feeding a part of the flock, too. Also a good shepherd protects God’s flock. That means we care for the people in our church when they are hurting. Our model is the Chief Shepherd. This is how He cares for us: “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the Lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.” (Isaiah 40:11) If God has placed a mantle of spiritual leadership on your shoulders, serve faithfully. 2. ALL ARE CALLED TO WEAR THE CLOAK OF HUMILITY In verse five we find the formula for a well-dressed Christian, “Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another.” The Greek word for humility is tapeinoo which literally means “to level a hill or mountain.” Sometimes an angry person will say about someone, “I’m going to cut him down to size.” Humility is cutting yourself down to size until you aren’t “looking down at anyone.” It is living a life with no protruding arrogance or ego. This phrase “clothe yourself with humility” comes from an actual cloak a servant would wear. Whenever a servant wore this special cloak, it identified them as being at the service of the guests of their master. It was like wearing a uniform. Whenever you go to a restaurant, how do you identify the servers? You look for someone wearing a uniform. Or if you came over to my house for supper and you saw me put on an apron, it would be an indication I was going to serve you. In the same way, humility is not a passive quality. It’s an active choice–a demonstration–just like putting on an apron. Most Americans are obsessed with wearing certain logos–whether it’s Polo, DKNY or Burberry, we love the logos. You might say we are logos gringos (sorry). But the humility garment isn’t a popular label. You’ll never see it in GQ or In Style. Humility is a tough garment to squeeze into because it’s a natural part of our spiritual DNA to be proud rather than humble. Humility goes against our self-centered nature. Deep down inside we all embrace the sentiment expressed in the song from the 1970s by Mac Davis: Oh Lord, but it’s hard to be humble, When you’re perfect in every way. I can’t stand to look in the mirror, ‘Cause I get better lookin’ each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a heck of a man. Oh Lord, it’s so hard to be humble, But I’m doin’ the best that I can. Pride is the opposite of humility, and it is our natural inclination. But the Bible warns that: (1) GOD RESISTS THOSE WHO ARE PROUD In verse six Peter writes, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Let me paraphrase that verse in football lingo for all the Biblically challenged guys out there, “In the game of life, you’re carrying the ball on a toss sweep, if you run with pride, God is a 400-poundLinebacker who’s gonna stuff you behind the line of scrimmage–every time. But if you run with humility toward others, God is a 400-pound Pulling Guard who’s gonna block for you–cleaning the plow of anyone between you and the Goal. So, how’re you gonna run?” If you don’t put on the garment of humility, then your pride is left uncovered. Pride is like your skin–you don’t have to put it on, it’s part of your original equipment. The Bible is full of warnings about how pride will lead to your failure. 16 Here’s a simple acrostic to show you downward steps of pride. First there is a powerful desire for POSITION–and that position is top dog. A favorite adage in the business world is: Unless you’re the front dog, the scenery never changes. Numero Uno is the only coveted position in America. You never hear sports fans screaming, “We’re number two!” The second step in pride is RANK. We are all conscious of our rank, and everybody else’s rank, and we’re trying to pass them. The great conductor, Leonard Bernstein, was once commenting on different musical instruments and he said: “The most difficult instrument to play is second fiddle. I can get plenty of first violinists, but to find one who plays second violin with enthusiasm, or second French horn, or second flute, now that’s a problem. And if no one plays second, we have no harmony.” I stands for “I must be the center.” The center of the word pride just happens to be the letter “I”– what a coincidence! “I” always wants to be the center of attention. The philosophers Aristotle and Ptolemy proposed the earth was the center of the universe and the sun and stars orbited around us. This was the belief for almost 2,000 years and was the official position of the Catholic Church. So, in the 16th century when Nicolai Copernicus (and later Galileo) proposed the sun was the center of our solar system, it was considered blasphemy. Have you made the same discovery, or do you think and act as if you are the center of your own little universe? Do your evaluate everything and everyone else as based upon what “I think,” “I feel,” or “I want?” The next letter in pride is for DESTRUCTION. The Bible says in Proverbs 16:18 says: “Pride goes before destruction; and a haughty spirit before a fall.” The only place pride doesn’t go before destruction is in the dictionary. According to Isaiah 14, Satan was once a beautiful angel named Lucifer. He “fell” because he said, “I will ascend and make my throne on high (position); I will be like the most high (rank). I will become #1–notice how many “I’s?” he used? But God kicked him out– pride always leads to destruction. Finally, there is EMBARRASSMENT. Remember who is writing this letter: the big, boasting, fisherman Peter. He was the one who said, “These others may deny you, but I never will!” And before the rooster crowed in the next sunrise Peter denied Jesus three times! The Bible says after Peter denied Jesus the third time, Peter looked across the courtyard and saw the soldiers taking Jesus away. The Bible says Jesus “fixed his eyes” on Peter–and Peter ran out and wept bitterly. That’s what pride leads to every time. But on a positive note, here’s why you should put on the garment of humility: (2) GOD REWARDS THOSE WHO ARE HUMBLE In verse six we read: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” Humility is not becoming a doormat and letting people walk over you. When you humble yourself under God’s hand, nobody will walk over you. Self-promotion is a formula for failure, but wearing the garment of humility means you will be successful in God’s eyes. And He has promised to promote you–to lift you up. To me, the best passage of scripture in all the Bible describing humility is found in Philippians 2. It says, “Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage....Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death–and the worst kind of death at that: crucifixion. Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings will bow in worship before Jesus...” Philippians 2:3-10, The Message Zig Ziglar has written a best-selling book entitled See You at the Top. I like Zig because although he is an energetic, positive thinking, motivator, he’s basically a humble guy. Zig is a committed Christian who uses his business success as a platform to tell men and women about Jesus Christ. When you listen to him speak you get the impression he is a man who is brimming with self-confidence, but he’s a humble man. A couple of years ago I had the privilege of playing golf with him when he was here in Tyler. Zig is a good golfer and he takes it seriously. As we played we were talking about how positive thinking is nothing more than faith with work clothes on. When we came to hole #6, a par three, he hit his tee shot into a bunker. He entered the sand and swung at his ball, only to see it advance about three feet and remain in the bunker. At that moment he shouted, “Zig, you idiot!” I laughed at him and said, “Zig, that doesn’t sound like positive thinking to me! Come on, where’s that confidence you talk about?” Without missing a 17 beat, he said, “Oh I’m positive–I’m positive that I’m an idiot at sand shots!” And after he hit the next shot on the green he said, “David, I’ll tell you something about confidence, I have about as much confidence in Zig Ziglar as I do the devil himself. All my confidence is in Christ.” So, if you want to make it to the top, you have to humble yourself. Do you understand what a paradox is? (It’s not two dentists). A paradox is a statement that seems to be contradictory. The Christian life is full of paradoxes–you’ve got to die to live, you’ve got to give to receive, you’ve got to surrender to win...get the idea? But one of the most powerful paradoxes of all involves humility: The way down is up; and the way up is down. If you spend all your life pushing to get to the top you’ll end up at the bottom; but if you lay down your life in humility, you’ll end up at the top. To state it another way: The way down (failure) is up (pride); and the way up (success) is down (humility). That means if you’re spending all your time climbing the ladder of success, in God’s economy, you’ll end up at the bottom of the ladder; but if you spend your life serving others in humility, God will take you right to the top. Jesus said it this way in Luke 14:11, “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11) You may be thinking, “Great! I want to be exalted! Let me put on that jacket if it means I’ll make it to the top.” Not so fast. Or some of you who are consistently wearing the cloak of humility may sometimes wonder, “Well, I’ve sincerely tried to live a humble life, and I’m not successful like Zig Ziglar–it doesn’t seem God has promoted me. When will it happen?” Look at the last two words in verse six: in due time. Some, God promotes here, and others, He passes out the promotions later. According to verse four Jesus will pass out some crowns when He appears– that means when He comes. Jesus says, “I’ll meet you at the Top.” I like His top. All the Nobel prizes, Oscars, Emmy’s, Medals of Honor, and Best Dressed Lists will fade into nothingness, but the reward of Jesus is an unfading crown of glory. 18 19 3 Chapter SMBS Teachers Servant Leaders Who Teach to Transform Lives The teacher of the Sunday Morning Bible Study is the key leader of the group. Like a pastor of the church, he/she leads as a model, growing disciples as the lead communicator of biblical truth, and as the vision caster. An effective teacher will empower a director to take the lead in the care, outreach, and coordination of the group. A teacher should not enter this ministry hastily, but with reverence and humility. James 3:1 in The Message states: Don’t be in any rush to become a teacher, my friends. Teaching is highly responsible work. Teachers are held to the strictest standards. All adult SMBS teachers must be growing followers of Jesus Christ since they will reproduce learners similar to their own characters. We know that no Christian has “arrived,” but rather is in the process of becoming more like Christ daily. We hope that all teachers will be like the apostle Paul and can say, “I have not yet arrived; but I am choosing to be ‘on the way’ rather than to be ‘in the way’.” Expectations for all SMBS Teachers 1. Be a growing disciple of Jesus. Have daily time of personal worship of God through His Word through His Spirit. Demonstrate that Jesus is your Lord…through a lifestyle of obedience to His teachings. 2. Live a missional lifestyle. Regularly pray for lost people in your sphere of influence. Intentionally connect with people who have a different culture than your own. Naturally share your salvation story and the gospel with them when directed by the Spirit Have an accountability partner who will encourage you in this lifestyle. 3. Be a competent communicator and a desire to grow in your skills as a communicator. 4. A basic knowledge of Scripture and doctrine. 20 5. Willingness to use approved SMBS curriculum as a guide to your lesson preparation. 6. Be a systematic and proportional financial contributor to the Lord through His church. 7. A willingness to commit to this area of service for a year or more. Requirements for all New SMBS Teachers 1. Be a member of GABC for at least six months (exceptions can be made by SMBS Overseers). 2. Have previous teaching experience. 3. Complete a leadership application. (see resources for SMBS Teachers) 4. Be approved by the SMBS Section Overseers using the following criteria from Romans 15:14b, a SMBS teacher should be: Full of goodness Complete in knowledge Competent to teach (admonish) Job Description for SMBS Teachers 1. Be a growing disciple and live missionally each day. 2. Develop an interactive Bible lesson strategy every week that helps learners grow as followers of Christ and helps them learn to handle the scriptures for themselves. 3. Empower the SMBS director to lead the administrative elements of the group. 4. Recruit, train, and release an apprentice teacher. 5. Provide a quality substitute teacher when absent if apprentice teacher is unavailable. 6. Attend all informational and training meetings. 7. Communicate regularly with your Section Overseer. 21 Resources for a SMBS Teacher SMBS New Teacher Application Name Current SMBS Address City Hm Phone Zip ____ Wk Phone ______Cell Phone E-mail address Date of Birth 1. How long have you been a member of Green Acres Baptist Church? 2. How long have you been a Southern Baptist? 3. If you have joined us from another denomination, please indicate the denomination 4. In your personal opinion, what do you understand it takes for a person to go to heaven? 5. Write a paragraph summarizing the circumstances surrounding your acceptance of Christ as your Savior. (Use additional sheet of paper, if necessary.) 6. Write a paragraph summarizing personal time of worship and Bible study (quiet time). (Use additional sheet of paper, if necessary.) 22 SMBS New Teacher Application Continued… 7. Do you feel God has gifted you in: Teaching Administration Mercy Prophecy _____________? Please explain your answer. Giving Exhorting Serving Other 8. Do you believe and practice biblical tithing as outlined in the scriptures? Please explain. 9. Please indicate the type of group which you are interested in leading and explain why. Men Women Couples Singles 10. List all previous Bible leading or teaching experience, and include where you led and length of service. 11. List any training that has contributed to your growth as a Bible study leader. 