Comments for CCBC Sunday School http://ccbcschool.wordpress.com Just another WordPress.com weblog Sun, 27 Jan 2008 02:09:28 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on I-6 Sunday School. A Six Lane Strategy Toward an Inviting Sunday School. Chapter 1. by Diana Seidel http://ccbcschool.wordpress.com/2007/12/26/hello-world/#comment-12 Diana Seidel Sun, 27 Jan 2008 02:09:28 +0000 #comment-12 I agree with Adrian about the "wow" factor. When it comes to teaching the kids about God and His Word it needs to be informational but it also needs to be entertaining. If it's not fun for them then why in the world would they want their friends to come and participate. I think that we need to try and incorporate more hands-on and physical learning. Get the kids out of their seats so that they stay focused and on task. If they just sit there then their minds naturally tend to drift and the message is not getting through as successfully as it could. I agree with Adrian about the “wow” factor. When it comes to teaching the kids about God and His Word it needs to be informational but it also needs to be entertaining. If it’s not fun for them then why in the world would they want their friends to come and participate. I think that we need to try and incorporate more hands-on and physical learning. Get the kids out of their seats so that they stay focused and on task. If they just sit there then their minds naturally tend to drift and the message is not getting through as successfully as it could.

]]> Comment on I-6 Sunday School. A Six Lane Strategy Toward an Inviting Sunday School. Chapter 1. by teresa jaggers http://ccbcschool.wordpress.com/2007/12/26/hello-world/#comment-11 teresa jaggers Thu, 17 Jan 2008 22:45:58 +0000 #comment-11 The ladies in my class really seem to enjoy our bible study and a few have invited people to attend our class. Some of those who were invited have visited our class first and then they've tried out other classes and chosen one other than ours, but at least they're going to Sunday School! I think since our class members are so comfortable with one another that it is very easy to get complacent and not be concerned about inviting others to join us, and because most of our members are retired, they don't really rub elbows with a lot of people. Many of the visitors that have been invited are prospects from Upward, (grandparents of kids who are participating). I agree with the author of I-6 that personal invitations are key in getting people to come to Sunday School. Keeping them once they visit is another matter. A visitor should be welcomed and nurtured when they visit and it would be great to get them to come to a social right away. I'd like to hear some more ideas about keeping visitors once you get them. The ladies in my class really seem to enjoy our bible study and a few have invited people to attend our class. Some of those who were invited have visited our class first and then they’ve tried out other classes and chosen one other than ours, but at least they’re going to Sunday School! I think since our class members are so comfortable with one another that it is very easy to get complacent and not be concerned about inviting others to join us, and because most of our members are retired, they don’t really rub elbows with a lot of people. Many of the visitors that have been invited are prospects from Upward, (grandparents of kids who are participating). I agree with the author of I-6 that personal invitations are key in getting people to come to Sunday School. Keeping them once they visit is another matter. A visitor should be welcomed and nurtured when they visit and it would be great to get them to come to a social right away. I’d like to hear some more ideas about keeping visitors once you get them.

]]> Comment on I-6 Sunday School. A Six Lane Strategy Toward an Inviting Sunday School. Chapter 1. by Adrian Bickley http://ccbcschool.wordpress.com/2007/12/26/hello-world/#comment-10 Adrian Bickley Thu, 17 Jan 2008 04:27:46 +0000 #comment-10 Great video! Sure makes you think. . . Just like the young adults, the children's sunday school classes have a different dimension. These dimensions include technological uses, classroom appearance and space, interactive teaching and fun factor. The atmosphere is crucial. Then, each of the children's classes and adults' have to find the "wow" thing. What makes the class wow? Do like "Johnny" share it. I must admit . . . I will be looking for what make the children "wow" to invite their friends to come. This friends want to come so bad to force the parents to bring them to Sunday School. The "wow" factor has to be strong enough. The questions for teachers and I is what is the "wow" factor for these kids under our care. All classes including the children need develop a biblical culture as you said P.K. Children need assistance from more than the teachers to do this. Anyone wants to help out to do this. Great video! Sure makes you think. . . Just like the young adults, the children’s sunday school classes have a different dimension. These dimensions include technological uses, classroom appearance and space, interactive teaching and fun factor. The atmosphere is crucial. Then, each of the children’s classes and adults’ have to find the “wow” thing. What makes the class wow? Do like “Johnny” share it. I must admit . . . I will be looking for what make the children “wow” to invite their friends to come. This friends want to come so bad to force the parents to bring them to Sunday School. The “wow” factor has to be strong enough. The questions for teachers and I is what is the “wow” factor for these kids under our care.
All classes including the children need develop a biblical culture as you said P.K. Children need assistance from more than the teachers to do this. Anyone wants to help out to do this.

