See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. (Isaiah 43:19)
The Holy Spirit is always breathing new life, and challenging us to new things! As you consider the New Year for Sunday School & small groups, here are some ideas:
- Develop a theme to help all of your classes. As a new year begins, having a theme helps them stay focused.
- Is the purpose this year to reach new people? Have a theme of Each One Reach One. Encourage every person to reach one new person for Bible study.
- Is the purpose to start new classes? Ask members to consider being missionaries and helping start a new class. Each teacher (as we think of the Great Commission should be mentoring someone to take their class/group or preparing to start a new class/group.
- Perhaps it is making sure every person is cared for. (Contact me about an organizational way to do this at: brooks@bgav.org.)
- Have a social the week before the class starts for new persons to get to know each other. Every class should have a social at least once a quarter. Have one just before new people will enter your class. This gives opportunities for new people to meet persons who are already there. They feel more comfortable.
- Encourage children as they move up. There are several ways to encourage them. First Graders should receive a Bible during promotional periods during a worship service the week before. You should consider a Bible verse to claim for them as well. (This would require all preschool workers to know the children and claim a verse for them. Have them bookmarked for their Bible.) I have seen children many years later claiming their Bible verse as it was still in their bibles!
Getting new people to Bible study is difficult. The ways I have mentioned will help you!
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