Adult Discipleship Class Idea-Coffee Talk
By Ray Griffin
Perhaps you have a discipleship hour for adults that coincides with a children’s program. If so, you know the juggle of the kids programming moving on through the end of a semester, but adult classes ending at 4, 6, 8+ week lengths.
Recently, I tagged on the end of the semester a coffee talk forum for adults with one week discussion topics led by experts in their fields. One was on the post-modern culture, and another was a discussion about another world religion. Both of these stand alone classes were very well received, as was the coffee, tea, and snacks!
Now that I have primed the pumped on this style of class, I am looking forward to an expanded version in the upcoming semester with possible one week topics of:
End-time prophecy
The Temple/Tabernacle
Feasts of the Old Testament
Debunking ancient “finds”
World Religions
Take time to poll the church and find issues that are pressing or of interest. Also, use your pool of church leaders/experts where you are to discuss the topics that would be a blessing for many.
Let me know anything like this you may have tried, and as always, have fun!
Topics: Discipleship | No Comments »
Crisis Care
By Ray Griffin
I was recently forwarded a fantastic resource for insights on all types of issues and circumstances you may face in ministry. It is from the capable hands of those at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Check this out:
Please let me know if you have come across anything similar that could be of benefit.
God bless you as you serve Him when times are smooth, and in crisis.
Topics: Marriage and Family, Help for the new Minister, Leadership | No Comments »
Quick Tip for getting the word out about your church…Part 2
By Ray Griffin
A powerful combination in reaching your community is by coupling spirit and action!
1. Prayer walk-activate your members by thinking about reaching their own neighborhoods. This seems simple but isn’t it the case that we often minister elsewhere than our own neighborhoods. Walk, pray, on your own block. I am not saying we do not minister elsewhere, but certainly make sure you have impacted your neighborhood.
2. Action-use doorhangers. Oklahoma Baptists are working again to touch every home in Oklahoma with information about local churches and a clear presentation of the Gospel through ACROSS Oklahoma. So now that your group has prayer-walked, head back out with information, and opportunities to engage others with the Gospel.
Most of all, go for it. Whatever you do, do something. If there are complainers about what will or won’t work, or just general apathy or laziness, rally the troups, get activated, get creative, and get out there. People need to know your church is active and there for them!
Topics: Evangelism, Creative Communication, Sunday School/Small Groups | No Comments »
Quick tip for getting the Word out about your church…Part 1
By Ray Griffin
One resource that we have recently been blessed by is a direct mailing organization right here in our city. We are able to easily target our neighborhood for special invitations and the like. It is a turn-key deal, from the layout of the mailer, to the postage purchase, to the distribution.
This month we will be sending out special invitations to our community for a Grand Opening of new facilities at our church. We are so blessed by these buildings, but these buildings are for the community! We want them here, and to hear about Jesus Christ.
Let me know if you would like more information on this particular resource, or how we have used them for other projects in the past.
God bless you as you reach the lost in your community!
Topics: Evangelism, Church Events, Creative Communication | No Comments »
Leaders lead, and not just at work
By Ray Griffin
I have recently had the opportunity to serve on a board of an institution. I appreciate the honor of being asked,
Why?
1. When you are asked to lead somewhere, they don’t just need a warm body, or someone to read through reports, but someone to execute. Make decisions, give advice, comment, dream, plan, promote, inspire, share wisdom, agree, disagree. You get to add value to something not connected to you per se (your dream, job, vocation). Look for opportunities to serve.
2. This is a forum to stretch your strengths and weaknesses. Folks on boards and committees may not see you as the normal coworker, boss, or role you may have slipped into at your workplace. It could reveal a need to dust off how to connect with folks again, how to listen well, and how to be alert to group dynamics. Serve well, think and work hard, and then take your fresh self back to your own job/staff meeting.
3. Glean insights of good processes within the board. Perhaps you realize some steps to agendas that would be of benefit where you work, or perhaps the opposite, you realize how not to do meetings. Either way, just say no to boring, pointless meetings.
The world needs strong Christian leaders. Get out there!
Topics: Leadership | No Comments »
Performance Evaluation Tips
By Ray Griffin
Does performance evaluation make you shiver just a bit? Not so fun right for the boss or employee? But, this does not have to be the case.
1. Make a habit of routine evaluations, at least once a year, but frequently give feedback, direction, and coaching. Do not wait and simply be a person reacting to issues and problems.
