Phil Stone
pstone@ncbaptist.org
800-395-5102, ext. 5643
www.ncbaptist.org/sundayschool
In Your Group…
Use the paper and markers provided…
Define:
Transformation…
Conference Purpose:
The Sunday School is a biblically based ministry of
transformational small communities for making disciples and
changing lives by the power of God.
We’ll discover:
•The biblical basis for Transformational Small Communities
•Principles of Transformational Small Communities
•Practical ways to create a transformational environment
•Prayer dependence
Transformational
Transformation is Radical Change
Transformational
Co - Mission?
Matthew 28:19-20 - RSV
Go therefore and make disciples of all
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;
and lo, I am with you always,
to the close of the age.
Define: Disciple…
A disciple is one who
abides in Christ and
does what Jesus did.
Rick Hughes
Church Health Team
Jesus’ Disciple-Making Process
1. Learner Disciples – Go, make disciples…
– “Come learn with us!”
2. Believer Disciples – Baptizing Them…
– Learners become believers
3. Fully Devoted, Reproducing disciples –
Teaching them to observe…
– The role of mature believers is to disciple new
believers.
A Disciple is…
• Not perfect
• Rough around the
edges
• Unfinished
• A work in Progress
• Not Bible Scholar!
• Not Spiritual Giant!
A Disciple Is…
Transformational
• Not
perfect
Connection:
• Rough around the
Come
edges Learn With Us!
• Unfinished
A disciple is a learner
•who
A work
in
Progress
becomes a believer
•and
Not
Bible
Scholar!
then
a fully
devoted,
• Not
Spiritualfollower
Giant!
reproducing
of Jesus.
Open Vs Closed
The Sunday School is
a biblically based ministry
of transformational small,
open communities
of believers and unbelievers
to assist the church in
accomplishing its God-given mission
of making disciples
and changing lives
by the power of God.
Use markers and
paper provided
to list
‘Obstacles to Transformation’.
in YOUR
Sunday School class.
5 Obstacles to Transformation
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Information Over Life Transformation
Teaching Over Learning
Reflection of Past Practices
Segmentation of the Mission of God
Lack of Intimacy
Small
We’ve got to move from
Sitting in rows
To sitting in circles
To going out and
Changing the world.
Ed Stetzer
How Small is Small?
Age
Group
Adult
Leader/ Sq. Ft.
Max
Average member per
person
Enrollment Attendance ratio
25/ class
12-15
1/25 18 sq.ft.
per person
Youth
12 /class
6-8
1/12
18 sq.ft.
per person
Children
6 / Class
4 / Class
1/6
25 sq.ft.
per person
Younger
Preschool
Older
Preschool
8 / Class
6 / Class
1/2-3
35 sq. ft.
per person
10 / Class
8 / Class
1/4-5
35sq.ft.
per person
How Small Is Small?
Rules of thumb:
1. When a class reaches maximum enrollment,
reproduce.
2. When leader/member ratio exceeds
recommended limits, reproduce or enlist.
3. When space is filled to 80% capacity,
reproduce
Communities
Small groups
were the lifeblood
of the early
church.
Communities
Five Elements for Transformation Small
Communities
1. Mission Oriented
2. Word – Driven
3. Multiplication Mindset
4. Stranger Welcoming
5. Kingdom Focused
Mission Oriented
• Listen for God’s Mission…
Acts 8:30-35
Later God’s angel spoke to Philip:
‘At noon today I want you to walk
over to that desolate road that
goes from Jerusalem down to
Gaza.’
Mission Oriented
He got up and went. He met an
Ethiopian eunuch coming down the
road. He was riding in a chariot
and reading the prophet Isaiah.
Mission Oriented
The Spirit told Philip, ‘Climb into the
chariot.’ Running up alongside,
Philip heard the eunuch reading
Isaiah and asked, ‘Do you
understand what you’re reading?’
Mission Oriented
He answered, ‘How can I without
some help?’ and invited Philip into
the chariot with him….
