Tear the paper into a shape of something you’ve seen while traveling on a highway. Use the marker pen to print your name on your name tag. Tear the paper into a shape of something you’ve seen while traveling on a highway. Use the marker pen to print your name on your name tag. 2

What is your favorite (driving) vacation destination? What are challenges you faced in arriving at your destination? What is your favorite (driving) vacation destination? What are challenges you faced in arriving at your destination? 3

Our destination: A more INVITING Sunday School Our destination: A more INVITING Sunday School 4

You are here Our destination: A more INVITING Sunday School Our destination: A more INVITING Sunday School 5

Teams of 3-4 Select one passage as a team Work together to answer the first and second questions Select one passage as a team Work together to answer the first and second questions 6

We are seeking to reach the same kinds of people as Jesus did. 7

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What are top priorities to pack on a journey toward becoming a more inviting Sunday School? 10

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“Groups of people who feel good about what they are experiencing—and the environment in which they are experiencing it—will be more likely to invite others to experience it with them!” 13

Team one: Put yourself in the place of a typical Sunday School class. What are challenges and opportunities for including new people into the class? Team two: Put yourself in the place of someone who has never attended a Sunday School class. What are challenges and opportunities for becoming part of the class? 14

What are you pretending NOT to know? 15

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We must incorporate — DISCOVER 1.The teacher leads the members to discover truths from the Bible and the faith stories of the people in the class. 17

We must incorporate — DISCOVER 2.The spiritual gift of shepherding best describes a balance between effective Bible teaching and caring for the “sheep” in the flock. 18

We must incorporate — DISCOVER 3.The entire class can work to help communicate: “We’re getting ready to enjoy fellowship with one another around the open Word of God!” 19

We must incorporate — DISCOVER 4.We focus on allowing God to invigorate me! We want to be part of a Great Commission Team. 20

We must incorporate — INVITE 1.Practice good missiology. 2.Practice “The Harvest Principle.” 3.Generate traffic. 4.Increase your visibility. 5.Get the names. The most valuable asset a Sunday School class has is “customer information.” 1.Practice good missiology. 2.Practice “The Harvest Principle.” 3.Generate traffic. 4.Increase your visibility. 5.Get the names. The most valuable asset a Sunday School class has is “customer information.” 21

We must incorporate — INVITE 6.Create awareness with good advertising and signage. 22

We must incorporate — CONNECT 1.Connect people to Christ. 2.Connect people to feel part of the group. 3.Connect people to be part of a ministry. 4.Connect people to individuals... 1.Connect people to Christ. 2.Connect people to feel part of the group. 3.Connect people to be part of a ministry. 4.Connect people to individuals... 23

Enlist one or more people to help the class implement actions: Discover Invite Connect Discover Invite Connect 24

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What would prayer requests look like in an inviting class? From the perspective of the What would prayer requests look like in an inviting class? From the perspective of the teachers, members, those we are trying to reach? teachers, members, those we are trying to reach? 26

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The church of the Lord Jesus is in the business of meeting needs. Jesus invested in the lives of others—inviting them to something higher and greater than themselves—to invest in the agenda of the Kingdom of God. 28

How can we get more people to come to our church? What can our church/class do to make our community a better place to live? What unmet needs are there that we can point people to Christ? How might we invest some of our resources to meet one or more of those needs? 29

What are stories about a class investing time and resources to meet needs? 30

People don’t want to be your project! 31

... Do you really care about me, or is this just some church obligation you’re fulfilling? 32

Three Strategic Numbers 3 – each class needs a minimum of three workers. 5 – each worker is to minister to five members. 10 – each new class will increase overall attendance by ten. 3 – each class needs a minimum of three workers. 5 – each worker is to minister to five members. 10 – each new class will increase overall attendance by ten. 33

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What are ways we can strengthen our inviting opportunities? 35

What specific tools are we effectively using to invite people to Sunday School and to Christ? 36

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INVOLVE – factors we must consider:  Spiritual gifts of members  Train persons regarding evangelism  Involve people through new members events and classes  Involve the work of the Holy Spirit  Enrollment and attendance are two key metrics  We must understand “churn”  Spiritual gifts of members  Train persons regarding evangelism  Involve people through new members events and classes  Involve the work of the Holy Spirit  Enrollment and attendance are two key metrics  We must understand “churn” 38

Who is on the Great Commission Team? What is each team member’s job? Who is on the Great Commission Team? What is each team member’s job? 39

You are here 40 Our destination: A more INVITING Sunday School Our destination: A more INVITING Sunday School

Prepare a “billboard” that summarizes important ideas. INVIGORATE INCORPORATE INTERCEDE INVEST INVITE INVOLVE INVIGORATE INCORPORATE INTERCEDE INVEST INVITE INVOLVE 41

We accomplish the Great Commission most effectively when we do it together. 42