A Discipleship Model for
Adult Sabbath Schools
© Copyright 2011 Florida Conference
From Florida Conference
Conrad Duncan – Director of Sabbath
School and Community Services
Kim Johnson – Director of Curriculum
Resources
To view or download today’s
PowerPoint go to:
http://www.floridaconference.com/sabbathschool/
Click on
“A Discipleship Model for Adult Sabbath School”
The ultimate goal: To make adult Sabbath
School such a dynamic, life-changing place
that attendance is larger than at the Worship
Service.
We need to overcome the mental image of Sabbath
School as the little sister to the Worship Service
Organized properly, adult Sabbath
School can be the most effective
discipleship program of the local church!
The problem is that nationally most adult
Sabbath Schools are struggling.
Increasing numbers of members
only come to the Worship Service.
Do not attract nearly enough
members in their 20’s, 30’s, and
40’s.
Very few non-SDA’s attend from
the community.
Adult
Sabbath
School
“The Sabbath School, when
rightly managed, possesses
marvelous power, and is
adapted to doing a great work,
but it is not now what it may
and should be.”
EGW, CSSW 9
Ellen White issued a stirring call for us to
create vibrant adult Sabbath Schools that are
overflowing with people. Sadly, across N.
America, they are only living up to a small
fraction of their potential.
What can be done?
First, Adult Sabbath School needs to
correctly answer the key question:
What business are you in?
“We’re in the railroad business.”
“We’re in the record
making business.”
What business is your Church in?
The church service business?
The Sabbath School business?
The Revelation Seminar business?
The health seminar business?
The Vacation Bible School business?
Jesus said that our real business is:
Making Disciples!
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the
nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have
commanded you.”
(Mt 28: 18-20)
“Neither going, baptizing, nor teaching are
ends in themselves; they are all means to the
end of discipling. . . We hear a great deal
about baptizing. We talk about teaching true
Bible doctrines. Neither of these activities is
an ultimate end of the gospel commission.”
Cont’d
“Jesus said the church’s business is making
disciples. To make disciples, we need to go, we
need to baptize, we need to teach. But these are
not our primary business. If these become ends
in themselves, if we ever concentrate on any of
them rather than on making disciples, we’ll
soon be out of business.”
(Floyd Bresee, General Conference Ministerial
Secretary, Ministry Magazine, April 1990)
ETHAN
ALLEN
FURNITURE
FACTORY
Forest
Like an Ethan Allen Furniture factory, Sabbath
School is supposed to produce something.
New
Believers
Adult Sabbath School
“Go into all the
world and
MAKE
DISCIPLES”
Maturing
Disciples
Russell Burrill commenting on Jesus’
Great Commission:
“Jesus commanded the church to
produce disciples, and that is what
obedient churches should be doing.”
Recovering an Adventist Approach to the Life & Mission of the Local
Church, p. 26.
Sabbath School is supposed to be a
“People Garden.” All kinds of
people growing in all kinds of ways
to reflect the love of Christ.
1-21-09
That means that our primary focus
needs to be on PEOPLE.
Not on methods
Not on teaching tools
Not on my particular preferences
Not on preserving the past
Disciple-making requires that we target
the whole person. The focus needs to
be not only on the spiritual, but on the
mental, emotional, social, and physical
as well. They are all linked together.
What can be done?
1. Know what business Sabbath School should
be in – Making Disciples and growing people.
What can be done?
1. Know what business Sabbath School should
be in – Making Disciples and growing people.
2. We also need to recognize that society has
changed dramatically over the last 80 years.
There has been a dramatic shift in
Generational Attitudes
Born before 1940
There has been a dramatic shift in
Generational Attitudes
Born before 1940
There has been a dramatic shift in
Generational Attitudes
Born before 1940 – Loyalty to institutions
The U.S. Government
Out of the Great Depression
Won World War II
Gave them the New Deal
Prosperity in the Suburbs
There has been a dramatic shift in
Generational Attitudes
Born before 1940 – Loyalty to institutions
My Dad
“A Chevy man”
Cape Cod Bank & Trust
There has been a dramatic shift in
Generational Attitudes
Born before 1940 – Loyalty to institutions
They come to Sabbath School because that is where
they are supposed to be on Saturday morning,
regardless of how irrelevant or boring the program
may be. That is what the institution (the church) says
they should be doing.