Mission Oriented
The eunuch said, ‘Tell me who is
the prophet talking about:
himself or some other?’ Philip
grabbed his chance. Using this
passage as his text, he
preached Jesus to him.
What is God’s mission?
•
•
•
•
•
For Philip…
For the church…
For Sunday School…
For your class or small group…
For you…
Has the mission changed?
Principle
A Mission oriented
Sunday School is
outwardly focused and
intentionally
evangelistic.
Mission-Oriented Pastor
• Lead the church to discover its Mission.
• Empower the Sunday School to accomplish
its purpose of making disciples.
Mission Oriented
Sunday School Director
• Use the markers to write on the balloons what the
Sunday School Director need to be and do to be
mission oriented.
The Mission Oriented
S.S. Ministry Team
Preschool
Leader
Special
Ministry
Leader
Without a team,
Children
Student
the
Sunday
Leader
Leader
School Director’s
hands are tied.
Pastor
Adult Leader
S.S. Director-Team
Leader, Outreach and
Ministry Coordinators
Mission Oriented
Class Ministry Teams
Outreach
Leaders
Teachers
Adult/Student
Care Group
Leaders
1 / 4-5
Mission Oriented Adult/Student
Class Care Groups
Care
Group
Leader
Regular
Member
Chronic
Absentee
Potential
Disciple
Regular
Member
Irregular
Member
Care Groups Leaders’
Job Description
Contact every member
Every Week!
Mission-Oriented Organization
• Missionary Mentality:
Who is your ‘People Group’?
Age Grading
Life-Stage
Young Adult
Parents
Empty Nesters
Retirees
Affinity Group
Inter-generational
Prayerful Dependency
Pray now for your
Sunday School to be
Mission Oriented.
Word Driven
• Listen for Jesus teaching method…
Luke 10:25-27
Just then a religion scholar stood up with a question to
test Jesus. “Teacher, what do I need to do to get
eternal life?
Jesus answered, “What’s written in God’s Law? How do
you interpret it?”
He said, “That you love the Lord your God with all your
passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence – and
that you love your neighbor as you do yourself”
Word Driven
“Good answer!” said Jesus. “Do it and you’ll
live.”
Looking for a loophole, he asked, “And just how
would you define ‘neighbor’?”
Jesus answered by telling a story….
(The Good Samaritan)
Word Driven
Jesus asked, “What do you think? Which of the three
became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?”
“The one who treated him kindly,” the religion scholar
responded.
Jesus said, “Go and do the same.”
• Question: To what did Jesus point the scholar?
 Did Jesus “TELL” the scholar anything?
 Jesus involved the scholar in discovering for himself the
biblical truth that could change his life.
 Then he sent him on a mission!
Principle
It begins, returns, and
ends with God’s Word
which is relevant to any
challenge or discussion.
Practical
•
•
•
•
Praying ourselves into biblical illiteracy
Announcements do not make disciples
3 Baptist “B’s”: Bull, Ball, and Bible
Teach with DEPTH
– Less lecture – 14%
– Involve learners – 40%
Remember, That one hour is sacred unto God
for Bible Study!
Prayerful Dependence
Pray now that your
Sunday School will be
Word-driven.
Multiplication Mindset
• Listen for characteristics of the “early
church”?
Acts 2:46-47
They followed a daily discipline of worship in the
Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a
celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised
God. People in general liked what they saw. Every
day their number grew as God added
those who were saved.
Multiplication Mindset
• Question: How do you think the “People…
liked what they saw”?
An organic, vibrant community that pulled people
into a culture of friendship..
The early church was a robust, relational church
that created groups to connect the new converts
to one another.
It Was A Party Church!!!
Principle
People are not so much
looking for a friendly
church as they are for
friends.
Practical
1. Priority One: Create a “Potential Disciple File” for
each Class (Prospect File)
a) Quarterly : Prospect Discovery Action –
(Potential Disciples Card)
b) Monthly : Outreach Fellowships – members and prospects
c) Weekly: Make prospect assignments for cultivation
(Computer or SS Visitation Card/Pocket system)
2. Priority Two: Start new classes each year
Potential Disciples Card
1. Who do you know that has never told you personally about their
relationship with Jesus Christ?