12. During your life, good leaders have blessed you. Write a paragraph naming your best church leader and telling why you consider him/her to be the best. 13. At which hour do you prefer serving on Sunday morning? (Circle one) 8:15 9:45 11:15 14. Please read and complete the next two pages sign and mail/fax to the Adult Transformation Minister: Green Acres Baptist Church 1607 Troup Hwy Tyler, TX 75701 Scan & email to atm@mail.gabc.org 23 SMBS New Teacher Application Continued… What I Believe This questionnaire is designed to help determine your beliefs on some doctrinal issues. Your answers may or may not impact your opportunity to lead at Green Acres Baptist Church. Write Yes or No after each statement. 1. I believe in the literal resurrection of Jesus Christ. __________ 2. I believe the miracles in scripture were supernatural occurrences as presented in the biblical account. __________ 3. I believe a Christian can lose his/her salvation. __________ 4. I believe in a literal heaven, hell, and a personal devil. __________ 5. I believe the Bible is without error in its original form. __________ 6. I believe the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three persons but one God. __________ 7. I believe that a Christian receives the Holy Spirit when he/she is saved. __________ 8. I have experienced one or more of the so-called “charismatic gifts”(i.e., speaking in tongues, interpreting tongues, etc.). __________ 9. I believe that man was created by God and did not evolve from something less than human. _________ 10. I believe in the priesthood of the believer--that all Christians have direct access to God. __________ 11. I believe in the power of prayer to affect and change lives. __________ 12. I believe that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin. __________ 13. I believe that when a person repents of his/her sin and turns by faith to Christ, he/she is saved by grace. __________ 14. I believe the only biblical grounds for divorce are: a) adultery or b) if a Christian is married to a nonChristian and the unbeliever no longer wishes to remain married. __________ 24 SMBS New Teacher Application Continued… Called to Commitment As a Christian, I am in the process of becoming a fully devoted follower of Christ. Like the apostle Paul, I have not yet arrived; but choosing to be “on the way” rather than to be “in the way”, I hereby commit to: Exalt God’s Greatness in Worship: …by submitting to Jesus Christ as my Lord. I will strive to know Him more through regular participation in Green Acres' worship services and through regular times of individual worship that I may lead in devotion to Christ with personal integrity. I will also worship Him by giving my best of my time, talents, and treasure to Jesus because He deserves only my best. Evangelize God’s World: …by reaching out to the lost and unchurched friends through prayer, verbally giving a witness, and inviting them to Green Acres so that I may personally demonstrate the priority of evangelism. I will also demonstrate a godly lifestyle that will draw lost people to Christ. Equip God’s People: This will be seen in my faithful preparation and attendance as a teacher or director, my faithful participation in all leadership meetings, knowing the goal of my service is to help adults grow as followers of Christ. Express God’s Love: I will do these things so that I may lead in honesty and Christ -honoring excellence by putting the needs of others above my own, knowing that greatness comes from serving others and that true love is demonstrated by laying down one’s life for a friend. In His Service on the Team, _______________________________________________ Signature ________________________________________________ Date 25 Seven Steps of Bible Study Preparation by Michael Kelley The four key markers of Threads, the things we believe should characterize young adult ministry are as follows: Community, Connection, Responsibility, and Depth. Depth is not necessarily about the level of the information; it's more about the encounter you have with the information. That is to say, depth isn't achieved by including a certain number of Greek and Hebrew verbs. Rather, it's achieved by providing an encounter with biblical truth that engages people in every area of life — spirit, emotion, intellect, and even body. The only way to create such an atmosphere is to have first encountered that truth yourself in a way that engages your whole person. Once you've been there yourself, you can lead others to do the same. I put together these seven steps I use for Bible study preparation. I'm not assuming these are universal, but they have helped me organize my time and hopefully make my teaching style engaging, relevant, and selfrevelatory. So here you go: 1. Read the text This should probably go without saying, but I would recommend reading the text upwards of 10 times. And reading in such a way as to enter it. To smell, see, and taste what is happening in the text. This should take about half an hour. 2. Question the text I take a blank sheet of paper and ask every single question I can think of about the text, even if I know the answers. I ask about the names of people, what they mean, where else they appear in Scripture, who their family is, what their nationality is, and so on. Do this with every element, including what specific words mean, where else they are found in the Bible, and what different biblical authors mean by them. Don't worry about answering the questions at this point; just raise them. 3. Learn the text This is where your study tools come in as you try and answer those questions. Everybody might not have access to Bible dictionaries, word studies, encyclopedias or commentaries, but there are some pretty good online tools you can use. A good place to start is: MyStudyBible.com. 4. Find the 3:00 a.m. statement of the text I am a huge believer in one point teaching. That is, walking into a lesson, you have one key thing you want to say with your time. It's the main idea of the passage. And if you take time to construct in your own mind, chances are you'll be more effective at communicating it. It's called the 3:00 a.m. statement because if someone woke you up at 3:00 a.m. the night before you're going to teach and asked, "What is your talk about?" you would be able to answer them in one, short, easy-to-remember sentence. 5. Personally reflect on the text This is where you take some time to ask the question: "What does this text mean for me?" Not, "What does this text mean for them?" You journal your answer, after several hours of prayer. In short, you choose to deeply encounter the text yourself before you try and help others do the same. 6. Construct an outline Take all the information, along with your personal reflection, and start constructing your teaching time centered around the 3:00 a.m. statement. Also, if you're doing this for a small group, take the time here to think through the series of introspective and thought-provoking questions you want to ask your group. Write them out. Write several options of them out, depending on how you think people will answer. 7. Lead others to have a deep encounter with the text This is where to put the finishing touches on the teaching. Illustrations, verbage, and other flourishes make their appearance here. Michael Kelley is the director of discipleship of LifeWay Christian Resources and author of Wednesdays Were Pretty Normal and Faith Limps: Trusting a Good God in a Broken World. He has authored several Threads Bible studies, and blogs daily at michaelkelleyministries.com. He lives in Nashville, Tenn., with his wife and three children. 26 Top Ten Tips for Transformational Teaching by Richard E. Dodge Learning occurs when learners decide to accept and incorporate new information into their lives. If a person decides—makes a conscious decision—not to learn, there’s little a teacher can do to make the student learn. So the focus of effective teaching is the learner, not the teacher. Engaging learners can be more effective when teachers use some tried-and-true techniques for communicating the Word of God. Certainly prayer, a growing knowledge of the Word, and adequate personal preparation are prerequisites for teaching people the Bible. But here are some additional tips that can make you more effective in moving learners toward success—toward learning what God has for them. 1. Prepare the room. The room is your teaching-learning laboratory. Everything can influence learning. Learners need adequate space in a room that has movable equipment, good lighting, comfortable temperatures, and good visibility. 2. Use effective methods. Every person has a preferred learning approach. Using only one method means that only learners whose learning preference matches the method you use will feel they are learning. Using at least three approaches to learning in any session assures teachers that more learners will be engaged with you as teacher and with the material you teach. Teaching Adults: A Guide for Transformational Teaching provides a good foundation for understanding learning preferences. 3. Remove barriers. Lecterns and tables can create psychological barriers. Remove items that hinder you in moving around the room, connecting emotionally with learners, and making use of the entire room. 4. Teach learners to reflect. Learners need time to process new information. Allow brief discussion periods, encourage questions, or allow silence with instruction as to how to use the silence to encourage learners to process material. This provides time for learners to consider how the material applies to them. 5. Create a safe environment. Safe emotional and psychological environments are critical. Be sure that no one is put down for incorrect answers. Don’t let anyone be ridiculed or teased. Assure everyone that all answers and responses are accepted, and that each person is unconditionally affirmed and important. Encourage expression of feelings. 6. Develop a detailed teaching plan. Flexibility is essential, but know where you intend to be at the end of the session. Identify how you will know whether learners have learned what you intended. 7. Personalize your content. Know what each learner needs from the lesson you are preparing. Keep learners’ needs in mind as you teach and be familiar enough with content to change directions as needed. 8. Develop nonverbal skills. Capture attention by locking eyes with learners for several moments at a time when teaching. Call individuals by name. Listen to various perspectives. Watch how others communicate nonverbally. 9. Use persuasion techniques. Use voice inflection, dramatic gestures, dramatic monologues and so forth to add emphasis to teaching. 10. Evaluate! What happens each week should be the beginning point for what will talk place next week. Evaluate teaching habits, how many learners participated, who they were, and how they were involved. Bible study is more than education; it’s teaching people the Word of God so that lives are changed and the world becomes better in the process. Most transformational teachers are those who work at becoming more effective each week. Discover how to vary your teaching approaches or how to develop a sound teaching plan by applying what you can learn from Teaching Adults: A Guide for Transformational Teaching . Richard E. Dodge teaches young adults at Una Baptist Church, Nashville, and is Internet Producer, LifeWay Church Resources, Nashville, TN. 27 4 Chapter SMBS Directors Organizing for discipleship by making it all happen Although the SMBS Teacher is the visible point person of a SMBS group, he/she will quickly burn out or become ineffective without the help of a discipling director. An effective teacher will empower his/her director to lead the outreach, care, and administrative functions of the group. Expectations for all SMBS Directors 1. Be a growing disciple of Jesus. Have daily time of personal worship of God through His Word through His Spirit. Demonstrate that Jesus is your Lord…through a lifestyle of obedience to His teachings. 2. Live a missional lifestyle Regularly pray for lost people in your sphere of influence. Intentionally connect with people who have a different culture than you own. Naturally share your salvation story and the gospel with them when directed by the Spirit. Have an accountability partner who will encourage you in this lifestyle. 3. Have the ability to organize, delegate and clearly communicate. 4. Support the mission, values, and goals of GABC and SMBS. 5. A willingness to commit to this area of service for at least one year. 28 Requirements for all SMBS Directors 1. We expect all new directors to be members of GABC for at least six months. (Certain exceptions may be made.) 2. We expect all new directors to be mutually approved by the SMBS Section Overseer of the group and the group teacher. 3. We expect all new directors to have had previous service experience in a SMBS (e.g. served as a Care Leader, and/or Record Keeper, etc.). Job Description for SMBS Directors 1. Be a growing disciple and live missionally each day. 2. Partner with the SMBS Teacher to accomplish the goals of a healthy SMBS (see chapter 1). 3. Recruit, train, & sustain a team of leaders within the group that will do the outreach, ministry, and administration of the SMBS as described in Chapter 1. 4. Support the SMBS teacher by providing a room environment that helps him/her have an interactive Bible study. 5. Attend all informational and training meetings and communicate regularly with your Section Overseer. 