There has been a dramatic shift in
Generational Attitudes
Born after WWII
The Baby Boomer Generation (1946-1964)
Generation X (1965-1980)
Generation Y/Millennial (1981-present)
There has been a dramatic shift in
Generational Attitudes
Born after WWII – Loyalty to value
The U.S. Government
The tragedy of Vietnam
Watergate
High debt and wasteful spending
There has been a dramatic shift in
Generational Attitudes
Born after WWII – Loyalty to value
Me
Purchase car with the best value
Invest in bank with the best interest
There has been a dramatic shift in
Generational Attitudes
Born after WWII – Loyalty to value
They only come to Sabbath School if they perceive
it to be valuable. If it is not relevant and interesting,
they will not waste their time, regardless of what
the institution says.
The Key Change In Perspective
Adult Sabbath Schools that are stagnant or declining
usually have leaders who identify only with the
institutional loyalty mindset and refuse to adapt.
These leaders say:
“If people aren’t attending, it’s their problem.
They ought to be here. They must not be
committed, spiritual, etc.”
The Key Change In Perspective
Adult Sabbath Schools that are growing and vibrant
have leaders who understand the dramatic generational
changes that have occurred and adapt. These leaders
say:
“If people aren’t attending, it’s our problem.
What we are doing isn’t relevant or interesting
enough for them to feel it is valuable and
worthwhile.”
If they are not attending Sabbath School:
“Its’ THEIR problem”
“Its’ OUR problem”
Born before 1940 – Loyalty to institutions
Born after WWII – Loyalty to value
The worse thing is for these two groups to fight
against one another.
The best thing we can do is to understand one
another, put personal preference aside, and do
what is needed to make Sabbath School a success.
Like it or not, in today’s world the
only choice the church has is to:
“Change or die.”
Not our doctrines, but our methods.
Many people fear change and resist it.
But our own comfort
cannot dictate what
we do. We must be
governed by God’s
will and purposes.
The seven last words of the Church “We never did it that way before.”
“The no change”
Church
1950 - 2011
To revive Sabbath School we have to
think outside the box!
Change can be unsettling, but it can also
be positive and beautiful.
Healthy change honors the past, retains
what is still working, and builds on that
to get us to a better, more effective
place.
Also, remember that Jesus was the
greatest Change Agent the world has
ever seen!
What can be done?
1. Understand that Sabbath School is in the
business of Making Disciples and growing people.
2. We also need to recognize that society has
changed dramatically over the last 80 years, and
so must the church in order to be relevant and
effective.
What specific changes are needed?
We are suggesting that your leadership
carefully consider how many of the
following eight items it is going to
embrace in order to enhance Sabbath
School.
As you think about change, remember to
start small and go slowly. From all that you
will hear today, think in terms of finding
one or two ideas that you can take home
and implement. Don’t try to do everything
at once.
Also remember the change principle that it
is better to add than to subtract.
+
-
GOOD
DANGEROUS
Better to add to Sabbath School than to
subtract from what is already there.
What specific changes are needed?
Learning Environment
Staring at the
backs of heads.
Trying to hear what the
person in the pew in
front of you saying.
A healthy learning environment is critical. It
sends a very powerful message about how much
or how little we actually value adult education
and relationships. The learning environment
needs to be:
 Quiet.
 Free from distraction.
 Easily accessible.
Ways to create good adult learning environments
Movable partitions in the Sanctuary.
Movable dividers in the Fellowship Hall.
Unused spaces – pastor’s study, kitchen, Mothers
Room, etc.
Use the Church School if you have one.
 Use a nearby building if it is closed on Saturday.
 Modular Units or eventual addition to building
The bottom line is to treat the creation of
effective adult learning environments as
essential and not optional. It is as essential
to learning as the Sanctuary is to worship.
1. Learning Environment
Teacher Training
Teachers need to learn how to:
Create excellent discussion questions.
Keep the discussion focused.
Deal with people who talk too much
Involve more people in the discussion.
Apply the lessons to everyday life.
Build increased trust and openness.
Get people to study more.
1. Learning Environment
2. Teacher Training
Focus on Information
and Relationships in a
smaller setting.
Bible
Study
Relation
-ships
Bible
Study
We’ve gotten so used to having adult Sabbath
School in the Sanctuary, we think that looking
at the backs of heads, not relating to one
another, and having a hard time hearing each
other is the only option.
Small groups have proven
to be a great alternative.
In Small Groups people build both
knowledge and relationships in a
non-judgmental atmosphere.
