Sunday School Directors

Sunday School Directors

Bob Mayfield

Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma

Bob Mayfield

Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma

Session OverviewSession Overview

• Leadership issues for SS Directors

• Commitment to Sunday School

• Evaluation Procedures

• Open Groups

• Forming New Units

• How to Enlist Leaders

• Leadership issues for SS Directors

• Commitment to Sunday School

• Evaluation Procedures

• Open Groups

• Forming New Units

• How to Enlist Leaders

Are you a director of your church’s Sunday School?

Or

A leader who directs your church’s Sunday School?

Are you a director of your church’s Sunday School?

Or

A leader who directs your church’s Sunday School?

Leadership is influence – John Maxwell

Leadership is the ability to get someone to do something they don’t want to do –

Bear Bryant

Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant - Jesus

Leadership is influence – John Maxwell

Leadership is the ability to get someone to do something they don’t want to do –

Bear Bryant

Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant - Jesus

Key tests in ServanthoodKey tests in Servanthood

1 – Do you welcome and want feedback?2 – Are you preparing a successor for

when your season of leadership is over?

3 – Are you letting God be the leader and you be the servant?

4 – When you are treated like a servant, do you respond like a servant?

1 – Do you welcome and want feedback?2 – Are you preparing a successor for

when your season of leadership is over?

3 – Are you letting God be the leader and you be the servant?

4 – When you are treated like a servant, do you respond like a servant?

Leading or ManagingLeading or Managing

Managing LeadingManaging Leading

Transformational LeadershipTransformational Leadership

Personal LeadershipMatt 3:13 – 4:11

Outcome = Perspective

One on OneLeadership

Matt 4:18-22Outcome = Trust

Team LeadershipMatthew 10:5-10

Outcome = Community

OrganizationalLeadership

Matt 28:18-20Outcome = Effectiveness

From Lead Like Jesus by Ken Blanchard

Situational LeadershipSituational Leadership

S2

S1S4

S3

High DirectiveLow SupportiveBehavior

High DirectiveHigh SupportiveBehavior

Low DirectiveHigh SupportiveBehavior

Low DirectiveLow SupportiveBehavior

“Leader Decides”

“Lets talk & we’lldecide or leader decides”

“Let’s talk,Learner decides”

“You decide”

Directing

CoachingSupporting

Delegating

From Lead Like Jesus by Ken Blanchard

Commit to the Sunday SchoolCommit to the Sunday School

Reasons to commit to the Sunday School as the foundational strategy for doing the Great Commission…

• It is usually the only organized ministry that includes all church members and prospects.

• The SS is focused on biblical application.

• The SS meets on a regular basis.

Reasons to commit to the Sunday School as the foundational strategy for doing the Great Commission…

• It is usually the only organized ministry that includes all church members and prospects.

• The SS is focused on biblical application.

• The SS meets on a regular basis.

Commit to the Sunday SchoolCommit to the Sunday School

Reasons to commit to the Sunday School as the foundational strategy for doing the Great Commission…

• The leaders of the SS are identifiable and easily organized.

• The adult SS equips and provides leaders throughout the church.

• As a strategy, the SS is ongoing.• The SS is focused on the 5 primary

functions of the church.

Reasons to commit to the Sunday School as the foundational strategy for doing the Great Commission…

• The leaders of the SS are identifiable and easily organized.

• The adult SS equips and provides leaders throughout the church.

• As a strategy, the SS is ongoing.• The SS is focused on the 5 primary

functions of the church.