29 Resources for a SMBS Directors SMBS Team Group Code (A/7) Teacher’s Name: List the name and contact information for all the leadership in your group below, not every group will fill all these positions, so it is fine to leave some blank. Position Name Phone Email Teacher ______________________________________________________________________________________ Apprentice ______________________________________________________________________________________ Director ______________________________________________________________________________________ Record Keeper _____________________________________________________________________________________ Outreach Coor. ______________________________________________________________________________________ Care Coordinator ______________________________________________________________________________________ Growth Group Facilitator ____________________________________________________________________________________ Mission/Service Coor ________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 30 Matching Members and Ministry Survey Duplicate this sheet and the answer page & give it to all your SMBS members to help discover potential leaders based on spiritual giftedness Please answer each question with a number 1-5 1=Rarely 2=Seldom 3=Often 4=Usually 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 5=Almost always _____When I am around new people, I look for ways to discover their spiritual condition. _____ I lead by setting the example, enlisting others in the effort, and helping them to do their assigned task well. _____ I have great joy in learning and helping others understand new things. _____ I see great value in people serving together. _____ I enjoy hosting parties and family gatherings. _____ I am naturally attracted to people who are hurting. _____ I make a personal prayer list as others share their prayer concerns. _____ I often share my faith with others. _____ When a group needs to get something done, they look to me to coordinate their efforts. _____ When confronted with an unfamiliar biblical concept, I make a note and do some research. _____ I am interested in missions giving and activities. _____ I think it would be fun to be an activities director on a cruise. _____ I notice other people’s needs. _____ I strive to be a prayer warrior. _____ I have very little problem approaching people and starting a conversation. _____ Some people might see me as a task- oriented person ____ When I’m taught, I cannot be passive. I respond to discussion questions, search the context of the passage or parallel verses, and consider cross references. _____ I enjoy or would enjoy going on mission trips. _____ I’m good at enlisting and coordinating others in a single effort. _____ I get more enjoyment from meeting some- one’s need than from completing another item on my to-do list. _____ People often tell me their prayer concerns and ask me to pray. _____ I know how to present the plan of salva- tion. (1=very uncomfortable to 5=very comfortable) _____ I will take action if I see that needs are not being met. _____ As I study Scripture, I consider how God wants me to change in response to His Word. _____ I participate in service projects. _____ I notice and think of suitable fun activities for my family, friends, or group. _____ People comment that I have encouraged them. _____ I ask for updates on prayer concerns so my prayers are appropriate and timely. _____ When I see someone sitting alone, I go over to meet them or sit with them. _____ People tend to follow my leadership. _____ When I study my Bible, I become curious about unfamiliar words, phrases, and the background of the passage. _____ I think of new community ministries that my church or group could do. _____ I take action to include everyone in the fun at the parties or fellowships I host. _____ When others hurt, I take steps to comfort them and to provide practical help. _____ I have been or I am currently a member of a prayer chain. _____ When I know someone needs Christ, I begin to think of ways to present the gospel. _____ I have been able to make effective plans to achieve the goals of a group. _____ I love discovering Bible truths and shar- ing them with others. _____ In ministry, not seeing immediate spiritual results is not a problem for me. _____ Instead of focusing on just a few friends, I enjoy making new friends and maintaining many friendships. _____ I write notes and make calls to encourage others. _____ I sense God’s activity and perspective as I hear prayer concern updates. 31 Use the scoring sheet below to determine your best fit as a leader Position Total 1. Outreach Coordinator: Add #1 _____ #8 _______ #15 ______ #22 _____ #29 ______ #36 _____ ________ 2. Care Coordinator: Add #2 ______ #9 _______ #16 _______ #23 ______ #30 ______ #37 ______ ________ 3. Teacher or Apprentice: Add #3 ______ #10 _______ #17 _______ #24 ______ #31 _______ #38 ______ ________ 4. Missions/Service Coordinator: Add #4 ______ #11 _______ #18 _______ #25 ______ #32 ______ #39 ______ ________ 5. Social Coordinator: Add #5 ______ #12 _______ #19 _______ #26 ______ #33 ______ #40 ______ ________ 6. Care Group Leader: Add #6 ______ #13 _______ #20 ______ #27 ______ #34 ______ #41 ______ ________ 7. Prayer Leader: Add #7 ______ #14 _______ #21 _______ #28 ______ #35 ______ #42 ______ ________ Total each line row to see how your spiritual gifts match up with SMBS Leadership positions GIFTS & MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES Administration Director Record Keeper Care Coordinator Discernment Director Growth Group Leader Encouraging Director SMBS Outreach Coordinator 1st Touch Participants SMBS Host SMBS PrayLeader Evangelism Missions & Service Coordinator SMBS Outreach Coordinator 1st Touch Participants Knowledge Teacher Apprentice Teacher Leadership Director Teacher Growth Groups Leader Growth School Facilitator Social Coordinator Hosts Mercy Care Coordinator Care Group Leader Hospitality Social Coordinator Hosts 32 Pastor/Shepherd Director SMBS Teacher Growth Group Leader Prophecy Teacher Director Giving Record Keeper Faith Director Outreach Coordinator 1st Touch Participant Record Keeper REPRODUCING LEADERSHIP Why do I need to mentor someone? For a church to be effective, growing, and visionary, new leadership must constantly be enlisted and trained. The best training is on-the-job training. Each position (SMBS Director, SMBS Teacher, Growth Group Coordinator, Record Keeper) needs a twin. This enables more people to develop their leadership qualities, helps full-time workers when they are absent, and prepares new leadership for stepping into their own full-time ministry. How do I spot a person to mentor? 1. Look for group members who take responsibilities seriously. 2. Look for people with gifts that fit specific ministries (i.e., SMBS Director, Administration, etc.) 3. Pray regularly for new apprentices. Ask God to direct you to potential workers. 4. Look for people who embrace the purpose of our church- "to reach the unchurched people of our Community ... " They will be more open to growth by multiplication. 5. Take notice of those people who may question your leadership because sometimes these may be potential leaders who are frustrated. 6. Look for people who are maturing spiritually, socially and emotionally. How do I confirm that I have the right person? 1. Make sure they meet other SMBS leadership. 2. Make sure you check with others who ministered with this person or who know this person. 3. Confirm that they have a teachable spirit. 4. Help them understand the expectations of an apprentice, and determine if they are willing to meet these expectations. What information do they need? 1. Give them a job description for the position in which they are an apprentice. (Let them know that they do not have to fulfill the job requirements to the same degree as the full-time worker.) 2. Let them know how long they may be an apprentice. Most apprentices will commit to nine months to a year before assuming a full-time position. (This may vary depending on the needs of a given ministry and the maturity of the apprentice.) 3. Explain to them that there are training opportunities. Share with them dates of major training opportunities. (They do not have to attend all of them, but it would be beneficial.) 4. Make sure they understand the vision and values of our church and SMBS. (They should understand that they potentially might help birth a new group.) *From Carter Shotwell of LakePointe Church, Rockwall Texas 33 5 Chapter Care Coordinators If a Sunday Morning Bible Study group (SMBS) is to be a place for adults to experience true Christian community as seen in Acts 2, it must prepare to minister to and care for its members no matter how large the group becomes. Relationships need time to grow and a healthy SMBS will have a plan to help adults focus on developing Christ-like character in community with other believers. Keeping the group open to new adults keeps a SMBS from becoming stagnant. High quality care and staying open to new members are opposing forces and a healthy SMBS must balance these forces. Care Coordinators are the front-line leaders of ministry for a SMBS. Their job is simple, but at the same time, complex because it deals with people with a variety of needs. The task of a Care Coordinator is extremely important: unconditionally love people and encourage them to be fully devoted followers of Christ. This job has two results. One is offensive in nature: by loving others, you will help us reach more people for the kingdom. The second is defensive: by unconditionally loving others, you will prevent disunity and bad attitudes. Ministry and care is the responsibility of every member of a SMBS. The ministry of a Care Coordinator is to be the person responsible to organize an appropriate response by the members of a SMBS to those who are in need of ministry. Care and ministry is the glue that creates continuity for the group. God's desire is for us to grow spiritually, reach others to cultivate and develop others to a full maturity in Christ. The leadership actions of a SMBS Care Coordinator will vary with age, size and tenure of the SMBS in which he/she serves. In a newer, smaller SMBS the Care Coordinator could be able to do most of the ministry needed themselves. In a larger, older and more established SMBS a Care Coordinator will focus more on developing systems and delegating ministry to volunteers he/she has trained. Many mid-sized SMBS groups have created a system of care by organizing the SMBS into smaller groups. In this case the Care Coordinator is responsible for recruiting, training and sustaining a team of Care Group Leaders who will minister to the 6 to 10 people in their care group. Expectations for Care Coordinators 1. Be a growing disciple of Christ. 2. Be a member of the SMBS for at least three months. 3. Commit to provide ministry to every person listed on the SMBS Ministry List, not those who attend regularly. 34 Job Description for SMBS Care Coordinators Because of the variety of ways a SMBS group could organize its ministry to members, a situation is created where no simple list of tasks could be created for all SMBS Care Coordinators. 1. Develop a system of care to minister to all SMBS members in need. Evaluate the effectiveness of that system. Make adjustments as needed. 2. Grow in your ministry skills through reading and training that is made available or that you discover on your own. 3. Be in regular communications with your SMBS Director. For SMBS Groups who decide to organize ministry through smaller care groups below is a simple job description for Care Group Leaders (note these are different than growth group leaders). Job Description for SMBS Care Group Leaders 1. If your SMBS has a system of care groups, below are specific duties for a SMBS Care Group Leader. 2. Pray weekly for each member of your group by name. 3. Contact all group members at least every two weeks. 4. Identify and contact those not regularly attending SMBS each week. Make a face-to-face contact with any member who has missed three consecutive weeks. 5. Schedule an event at least every 60 days that provides an opportunity for prayer, fellowship, and accountability. 6. Try to develop an atmosphere for support and awareness of spiritual struggles. 7. Make provision of needs for group members in time of crisis. 35 Resources for a Care Coordinator or Care Group Leader These suggestions related to counseling in specific areas of need are not intended to help SMBS workers become “professional counselors” but are some dos and don’ts. The purpose is to alert workers of the many opportunities to meet the needs of adults. For example, all of us from time to time need a listening ear and prefer talking with someone we know. A word of caution may help here. Be careful that the Sunday morning SMBS lessons do not become counseling sessions. Counseling is a form of ministry for adult SMBS leaders and is very important. But Sunday morning is a time for providing Bible study for all in the group. Although sometimes the content leads to immediate ministry needs, try to avoid using this time just for counseling activities. Here are some guidelines that might help leaders refresh their memory. For example, think about persons with whom you have felt comfortable and talked about problems, needs, frustrations, and disappointments. This is a starting point. Here are additional suggestions to consider. Remember, the listings in each area by no means are complete. These are only suggestions. Ministry to the Sick—usually this is the area where most ministry leaders and groups are involved. Here are some dos and don’ts. Ministry Need Do’s Adhere to hospital and nursing home visiting hours. If there is an emergency, check in with the nurses’ station. Make home visits by appointment whenever possible. Make brief visits as a rule. Keep all concerns that are discussed confidential. Sometimes you may need to discuss information received with your pastor. Be sensitive to patients’ comfort. Sit or stand at a comfortable vision level for the patient. Remember that listening is a skill everyone needs to learn and practice. Wisely use the Scripture and prayer, but sensitive about what Scriptures you use. Present a friendly and caring appearance. Call the person by name and touch the person only if he or she extends a hand. Ask appropriate questions, such as: “Do you feel like talking?” Ministry Need Don’ts Respect and adhere to special instructions on the door. Do not enter a closed door without knocking. Do not bring flowers or food unless you have cleared this with family members. Do not sit on the bed. Never tell someone you are visiting how sick another person he or she knows is or about how you suffered with the same illness or problem. Do not visit when you are sick. Never criticize family members, hospital service, or the doctors. Refrain from sharing bad news of any kind. Never tell someone how good they “look” just to make them feel good. 36 Ministry to Dying Persons—When persons are informed they have a limited life expectancy they react in different ways. Some are able to cope adequately with the fear, depression, anger, and other emotions people experience when confronted with their own mortality, and are somewhat able to adjust emotionally. Others seem to be unable to cope with the news. Group members planning to minister in these situations need to know how to minister appropriately to the terminally ill. Ministry Need Dos Respect the privacy of individuals. Ask the person if he or she will allow you to pray for them. Continue to minister in any way possible. Remember that family members also need ministry. Let family members and the patient know they can call on you whenever they have a need. Be willing to allow the person to express innermost feelings without being judgmental. Many emotions might be expressed at this time. Ask if the patient needs anything before you leave. Assure the patient of your continued interest and prayers. Ministry Need Don’ts Never insist on seeing a person who has requested no visitors. Do not open your Bible to share Scriptures just after arriving. Spend time visiting with the person first. Do not feel immediate prayer is what the person needs. Gain the person’s confidence and then ask if the individual would like prayer. Do not voice your personal opinions. Do not disclose to others confidential or personal thoughts expressed to you. Avoid a “funeral like” atmosphere. Ministry to Persons Experiencing Grief—The term “grief” has many uses. In this context grieving is not associated only with the death of individuals. Persons can grieve over loss of job, pets, homes, physical changes, children leaving home, and so forth. Many other areas could be named. Listed are some suggestions for leaders and members to consider when ministering to grieving persons. 