Russell Burrill comments:
“It is God’s plan and Jesus’ desire that
Christians grow in small groups. The purpose
of small groups is not just meeting to study
the Bible. The purpose of groups is to give
Christians a place where they can grow
together.”
The Revolutionized Church of the 21st Century, p. 54
Ellen White’s perspective on small groups:
“To Ellen White, small groups were not just
a program of the church, they were the
major organizing principle of the work of
the church. To have a church without small
groups operating in it was anathema to Ellen
White, for the church is to be built on small
groups.”
The Revolutionized Church of the 21st Century, p. 137
Trinity
Life
Church
Life
Trinity
Life
Oneness
Church
Life
Trinity
Life
Community
Church
Life
The supreme test of discipleship:
Not how much we know
Not how often we go to church
Not how much we tithe
Not how active we are in the church
Jesus said, its’ how much we love each other “By this shall all men know that you are
my disciples, if you have love for one
another.” Jn 13:35
Relationships are formed best in a small
group setting. Sabbath School is a
wonderful place for Adventists to
experience small groups for the very first
time.
Sabbath School also becomes the
“springboard” for small groups that
meet during the other days of the week
Meeting in small
groups during
Sabbath School
Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri
1. Learning Environment
2. Teacher Training
3. Focus on Information and Relationships
in Small Groups
Service Opportunities
Foreward to “Counsels on Sabbath School
Work” written by the General Conference
Sabbath School Department in 2002:
“From [Ellen White’s] counsels four chief purposes
have been developed for the world Seventh-day
Adventist Sabbath School system: (1) study of the
Word, (2) fellowship, (3) community outreach, and
(4) world mission emphasis.”
Bible
Study
Relation
-ships
Bible
Study
Relation
-ships
Service
A disciple-making Sabbath School needs
to balance two important emphasis:
Outreach
Nurture
Nurture without Outreach results in
stagnation and little growth.
And Outreach without Nurture
results in people dropping out.
They must be in balance
Outreach
Nurture
The service projects are not done
AFTER Sabbath School, but DURING
Sabbath School.
That way Sabbath School itself
becomes mission oriented and you get a
lot more people involved in outreach.
Member Participation
100
Organized Service
Opportunities
20
Sabbath
Morning
Sabbath
Afternoon
10
Sunday
5
Midweek
Plan 1: Dedicate 15 minutes of Sabbath School time
in the group each week to service. For example:
Everyone bring their cell phone and call one shut-in or
person in the hospital.
Collect shaving supplies each week and give to Homeless
Shelter at the end of the month. Create festive wrapping.
Class members collect change in jars at home. Bring to
class after a few weeks and use money to purchase a gift
for a needy, hurting person.
Have everyone bring in fresh fruit to make a fruit basket.
The group decides who to give it to. It need not be a shutin, but anyone who needs encouragement.
Plan 1: Dedicate 15 minutes of Sabbath School time in
the group each week to service. For example: (cont’d)
Everyone bring a few fresh flowers that are picked or
purchased to make a bouquet to bring to someone who could
use some encouragement.
Have each class member purchase a card for someone the
group decided on the week before. Bring the cards to the
class, write a short note of blessing and appreciation, and
everyone sign each card. Mail them at the same time.
Fill out postcard size “Encouragement Cards” or
“Appreciation Cards” with the person’s name on the front.
Give it to the church office to add the address and mail.
Plan 2: Periodically devote all of the Sabbath School group
time to service, staying within the building. For example:
The class members practice a skit to be presented during the
church service, children’s Sabbath School, or some other time.
Choose skits that are designed to involve a dozen or more people.
Skits can be purchased online from places such as:
http://www.crosspointscripts.com/site.cfm/home.cfm
http://www.willowcreek.com/servicebuilder/catalog.asp?catId=2
Get white poster board that is 3 feet on each side. With a pencil
divide it into 12” by 12” squares. Decide on one overall scene and
have members color in only the portion in their square with
crayons. Cut out and send one square per day to the person you
want to uplift so they can put it all together. Include a note that it is
a puzzle.
Plan 2: Periodically devote all of the Sabbath School group
time to service, staying within the building. For example:
Assemble kits for the Homeless – “Street Corner Care Kit”
½ gallon freezer bag
Food
Drink
Socks
Hand cream
Toothbrush
etc
Plan 3: Periodically devote one entire Sabbath morning to
service out in the community using a van or bus. Make the
theme Random Acts of Kindness. For example:
Go online ahead of time and purchase balloons that you can
have the company put a Christian message on. Take a rented
helium tank to a downtown park, fill the balloons with helium,
and give them away to families. If they ask why you are doing
this just say, “To demonstrate God’s love.”