2. Use a simple tool like this Employee Performance Review. There are self, and management review sheets. Perhaps you cover issues in addition to those listed here, but having something like this as a guide certainly keeps you from shooting from the hip, or being blind to issues that need to be confronted.
3. Meet in threes. Have your employees meet with their immediate and upper supervisor. This helps everyone, and also allows young supervisors to continue to be coached.
4. Yes, I am talking to you as ministers. Do yourself a favor and don’t assume that you are exempt from this practice as a church. The folks who work, serve, and minister for your congregation need contact and direction from the pastor/boss.
5. Use this as a powerful time for praise and vision casting. Please don’t let your review time be a time to unload everything that folks are doing wrong. Yikes. Restate the vision, and give solid praise for jobs well done.
6. As a church, be careful for what you are measuring. One powerful benchmark is a values statement. Do you have one?
Use the gift of performance reviews.
Topics: Help for the new Minister, Staff Development, Leadership | No Comments »
Reading through the Bible
By Ray Griffin
One of my favorite ways to explore the Bible each year is with a chronological Bible. This blessing lays out the text in daily readings while placing the Bible’s content in close order to its chronological timing.
Check out this Bible.
Meet with the Lord daily.
Topics: Personal Enrichment | No Comments »
Easy Sunday School Training Tools
By Ray Griffin
Are you looking for some user friendly, clear, and purposeful training resources for your Sunday School Leaders? Check out these:
1. Sunday School Done Right by Allan Taylor. He is the Minister of Ed at First Woodstock, GA. He is certainly fired up about Sunday School.
2. Power Up Your Sunday School by Bob Mayfield, state Sunday School Leader for Oklahoma. Bob is the real deal, and he is passionate about people finding a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Most of all, remember with whatever you use, as the leader, your enthusiasm and passion will communicate most powerfully!
Topics: Help for the new Minister, Sunday School/Small Groups, Leadership | No Comments »
Being the Boss?
By Ray Griffin
If you find yourself as the team leader on your church staff (Pastor, Associate Pastor, Minister of Ed, Executive Pastor, Lead Pastor, etc.), you do have a choice in how you lead:
1. Realize you are the leader. I love a cool passage about Solomon that says that he “took a grip” (msg) of the kingdom, with the Lord’s help. I think that is a fantastic balance. Get a grip, understand that you are the guy. If you don’t know you are the person responsible, no one else will. BUT before you get the big head, and potentially become an arrogant abusive leader, realize it is only by and with the Lord’s help that you are doing what you do. He can replace you any time.
2. You can be Buddy. In this laissez faire style, you will probably have good relationships, but poor direction, and if something critical comes up, which it will, your group will splinter, until they find the real leader.
3. You can be Bossy. In this overty demanding and disconnected style, relationships are the last thing on your mind. Your word is king and you want to see folks hopping no matter the circumstance. No decisions are made without you. Oddly, groups will splinter and they will search for the real leader. Someone who really cares about them.
4. I prefer Balance. When you are the boss, recognize it. There are times when you make the call. No one else. Everyone has chimed in, but now everyone is looking to you. At the same time, build healthy relationships. One leadership coach helped me to move away from talking about staff as “family.” I want good and rich relationships with staff, but I can’t fire my family; my brother/dad will always be that. Instead, think of staff as being on your team. Coach, lead, inspire, develop, and create vision.
Lead and lead well!
Topics: Help for the new Minister, Staff Development, Leadership | No Comments »
Quick Tips for Promoting Adult Discipleship
By Ray Griffin
If your church is like ours, your small groups/Sunday School classes kind of motor right along with few breaks if any, and seldom any significant shifts. However, our adult Discipleship classes, called Equip University, have definite stopping and starting points. You know the ones…these are the classes like:
Financial Peace University, Beth Moore, Men’s Fraternity/Navigators, One on One with God, DivorceCare, Moody Bible Memory, and One Verse Evangelism to name a few.
So how do I capture the momentum of promotion and registration:
1. We promote the classes online and in all our print.
2. We have online registration and registration through the offices.
3. We have a preview night in Worship to allow full church exposure to the new classes offered, and follow this with an opportunity to sign up at the end of the service.
4. There is a two week break between the preview night and class starts to allow time for the order and arrival of literature and leader kits.
Most of all, get excited. If you act like this learning growing opportunity is boring and out of touch, well, your experience probably will be.
Topics: Discipleship | No Comments »