Sunday School’s 10 Best Practices

Sunday School’s 10 Best Practices

1. Commit to the Strategy

2. Organize with Purpose

3. Build Kingdom Leaders

4. Develop Soul Winners

5. Win the Lost

6. Assimilate People

7. Partner with Families

8. Teach to Transform

9. Mobilize for Ministry

10. Multiply Leaders and Units

1. Commit to the Strategy

2. Organize with Purpose

3. Build Kingdom Leaders

4. Develop Soul Winners

5. Win the Lost

6. Assimilate People

7. Partner with Families

8. Teach to Transform

9. Mobilize for Ministry

10. Multiply Leaders and Units

Arthur FlakeArthur Flake

• Leader of the Southern Baptist SS Movement

• Author of Building a Standard Sunday School

• 1st Director of the BSSB Bible/Teaching Reaching Division

• Leader of the Southern Baptist SS Movement

• Author of Building a Standard Sunday School

• 1st Director of the BSSB Bible/Teaching Reaching Division

Flake’s Formula for SS GrowthFlake’s Formula for SS Growth

• Know Your Possibilities

• Enlarge the Organization

• Enlist & Train Workers

• Provide Space• Go after the people

• Know Your Possibilities

• Enlarge the Organization

• Enlist & Train Workers

• Provide Space• Go after the people

Needed Today…Needed Today…

People who will commit to the Sunday School as a foundational strategy for disciplemaking.

• Commit – To pledge to a position on an issue; to bind or obligate, as with a pledge.

People who will commit to the Sunday School as a foundational strategy for disciplemaking.

• Commit – To pledge to a position on an issue; to bind or obligate, as with a pledge.

SS Directors EvaluateSS Directors Evaluate

Reasons for evaluating• Assumes the existence of a standard• Affirms the validity of planning• Accents the positive• Acknowledges weaknesses• Assesses effectiveness of resources• Analyzes the structure• Activates the person accountable for action

Reasons for evaluating• Assumes the existence of a standard• Affirms the validity of planning• Accents the positive• Acknowledges weaknesses• Assesses effectiveness of resources• Analyzes the structure• Activates the person accountable for action

Reflect on your church’s Ministry

Reflect on your church’s Ministry

Evaluate Strengths, Weaknesses and Opportunities

• Evangelism

• Discipleship

• Fellowship

• Ministry

• Worship

Evaluate Strengths, Weaknesses and Opportunities

• Evangelism

• Discipleship

• Fellowship

• Ministry

• Worship

Sunday School Areas to Evaluate

Sunday School Areas to Evaluate

• Cleanliness and Appearance of Facilities

• Are facilities being properly used?

• Are resources provided, monitored and maintained?

• Is an appropriate amount of money budgeted for Sunday School?

• How much space is available for growth?

• Cleanliness and Appearance of Facilities

• Are facilities being properly used?

• Are resources provided, monitored and maintained?

• Is an appropriate amount of money budgeted for Sunday School?

• How much space is available for growth?

Start New UnitsStart New Units

Why make new units a priority?1. Birthing new units creates excitement.2. New units enable growth to take place

naturally without sacrificing quality.3. New Units grow more quickly than

older established units.4. New Bible study units are easier for

newcomers to penetrate.

Why make new units a priority?1. Birthing new units creates excitement.2. New units enable growth to take place

naturally without sacrificing quality.3. New Units grow more quickly than

older established units.4. New Bible study units are easier for

newcomers to penetrate.

Start New UnitsStart New Units

Why make new units a priority?

5. New leaders and members of new units tend to be more aggressive in evangelism and ministry.

6. New Bible study groups open up opportunities for more people to serve in leadership positions.

Why make new units a priority?

5. New leaders and members of new units tend to be more aggressive in evangelism and ministry.

6. New Bible study groups open up opportunities for more people to serve in leadership positions.

Starting New UnitsStarting New Units

Reasons to start new units…

• Overcrowding/space

• To reach new people groups.

• To stretch the SS out of its comfort zone.

Reasons to start new units…

• Overcrowding/space

• To reach new people groups.

• To stretch the SS out of its comfort zone.

Starting New UnitsStarting New Units

When to start new units…

a) Enrollment/Attendance

Enr Attn

Dept 80 50

Class 25 15

When to start new units…

a) Enrollment/Attendance

Enr Attn

Dept 80 50

Class 25 15

Starting New UnitsStarting New Units

b) When a unit has “leveled off”.

c) When the unit is two years old and it has not started a new unit.

d) Classes have too wide of an age span. (more than 10 years)

e) The room in which the class meets is full

b) When a unit has “leveled off”.

c) When the unit is two years old and it has not started a new unit.

d) Classes have too wide of an age span. (more than 10 years)

e) The room in which the class meets is full

Starting New UnitsStarting New Units

f) Prospects are available, but no class exists for the prospects.

g) Unenrolled adult church members.

h) Classes with more prospects than members

i) Classes with more absentees than members present.

f) Prospects are available, but no class exists for the prospects.

g) Unenrolled adult church members.

h) Classes with more prospects than members

i) Classes with more absentees than members present.