Purchase cold soft drinks or water ahead of time and have the
class give them away to cars that stop at red lights.
Plan 3: Periodically devote one entire Sabbath morning to
service out in the community using a van or bus. Make the
theme Random Acts of Kindness. For example: (cont’d)
Florida Hospital Church offered eleven service opportunities
during regular Sabbath School. Sign up ahead of time. Both
within the church and community.
For other ideas see websites such as:
http://www.helpothers.org/ideas.php
Put “Random Acts of Kindness ideas” in a Google search.
Plan 1: Dedicate 15 minutes of group time each week
to service.
Plan 2: Periodically devote all of the Sabbath School class
time to service, staying within the building.
Plan 3: Periodically devote one entire Sabbath morning
to service out in the community using a van or bus.
Sabbath School becomes the
“springboard” for ministries to occur
during the other days of week
Service to NonSDA’s during
Sabbath School
Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri
1. Learning Environment
2. Teacher Training
3. Focus on Information and Relationships
in Small Groups
4. Service Opportunities
Need-based Alternatives
The adult Sabbath School Quarterly has
been a great blessing to many people
over the years.
We believe in using the Quarterly and we
promote it. Those who teach it should
certainly be honored.
Strengths of the Quarterly
Bible based
Extensive use of Spirit of Prophecy
Provides many spiritual insights
Content comes from broad input
Used throughout the denomination
Problems that must be faced
Classes that study the Quarterly are not
well-suited for non-SDA’s
The issue is that non-SDA’s are
beginners among long-time Bible
students. They also have a hard time
relating to the “SDA lingo” from
members.
Ellen White in class
Our usual approach is to isolate non-SDA visitors.
We say, “They need their own class because
they’re not ready to study the Quarterly yet.”
The best answer is to invite people from the
community into a variety of alternative Sabbath
School groups that are designed to meet them at
the point of their need.
The groups are made up of members and their
non-SDA friends and acquaintances.
Possibilities for Alternative
Sabbath School Classes
Various Bible Study Topics
Marriage & Family
Spiritual Health
Physical Health
Mental Health
Emotional Health
Nature
Court mandated attendance at an anger
management classes.
Social agency required classes on parenting.
Curriculum for 3rd Quarter
AUG
JULY
TOPIC
WHERE
MEETS
# Wks
Quarterly
Sanctuary
13
Quarterly
Room 103
13
Quarterly
Fellowship
Hall
13
Spiritual Gifts
Fellowship
Hall
8
Grief
Recovery
Mother’s
Room
7
Overcoming Stress
Pastor’s
Study
5
Prayer
Kitchen
5
Raising Great Kids Fellowship
Hall
4
4
11
18
25
1
8
15
SEPT
22
29
5
12
19
26
Why Sabbath Morning for Non-SDA’s in
small groups?
1. Convenience for them. Not tired after work.
2. Able to mingle with many more SDA’s. “Why are
all of these people here?”
3. Free spiritual programs and activities for children.
4. Easier to get them to come to the Worship Service.
5. We reach the entire family.
6. Highly relational setting instead of lectures.
Why Sabbath Morning for Non-SDA’s small
groups?
7. Much easier to get SDA volunteers.
8. Benefits our own adults and children being around
Non-SDA’s. Creates a mission mentality.
9. Teachers become more evangelistic in attitude.
10. Fulfills EGW’s dream of Sabbath School being a
major soul winning agency.
Sabbath Schools With Alternative Classes:
Sabbath morning groups and classes attended by
members and their friends from the community:
“Forgive to Live” seminar. 85 in attendance with
65% from the community. 8 Sabbath mornings.
Sabbath School
Service
Tasks
Alternative
Classes
Non-SDA’s in the community
“The object of Sabbath
School work should be the
ingathering of souls.”
EGW, CSSW 61
“The Sabbath school should be
one of the greatest
instrumentalities, and the most
effectual, in bringing souls to
Christ.” EGW, CSSW 10
Problems that must be faced
Many of our adults ages 20-40 are not
attracted to the Quarterly. We know they
want value.
They also want choice.
We live in a world of choices and options.
For example, when McDonald’s
opened in the early 1960’s it
offered only burgers, fries and
milkshakes.
