Phil Stone pstone@ncbaptist 800-395-5102, ext. 5643 ncbaptist/sundayschool

1. Phil Stone pstone@ncbaptist.org 800-395-5102, ext. 5643 www.ncbaptist.org/sundayschool

2. In Your Group… Use the paper and markers provided… Define: Transformation…

3. Conference Purpose: • The Sunday School is a biblically based ministry of transformational small communities for making disciples and changing lives by the power of God. • We’ll discover: • The biblical basis for Transformational Small Communities • Principles of Transformational Small Communities • Practical ways to create a transformational environment • Prayer dependence

4. Transformational Transformation is Radical Change

5. Transformational Co - Mission? • Matthew 28:19-20 - RSV • Gotherefore and make disciples of all nations, • baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, • teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; • and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.

6. Define: Disciple… • A disciple is one who abides in Christ and does what Jesus did. • Rick Hughes • Church Health Team

7. Jesus’ Disciple-Making Process • Learner Disciples – Go, make disciples… • “Come learn with us!” • Believer Disciples – Baptizing Them… • Learners become believers • Fully Devoted, Reproducing disciples – Teaching them to observe… • The role of mature believers is to disciple new believers.

8. A Disciple is… • Not perfect • Rough around the edges • Unfinished • A work in Progress • Not Bible Scholar! • Not Spiritual Giant!

9. A Disciple Is… Transformational Connection: ComeLearnWithUs! A disciple is a learner who becomes a believer and then a fully devoted, reproducing follower of Jesus. • Not perfect • Rough around the edges • Unfinished • A work in Progress • Not Bible Scholar! • Not Spiritual Giant!

10. Open Vs Closed The Sunday School is a biblically based ministry of transformational small, open communities of believers and unbelievers to assist the church in accomplishing its God-given mission of making disciples and changing lives by the power of God.

11. Use markers and paper provided to list ‘Obstacles to Transformation’. in YOUR Sunday School class.

12. 5 Obstacles to Transformation • Information Over Life Transformation • Teaching Over Learning • Reflection of Past Practices • Segmentation of the Mission of God • Lack of Intimacy

13. Small We’ve got to move from Sitting in rows To sitting in circles To going out and Changing the world. Ed Stetzer

14. How Small is Small?

15. How Small Is Small? Rules of thumb: • When a class reaches maximum enrollment, reproduce. • When leader/member ratio exceeds recommended limits, reproduce or enlist. • When space is filled to 80% capacity, reproduce

16. Communities Small groups were the lifeblood of the early church.

17. Communities Five Elements for Transformation Small Communities • Mission Oriented • Word – Driven • Multiplication Mindset • Stranger Welcoming • Kingdom Focused

18. Mission Oriented • Listen for God’s Mission… • Acts 8:30-35 Later God’s angel spoke to Philip: ‘At noon today I want you to walk over to that desolate road that goes from Jerusalem down to Gaza.’

19. Mission Oriented • He got up and went. He met an Ethiopian eunuch coming down the road. He was riding in a chariot and reading the prophet Isaiah.

20. Mission Oriented The Spirit told Philip, ‘Climb into the chariot.’ Running up alongside, Philip heard the eunuch reading Isaiah and asked, ‘Do you understand what you’re reading?’

21. Mission Oriented He answered, ‘How can I without some help?’ and invited Philip into the chariot with him….

22. Mission Oriented The eunuch said, ‘Tell me who is the prophet talking about: himself or some other?’ Philip grabbed his chance. Using this passage as his text, he preached Jesus to him.

23. What is God’s mission? • For Philip… • For the church… • For Sunday School… • For your class or small group… • For you… Has the mission changed?

24. Principle A Mission oriented Sunday School is outwardly focused and intentionally evangelistic.

25. Mission-Oriented Pastor • Lead the church to discover its Mission. • Empowerthe Sunday School to accomplish its purpose of making disciples.

26. Mission OrientedSunday School Director • Use the markers to write on the balloons what the Sunday School Director need to be and do to be mission oriented.

27. Preschool Leader Adult Leader Special Ministry Leader S.S. Director-Team Leader, Outreach and Ministry Coordinators Pastor Student Leader Children Leader The Mission Oriented S.S. Ministry Team Without a team, the Sunday School Director’s hands are tied.

