Title: The Five Step Formula for Sunday School Growth
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4Five
Step
Formula
for
Sunday School
Growth!
- Lewis Miller
- Florida Baptist Convention Sunday School
Department LifeWay
Ministry Multiplier
5How Well Do You Know Sunday School?
How Well Do You Know Arthur Flake?
6Arthur Flake settled in Winona Mississippi as a
traveling salesman in 1894.
FACT!
7Arthur Flake birthed the idea for the Broadman
Holman Publishing Company.
Fiction!
8The Sunday School Movement began in Britain.
FACT!
9Arthur Flake was the first Sunday School
department Director at the Sunday School Board in
Nashville, Tennessee.
FACT!
10Sunday Schools were first established by Robert
Raikes in the 1780s to teach children to read
using the Bible as the text.
FACT!
11Sunday Schools were never intended for adults.
Fiction!
By the early 1800s Sunday School classes were
organized for working class men and women.
12Just prior to his death in 1952 Arthur Flake
added a sixth step in the Sunday School formula.
Fiction!
13In 1895 Arthur Flake led Winona Baptist Church to
form the first Training Union in all of
Mississippi.
FACT!
14From the beginning Sunday Schools have been
outreach-oriented small groups that enjoy
fellowship and the study of Gods Word.
FACT!
15Once a Sunday School class begins meeting for
several sessions, new people wont be able to
join.
Fiction!
New people can join a class or group at anytime.
16For the believer, the primary purpose of Sunday
School is deeper Bible study.
Fiction!
Sunday School is a place of service for the
believer as they study the Bible.
17Sunday School ministry takes place on a long-term
and ongoing basis.
FACT!
18Foundationally, Adult Sunday Schools cannot
address the five purposes of the church.
Fiction!
The ministrys purposes include, foundationally,
all five purposes of the church.
19The primary textbook for Adult Sunday School is
the learner guide or quarterly.
Fiction!
20The primary style of ministry for Adult Sunday
School is relational.
FACT!
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22Know the Possibilities
Enlarge the Organization
Provide the Space
Enlist and Train Workers
Go After the People
23Know the Possibilities
When He saw the crowds, He felt compassion for
them, because they were weary and worn out, like
sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then He said to His
disciples, The harvest is abundant, but the
workers are few. 38 Therefore, pray to the Lord
of the harvest to send out workers into His
harvest. Matthew 936-38 (HCSB)
Just Look!
24Census Data
Primary Ministry Area
25Prospective Member Possibilities
- Telephone surveys and mail follow-up
- Church membership roll
- Inactive Sunday School members
- Summer and school Ministries
- Special events
- Newspaper noticesespecially in hometown
publications newly born, wed, widowed - Newcomers
- FRANsFriends, relatives, associates, and
neighbors. - Advanced demographic profiles
- Religious Censusdoor-to-door asking residents
about church involvement, gathering names and
ages of all within the household - Worship guests
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27Know the Possibilities
Enlarge the Organization
28- You cant keep doing the same things youve
always done and expect different results!
29Unless the present Sunday School organization is
enlarged, practically all of the work done in
Knowing the Possibilities will come to naught. It
will be necessary to enlarge the organization in
order to take care of all the people on the
church roll as well as those discovered in the
census. Arthur Flake
30Four Reasons for Age-Grading
- To reach those who ought to be in Sunday School
- To teach those who are in Sunday School
- To enhance personal responsibility for reaching
the lost - To provide a system for assigning prospects and
guests for follow-up
31Time to Start a New Class?
- The class has too wide an age span (10 or more
years). - There are more than 40 people enrolled in the
class. - The meeting place is filled with members,
regardless of the number enrolled. - Needs are not being met consistently.
- Prospects have been found, but there is not a
class to which the prospects can be assigned
naturally. - The number of adults in an age group has suddenly
grown. - New church members are not currently being
enrolled in classes. - People drift in and out of the class, and no one
in the class notices.