37 10 Ways to Show You Care Yes, of course we care for every person in our church! But, in what ways may a Sunday Morning Bible Study group show care and concern for fellow church members? Caring-Everyday 1. Send birthday or anniversary cards. Group record keepers can oversee this easy idea. 2. Try a surprise phone calling chain. Calling chains are often only used in emergencies or tragedies. Use your calling chain to pass along good news or a Bible verse during an ordinary workday. 3. Assign secret prayer partners. Have group members draw names, keep the names secret, and pray for their secret prayer partner for six weeks. Plan a group fellowship at the end of the time period and reveal the secret partners. You might want to consider exchanging inexpensive gifts. Caring in Crisis 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. In times of crisis, be ready to help provide meals with a minimum of notice. Establish responsibility for meal preparation within the group. During crisis times, all dads would appreciate a surprise lawn mowing job. Plan carefully, so as not to intrude on other things that may be happening at the home. Consider doing the job anonymously, possibly by hiring someone else to do the mowing. Caring means being aware of needs without being nosy. Does a group member who has just lost a job or has a family member in the hospital need a bill to be paid? Be aware of needs and sensitively approach your SMBS group with the idea. Be on hand to help with grocery shopping, to pick up relatives at the airport, or to run errands. Find a good book that relates to the crisis of the family. Present the book to the family from the group. Caring for Families 9. Try a SMBS group baby-sitting swap. One SMBS group may choose a Friday or Saturday night and use a facility to baby-sit the children of another SMBS group. Then, the next month, the other group can reciprocate. Caring for Teenagers 10. Sponsor an alternative activity for teenagers during SMBS Fellowships. Alternative activities provide youth with a safe, fun Christian activity rather than an activity that tempts youth and could be dangerous. Going to a movie, going bowling, or playing miniature golf could give teenagers “something to do,” helping them make good choices. Caring Means Taking Action Caring means taking action to demonstrate our love! Be creative as a group and reach out with love to your fellow church members! By Jonathan Hewett, minister of education/youth, FBC, Celina TX (edited by Tim Roberts to fit GABC) 38 Listening: A Part of Ministering Ministry has been and still is a service of love. The Bible is clear about shared ministry. The task of believers, both church leaders and lay persons, is to be an extension of the ministry of Christ. This includes meeting the special needs of people, proclaiming the message of Jesus, caring for church members and others, and many times, lending a listening ear. Professional training is not necessary for a person to be a good listener. However, each person must realize his or her limitations and not attempt to be a professional counselor. Here are some simple principles of effective listening to consider: Take the initiative—Most of us usually can tell when a person needs to talk to someone. Allow your conversation to help the other person feel you are willing to listen. Let that person know that all persons have similar struggles in life. Give attention—Today many persons are searching for someone to care about them and the situations they are encountering in life. Effective listening means that you are willing to focus attention on the speaker and that you are shutting out the rest of the world for a few minutes. The person in need can tell if you are genuinely paying attention. Stop talking—Possibly the most difficult principle of listening for most people is to stop talking and let the other person do all the talking. Each of us at some time has needed a listening ear, but often the person to whom we were talking controlled the conversation. The moment you sense someone needs to talk about a situation that is the cue for you to stop talking. Pray as you listen for the Holy Spirit’s guidance to enable you to know when and how to respond. Be patient—A virtue that very few of us have in abundance is patience. As you listen to someone you may discover that the person goes over the situation more than once. The listener must demonstrate an attitude of patience. The person speaking needs to talk as part of his or her “therapy.” Keep confidences—Everyone needs a confidant and/or sounding board, someone to whom a person can pour out his or her heart and know without a doubt that strictest confidence will be maintained. Persons to whom others come to share their feelings and hurts usually have demonstrated in some way that their tongue will remain silent. Avoid advice—A good listener will not give advice; rather, will help the person to discover his or her own solution to the need. Few of us ever have enough of the facts about a situation to qualify us to give advice. If a listener gives advice, he or she eventually could be blamed for giving wrong advice. Remove distractions—This is an important principle because distractions will cause some persons to “clam up” and stop talking. Some distractions include the television, children, radio, pets or other persons. If distractions are a problem, try moving to another area. Allow emotion—Never discourage the emotional response. When someone expresses emotion while sharing about a personal situation, that person is releasing stored up hurts, frustrations, tears, or personal loss, or sometimes positive emotions like joy. Be sensitive to the emotions people express. Allow silence—Just being present and not talking often is what some persons need. They know you are there, but they do not want to talk or hear anyone else talk. Sometimes silence really is yellow. Respect another’s need for silence. Silence sometimes can be the most helpful aspect of listening. Withhold judgment—A listener will not suggest actions or pass judgment. It is best to allow individuals to discover their own solutions and make their own decisions. 39 CARE GROUP MINISTRY* “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” I Peter 4:10 1. Pray for your group each day. 2. Greet your members on Sunday so they know who you are. 3. Be aware of your member's attendance and contact those who were absent during the next week. This is not meant to check on absences, but to see if there is a need. 4. Contact each member once a week. (A phone call each week is helpful and takes very little time.) 5. If you are unable to reach a member, try calling at a different time of day. 6. If you reach an answering machine, leave your name, number and a request to call you back. Keep trying. Use e-mail also. 7. Make sure and ask if you can share the member's prayer request or need with the group for additional support. 8. Pass on scheduled activities, prayer requests, needs, news, etc., to the member. 9. Relay prayer requests and needs to your SMBS Director. 10. Please inform your SMBS Director of any change in address, phone number, etc. *From Carter Shotwell of LakePointe Church, Rockwall Texas 40 41 6 Chapter Outreach Coordinators Sunday Morning Bible Studies are open groups where new adults can attend and join at any time. A purposeful group will make outreach and evangelism a priority. Teachers and Directors must emphasize the fact that all Christians are commissioned by Christ as evangelists (Matt 28:18-20). Like ministry and care, outreach is the responsibility of every member of a SMBS. Every member of a SMBS should have a prayer list of three or more lost people in his/her sphere of influence. They need to be on the lookout for lost and unchurched adults they can bring to their SMBS. Assimilation of outsiders into a SMBS requires the teamwork of all members reaching out and drawing in these new adults. Each SMBS needs a point person to coordinate these evangelistic and outreach efforts. Expectations for Outreach Coordinators 1. Be a growing disciple of Christ. 2. Be a member of the SMBS for at least three months. 3. Commit to provide outreach to every non-member on the SMBS Ministry List until they enroll in the group. Job Description for SMBS Outreach Coordinators 1. Organize and execute a plan that guarantees all guests who visit your SMBS are warmly welcomed. Make sure they fill out the Guest Information Form. Retrieve enough demographic information so a 1st Touch Outreach team can make a follow-up contact. Encourage the use of nametags for all members. Make sure all first time guests are escorted to worship and/or invited to lunch after church by a member of your SMBS. See that every assigned guest receives a contact within 24 hours of his/her first visit (a home visit preferred). Make sure all guests receive invitations to social events. 42 2. Organize and execute a plan that guarantees systematic follow up to all guests until they are enrolled. 3. Keep an updated file of all guests. If possible, discover spiritual background and other data that would enable a 1st Touch Outreach team to make a quality contact. 4. Follow up (or delegate to others) with all guests and new members you receive in the weekly emails from GABC’s Outreach Coordinator that fit the demographics of your group. 5. Evaluate and improve above plans and files as needed and as group grows. 6. Participate in 1st Touch Outreach as a mentor or apprentice. Be a good team member by communicating regularly with your Director. 43 Resources for a SMBS Outreach Coordinator HOW TO DO A FOLLOW-UP VISIT (For prospects for your SMBS) 1. Select one or two families (or individuals) from your prospect list. 2. Gather visitor packets, tracts, and treats. 3. Pray in your car for God to bless your visit. 4. Once you arrive at their home, remember you came unannounced. Introduce yourself (and the others with you) and explain why you are there. If they ARE open to your visit… Thank them for visiting our worship services and/or your Sunday Morning Bible Study. Discover more about them by gently asking about their family, their occupation, how they got to the Tyler area, their church background. Encourage them to visit (or to continue to visit) your Sunday Morning Bible Study. Share a gospel testimony and the gospel if the Holy Spirit so moves. Leave with an opportunity to contact them again. 5. Leave a visitor packet, a tract, and a treat for them. 6. Record the results of your visit on the form. 7. Correct any wrong or missing information on your records and communicate that new information to the GABC Outreach Coordinator 903-525-3252. 44 45 7 Chapter SMBS Record Keepers Keeping Track of Everyone We count people because people count. As SMBS groups grow, good records are vital for effective ministry and outreach. An effective record keeper not only will count heads, but will make sure the address, phone and email of each member and prospect is up to date. The record keeper is responsible for the Ministry List, which is what we call the group attendance roll and the contact information on these members. Expectations for SMBS Record Keeper 1. Be a growing disciple of Christ. 2. Be a member of the SMBS for at least three months and attend regularly. 3. Commit to provide accurate information to the SMBS and church leadership and keep information confidential if needed. Job Description for SMBS Record Keepers 1. Come to SMBS early and pick up the Ministry List delivery envelope. 2. Distribute all handouts to the SMBS Director that is in the Ministry List delivery envelope. 3. Accurately account for each member, prospect and guest present. 4. Make sure all guest information and record change forms are completed as needed. 5. Supply copies of the guest information forms to the Outreach Coordinator and/or Director. 6. Return records envelope to the appropriate location after group meeting. 7. Report regularly to SMBS Director the names of members and prospects that have missed three Sundays in a row. 8. Keep an updated email list. 46 9. Work with SMBS Director to complete curriculum orders each quarter. 10. Be a good team member by communicating regularly with your Director. 47 Resources for a SMBS Record Keeper How to Mark a Ministry List* Correctly *Many people refer to a ministry list as a group roll or attendance list. A ministry list does serve the function of an attendance roll, but the list is more than a way to account for attendance, it is a commitment of a SMBS group to minister and equip these adults as disciples of Jesus. 1. Place check mark in blank box by each person’s name that is present. These are usually listed alphabetically or on some ministry lists the SMBS group leadership is listed first. Prospects are listed last on the ministry list (Those serving in another area will be counted there.). 2. Count number of check marks with the number of persons attending your group. Record this number on the last page of the ministry list on the line “Total Members Present”. 3. Only SMBS members will be listed on the ministry list—those attending the group whose name is not listed on the ministry list need to: 4. Fill out the 3-part visitor form for each person visiting for the first time. Count this person on the line for “Visitors”. Clip the white sheet of the form with the ministry list. Put the pink sheet in the “Red Folder” and give the yellow copy to the SMBS Director or Outreach Coordinator of the group. 5. For persons that have attended before or who are Prospects for your group and you have the information from the 3-part form, just write their name on the last page of the ministry list next to the totals. Still count them as a “Visitor”. 