28. Adult/Student Care Group Leaders 1 / 4-5 Outreach Leaders Teachers Mission Oriented Class Ministry Teams

29. Care Group Leader Irregular Member Potential Disciple Regular Member Regular Member Chronic Absentee Mission Oriented Adult/Student Class Care Groups

30. Care Groups Leaders’ Job DescriptionContact every memberEvery Week!

31. Mission-Oriented Organization • Missionary Mentality: Who is your ‘People Group’? • Age Grading • Life-Stage • Young Adult • Parents • Empty Nesters • Retirees • Affinity Group • Inter-generational

32. Prayerful Dependency Pray now for your Sunday School to be Mission Oriented.

33. Word Driven • Listen for Jesus teaching method… Luke 10:25-27 Just then a religion scholar stood up with a question to test Jesus. “Teacher, what do I need to do to get eternal life? Jesus answered, “What’s written in God’s Law? How do you interpret it?” He said, “That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence – and that you love your neighbor as you do yourself”

34. Word Driven “Good answer!” said Jesus. “Do it and you’ll live.” Looking for a loophole, he asked, “And just how would you define ‘neighbor’?” Jesus answered by telling a story…. (The Good Samaritan)

35. Word Driven Jesus asked, “What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?” “The one who treated him kindly,” the religion scholar responded. Jesus said, “Go and do the same.” • Question: To what did Jesus point the scholar? • Did Jesus “TELL” the scholar anything? • Jesus involved the scholar in discovering for himself the biblical truth that could change his life. • Then he sent him on a mission!

36. Principle It begins, returns, and ends with God’s Word which is relevant to any challenge or discussion.

37. Practical • Praying ourselves into biblical illiteracy • Announcements do not make disciples • 3 Baptist “B’s”: Bull, Ball, and Bible • Teach with DEPTH • Less lecture – 14% • Involve learners – 40% Remember, That one hour is sacred unto God for Bible Study!

38. Prayerful Dependence Pray now that your Sunday School will be Word-driven.

39. Multiplication Mindset • Listen for characteristics of the “early church”? Acts 2:46-47 They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.

40. Multiplication Mindset • Question: How do you think the “People… liked what they saw”? • An organic, vibrant community that pulled people into a culture of friendship.. • The early church was a robust, relational church that created groups to connect the new converts to one another. It Was A Party Church!!!

41. Principle People are not so much looking for a friendly church as they are for friends.

42. Practical • Priority One: Create a “Potential Disciple File” for each Class (Prospect File) • Quarterly : Prospect Discovery Action – (Potential Disciples Card) • Monthly : Outreach Fellowships – members and prospects • Weekly: Make prospect assignments for cultivation (Computer or SS Visitation Card/Pocket system) • Priority Two: Start new classes each year

43. Potential Disciples Card 1. Who do you know that has never told you personally about their relationship with Jesus Christ? NAME: _______________________________ ADDRESS: ____________________________ Adult – Young Adult – Youth PHONE #: ____________________________ Child – Preschool (Circle one)  Is this person a member of any church? _______ 2. Who do you know that does not attend church?  NAME: _______________________________ ADDRESS: ____________________________ Adult – Young Adult – Youth - PHONE #: ____________________________ Child – Preschool (Circle one) Your Name: ______________Phone # ____________ Email: ______________ Please write any Additional comments on back.

44. Potential Disciples File

45. Prayerful Dependence Pray now that your Sunday School will have a multiplication mindset..

46. Stranger Welcoming • Listen for Barnabus’ ‘stranger welcoming’ strategy for Saul… • Acts 9:15-17 • Back in Jerusalem he (Paul) tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him. They didn’t trust him one bit. Then Barnabas took him under his wing.

47. Stranger Welcoming • He introduced him to the apostles and stood up for him; told them how Saul had seen and spoke to the Master on the Damascus Road and how in Damascus itself he had laid his life on the line with his bold preaching in Jesus’ name.

48. Stranger Welcoming Follow Barnabas’ Welcoming Process: • He built a relationship with Paul, • He connected him to the small group of believers – The Apostles • He connected him to a ministry; Paul was already telling his story.

49. Principle Sunday School is an OPEN, transformational, small community that expects new people to attend every Sunday because relationships have been built during the week.

50. Are you expecting guests?Are you ready for them? Complete the Anonymous Guest Questionnaire. Evaluate your readiness for guests in your Sunday School. Planning from Parking Lot to Pew