New Curriculum order (Round 2)

Hello leaders!

We have curriculum for ALL the Adult SS classes and it's in.

Alice will be putting a new order form in your folders for this Sunday for us to place our next order.

Your request is due back by Sunday March 11, 2012. This order will cover June July August 2012.

Here's a copy of the form if you'd like to look it over
Link: ORDER FORM

Notice that there are also magazines and devotional materials that are available to you (at no cost to your class - the prices are simply listed so you'll realize it does cost the church something and you won't go "overboard").

Preparing a SS lesson

One of the best things you can do for your Adult Sunday School class is to be prepared, each week, every time. Preparation takes time, time in prayer, and time in God's word.

You can copy someone else's work and produce a generic lesson, but that will never be as powerful as a specific lesson tailor made for you and the people in your class.

Here's some great questions to ask every time you prepare for your Sunday School time:

• What did this Scripture mean when it was written? What is the background for the passage? Who was the original audience? What was the point to the original characters and original hearers? Who was the author and what was he originally trying to say to the first people to get it?
• What is the timeless truth behind what God is saying? Take a step back, beyond what the author was saying specifically to the original audience and ask why it is important to pass along this passage to us? What is the truth that will stand the test of time as relevant for all people everywhere?
• How does it apply to your and your class now? God's Word is intended to bring about life-change. The passage has a personal application in your class' specific context. What does God want you to do as a result of encountering Him and what He had to say in this passage? How are you supposed to be different as a result of the encounter, and how can you communicate that your your students?

New Curriculum is HERE!

Our New Curriculum is here!

We had a great meeting on Feb. 1 where Pastor Tom, Pastor Rich, and Pastor John (me) talked about our new alignment.

We want to really build unity and a synergy in the Adult SS team. We are moving all Adult SS classes to the new curriculum schedule (except for temporary clases like the Pre-Marriage class and Wired to Connect).

Your curriculum is sorted and in the Adult Resource Closet (at the West end of the big hall on the second floor of the new wing). You can pick it up as early as today, or you could even wait until Feb. 29 when we have our first reoccurring "Teacher's Meeting" @ 6:00PM in room c221.

Pastor Rich had some great advice to leave us with...

Start each class like this: "who have you invited to Sunday School this week?" then pause and let the class respond. Do it each week so that it becomes an expectation for your class for you to ask. Then take a moment to have the class bow their heads and close their eyes to think of someone they can invite this week, then let them have a moment of silence to pray for an opportunity to invite them that week.

Be excited about your class. How amazing is it that WE get to bring God's word to his people every week! That's incredible!!!! We should want EVERYONE to be a part of that. If you're not excited about your class, no one else will be...

BLESSINGS!!!!

Super Bowl

One of Josh Hunt's tips for "how to double your class in two years or less" is to "invite every member and every prospect to every event."

This is fantastic advice.

What a great opportunity for a class social, the Super Bowl!

Have a Super Bowl watching party, you don't have to have it at your house, but encourage someone to host it from your class. They don't have to do anything "spiritual" or plan any activities, all they need is snacks (which can be provided by others). It's the easiest social your class can have.

Alice will be putting forms in your folders so that we can list your party in the Worship Guide. Please consider having a party, and be sure that someone contacts EVERY member and EVERY prospect for this fun event. You can call them or even make post cards and leave them with us in the church office and we'll mail them for you!

Invite every member and every prospect to every event (and have regular events). It works, but only if you take the time to do it...

Lottie

How Open Is Your SS Class?

Seven suggestions to improve the open-ness of your class:

1. Wear nametags. Seriously. Imagine being a guest and trying to remember everyone's name in the group. Plus, it will help group members remember the guest's name as well.
2. Don't assume. For example, don't assume that everyone in your class knows what the Feast of Booths celebrates. Instead, explain the Feast of Booths or enlist someone else to explain it. The same goes for class traditions, activities, etc.
3. Show respect. Calling a guest by name and then staring at him or her while you explain a class tradition or Bible point is embarrassing to the guest. Make explanations generic to the whole class, don't single out a guest and talk to them in this manner.
4. Make a phone call. The week following the guest's visit to your class, pick up the phone and call them. Thank them for coming, get to know them, ask them some questions about their family and church background, and be sure to personally invite them back.
5. Never call on anyone to read, pray, or answer a question. Even if you call on someone who is rock solid on the Bible or prayer, a guest will assume that you may call on anyone, including them. For a guest, that is terrifying!! Many people today are functionally illiterate. Many more are hesitant to pray - especially in a group of people they do not know. Always ask for volunteers to read, pray, or answer questions; or, enlist people to read or pray in advance.
6. Have a class greeter. A cause of major anxiety for a guest is the fear that no one will speak to them. Educate your class on how to help guests feel welcome. Also, enlist a greeter to engage the guest and get to know them, then sit with them during the entire class meeting and worship if possible.
7. Expect guests every week. One of the reasons many classes do not receive guests well is because they are not expecting a guest in the first place. Make preparations to be a guest-friendly class, even if you have to do all the work at the beginning. Have registration cards and pens handy. People are more likely to bring a guest with them if they know that the class will be a great experience for them. Also, you are more likely to have a guest "stick" and become a member if you were prepared beforehand for them.

Rate your class:

• How open is your class?
• Open
• Sort of open
• Depends on the Sunday
• Sort of closed
• Closed  

What can you do to improve the open-ness of your class to guests and newcomers?

Does your class have a designated greeter? If not, appoint one.

What is your class' follow-up process with your guests? Each one should be called...

Johnny Hunt on Sunday School

What does Sunday School do?



What sticks-out to you about what Johnny Hunt has to say about Sunday School?