6. New members are people who have filled out the information sheets and have indicated that they want to become members of the group. Count these people on the “New Members” line. 7. The small yellow colored form can be used for GABC members wanting to transfer from one SMBS group to another. Please make sure group number/code for each group is listed on this form. Return this with your records. Record these as “Transfers” on the total sheet. 8. The yellow form is also used to update the GABC database with corrected information. Just include the completed form with the ministry list sheet. Clip it to the totals page. 9. Place “Totals Sheet” with all visitor forms, transfers, updated information sheets, clipped to it and return in envelope. Return envelope to cart or the place your envelopes are to be returned to after SMBS. How to read your Ministry Lists 48 Page Header Note information about group (name, location, time, teacher(s)) Make a special note of the code for your group (ADULT J/3 in this example). This code is used for help identify groups in the church database and it might change with each new SMBS year. Enrolled Members People who are enrolled in your SMBS are listed alphabetically (aka members, but they are not necessarily church members). Check box--where you record people present with a check or X Name ID# (assigned by our database, it will mean nothing to you) Name (listed in church database) Bar code (used to scan attendance) Date last attended (since September) Group Prospects (Not Enrolled) These are people who at one time attended your SMBS and completed a form. They are NOT church members. Sorry, our database will NOT let us put church members on this list. If you want to track attendance of anyone who is a church member then you MUST enroll them into your SMBS. Totaling the Head Count (Roll Statistics for a particular date) SMBS Record Keeper will complete this before turning in the records for the week. Total enrolled printed automatically by database program Members present (anyone with a name printed that you checked in the first group). Guests present. Anyone who is listed as a Prospect that you checked. PLUS Anyone else who was present in your room that day. New Members Present Transfers Total (this blank in not shown the in above example) Forms 49 1. Guest Registration Form This is used for all first-time guests to SMBS. Fill it out completely. Every blank is important, but birthday is especially important because it helps us distinguish the uniqueness of this person. There are several different ways people are put into our system and our staff has to play detective from time to time to figure out if this is a new person or someone who is already in our database. For example we have 182 people with the last name Roberts. Here is why the birthdate is so important: We receive a check from William Smith as a contribution that has his P.O. Box address on the check. His wife, Rebecca Smith, fills out a form with her home address when she drops off her children for extended childcare for worship. They visit an adult SMBS with their neighbors who know them as Bill and Becky Smith and that record keeper does not fill in their address because she knows where they live. Our data entry people add three new families to our database without knowing it is the same person. If we had the birthdate for all these forms we would figure out it is only one family, not three. Fill it out clearly. Everyone who is not on your ministry list needs to complete it. Only exception would be a ONE time guest (e.g. out of town family member just in for the weekend). 50 DON’T FORGET TO WRITE GROUP NUMBER ON FORM! The GABC Outreach Coordinator deals with over 40-50 pieces of paper each Sunday getting ready for 1st Touch, she needs your help. Return top copy with group ministry list. Paperclip it to the ministry list with the total page showing. Keep one copy in the red folder in your packet. Give the other copy to your outreach leader or director. 2. Yellow Record Correction Form This is to correct information on any person on your group ministry list. Key again, to write your group number on this form or at least the teacher name. 51 3. Red Folder: This is your prospect database. It is up to you to keep this up to date. This will keep copies of all your guest forms. That way you know if you must ask a guest to complete a guest form or not. Once they join your SMBS or another SMBS, throw out the form. 4. Little things that make a big difference Don’t use your envelope for storage that is what your cabinet should be used for. Keep the top part of your cabinet clear! ALWAYS return your ministry list to the proper location. 52 SMBS Record Keepers Cheat Sheet Care about the code. Please put your group code on all paperwork submitted. The teacher’s name and room number are not needed…simply put your 2-digit code…it can be found on the top of your weekly ministry list. Save yourself some time and scratch that code on a few blank forms in advance. Gather as much info as you can on first time guests in your group. No, we’re not the government….but we are here to help them. Information helps us do that. For guests that don’t wish to share their Birthdate please write in an age range. (20-40, 40-60, 60+) Please do not write any names on the ministry list. If they are a repeat visitor and they filled out a form the first time, just count them in the final number in the visitor block on the last page of the ministry list. Make changes to your ministry list using a yellow form. Write the ‘Member No.’ from your ministry list in the top left box. Changes to a church member’s file such as address, phone, email, etc may take more than one week to complete (the database manager is the only one authorized to make those changes). A person can be a member of your group and not be a GABC member. If they are a GABC member, removing them from a SMBS does not remove their membership from GABC. In fact, if they are a GABC member they will literally never leave our database system even if they move away. Enroll people into your group using the white form. Remember to check the spouse box if they are joining also. If you don’t, only the first person listed will be enrolled. Care about the code. Put your group code on all paperwork submitted. If you have people who have not attended for over a year and you cannot reach them it’s time to take them off your roll. Submit a yellow form. If you have someone on your ministry list that does not attend but does not want to be taken off your ministry list we can move them to “associate” member and won’t need to track their attendance. As an example someone may be teaching in the children’s ministry and may want to stay connected to your SMBS. Submit a yellow form with that information. Attach all paperwork on top of your ministry list so it can be easily seen. Please make sure all of your paperwork is submitted on Sunday, with your ministry list. Return your ministry list to its proper location: Your cart, AEB 2nd floor, Crosswalk Greeter Station or reception desk in Lighthouse. If you are out of yellow or white forms leave a note via your ministry list and we will replenish your folder. There are some on the 3rd floor of the Lighthouse above the copier in the cabinet on the second shelf. The group code is the most vital information needed on each communication with the GABC database managers if you want to see real change happen. Thank you….without your work we would not be able to reach out to these guests. 53 8 Chapter SMBS Mission & Service Coordinators God has blessed our church with an abundance of resources. With these blessings come responsibilities. Even though SMBS are the smaller groups of our church, they are large enough to make an impact on the world. Healthy SMBS groups will find ways to serve people outside our congregation through acts of compassion (service) and care. They will also discover ways to spread the gospel to people outside our community (missions). The Mission & Service Coordinator of a SMBS will discover opportunities for his/her SMBS to serve and then coordinate the group response to these opportunities. Each SMBS is expected to participate in at least one mission and one service project annually. Expectations for SMBS Mission & Service Coordinator 1. Be a growing disciple of Christ. 2. Be a member of the SMBS for at least six months and attend regularly. 3. Be able to identify mission and service needs and organize the SMBS response to those needs. Job Description for a SMBS Mission & Service Coordinators 1. Pray for God to provide a mission and service activities for your SMBS. 2. Research through the GABC Adult Impact and Missions’ Ministries the missions and service opportunities endorsed by the church (SMBS groups are not limited to GABC endorsed partners, but SMBS groups are highly encouraged to use them as a starting point). 3. Communicate to the director of your SMBS the mission and or service opportunities available and together choose the mission and service activities the SMBS will take on this year. Evaluate these in light of on-going mission and service projects in which the group is currently involved. 4. Inform (educate) your SMBS the above opportunities with approval of the SMBS Director. 54 5. In collaboration with the SMBS Director, gauge group interest to secure a sense of ownership of the SMBS to a service or mission opportunity. 6. Recruit, train, and sustain a group of adults who take on these mission and service ministries. Connect with the Adult Impact or Missions Ministries for additional information and available resources or training events that would aid the execution of these plans. 7. Regularly report to the SMBS the progress on these activities and regularly seek prayer support from your SMBS. 55 Resources for a SMBS Mission & Service Coordinators SMBS Service Projects inside GABC One of the ways that we grow into Fully Developing Followers of Christ is to serve in the church and other related ministries. We grow by helping others grow (Eph. 4). To help facilitate this growth, we are offering your fellowships and their growth groups many different ways to serve. For detailed information contact your SMBS Overseer. 1st Touch Outreach. Help welcome first time guests to our church by delivering a gift with detailed information about our church. Many of these families have just relocated and are looking for a new church home. Contact Arlene Huckabee at arlene@mail.gabc.org. The Lord's Supper Preparation and Cleanup. The bread needs to be put on trays, and the cups need to be filled prior to worship services and SMBS. Following the service, the trays need to be washed and put away. Ministry to Single Parents. Periodically, parents need help when they move. Also, single parents need help with child care for a night out, for instance around the holidays to go shopping for Christmas. Baptism Preparation. Help set baptism room and assist candidates in preparing for baptism. Contact Candy Renfro for more information at candyc@mail.gabc.org. Greeter Ministry. Greeters are essential as we strive to make guests feel welcome. We need greeters before and after each service and Bible Study hour. Contact Adult Transformation Office at 903.525.3249 for more information. Office Project Team. Your SMBS can provide volunteers to help do many different tasks around the office during the week. This could be on a rotating basis where different SMBS members work certain weeks each month. Contact Adult Transformation Office at 903.525.3249 for more information. SMBS Mission Project Ideas (Pray, Give, Go) Financially Support a SMBS Member(s) to go on a church sponsored mission trip. Partner with the GABC mission ministry to begin or continue a mission project. Partner with MST (mission service team) as prayer partners for one of the many GABC mission partnerships (to learn more contact the GABC Missions Ministry office). Work with Gospel Village to mentor a child or be a support for a teacher in a low income school in Tyler ISD. These could be one-time events, like helping with Field Day, or on-going relationships with a child or teacher. Be a volunteer at Cornerstone Ministries. 56 57 9 Chapter SMBS Prayer Leaders Prayer is the foundation and fuel of any Christian endeavor. A SMBS group needs to make prayer a priority if it is going to be more than a social group. Prayer is more than per-functionary time to begin and end a SMBS group meeting. It needs to be true conversation with our Creator. It also needs to be more than a listing of health issues. SMBS prayers need to be mainly for the people in the SMBS. An effective SMBS Prayer Leader gathers and distributes a weekly prayer list but also leads as a prayer warrior. This leader is responsible for leading members to pray during the week for specific needs of members and prospects and to express thankfulness to God for answered prayer and praises. Note that this leader’s primary work is a weekday ministry. Only minimal time should be used on Sunday morning to highlight prayer requests and report on answered prayer. Forms can be designed to circulate for members to list their prayer concerns. In addition to daily personal prayer for members and their needs, the prayer leader should communicate prayer needs and special prayer emphases (special church wide events for example,) during the week with group members and prospects. Expectations for SMBS Prayer Leader 1. Be a growing disciple of Christ. 2. Have a prayer life that could be modeled by others. 3. Be a member of the SMBS for at least six months and attend regularly. 4. Be a good communicator and a person with discernment. Job Description for SMBS Prayer Leaders 1. Pray daily for God to bless your SMBS and particular needs as they arise. 2. Maintain and distribute a prayer list that encourages every member to intercede for their fellow members. 