]]> Comment on I-6 Sunday School. A Six Lane Strategy Toward an Inviting Sunday School. Chapter 1. by wheelj79 http://ccbcschool.wordpress.com/2007/12/26/hello-world/#comment-9 wheelj79 Tue, 15 Jan 2008 16:42:01 +0000 #comment-9 I have seen the effort the college class has put into invigorating their room and I think it is working. Attendance is slowly rising, and I believe that as they reach out more to the UL campus, those students will find the newly decorated room more comfortable than with the fluorescent lights like what they spend all week in at school. In our Young Singles class, we are beginning to think what we can do to make our room more inviting. Having an actually room was a major improvement. We would next like to do some maintenance work on our room also to fill all the nail and screw holes that are in the walls. I have seen the effort the college class has put into invigorating their room and I think it is working. Attendance is slowly rising, and I believe that as they reach out more to the UL campus, those students will find the newly decorated room more comfortable than with the fluorescent lights like what they spend all week in at school. In our Young Singles class, we are beginning to think what we can do to make our room more inviting. Having an actually room was a major improvement. We would next like to do some maintenance work on our room also to fill all the nail and screw holes that are in the walls.

]]> Comment on I-6 Sunday School. A Six Lane Strategy Toward an Inviting Sunday School. Chapter 1. by Chuck Henderson http://ccbcschool.wordpress.com/2007/12/26/hello-world/#comment-8 Chuck Henderson Wed, 09 Jan 2008 15:29:32 +0000 #comment-8 Allow me the privilege of coming at it from a "pastoral" perspective for a minute. Evaluating the energy of our worship services is an ongoing, weekly process. We look to ensure that the physical surroundings are attractive, the music done well, the flow of the service is smooth, the lighting and temperature are comfortable, and yes, that the sermon is communicated with soundness. We constantly look at the circumstances surrounding that worship hour to evaluate effectiveness. Now, does that mean that we are dependent on man's means in order to "win" people to the Gospel? Of course not! We know without a shadow of a doubt that all is vain unless the Spirit intercedes, and thus we work hard to make ourselves transparent before the Lord for His use. But we also KNOW that we must remove all that would be a distraction to His reception as well as infuse anything that will "invigorate" worship. May this same level of care be applied to each class, and in so doing, may many come to know our Lord as their personal Savior and Lord. Allow me the privilege of coming at it from a “pastoral” perspective for a minute. Evaluating the energy of our worship services is an ongoing, weekly process. We look to ensure that the physical surroundings are attractive, the music done well, the flow of the service is smooth, the lighting and temperature are comfortable, and yes, that the sermon is communicated with soundness. We constantly look at the circumstances surrounding that worship hour to evaluate effectiveness. Now, does that mean that we are dependent on man’s means in order to “win” people to the Gospel? Of course not! We know without a shadow of a doubt that all is vain unless the Spirit intercedes, and thus we work hard to make ourselves transparent before the Lord for His use. But we also KNOW that we must remove all that would be a distraction to His reception as well as infuse anything that will “invigorate” worship. May this same level of care be applied to each class, and in so doing, may many come to know our Lord as their personal Savior and Lord.

]]> Comment on I-6 Sunday School. A Six Lane Strategy Toward an Inviting Sunday School. Chapter 1. by David Francis http://ccbcschool.wordpress.com/2007/12/26/hello-world/#comment-7 David Francis Tue, 08 Jan 2008 20:19:45 +0000 #comment-7 Great application of the principles in chapter one! Congregational self-esteem applies to individual classes, too. It's one of the main reasons some classes grow while others do not--in the same church. When members feel good about their class, their conversations are more likely to include natural references to "my Bible study class." Which can lead to an invitation. Look forward to future posts. <strong>Note From P.K.:</strong> David Francis is the author of this study and Director, Sunday SchoolLifeWay Church Resources. Great application of the principles in chapter one! Congregational self-esteem applies to individual classes, too. It’s one of the main reasons some classes grow while others do not–in the same church. When members feel good about their class, their conversations are more likely to include natural references to “my Bible study class.” Which can lead to an invitation. Look forward to future posts.

Note From P.K.: David Francis is the author of this study and Director, Sunday SchoolLifeWay Church Resources.

]]> Comment on I-6 Sunday School. A Six Lane Strategy Toward an Inviting Sunday School. Chapter 1. by Mark Hines http://ccbcschool.wordpress.com/2007/12/26/hello-world/#comment-6 Mark Hines Tue, 08 Jan 2008 02:36:38 +0000 #comment-6 As we seek to invigorate our classes, let's keep our hearts and minds open to ways that we can make it exciting for our class members to attend. Then, we need to build on that excitement so that they (our class members) will invite others to attend as well. So many studies have shown that most non-church attenders need only be asked by someone to get them started visiting a church. How wonderful it would be if that church was Cedar Creek Baptist. As we seek to invigorate our classes, let’s keep our hearts and minds open to ways that we can make it exciting for our class members to attend. Then, we need to build on that excitement so that they (our class members) will invite others to attend as well. So many studies have shown that most non-church attenders need only be asked by someone to get them started visiting a church. How wonderful it would be if that church was Cedar Creek Baptist.

]]> Comment on I-6 Sunday School. A Six Lane Strategy Toward an Inviting Sunday School. Chapter 1. by Scott Davis http://ccbcschool.wordpress.com/2007/12/26/hello-world/#comment-5 Scott Davis Mon, 07 Jan 2008 14:22:29 +0000 #comment-5 Check the movie clip out Darryl posted . . . simple but awesome. In Sunday School, the truth is that people do what they want (and that means sleeping in if they don;t like Sunday School)! There are all kinds of simple things that we can do to make our classes more fun, interesting, relevant, etc, in order to generate enthusiasm. The only thing that can't happen is "contrived" enthusiasm. PK can't come up with the solution for YOUR class - your personality and the personaloity of YOUR class has to shine through . . . just becuase something works in one class doesn't mean every other class needs to copy it. For instance, most of the older adult classes at CCBC sit at tables with chairs - there is no way that would work with our young adults. Our young adults have painted and decorated their room to make it look more like a living room - probably interpreted as hokey or frivolous by our adults, but it has worked for our age group. Check the movie clip out Darryl posted . . . simple but awesome.

In Sunday School, the truth is that people do what they want (and that means sleeping in if they don;t like Sunday School)! There are all kinds of simple things that we can do to make our classes more fun, interesting, relevant, etc, in order to generate enthusiasm. The only thing that can’t happen is “contrived” enthusiasm. PK can’t come up with the solution for YOUR class – your personality and the personaloity of YOUR class has to shine through . . . just becuase something works in one class doesn’t mean every other class needs to copy it.

For instance, most of the older adult classes at CCBC sit at tables with chairs – there is no way that would work with our young adults. Our young adults have painted and decorated their room to make it look more like a living room – probably interpreted as hokey or frivolous by our adults, but it has worked for our age group.

]]> Comment on I-6 Sunday School. A Six Lane Strategy Toward an Inviting Sunday School. Chapter 1. by Wayne Poling http://ccbcschool.wordpress.com/2007/12/26/hello-world/#comment-4 Wayne Poling Thu, 03 Jan 2008 21:01:29 +0000 #comment-4 P.K. I want to commend you for this great additional approach to training. What a huge difference it makes when class members are excited about their class and out of that excitement invite others. That excitement brings energy to the class, encourages the teacher, changes the focus of the class, and enlivens participation in the teaching. One suggestion I would have for your classes is that they own a vision as a class of what they want to become and then go after that vision. The process of talking together of what they want to see God do through the class will be an exciting journey. <strong>From P.K.: Wayne Poling is Senior, Lead Sunday School Specialist with LifeWay.</strong> P.K. I want to commend you for this great additional approach to training. What a huge difference it makes when class members are excited about their class and out of that excitement invite others. That excitement brings energy to the class, encourages the teacher, changes the focus of the class, and enlivens participation in the teaching. One suggestion I would have for your classes is that they own a vision as a class of what they want to become and then go after that vision. The process of talking together of what they want to see God do through the class will be an exciting journey.

From P.K.: Wayne Poling is Senior, Lead Sunday School Specialist with LifeWay.

]]> Comment on I-6 Sunday School. A Six Lane Strategy Toward an Inviting Sunday School. Chapter 1. by Darryl Wilson http://ccbcschool.wordpress.com/2007/12/26/hello-world/#comment-3 Darryl Wilson Thu, 03 Jan 2008 19:14:56 +0000 #comment-3 Great post. Many never invite anyone to their classes because they are not excited about their classes. Ask yourself: what do I like about my class? what part of my class has helped me the most? Put together a Sunday School testimony to share with friends and people you meet. One suggestion I would have for you would be to decide on how your class and serve others (prospects) in your age group. <strong>Watch this video to see how your class can touch the lives of others:</strong> http://www.stservicemovie.com. Note from P.K.: Darryl Wilson is the Kentucky Baptist Convention's Sunday School Director. Great post. Many never invite anyone to their classes because they are not excited about their classes. Ask yourself: what do I like about my class? what part of my class has helped me the most? Put together a Sunday School testimony to share with friends and people you meet. One suggestion I would have for you would be to decide on how your class and serve others (prospects) in your age group. Watch this video to see how your class can touch the lives of others: http://www.stservicemovie.com.

Note from P.K.: Darryl Wilson is the Kentucky Baptist Convention’s Sunday School Director.

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