Over the next view weeks I will be reemphasizing the basics of the Walk. Are you willing to work to see our Sunday school grow? This is the foundation of the Walk. We have to be willing to work. Unfortunately, the church is not a field of dreams where if you build it they will come. It takes a concerted effort to make a connection with those we are trying to reach. It takes time, energy, passion and focus.

Effectiveness is not dependent upon one person; we are effective when we all participate. Each of us have a role to play and when we fail to do our part we all are affected. Would you join me in praying for the Walk? If so, will you join me in reaching our community for Christ?

Do you remember when we did a Power Up your Sunday School campaign?  We were challenged to create a evangelistic prayer list for our class.  Some of us got creative, like our youth, who made a cross and put the names of their lost friends on sticky notes and put them on the cross.  Our teacher’s class created a list of names that I carried with me.  Did you know that several people on that list came to Christ?  It didn’t happen immediately, but over time God did some wonderful things, even saving a 80+ year old that we prayed for every Wednesday.  Our Pastor even had the privilege to baptize that man a week later.

Can we do a better job at praying for unreached people in our community?  Absolutely!  Can you imagine what would happen in our church if we committed ourselves to praying for the lost by name?  Would our hearts be attune with the heart of God?  I pray that God would burden us and our classes with the desire to see the lost come to faith in Christ.   I want to encourage you to start an evangelistic prayer list and faithfully pray for lost by name each week.  You will be amazed what God will accomplish as we pray.

Our Pastor is challenging our Sunday school classes to double by December.  No, that is not a misprint.  Bro. Harold began sharing with his class a desire to see it double and he shared with me his desire to see our entire Sunday school double.  Of course, this is no easy task, but it think with me for a moment.  Is it impossible? In our own strength, yes; but with God anything is possible!  What would it take to double your class?  The answer is quite simple and surprising.  Each class member reaches one person.  When each one reaches one, your class will double!  What will motivate our classes to double? Love! God’s love for us, displayed through the sacrifice of His son for our sins on the cross, should compel us to go, not only around the world, but also across the street.

Here are some upcoming resources and events:

□   Registration cards that can be used to add prospects to your class, register visitors, and enroll new members to your class.

□   Updated Ministry Rolls for Care Group leaders.

□   New website: http://www.sundayschoolleader.com This new resource is a collaboration among all 42 of our Southern Baptist state conventions!

□   EquippingU conference.  August 31^st, 6:30pm – 9:00pm, Concord First Baptist, Knoxville.  Bus will leave the church at 5:15pm.  There are 21 different conferences, including Special needs!

Stalled or declining Sunday Schools are usually not the fault of pastors, but the lack of committed leaders in the pews.  Out of all the possible reasons for ineffective ministry, most are rooted in this one area.  As Sunday School leaders, we must be exhibit real, Christlike leadership in our departments and classes.  Ken Hemphill speaks to Jesus’ model of leadership in his book, The Antioch Effect: 8 Characteristics of Highly Effective Churches. Drawn from Matthew 9-10, Hemphill discusses seven characteristics of Jesus’ leadership.  The following is an adaptation from Lifeway.

Jesus modeled ministry (9:35; 10:1). Jesus commissioned His disciples to do what He had continually done in their presence.

Jesus shared His passion and vision (9:36-37). You cannot lead people and remain personally detached from them or the direction you want them to go.

Jesus taught them to pray to the Lord of the harvest (9:38).

Jesus instructed His disciples (10:5). People will not do what they are not equipped to do.

Jesus empowered His disciples and sent them out (10:1). You cannot multiply your ministry unless you are willing to give others authority and permission to do ministry.

Jesus provided the resources necessary to accomplish the task (10:16-23). Anyone laboring for church growth needs both physical and spiritual resources.

Jesus observed, affirmed, and corrected His disciples. While we must give people the opportunity to try their own ministry “wings,” we cannot leave them on their own.  They need and deserve both private correction and public affirmation.

As I have studied these principles of Jesus’ leadership, I’ve been convicted of my mistakes and lack of providing quality leadership.  My prayer is that all of us would strive to be leaders cast in the mold of Jesus’ example.  Would you join me in this prayer?

Bible Study Leader(s)

Teacher

The teacher is responsible for leading the class to develop an environment, in which people have the opportunity to accept Christ and mature as Christians. This is accomplished as the teacher (1) prepares their life as the primary leader for the class; (2) enlists class leaders; (3) leads the class to encounter God’s Word during the Bible study session; (4) allows time for outreach and care assignments to be made each week; (5) leads the class to multiply by working with church leaders to start new units and by sending members out to serve.

Assistant Teacher

Works with the teacher to develop personal leadership and teaching skills for the purpose of preparing to become the teacher of a Sunday School class.  The assistant should (1) teach a minimum of once every six weeks and more often as the class prepares to start a new class; (2) assists the teacher in encouraging the spiritual and service growth of class members; (3) plans, encourages and participates with members in discipleship studies beyond Sunday School.

Outreach Leader(s)

Leads the class to function as an open group by working with the teacher and other church leaders to promote and implement the Walk plan.  This includes:

1. Discovering ways in which to discover prospects.
2. Processes which assure that guests are properly welcomed and registered.
3. Personal enlistment of class members to help implement these processes and strategies.
4. Plans for consistent follow-up of guests (points of contact).
   1. Called the week of visit
   2. Sent letter the following week
   3. In home visit by the third week

Care Team Leader(s)

The care team leader(s) work with the teacher to assure that every class member is contacted regularly including:

Absentee contacts

Crisis contacts

Encouragement

Assignments will be made each week.  Points of contact include calls, letters, and in home visits.