3. Work alongside the SMBS Director and Teacher to encourage SMBS members to pray for the needs in the SMBS. 58 Resources for a SMBS Prayer Leaders Guidelines for Group Prayer Practical principles for an ongoing, transformational walk with God. by Wayne Jacobsen Prayer helps us discover what God is doing and trace his hand in the circumstances of our lives. In the process, God transforms us. Prayer is not a means of manipulating the master plan, but of being shaped by the master's hand. Unfortunately, not all prayer groups are conducive to that kind of prayer. Not all requests follow that understanding. Consider these guidelines so that your prayer times will foster a transformational, ongoing walk with God. Focus Prayer on the People Involved The temptation at prayer-request time is to narrow each request to specific actions we want God to take, or to specific gifts we want from him. That misses what God considers most important. For instance, when a brother is sent to war, the best opportunity for prayer is not to ask that God keep him at home. That limits the scope of prayer to events, when it should focus on people. It also limits the pray-ers to a specific request, without offering an opportunity to discern God's heart in the matter. Instead, address the fears of the man's wife, the worry of his mother, and the faith of the soldier. We can pray that God will mold our courage and our ability to trust, that he will help us overcome fears, and that the brother will recognize God's presence. These are the evidences of God's work and are the kinds of prayers he answers. Small groups give us time to process someone's struggles and help us identify God's work. Even homesize groups can be too big for this kind of prayer. It may be more effective to break into groups of two or three so that people really know each other and have the time to explore the situation together. Seek God's Perspective Many prayer requests that fit what we think is the best course of action run counter to what God is actually doing. For example, the Pharisees threatened punishment if Peter and John continued to proclaim Jesus. When the disciples gathered later with other believers, they could have prayed that God would convert the Pharisees or wipe them from the face of the earth. Instead, they prayed for boldness to continue doing what God asked, even when they knew they might be beaten, imprisoned, or executed for it. A primary step in prayer is asking God to reveal what he is doing in the situation, and then pausing long enough to let him answer. Prayer should be directed by talking together to see if anyone has a specific insight about how to pray for the people involved. Let Trust Fuel Your Prayers Fear is the death of prayer because it is the opposite of trust. Many of our prayers are driven by anxieties and fears. For instance, even if God is providing for us financially today, we worry that he may not provide for the future. What most enhances our relationship with Jesus is our ability to trust him, no matter what. He rarely answers prayers that ask him to fix our circumstances so that we can trust him less. Prayers permeated with a faith-filled security in God's love and confidence in his character will be more effective than petitions for him to appease us. When we're afraid, we can pray first for our fear and for a fuller revelation of God's love—before we pray for the specific outcome we want. When we pray for others, we can do the same. 59 Pray in Agreement We can learn a fascinating aspect of prayer from a group of Christians in the Australian bush. One man leading a prayer meeting offered unusual instructions: "Tonight as we pray, we'll only pray for what we agree upon. If one of you feels led to pray over something, ask the group if we all sense it. If so, we can pray in agreement. If not, we'll pass over it for now and move on to other requests." He explained that praying for someone can become a subtle form of manipulation. "If a man is depressed, then others pray for him to be happy. He's pressured then to smile at the end of the prayer and say, 'Thanks, I feel better,' whether he does or not. Maybe he doesn't need to 'feel better' right now. Maybe he needs to learn to cling to God in the midst of suffering. You don't know unless you ask." This gave these Australians a chance to share insights on what God might be saying. It gave them the freedom to pray with boldness when they knew they all sought the same thing. Vectoring Prayer Sometimes when people gather to pray, they end up with an hour of individuals making disjointed pleas—everyone waiting for his or her turn to pray without thinking much about what others are saying and praying. One method for getting a group beyond this habit is to "agree, vector, and build." The method is to really listen to a person's prayer, then let it sink into your mind and heart before moving on. For instance, someone in the group may pray for a family member's health. Others in the group can mull over that prayer as they listen, entering more deeply into the concern. Sometimes when we do that, we become moved to add our own prayer, to nuance the prayer we've heard. Others may do the same, vectoring their prayers and building on the original prayer. Bob Bakke urges prayer groups to use a lot of short prayers. Long, sonorous prayers by the adept stifle the participation of those who feel less competent. Each person can pray short prayers many times in a session, leaving space for everyone to agree with, vector in, and build on the prayers of others. It can be a wonderful way to practice a symphony directed by the Lord. Follow Up Nothing expresses our concern to someone more than following up with a phone call a few days later. I'm convinced that we do too little of this because we have so little hope that our prayers will be answered. If the goal is to zero in on how God accomplishes his will in our circumstances, then our initial prayer only begins the process. If nothing has happened, we can ask God for wisdom. Is he doing something else in this situation? Is he teaching us to persevere? Staying in the process until something is resolved will train us for future prayer opportunities. Philippians 4:6 invites us to make any request of God, but does not tell us to expect him to answer them the way we want. Real prayer is the process of getting involved with someone's need, praying according to our best understanding of God's work, and then staying in the situation until we see God act. It is a risk to pray in that expectant way, but it can lead to some incredible prayers. One of Henri Nouwen's spiritual directors once prayed over him: "May all your expectations be frustrated. May all your plans be thwarted. May all of your desires be withered into nothingness, that you may experience the powerlessness and poverty of a child and sing and dance in the love of God the Father, the Son, and the Spirit." Teaching people to move beyond their own agenda to touch God's heart and passion is a challenge, but it will deepen and enliven your prayer life. Wayne Jacobsen is director of Lifestream Ministries in Oxnard, California. Copyright © 2006 by Christianity Today International. Originally appeared in The Church-Leader's Answer Book (Tyndale House Publishers, 2006). 60 Group Prayer Concerns Date: _______________________________ Group: _____________________________ Prayer Leader: _____________________________________________________________ Please indicate special needs for which you want group leaders and members to pray. Prayer for spiritual concerns: _____________________________ Requested by: __________________________ _____________________________ Requested by: __________________________ _____________________________ Requested by: __________________________ Prayer for physical healing: _____________________________ Requested by: __________________________ _____________________________ Requested by: __________________________ _____________________________ Requested by: __________________________ Prayer for family and friends: _____________________________ Requested by: __________________________ _____________________________ Requested by: __________________________ _____________________________ Requested by: __________________________ Prayer for persons who are grieving: _____________________________ Requested by: __________________________ _____________________________ Requested by: __________________________ _____________________________ Requested by: __________________________ Prayer for special needs and circumstances: _____________________________ Requested by: __________________________ _____________________________ Requested by: __________________________ _____________________________ Requested by: __________________________ Unspoken prayer requests: _____________________________ Requested by: __________________________ _____________________________ Requested by: __________________________ _____________________________ Requested by: __________________________ Other prayer concerns not listed:: _____________________________ Requested by: __________________________ _____________________________ Requested by: __________________________ _____________________________ Requested by: __________________________ Prayer concerns retained from last week: _____________________________ Requested by: __________________________ _____________________________ Requested by: __________________________ _____________________________ Requested by: __________________________ 61 SMBS Prayer Chart Prospects SMBS Members Who Are Not Church Members ___________________________________ ____________________________________ ___________________________________ ____________________________________ ___________________________________ ____________________________________ ___________________________________ ____________________________________ ___________________________________ ____________________________________ Group Needs Personal Needs ___________________________________ ____________________________________ ___________________________________ ____________________________________ ___________________________________ ____________________________________ ___________________________________ ____________________________________ ___________________________________ ____________________________________ Family Needs Church Needs ___________________________________ ____________________________________ ___________________________________ ____________________________________ ___________________________________ ____________________________________ ___________________________________ ____________________________________ ___________________________________ ____________________________________ 62 Ideas for the SMBS Prayer Ministry There are three ways that I have seen a Sunday Morning Bible Study (SMBS) address prayer during the non-teaching time. 1). Open and Close with a prayer for God to bless every life, need, and action along with the lesson. 2.) Take verbal requests from the group and hope other people write them down and pray for them. The leader may pray for all of them or ask other people to intercede. 3.) Have people write their own prayer needs down and copy/distribute them for the fellowship to reference, pray for, and follow-up. What you expect your SMBS to accomplish determines the ministry list of its prayer ministry. We have a 60 minute (9:30-10:30) SMBS meeting time sandwiched between our two Celebration/Worship Services (8:15 & 10:45). Our SMBS aim to meet the church’s fellowship and connection needs so they have age/season of life parameters to create an affinity-based group. The SMBS also have an open-group/open chair philosophy. It is structured to expect people who come as a guest, or come when they can, or come every week. Everyone can experience meaningful adult, Bible centered interaction each week without expectation of completed homework or divulging personal information. For our situation, time is crucial. We know prayer is A ministry and not THE ministry of the SMBS. We have discovered THE BENEFITS of having people write their own prayer needs down and then copy and distribute them to the fellowship works well for the following reasons: A person may write something that they would not say aloud in a group. A person is more concise when writing – won’t be thinking out loud or stumbling for words. A person is more exact with names, dates, times, and other details when writing – less misunderstanding from the others in the fellowship. A person has time to write in SMBS as the sheet passes them during the lesson. They may not have time or even forget during the Celebration/Worship Service. The group is more informed to pray for the situation and the individuals. The group has the hard copy list for regular reference and follow-up conversation starters. The SMBS Prayer ministry has time to develop a way to focus on a special need toward the end of SMBS time rather than be stunned by the information and responding irrationally or inactively. The SMBS Care ministry has opportunities for service in writing. The SMBS Assimilation ministry can keep absentees updated by mailing it each week. The SMBS Outreach ministry can offer church attendees who are not yet part of an SMBS the opportunity of their needs being remembered in prayer. The SMBS Teaching ministry has more time for the lesson, discussion, and application. The SMBS Leader has more time for announcements along with other group information. The pastors can easily be given a copy of each SMBS’s prayer sheet. The pastors are aware of new requests and updated of former requests and can pray for them. The pastors can network with other church ministries to assist with the need. The pastors can follow-up with the individual and with the SMBS for continued care. 63 This is what we have discovered to be effective in the SMBS gathering for generating intercession, connections, and fellowship. SMBS prayer sheets are modified regularly to meet communication needs and also to include guest information, absentees, upcoming activities, treats for the next week, and the various SMBS ministries with their coordinators. This is HOW IT WORKS: 1. Create a form that is easily usable. Making it specific to the SMBS is helpful. (see a GABC sample below) 2. Make several copies. 3. Put the copies in the SMBS attendance folder that is distributed weekly. 4. Pass one sheet around the fellowship as everyone is settled in for the lesson. 5. After it is filled out have one person go to the church office to make enough copies for attendees, absentees, and pastoral staff. 6. Return to the SMBS and distribute to attendees. 7. Take time to pray in group, note special needs, ask for more information if needed. 