Starting New UnitsStarting New Units

Misperceptions of New Unitsa) My class will be too small.b) We won’t get to see each other

any more.c) We can stay the same and just

add some more chairs (cheaper too)

Misperceptions of New Unitsa) My class will be too small.b) We won’t get to see each other

any more.c) We can stay the same and just

add some more chairs (cheaper too)

Starting New UnitsStarting New Units

d) People will leave the church if we start a new class.

e) People like a full classroom!!

f) It will disrupt the close fellowship and relationships our class enjoys.

g) But didn’t you say, “You want our class to get closer?” So why are you splitting us up?

d) People will leave the church if we start a new class.

e) People like a full classroom!!

f) It will disrupt the close fellowship and relationships our class enjoys.

g) But didn’t you say, “You want our class to get closer?” So why are you splitting us up?

Starting New UnitsStarting New Units

Every SS grows to the size of its organization.

The Pyramid Example…

To increase the height, you must add to the bottom of the structure!!

Every SS grows to the size of its organization.

The Pyramid Example…

To increase the height, you must add to the bottom of the structure!!

Starting New UnitsStarting New Units

Advantages

1) New classes grow faster

2) Leaders emerge faster. There is no pecking order.

3) Commitment to attend is higher.

Advantages

1) New classes grow faster

2) Leaders emerge faster. There is no pecking order.

3) Commitment to attend is higher.

How to Start a New UnitHow to Start a New Unit

1. Remove the “s” word from your vocabulary (split). “New” sounds much better.

2. It takes a committed teacher.

3. Recruit “seed” couples.

4. The teacher must visit his/her prospects

1. Remove the “s” word from your vocabulary (split). “New” sounds much better.

2. It takes a committed teacher.

3. Recruit “seed” couples.

4. The teacher must visit his/her prospects

Starting New UnitsStarting New Units

5) Persevere.

6) Other teachers must encourage the new class. Develop a “new class” culture in the church.

7) Direct all prospects and new members to the new class

5) Persevere.

6) Other teachers must encourage the new class. Develop a “new class” culture in the church.

7) Direct all prospects and new members to the new class

Starting New UnitsStarting New Units

8) Pulpit support is necessary.

9) Allow for some failure. But don’t be pessimistic.

8) Pulpit support is necessary.

9) Allow for some failure. But don’t be pessimistic.

Enlist LeadersEnlist Leaders

• Begin with prayer – Matthew 9:37-38

• Search membership rolls for people

• Ask the right question

“Is this the right person?”

NOT

“Will this person serve?”

• Begin with prayer – Matthew 9:37-38

• Search membership rolls for people

• Ask the right question

“Is this the right person?”

NOT

“Will this person serve?”

Enlist LeadersEnlist Leaders

• Identify positions to be filled

• Identify spiritual gifts needed

• Identify leader relationships

• Decide on one person

• Make an enlistment visit

• Identify positions to be filled

• Identify spiritual gifts needed

• Identify leader relationships

• Decide on one person

• Make an enlistment visit

Making an Enlistment VisitMaking an Enlistment Visit

• Pray for God’s leadership

• Explain why you are there

• Provide a written job description

• Explain the Terms of Service

• Provide essential materials for the person to preview

• Allow them time to decide

• Pray for God’s leadership

• Explain why you are there

• Provide a written job description

• Explain the Terms of Service

• Provide essential materials for the person to preview

• Allow them time to decide

Making an Enlistment VisitMaking an Enlistment Visit

• Commit to continue to pray together

• Set a date to talk again about the position of leadership

• Accept the person’s answer

• Commit to continue to pray together

• Set a date to talk again about the position of leadership

• Accept the person’s answer

Sunday School Directors

Sunday School Directors

Bob Mayfield

Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma

Bob Mayfield

Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma