The Five Step Formula for Sunday School Growth

General Leadership

Sunday School or Small Group?

• The primary text is the Bible. • Outreach is the primary focus.• New people can enter the group anytime.• The style of ministry is relational.• It is a long-term, ongoing group.• The group’s purposes match the five purposes

of the church.

The following characteristics tie Sunday School and small groups to Flake’s Formula, no matter what you call it at your church.

The Five Steps

• Know the possibilities• Enlarge the organization• Provide space and

equipment• Enlist the leaders• Go after the people

Know the Possibilities

• Gather the data and take stock.• Understand the information.• Engage your leaders to understand the

data.• Get agreement that possibilities exist.• Constantly communicate the possibilities.

Gather Data and Take Stock

• Review Primary Ministry Area with pastor and church staff.

• Identify how you will gather information:– Door-to-door surveys (Summer mission

team or in-house ministry opportunity)– Special events– FRAN’s: Friends, relatives, associates and neighbors

Understand the Information

• You have to take the time to review the information that has been collected so you more fully understand it.

• Need help?– Marketing professionals in your

church or community may be able to help you more fully understand demographic information

Help Leaders and Teachers Understand the Information

• Share your understanding of the demographic information with your department directors and leaders.

• Encourage leaders to share relevant information with their teachers in their area of focus.– e.g. “There are 100 unchurched

families within three miles of our church and we need volunteers to help us begin visiting them.”

Enlarge the organization

• Prepare for the possibilities.

• Organize by age groups.• Start new units.• Enlarge in every age

group.

To be sure, a few people will join . . . as a result of being visited . . . but there can be no permanent growth unless there is an organization strong enough to reach, hold, and teach the people . . .

—Arthur Flake

Prepare for the possibilities

• Develop organization based on potential not current attendance

• Organize by department• Organize by group• Organize by class

Organize by age groups

• Make it easier to reach those who ought to study the Bible.

• Make it easier to teach those who are studying the Bible.

• Make sure someone is responsible to share Jesus with each person studying the Bible.

Start New Units

• Starting new units is the most important principle of church growth.

• New groups grow faster than established groups.

• New units empower possibilities.

• Go HERE for ideas on new units.

Enlarge Every Age Group

• Enlarging the preschool is key to growth.– Multiple preschool areas allow for

greater ministry to preschoolers and parents.

• Enlarge to meet needs.– Create a class for each primary

grade.– Separate 6th graders as a transition

year.

Enlarge Every Age Group

• Enlarge the organization for students– Create a department to help students

transition to adulthood.

• Enlarge for adults– Allow flexibility so age and circumstance

are used to create new classes.

Provide Space and Equipment

• Follow ideal space recommendations.• Have multiple Sunday School hours.• Remember that students are flexible.• Have a Master/Teacher approach.• Be open to off-campus group meetings:

– Schools– Coffee shops– Book stores– Libraries– Homes

Ideal Space Recommendations

• Preschool 35 sq. feet / student• Children 20 - 25 sq. feet /

student• Youth 12 - 15 sq. feet / student• Adults 12 – 15 sq. feet / adult• Special Needs 25 sq. feet /

student

NOT Ideal Space Options

• Multiple Sunday Schools– Challenging but not impossible– Ask others that have done it– Plan, plan, plan

• Master Teacher / Flexible Students– Teach concepts in large groups and do

application activities in smaller groups around tables, in hallways, etc.

– Some groups don’t mind noise or change; allow them to experiment with space that’s not ideal.

Enlist and Train Workers

• The 10 Factor• Enlisting workers• Importance of training• The apprentice• Curriculum connection

Enlist Workers

• Enrollment potential is seldom higher than 10 times the number of workers

• Three steps to enlistment:– Pray publicly and privately for

workers.– Make a list of prospective workers.– Secure the consent of those

selected.

Enlist Workers

• Enlist with integrity/– Have a face-to-face conversation.

• Between Sunday School and Worship is never acceptable

– Describe what they can expect from you.– Describe what you expect from them.– Give them time to pray and respond.

• Don’t say ‘NO’ for someone else.– They can’t consent if they aren’t asked.

Train Workers

• Training is important.

• Training methods vary.– Self-study; Christian Growth Study Plan– Boot camp or Kickoff Week– Conference Centers

• Sunday School Week in the summer

– State and Association events and clinics

Train Workers

• Apprentice teachers– Assigned to a particular class– Teacher acts as primary mentor– Opportunity to discover gifts and develop skills

and abilities over time

• Curriculum Connection– Biblically sound– Developmentally sound– Similar curriculum can improve enlistment

Go After the People

• This is the meaningful challenge.• Be intentional.• Don’t give up.

Be Intentional• Categorize prospects

– Guests that have visited– Guests that haven’t visited yet

• Set a definite time, BUT encourage all the time contacts.

• Make face-to-face contact with prospects.– Follow-up with phone calls, letters, and e-mail.

• Report on contacts made to encourage additional contact, and help show members where they might intersect with prospects.

Be Intentional• Leave something with contact

information to remind them you were there.

• Open enrollment; anytime anywhere• An empty chair shows we are open to

new members.• Use all resources to say “We’re Open”

– Church bulletins, Web sites, advertisements

Don’t Give Up

• It may take 20 contacts to get a person to attend.

• Lives and souls are at stake.

• Every name represents a person who needs Jesus.

Thanks for reviewing The 5 Step Formula

for Sunday School Growth

Please contact us at www.lifeway.com/sundayschool

if you need additional information.