8. Address envelopes for absentees. Write a little “missing you” note if desired and mail. Note: Prayer requests given in SMBS are not published as a church prayer request unless permission is given to do so. Note also: Until we are a completely paperless society, this is just one more communication tool. Also use phone trees, prayer chains, mass emails, text messaging, internet, and any other form possible to get people connected in Christ. Dan Jordan, Pastor of ABF’s & Worship at Calvary Baptist Church in South Bend, Indiana (www.calbapsouthbend.org) For more information, contact Dan at 574 272 8334 or danjordan@calbapsouthbend.org 64 Sunday Morning Bible Study Sample Prayer, Care, & Activity List Date Praises & Prayer Requests (Care) Name 65 Green Acres Baptist Church Guests (Outreach) Guests (Assimilate) Absentees (Care) Activities/Projects- (Outreach or Care) Food for next week:______________________________________ Church/SMBS Announcements: 66 67 Chapter 10 SMBS Social Coordinators Party with a Purpose Each Sunday morning is special at Green Acres Baptist Church. The importance of what happens in a SMBS meeting room cannot be over emphasized. We are teaching the Bible for life change. This requires effort each week. Something frivolous like coffee, plays a fundamental role in helping adults feel welcome and something as tedious as a group ministry list is vital in follow up and ministry when you need to write a card, email or visit. Creating an Environment that Attracts Fellowship is not an event, but a natural result of believers growing in Christ together. It unites us in purpose and bonds us in love. The most organized group, with the best teaching can still lack an environment of fun and warmth. The Social Coordinator job is to provide opportunities for SMBS participants to spend quality time together and to make sure the SMBS room is attractive and inviting. Expectations for SMBS Social Coordinators 1. Have strong organization and communication skills. 2. Have a sense of joy and desire to serve others. Job Description for SMBS Social Coordinators 1. Weekly pray for your SMBS that God will bless the environment with His presence and that He will draw your SMBS together in unity. 2. Recruit, train, and sustain a group of adults who will serve weekly as hosts. Hosts arrive early each Sunday to make sure the room is properly equipped and arranged. Hosts will greet members and guests as they arrive and make sure everyone has a nametag each week. 3. Coordinate the provision of refreshments. Food is not a requirement for each week, but it does give people a reason to come if they are expected to bring donuts or some other snack. 4. Coordinate a social event for your SMBS at least once a quarter. Bi-monthly events are preferred. Make sure the event is Christ-honoring. 5. Communicate regularly with your SMBS Director. 68 Resources for SMBS Social Coordinators Party ideas The Adult Transformation Ministry will give your group $100 per year to supplement any activities. Super bowl Mystery Dinner – costumes; hide clues in home Bon Fire – Barbeque, lawn chairs Monday Night Football & Bruno’s Hawaiian Luau at lake property – limbo, hula hoops, boats Dinner for 8, Dessert for 100 – small groups of 8 meet for dinner (members/prospects), meet at FLC, the ROCK, for recreation and dessert Music Night- Karaoke, band, members participating “Way we were”-School themed with yearbooks, dress like high school picture, foods like dips, coke floats, pez candy, or whatever was popular Progressive Dinner -Mystery trip where you must follow clues to find the location of the next course to eat; may be at homes or restaurants. Or circle up in the parking lot of a park and each family bring a casserole to try and place in their trunk with plates, utensils, etc. Lawn chairs in center! Kids too! Activities at THE ROC Ice Cream Party -Bring freezers or Blue Bell and others bring favorite toppings! Pool Party – Relays with blocks of ice; oranges in pool Rangers Game Pick a Variety of places to eat after church (include families, economical and a fun time to get to know each other!) Always be thinking of a non-church member, unsaved friend or neighbor, to come to your event. Our annual 4th of July, Christmas program, Breakfast of Champions, Women’s luncheons are other ways to introduce them to GABC and Christ! 69 Childcare Request must be made 2 months ahead of event. Contact Casie Cook at 903-525-3253. Special once a month child care is more economical at $8 per child - $20 per family. 2014 Dates are: February 7 No March Kids Night Out April 11 May 9 No June Kids Night Out No July Kids Night-Out August 8 September 12 October 10 November 14 December 5 Christmas Adventure To register your child for an event: http://www.gabc.org/children or at the Children’s Atrium Welcome Desk Reservations are due the Sunday before an event, with the exception of Wednesday events. Wednesday Events: Wednesday before Wednesday. Online registrations will be cut off at midnight on the last day of reservations. Fall 2014 Dates for childcare on Sunday evening are September 7-November 23-hours of 5:30 PM to 7:00PM. Fall 2014 Dates for childcare on Wednesday evenings are September 3-December 3 –hours of 6:00PM to 7:30PM. For Dates after 2014, please contact the Children’s Ministry at 903-525-1122. 70 Facilities Call Holly McInnis ASAP 903-525-3249 hollym@mail.gabc.org ! Securing a room, location and setup as soon as you pick a date is so important! Have a backup date ready too. There are numerous activities held here at the church (many outside groups, weddings, etc.) and never assume you will have a location until it is scheduled with our Scheduling Coordinator through Holly. When scheduling an event with Holly, know that the outside doors (and you may need to request certain entrances like door #5 to the covered parking!) are unlocked 45 minutes before the scheduled event and lock 30 minutes afterward. Be sure to give a phone contact to those who may arrive late! Any activity at the church on a Saturday evening must conclude by 9 p.m. Food service Contact Eddy Espinosa 903-525-3277 if you want to use our Food Facility services. The menus are on our GABC website. Any food requests must be made 2 weeks before scheduled event. AV and Broadcast support If you need TV, microphones or sound operator, you must contact our Broadcast Ministry two weeks in advance of scheduled event. Call Holly McInnis 903-525-3249 hollym@mail.gabc.org to schedule or answer questions. Certain fees may be charged. There are strict guidelines by law to show any movies. Vans and trailers Contact Holly McInnis 903-525-3249 hollym@mail.gabc.org if you need a van to transport members to an event. Vans are scheduled often on a first come basis. Groups are charged 61 cents a mile for trips. 71 FELLOWSHIP IDEAS FOR SMBS* Music Video Competition - Take old songs and do creative videos to them. Swim Parties - Crazy diving contests, relays involving blocks of ice, swimming in sweat suits. Throw 200 oranges in the pool. Contestants must dive in and gather as many as possible - can't use hands, must stuff in bathing suit. 50's Party - Root beer chugging contest, hula hoop contest, twist contest, best-dressed contest, tattoo contest. Host a Mystery Party - A murder is staged-and-adults must solve it. Hide clues around a home/homes or park. Autumn Fest/Fall Fling - Outdoor barbecue with a Bluegrass band in the park. Hawaiian Luau - Around a pool or lake house. Decorate to give Hawaiian setting. Have Hawaiian food and drinks. Have a Limbo contest or a coconut breaking contest. Provide boating and other appropriate recreation. Barnyard Aerobics - A square dance. Square dance is taught to those who do not know how. An "all-you-can-eat" barbecue dinner is served. Dinner for Eight I Dessert for 100 - Groups of eight meet at a member's home or restaurant of their choice. The group consists of members and prospects. All of the groups end up together for recreation and dessert is served to top off the evening. Aerobics Night - One Friday night a month, the local health club is rented for a time of fun and recreation. Volleyball, basketball, racquetball, etc., are played. Music Variety Night - Adults share musical talents and abilities. Maybe use a Karaoke machine. "Go Fly a Kite" - Featuring a kite-flying expedition. Sack lunch or cookout. Monster Cookie Bash & Movie - Favorite cookies are made. Basic cookie dough is provided along with drinks. Adults bring favorite cookie components. A movie can be shown when the cookies are done. Baby Boomers Big Bash - Everyone brings baby pictures. Adults try to guess "who’s who?" Prizes are awarded for most unusual baby picture, cutest, hardest to figure out, etc. Family Picnic - Bring the kids and the food, and head to a local park. The Bonfire - Roast marshmallows and hot dogs, and savor some smores. Provide entertainment such as "singalongs," Try a hay ride. Tacky Party - Door prizes, refreshments, a style show, and play the game: “Let Make a Deal" Progressive Dinner - Mystery trip where you must follow clues to find the location of the next course to eat. Fellowship Picture Party - Following a fellowship, trip, or event, reserve a pizza parlor and show photos of event and a video on big screen TV. Mexican Fiesta - Wear Mexican clothing and decorate with sombrero and piñatas. Have Mexican music playing or have someone play guitar. Serve chips and salsa, fajitas, enchiladas or another favorite Mexican dish. Ice Cream Fellowship - Adults bring freezers, mix, and make ice cream. Several can go together for one freezer; then enjoy eating it. Award prizes for the most unusual mix, or tastiest. Pizza, Ice Skating & Broom Ball- Reserve a local ice skating rink for this event, Order pizza and have a blast. Don't forget the camera for those once in a lifetime shots. Birthday Party - Everyone comes dressed emphasizing the month they were born. A giant cake is provided and refreshments. Traditional birthday games can be played. This is an easy way to celebrate everyone's birthday once a year. 72 Praise/Worship Night: Plan a Friday/Saturday night to sing worship songs and pray for each other's specific needs. Ask members to bring some snacks for the beginning and a dessert (or two) for after Get a guitar player and make as many copies of song sheets as you will need Get someone to write up a sheet on a Psalm (42, 119, 23) where it tells you what to pray for each other. Top Five Movie Scene Night: This is simple, but so fun. Get everyone in your Growth Group or SMBS (depending on its size) to bring the top five scenes from any movie they have watched. (most memorable, funniest, stupidest, etc ... ) This might be one of the most fun fellowships you'll ever do! Get someone to screen the movies suggested for inappropriate content. Ask someone to be the movie changer as this happens fast! Keep the scene limited to five minutes Have everyone bring popcorn and a two-liter The Great Bake-off (desserts usually): Establish your entry categories. The following is an example of several categories you may want to consider: Beginners (those who have been cooking for a year or less). Most exotic dish. The "Julia Child Award" (for best female cook). The "Galloping Gourmet Award" (for the best male cook). Fanciest dish. Best low-calorie dish. Best high-calorie dish. SMBS Reunion: Within the life cycle of a Sunday Morning Bible Study, people move on and/or get involved in other ministries. To help old friends keep in touch, have an annual fellowship reunion. Host the event at a nice buffet-style restaurant that can accommodate the amount of people who might attend. The program can consist of special music, a speaker, or a humorous skit. But one of the main highlights should be looking at slides or videos of past events, camping trips, and parties. Make sure to allow ample time for catching up with old friends. Group Date Night: Group dating is a wonderful way to get to know others and to nurture relationships in a nonthreatening, relaxed environment. Here's one approach to encouraging group dating especially for Singles. Choose a night when people can meet. Make it either once a month, weekly, biweekly or whatever works out best for your group. Begin with a catered dinner at six o'clock followed by a program at seven. The program can feature guest speakers on topics ranging from aerobic dancing to spiritual life to sexuality. Then for those who want to continue the evening the group dating possibilities begin at eight. "What's My Line?" Night: Remember the show? Its popularity was due to people's interest in various occupations. Here's how to recreate it: Ask everyone to come to an evening party dressed for the occupation they would most like to have. Then, on a large display board, list everyone's real occupation, without listing their names. The challenge for the evening is to go around and match up people to their real occupation. Although it's not necessary, you might want to consider giving a fun award to the person who matched the most people with their correct occupations within a certain time period. *From Carter Shotwell of LakePointe Church, Rockwall Texas 73 Chapter 11 SMBS Growth Group Facilitators SMBS groups are designed to be open to anyone who chooses to participate in Bible Study. Growth Groups are smaller, closed groups comprised of SMBS members who elect to spend additional time deepening their relationships with other SMBS members and God. These groups emphasize transformational discipleship and personal accountability. Once these groups have formed, they become “closed” and are no longer open to receive new members. Most of these groups will meet for a specified time period and then disband or reorganize with new members. Expectations for all Growth Groups 1. They must be approved by the SMBS Director before they begin. 2. They must have a defined purpose: (e.g. discipleship training, mentoring, prayer, marriage/family improvement, leadership training, or evangelism, etc.) 3. They must determine the scope of the participants (e.g. men’s, women’s, couples, new believers, etc.). 4. They must have start and end dates (but can be continued if approved). 5. The curriculum must be approved by Adult Transformation Minister (See the list of pre-approved studies on the resource page). 6. The facilitator must be approved by the SMBS Director. Expectations for Growth Group Facilitators 1. Christ Follower--have a passion for Christ Continually turn from sin in your life (1 John 1:9; Romans 6:6). Spend time with God in prayer and devotionally reading the scriptures (Colossians 3:16; 1 Peter 2:2). Be filled with the Spirit--let the Spirit control you (Romans 7:6; Ephesians 5:18). Use your gifts in ministry (Romans 12:3-8; 1 Peter 4:10-11). Learn to persevere in adversity (Romans 5:3-5; Philippians 1:29; 1 Peter 4:12-14). 74 2. Christ-like Character--Paying Attention to the Heart Being more like Christ and less like the world. Seen in the decisions you make and the reactions you have towards others. 