NAME: _______________________________
ADDRESS: ____________________________
Adult – Young Adult – Youth
PHONE #: ____________________________
Child – Preschool (Circle one)
Is this person a member of any church? _______
2. Who do you know that does not attend church?
NAME: _______________________________
ADDRESS: ____________________________
Adult – Young Adult – Youth -
PHONE #: ____________________________
Child – Preschool (Circle one)
Your Name: ______________Phone # ____________ Email: ______________
Please write any Additional comments on back.
Potential Disciples File
Prayerful Dependence
Pray now that your Sunday
School will have a
multiplication mindset..
Stranger Welcoming
• Listen for Barnabus’ ‘stranger
welcoming’ strategy for Saul…
Acts 9:15-17
Back in Jerusalem he (Paul) tried to join
the disciples, but they were all afraid
of him. They didn’t trust him one bit.
Then Barnabas took him under his
wing.
Stranger Welcoming
He introduced him to the apostles and
stood up for him; told them how Saul
had seen and spoke to the Master on
the Damascus Road and how in
Damascus itself he had laid his life on
the line with his bold preaching in
Jesus’ name.
Stranger Welcoming
Follow Barnabas’ Welcoming Process:
1. He built a relationship with Paul,
2. He connected him to the small
group of believers – The Apostles
3. He connected him to a ministry;
Paul was already telling his story.
Principle
Sunday School is an OPEN,
transformational, small
community that expects new
people to attend every Sunday
because relationships have been
built during the week.
Are you expecting guests?
Are you ready for them?
Complete the
Anonymous Guest
Questionnaire.
Evaluate your
readiness for guests
in your Sunday School.
Planning
from Parking
Lot
to Pew
Prayerful Dependence
Pray now that your
Sunday School will be
Stranger Welcoming.
Kingdom Focused
• Listen for Jesus three Kingdom Focused Actions:
Matthew 4:23
…Jesus went throughout Galilee, Teaching in their
synagogues, preaching the good news of the
Kingdom, and healing every disease and
sickness among the people.
• Jesus ministry focused on three Kingdom Actions:
1. Teaching
2. Evangelism
3. Ministry
Kingdom Focused
Listen for the results?
Matthew 4:24-25
Word got around the entire Roman province of
Syria. People brought anybody with an ailment,
whether mental, emotional, or physical. Jesus
healed them, one and all. More and more people
came, the momentum gathering. Besides those
from Galilee, crowds came from the ‘Ten Towns’
across the lake, others from Jerusalem and Judea,
still others from across the Jordan.
Principle
When the Kingdom of
God is our theme
people will come.
Practical
Involve each class in
Quarterly
Missional Projects
in the community.
Prayerful Dependence
Pray now that your
Sunday School will be
Kingdom Focused.
Where people pray,
God works.
Where God works,
Transformation Happens.
Transformational Prayers and To Do List
1. Mission Oriented
 Sunday School Ministry Team
2. Word – Driven
 One full hour for engaging Bible study
3. Multiplication Mindset
 Every class has Potential Disciple List
4. Stranger Welcoming
 Parking Lot to Pew Assimilation Plan
5. Kingdom Focused
 Quarterly Missional Projects
God,
May we be engaged in
Your Mission;
Make us hunger after
Your Word;
Let us do what ever it takes
to Multiply disciples;
Make our communities
Open and Welcoming;
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done.
Amen.
For a conference script and additional resources
go to:
www.leaderesource.org
For information about
Transformational Church
go to:
www.ncbaptist.org/transformationalchurch
The Transformational Class,
David Francis
www.lifeway.com/sundayschool
Home Work
Use the
How Transformational Is Your
Sunday School?
evaluation questions to assess your
Sunday School as a
Transformational
Small Community.
A Ministry of
Transformational Small Communities
Phil Stone
pstone@ncbaptist.org
800-395-5102, ext. 5643
www.ncbaptist.org/sundayschool