Easy Sunday School Training Tools
December 31, 2007
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!
Being the Boss?
December 24, 2007
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!
Quick Tips for Promoting Adult Discipleship
December 23, 2007
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.
Quick Discipleship Study Ideas…
December 23, 2007
I am pumped about the discipleship classes we offer each semester at our church. These classes offer the most flexibility, if you will, in getting creative; allowing teachers and the curriculum to stretch a bit. Here are a couple of examples I am exploring this semester:
1. Elementary Greek-Yikes, sounds heavy and serious doesn’t it? But, what a great opportunity. We plan to offer a short course in Greek like Mounce’s Greek for the Rest of Us. This will encourage our folks to stretch themselves to search out the history of this language and enhance and expand their personal study of the New Testament. In a word, cool! Of those I have asked for interest, it is very positive!
2. Round Table Discussions. This will be a weekly discussion class in a coffehouse type setting, casual, and relaxed, while focused on serious theological issues, cultural trends, and hot topics led by church and area leaders.
Let me know of any adult classes you have offered that have been new and fun!
When staff members leave…
December 20, 2007
As team members leave your particular ministry keep these important thoughts in mind:
1. Reflect on any changes that you need to make in this particular job and its description prior to any future search, that way you’ve made adjustments prior to visiting with candidates, and quite frankly, you know who you should be looking for.
2. Take time to visit with the staff person in an exit interview, when appropriate and possible, and listen for things that will make your team and this position even better and more effecient in the future. Put down your guard and listen.
3. Find meaningful ways to bless staff in their coming, and in their going. For instance, some churches already have established monetary gift levels according to years served, so that there is no awkward thought of what to do when someone goes.
4. If it is the unfortunate circumstance of a termination, don’t simply “move on,” carefully think about your part in the problem: poor hiring process, poor team leadership and management, or poor communication to name a few. Use a consultant to help you and/or your team think through the issue in an objective way.
Don’t go on auto-pilot in this process and simply wait to fill a spot, but use it as a powerful moment to strengthen you and your ministry. What do you wish you could experience at places as you leave? Make it happen for your exiting employees.
Tips in the hiring process
December 20, 2007
Isn’t it great when you are given the opportunity to hire a new staff person for a new ministry? But you may also find yourself in the spot of replacing someone. Here are some very important issues in hiring team members:
1. Pray. Make sure you are proceeding in the direction the Lord has for you and your church. For example, we have been blessed by hiring a person for a ministry area that is anticipated to grow versus hiring a person for a position when it looks like you “need” them.
2. Review the job description or create the new one.
3. Make an adequate and appropriate search. Get the word out. Contact folks in similar fields of work.
4. Work within the constructs of your ministry in hiring, that is, use a search committee when necessary, but always team up with someone in the interviewing process. Utilize the personnel and finance committees of your church in the process when possible.
5. Collect resumes of candidates. Narrow to the top 3 or so.
6. Only interview one candidate at a time from your #1 choice on. If there is a “no” either way, communicate this clearly. Do not leave folks guessing or hanging on if the committee is moving on.
7. Remember that candidates are observing the church and staff team as much as you are observing them in the interviewing process. So, just as they are making first impressions and are working on stating objectives, goals, values, vision…you should as well.
8. Background checks. Get the information and do the search.
You be blessed in the hard work of a great hiring process!
How to strengthen Families in the Church.
December 13, 2007
Here are a few simple things that can impact families right away in your ministry:
1. Know that you really CAN have a positive impact on families! There are some great resources available to grease the wheels of this momentum like Reggie Joiner’s site at www.reThinkgroup.org and conferences like www.theorangeconference.com.
2. Strategically think about all the family groups currently in your church. How do you strengthen them? Don’t worry so much about who isn’t there, begin with who is and the different issues that would be great to address, encourage, and promote with your people.
3. As I have said before, don’t reinvent the wheel. Listen for special events in your area and jump on board. If Tommy Nelson is coming to town, or there is a special LifeWay enrichment event, as long as it is Biblically true and sound, get a group and go.
There is so much more that can quickly impact families positively, let me know what works where you serve!