Essentials for Excellence CD-ROM, LifeWay Church
Resources
32Know the Possibilities
Enlarge the Organization
Provide the Space
33There is no such thing as building a Sunday
School in great numbers in small cramped
quarters. Arthur Flake
34- Nice facilities, adequate space, safe, easily
accessible childrens and preschool space, and
clean space were all issues of importance to
unchurched people surveyed by Dr. Thom S.
Rainer. - Surprising Insights from the Unchurched
35Room Set Up
- Focal Wall
- Make sure that everything on the focal wall
points to the lesson that is being taught.
Announcements, pictures, or bulletins should be
placed on a bulletin board somewhere away from
the focal wall. - Place something on the focal walla poster, a
question on the board, an outline, a statement,
or a quoterelated to the lesson topic. - Remove all old posters from previous lessons.
- You dont have to have walls to have Sunday
School. All you need is the learners attention.
36Room Set Up
- Chairs
- Anticipate the number of chairs needed for class
members plus any guests. - Always have more chairs than participants.
Practice the empty chair principlethere is
always room for one more. - Arrange the chairsdont create relationship or
learning barriers. - Consider changing the chair arrangement from time
to time.
37Room Set Up
- Tables
- Avoid using tables if they create a barrier
between you and others. - Dont use tables if they keep you from adding
people. - If tables are used, there should be enough room
for everyone. - Consider using tables if you have adults with
physical disabilities.
38Never let SPACE dictate your ministry!
CLASS FULL NO ROOM
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40Know the Possibilities
Enlarge the Organization
Provide the Space
Enlist and Train Workers
41- The enrollment potential of any Sunday School is
seldom higher than 10 times the number of
workers. Arthur Flake
12 Workers X 10 120 Enrollment Potential 25
Workers X 10 250 Enrollment Potential 50
Workers X 10 500 Enrollment Potential 100
Workers X 10 1000 Enrollment Potential
Adult Sunday School Ratio 1 worker for every 4
adults enrolled.
42Where will all the workers be found?
43Class Organization
Keep it SimpleStart with the Basics!
- Teacher
- Ministry Coordinator
- Apprentice
44Class Organization
Expand as leaders are developed and as the class
grows.
Expanded
Expanded
- Basic
- Teacher
- Ministry Coordinator
- Apprentice
- Visitation/Evangelism
- Care Group Ministry
- A.C.E.
- Organize by gender
- Maximum of seven individuals in a group
- Mix of actives, in-actives, and members-in-service
- Fellowship
- Prayer
- Missions
45- The importance of proper enlistment of teachers
cannot be overstated. . . . We really do enlist
about ninety-five percent of our problems. If we
will enlist workers properly, it will save many
headaches in the future.
- Allan Taylor Six Core Values of Sunday School,
minister of education, FBC Woodstock, GA
46Three Steps for Enlisting Workers
- Praying publicly and privately for workers.
- Making a list of prospective leaders.
- Securing the consent of those selected to serve.
47- Then about five he went and found others
standing around, and said to them, Why have you
been standing here all day doing nothing?
Because no one hired us, they said to him.
You also go to my vineyard, he told them.
Matt. 206-7 (HCSB)
48Dont say No for someone else!
Everyone is a potential leader!
49Answer Three Questions When Enlisting
- Why me?
- Is this job important?
- Will you provide training and resources?
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51Know the Possibilities
Enlarge the Organization
Provide the Space
Enlist and Train Workers
Go After the People
52In a sophisticated, technological society like
ours, isnt visitation a little old fashioned?
53- There is absolutely no substitute for
face-to-face contact with the customer or the
prospective customer. - Arthur Flake
54Making the Sunday-Guest Connection
- Definite Time
- Definite Prospects
- Definite Reporting
55Know the Possibilities
Enlarge the Organization
Provide the Space
Enlist and Train Workers
Go After the People
56- So we must not get tired of doing good, for we
will reap at the proper time if we dont give up.
Therefore, as we have opportunity, we must work
for the good of all, especially for those who
belong to the household of faith. Galatians
69-10 (HCSB)
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