What about today?
Fruit and
Maple
Oatmeal
Fruit and
Walnut Salad
Steak and
Eggs
Pancakes
McRibs
Angus Wraps
Filet-OFish
Caesar Salad
Smoothies
Chipolte BBQ
Wraps
Chicken Salad
Lattes
Capuccinnos
Burritos
Honey
Mustard
Snack Wraps
Southwest Salad
Why?
Because they love us??
Because they want to attract new
business and be successful! They
know that people demand options.
We ignore that lesson at our peril.
What does your adult Sabbath School curriculum
provide for these people in your town or city?
A mother with a critically ill son who wants to know more
about prayer.
What does your adult Sabbath School curriculum
provide for these people in your town or city?
A young lady who wants to know about the book of
Revelation.
What does your adult Sabbath School curriculum
provide for these people in your town or city?
A couple in their mid-30’s whose marriage has a lot of
unresolved conflict.
What does your adult Sabbath School curriculum
provide for these people in your town or city?
A single mom with two kids who just lost her job and wonders
how she can make the mortgage payments.
What does your adult Sabbath School curriculum
provide for these people in your town or city?
A wife whose husband just died in a tragic car crash.
What does your adult Sabbath School curriculum
provide for these people in your town or city?
A man in his 40’s whose doctor told him he has to lower his
stress level now in order to get his blood pressure under
control.
What does your adult Sabbath School curriculum
provide for these people in your town or city?
A couple in their early 20’s who are unable to control their two
children. It is putting huge stress on their marriage.
What does your adult Sabbath School curriculum
provide for these people in your town or city?
A lady who is struggling with depression and anxiety.
Offer one or two alternative subjects
then build from there as needed.
Not everything you offer needs to last
thirteen weeks.
1. Learning Environment
2. Teacher Training
3. Focus on Information and Relationships
in Small Groups
4. Service Opportunities
5. Need-based Alternatives
New name for alternative classes.
SABBATH SCHOOL
Non-SDA’s haven’t learned about Sabbath yet.
School makes them picture homework, lectures,
and tests.
Traditional
Sabbath School
Life Enrichment
Center
LIFE
ENRICHMENT
CENTER
You can keep the traditional Sabbath School
and develop the Life Enrichment Center as
an ongoing alternative.
The name Life Enrichment Center should provide an
excellent opportunity to invite non-SDA’s:
“This group meeting is being held at the Life
Enrichment Center in my church” vs “My church is
offering this meeting.”
1. Learning Environment
2. Teacher Training
3. Focus on Information and Relationships
in Small Groups
4. Service Opportunities
5. Need-based Alternatives
6. New Name for alternative classes
Rethink Preliminaries
Those who have put together programs over
the years for the Sabbath School Preliminaries
should be thanked and honored for their many
hours of dedicated work.
We do, however, need to recognize that members
who consistently arrive late or at the end of the
Preliminaries are “voting with their feet” that it is
not relevant for them.
The answer is to not expect everyone to attend the
Preliminaries. Make them available for those who
want them or eliminate them altogether if there is a
consensus to do so.
Start some small groups at the same time as
preliminaries for those who want to have more time.
Everyone could still be invited to gather together
periodically for Mission emphasis.
1. Learning Environment
2. Teacher Training
3. Focus on Information and Relationships
in Small Groups
4. Service Opportunities
5. Need-based Alternatives
6. New Name for alternative classes
7. Rethink Preliminaries
Various lengths of time
Time
T
i m e
10:30
Adult
Sabbath
School
Babysitting
9:00
1. Learning Environment
2. Teacher Training
3. Focus on Information and Relationships
in Small Groups
4. Service Opportunities
5. Need-based Alternatives
6. Life Enrichment Center
7. Rethink Preliminaries
8. Various lengths of time
Don’t be overwhelmed. Don’t go home
and try to change everything at once.
Select one or two items that you feel
have the best chance of success. Move
slowly, get support from leadership, and
build from there.
Every journey begins with one step.
With God’s special blessing and our willing
hearts, adult Sabbath Schools can once again
become vibrant, life-changing places!
To view or download today’s
PowerPoint go to:
http://www.floridaconference.com/sabbathschool/
Click on
“A Discipleship Model for Adult Sabbath School”
Contact Info:
conrad.duncan@floridaconference.com
kim.johnson@floridaconference.com
THE END
Updated 9-7-11