3. Calling--A genuine care for others. Your motive is to serve not to be served. Mark 9:35. 4. Competence--Basic people skills. 5. Commitment--Doing whatever it takes. Being there every meeting possible. 6. Capacity--Ability to serve and provide leadership (time, energy, resources). Job Description for Growth Group Facilitators 1. Determine and submit in writing the purpose of your growth group and seek approval by your SMBS Director. 2. Recruit potential Growth Group participants. 3. Coordinate with participants to determine meeting day, time, and location along with other logistics (e.g. purchasing curriculum, snacks, childcare, etc.). 4. Regularly report the status of the group to your SMBS Director. 75 Resources for SMBS Growth Group Coordinators Basics of Biblical Leadership Who me a Leader? I just wanted to be in a small group! Like it or not, being a Growth Group Facilitator means that that you are a leader. Using John Maxwell’s definition of leadership is influence, your job as a facilitator requires you to lead because you will influence your group towards a particular direction. Our target: fully devoted followers of Christ (disciples). Your job is to help your group get one step closer to that target. Remember one of our key assumptions is the law of reproduction. The health of your group will be determined by your spiritual health. Motives 1. Appropriate Motives a) Glorify the Lord b) Bear fruit in your life c) Desire to lead (shepherd) others d) Be an example e) Outlet for spiritual gifts 2. Wrong Motives a) Self-exaltation b) Prestige c) Pressured by someone (even staff!) Hindrances to Leadership 1. Short fuse 2. Unconfessed sin 3. False teacher (2 Timothy 4:3-4) * Source Material: Leading Life-Changing Small Groups by Bill Donahue 76 How to do a Growth Group Meeting Your preparation as the group’s facilitator is key to the success of each meeting. Everything rises or falls on leaders. a) b) c) You can’t over communicate (1) Purpose and Vision (2) Logistics Your preparation will determine the speed you move from phase one to phase three. Each Meeting should have a P.L.A.N. P- point of the meeting and prayer before the meeting L-logistics a) Location (seating, eliminate distractions) b) Childcare (if your group meets on Wednesday or Sunday nights you can take advantage of church programs for free childcare) c) Consistent A-activities d) Icebreaker e) Group Prayer (don’t make this an afterthought) f) Materials for study g) Announcements N-needs Prayer – record to keep up with how God is moving Conflict resolution Health or family concerns Childcare 2014 Sunday Evenings from 5:30 – 7:00 pm (additional time can be requested*) o Start date September 7 o End date November 23 o Start date January TBD o End date April TBD Programs will include AWANA/Break-Out from 5:30 – 7:00 pm Basic Childcare will be provided from 5:15 – 7:30 pm* Wednesday Evenings from 5:00 – 8:30 pm, to include but not limited to… o Start date September 10 o End date November 19 Kidz Praise 6:00 – 7:00 pm Aftercare 7:15 – 8:30 pm Friday Night Kids Night Out and Scheduled Childcare Events are provided by reservation only. Check bulletin for details No AWANA or Kidz Praise in summer. In general, reservations are not required but registration and user fee is required for AWANA/Break- Out & Kidz Praise. 77 78 Real Life Discipleship by Jim Putman Summary and profile of each stage of spiritual growth General characteristics of the stage Spiritual Stage Dead Unbelieving Rebellious Infant Ignorant Confused Dependent Self-centered, self-absorbed Idealistic Prideful Low view of self Interdependent Action/service-oriented Zealous God-centered Other-centered Mission-minded but incomplete in his understanding Independent Intentional Strategic Reproduction-minded Self-feeding Mission-minded Team-minded (unity matters) Dependable Child Young Adult Parent 79 Typical beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes of the stage Spiritual Stage Dead Infant Child Young Adult Parent Disbelief of the supernatural, or belief in many forms of the supernatural (multiple deities, interactions with the dead, superstitions, astrology, and so on) Disbelief in God (atheism) or belief in the possibility of God (agnosticism) or belief in a different God (member of a cult or the occult) Belief in one God but many ways to get to Him Anger toward Christians or the church or family Confusion about God, Jesus, and the church Ignorance regarding biblical truth (spiritually blind) Belief that the answers they are seeking lie in worldly prestige, power, fame, and so on Belief that they are as good as anyone else so they don’t need a Savior Belief that they have done too much wrong so fear they can’t be saved Ignorance about what they need and what the Bible says about life and the purpose of a Christian Ignorance about or frustration toward Christianity and the church Belief that Christians make no mistakes; unrealistic expectations of themselves Belief that they are defined as the culture would define them Worldly perspective about life with some spiritual truth mixed in Excitement over having deep relationships Disillusionment because of their high expectations of others Belief that feelings are most important, which leads to spiritual highs and lows Lack of wisdom about how to use what they are learning—for example, too aggressive when sharing their faith, or too legalistic in their approach to dealing with their friends and family Belief that people are not caring for them enough Tendency to mimic mature Christians’ behaviors in order to look good and gain praise Tendency to serve others in a ministry as long as the benefit outweighs the cost Enthusiasm about new teachings Confusion and unyielding nature regarding complex issues because they have an incomplete view of biblical subjects More knowledge about what Christians say than what the Word says Desire to serve others for others’ good and the glory of God Tendency to feel responsible for how others respond to the message; possible pride if a person accepts the message and possible discouragement if he or she doesn’t Desire to serve but not strategic about how to train others Naivety about other believers—for example, they believe that others are on fire for Jesus because everyone seems to be “fine” at church Tendency to be black-and-white about what should happen in a church Ability to think in terms of what a team (rather than an individual) can do A coaching mindset Desire to see the people they work with mature and become fellow workers who love them but aren’t dependent on them to complete the mission 80 The spiritual needs of the stage Spiritual Stage Dead Infant Child Young Adult Parent A secure relationship with a more mature believer A picture of the real Jesus lived out in front of them Answers, evidences for Christianity An explanation of the gospel message An invitation to receive Christ Individual attention from a spiritual parent Protection An explanation of the truths (new truths) found in the Word of God An explanation and modeling of the habits of a growing believer A spiritual family Help for how to start feeding themselves Teaching about who they are in Christ Teaching about how to have relationship with Christ Teaching about how to have relationship with other believers Teaching about appropriate expectations concerning other believers A place to learn to serve A spiritual parent who will debrief them about ministry experiences Ongoing relationships that offer encouragement and accountability Help for establishing boundaries Guidance regarding appropriate expectations of people they will serve Help in identifying their gifts Skills training An ongoing relationship with co-laborers A church family Encouragement 81 The phrase from the stage Spiritual Stage Dead Infant Child Young Adult Parent “I don’t believe there is a God.” “The Bible is just a bunch of myths.” “Evolution explains away a need for God.” “I am not a Christian because Christians are responsible for all the wars in history.” “There are many ways to get to God.” “I am a Christian because I go to church and I am a good person.” “I have been a good person, so I will be okay.” “I believe in Jesus, but my church is when I’m in the woods or on the lake.” “I don’t have to go to church to be a Christian.” “I gave my life to Jesus and I go to church, but I don’t need to be close to other people.” “People have hurt me, so it’s just me and God.” “I don’t have time to be in relationship with another Christian.” “My spouse is my accountability partner. I don’t need anyone else.” “I pray and read my Bible. That is good enough for me.” “My ministry is my work. I provide for my family. I don’t have time for the church.” “I didn’t know the Bible said that.” “I love my small group; don’t add any more people to it.” “Who are all these people coming to my church? Tell them to go somewhere else!” “I am not coming to church anymore. It has become too big; it has too many people.” “My small group is not taking care of my needs.” “I don’t have anyone who is spending enough time with me; no one is discipling me.” “I didn’t like the music today. If only they did it like…” “I am not being fed in my church, so I am going to a church that meets my needs better.” “I love my group, but there are others who need a group like this.” “I think I could lead a group with a little help. I have three friends I have been witnessing to, and this group would be too big for them.” “Look how many are at church today—it’s awesome! I had to walk two blocks from the closest parking spot.” “Randy and Rachel missed group and I called to see if they are okay. Their kids have the flu, so maybe our group can make meals for them. I’ll start.” “In my devotions, I came across something I have a question about.” “I noticed that we don’t have an old folks’ visitation team. Do you think I could be involved?” People talk about what they love. When spiritual parents talk about what God is doing with them, it is not bragging or name‐dropping. Humility is evident. “This guy at work asked me to explain the Bible to him. Pray for me.” “We get to baptize someone from our small group tonight. When is the next 101 group? I want to get her plugged into ministry somewhere.” “Our small group is going on a mission trip, and I have given each person a different responsibility. Where do you think we should go?” “I realized discipleship happens at home, too. Will you hold me accountable to spend time discipling my kids?” “I have a person in my small group who is passionate about children. Can you have the children’s ministry people call me?” 82 83 Selecting the Best Materials for Growth Group Study 1. What are my members’ primary needs? (Use worksheet on next page). 2. Complete the “Choosing the Right Material” questions. (see next page; if the book or study is not listed, contact the Adult Transformation Minister for approval) 3. Are there samples I can preview? (visit the Discover Life Bookstore or the Adult Transformation Minister, or Women’s Ministry offices for samples) 4. Should I ask my group’s opinion? Absolutely! Bring several options and allow members to help decide. 5. How can I get materials? Collect the needed funds and order through the Discover Life Bookstore. 6. What if I needed more help? Consult with Adult Transformation Minister for guidance. 84 CHOOSING THE RIGHT MATERIAL FOR GROWTH GROUP DISCUSSION What stage of life is most of our group? Single or Married Small Children, Teens, or Empty Nest Other ______________________________ What is our overall spiritual level? Seekers ++++++++++++++++++++++++Maturing believers ____________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ What topic/samples would I like to present to the group? Make a list What were the top 3 topics discovered? 1. 2. 3. ___________________________ ___________________________ ___________________________ What study will we begin with? 1. _____________________________ Cost ________ 2. _____________________________ Cost ________ 3. _____________________________ Cost ________ 85 SUGGESTED GROWTH GROUP RESOURCES Approved Publishers List Since there are so many good curriculum options out there, we have compiled a list of approved publishers. If you have any question or need suggestions, contact the Adult Transformation Minister. If a publisher has an * by it you will still need to check with the Adult Transformation Minister, most likely it will be approved, but these publishers do produce questionable items from time to time. Abingdon Moody Baker Book House* Multnomah Publishers Barna Navpress Broadman Nelson Convention Press PLACE David C. Cook Precepts Ministries Evangelism Explosion Promise Keepers Gospel Light Regal Group* Serendipity Holman Student Life Injoy Thomas Nelson Intervarsity Press Walk Through the Bible Jossey-Bass Willow Creek Leadership Network Word Lifeway Zondervan* 86 GROWTH GROUP COORDINATORS GUIDE TO PRAYER How can I foster healthy prayer life in my group? Live it. Be a prayer warrior yourself--pray for your members. Keep your prayers honest and authentic. Group prayer is better if it is: -- Brief -- Believable -- Bold (led by the Spirit) -- Between the prayer and God (silent prayer is OK) Create a safe environment! Get permission to call on members to pray before you do it. Allow members to pray one at a time, as they feel led. Do not pray around a circle. Don't expect all members to pray at each meeting. Facilitate the prayer time Give general guidelines then let the Holy Spirit lead. Use a variety of prayer methods. Pray. Do not just discuss. Pray every time you meet. GROWTH GROUP VALUES Key Group Values Here is a sample list of values that are key for accountability group relationships. Affirmation Create an atmosphere where group members build each other up in Christ and encourage each other. Prayer Prayer is valued in group life. Adoration - praising God for who He is Confession - coming clean before God Thanksgiving - thank God for answered prayers Supplication - praying for each other's needs Availability Group members are available to each other. Constant, Contact, Consciousness- Phone and e-mail are used to stay in touch. It’s a seven-day-a week commitment. Honesty Group members come clean before each other; not covering up their innermost feelings and speaking the truth in love is critical. Confidentiality Whatever is shared in the group stays in the group. Sensitivity Respect group members past trials and current feelings. "Judge not lest you be judged. 87
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