WELCOME! Please take a seat and complete the activity in your chair. The SUNDAY SCHOOL

Why do you think this rope is constructed with three strands? List the advantages of having three strands in this rope.

A cord of three strands is not easily broken. Eccl 4:12 (HCSB)

During this session we are going to explore the three elements of a 3D Sunday School:

3D Sunday School groups invite people not merely because the class is responsible for getting people to attend Bible study, but rather because the class is responsible for attending to the lives of those people. SUNDAY SCHOOL GROUPS SUNDAY SCHOOL GROUPS Invite.

Members enter into a kingdom “conspiracy” to work together to make their class a safe and hospitable environment.

3D Sunday School group members covenant together to create small group experiences in which members discover the great truths of the Bible and the faith stories of believers. SUNDAY SCHOOL GROUPS Discover.

3D Sunday School group members work together to provide people the opportunity to connect through fellowship and ministry. SUNDAY SCHOOL GROUPS Connect.

Can our Sunday Schools get out of balance? What are some ways Sunday Schools get out of balance? Can our Sunday Schools get out of balance? What are some ways Sunday Schools get out of balance? How important is balance in life?

What happens if any one of these gets out of balance? INVITE DISCOVER CONNECT

What happens if any one of these gets out of balance? Invite. What happens if the Sunday School class has a strong focus on reaching new people, but when they arrive the Bible study is not meaningful to them (discover) and they do not experience strong relationships and ministry with others in the class (connect)?

What happens if any one of these gets out of balance? Discover. What happens if the Sunday School has placed its total focus on doing a good job of teaching for those who come, but it does not reach out to new people (invite) or build relationships with people they are reaching and seeking to reach nor minister to members and unchurched (connect)?

What happens if fellowship and relationships are the number one issue and the intentional discovery of the Bible truths and how they apply to life take a backseat to fellowship and the focus is totally on present members with little or no focus on the unchurched? What happens if any one of these gets out of balance? Connect.

Have you seen your Sunday School or other Sunday Schools get out of balance?

SUNDAY SCHOOL GROUPS “Invite, discover, and connect are intentionally interrelated—like the three sides of a triangle. The key to having a 3D Sunday School is balance… Which of the three strands is most important? Each of them!” —page 6

3D Sunday School groups invite people not merely because the class is responsible for getting people to attend Bible study, but rather because the class is responsible for attending to the lives of those people. SUNDAY SCHOOL GROUPS Invite.

Personal invitation Special events Direct mail Why do new people come to a church? Dynamic worship Children’s ministry Student ministry

Much research has been done on why people come to church. Personal Invitation Consistently, 80-90% of the people surveyed say they first came to the church they currently attend because someone invited them.

“There is not a more powerful outreach tool than the personal invitation.” – page 8

yes no Answer yes or no to the statements on your handout. Is My Class an Open Group?

We intentionally seek to involve and connect with people who are not currently members. We encourage new people to join at any time.

Is My Class an Open Group? Our class is ongoing and does not stop for periods of time. Visitors can understand the study without having attended prior sessions.

Is My Class an Open Group? We celebrate when members leave to serve in other age groups.

“Leaders and members alike in a 3D Sunday School class invite any person— indeed, every newcomer—to enroll at any time.” —page 8

Why don’t people enroll in Sunday School?

Hi, Jim, this is…

50% rule 50% rule

Doors of opportunity...

Sunday School testimony.

Romans 12:15 “Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.”

Invite – How? Enroll Sunday School testimony Crises New frontiers Face to face Leave something

N N A A R R F F riends elatives ssociates eighbors Invite – Who?

“There is nothing more effective than a face-to-face invitation.” —page 12 Invite

“Nothing beats looking into someone’s face as you invite them to your class and witness to them about Christ.” —page 13 Invite

It may take 20 “touches.”

Invitation/Outreach Leader Maintains the class prospect file.Maintains the class prospect file. Makes outreach assignments.Makes outreach assignments. Leads the class to participate in visitation efforts.Leads the class to participate in visitation efforts.

Your invitation might be the answer to someone’s prayer.

3D Sunday School group members covenant together to create small group experiences in which members discover the great truths of the Bible and the faith stories of believers. SUNDAY SCHOOL GROUPS Discover.

What do these words have in common? find, search, dig, uncover, explore, look up, identify, locate, observe, determine, propose, note, discern, ascertain, hunt for, detect, indicate, notice, contemplate, distinguish, name, describe

“Regardless of how much you encourage members to invite others, they won’t do so if the class environment and group experience are not inviting.” —page 17

A member discovers how God is at work in his/her life. A member is compelled to discover God’s Word individually and as a group. A member is encouraged to discover and read the Bible study materials (learner guide) prior to the Bible study session. SUNDAY SCHOOL... In a

A member is challenged to discover ways God’s Word applies to his/her life. A member discovers people who need ministry, hope, fellowship, prayers, discipleship, and a fresh encounter with a Living God. A member discovers ways to engage people in Sunday School. SUNDAY SCHOOL... In a

Preschool and up: God Jesus Bible Creation Family Self Church and Kingdom Community and World Discover – What?

Older Children add: Salvation Holy Spirit Discover – What?

Youth and Adults add: Discipleship and the Christian life Ethics and Morality Reason and Faith Rebellion and Sin Time and Eternity Discover – What?

How does what a group studies affect whether or not it is an open group? Discover – What?

The setting for Bible study can hinder or enhance.

Liven Up Lectures 1.Make an assignment to a class member. 2.Use visuals. 3.Ask questions, allowing learners to respond. 4.Use appropriate humor. 1.Ask questions. 2.Accept assignments from the teacher. 3.Read the lesson before class, marking it up for areas of interest or discussion. Member Teacher

Discovery through Discussion 1.Write out discussion questions. 2.Find great questions. 3.Use buzz groups, especially in a large class. 4.Set and maintain time limits. 1.Be ready to participate. 2.Express your thoughts. 3.Don’t dominate the discussion. Member Teacher

Ask the Right Kinds of Questions Open questions Study questions Apply questions

What is the value of each member having a learner guide? Makes members feel more confident. Helps guests feel more comfortable. Communicates the value of preparation before class.

What is the value of each member having a learner guide? Content of the learner guide can be used during the session. Having everything they need in the learner guide helps the newcomer feel “safe.”

Who is the most life- changing teacher you ever had?

“First, I fell in love with my teacher. Then, I fell in love with my teacher’s Bible. Then I fell in love with my teacher’s Lord.” —page 24

3D Sunday School group members work together to provide people the opportunity to connect through fellowship and ministry. 3D Sunday School group members work together to provide people the opportunity to connect through fellowship and ministry. SUNDAY SCHOOL GROUPS Connect.

“People will come to your Bible study group and to church if invited. Many will receive Christ as their Savior if invited. Unfortunately, a disturbing number of these people will drop out... if not connected.” —page 26 Connect – How Important?

Where would a person get connected in your church prior to and after accepting Christ? Connect – How Important?

Romans 12:13 (HCSB) “Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality.”

“Be hospitable to one another without complaining.” 1 Peter 4:9 (HCSB)

Connecting Starts with First Impressions positive or negative

Welcome Center Welcome guests.Welcome guests. Provide literature about the church and its ministries.Provide literature about the church and its ministries. Fill out registration forms for guests.Fill out registration forms for guests.

Get as much information as possible.Get as much information as possible. Offer to enroll them in Sunday School.Offer to enroll them in Sunday School. Welcome Center

Keep one copy of the registration form in the Welcome Center.Keep one copy of the registration form in the Welcome Center. Introduce guest to escort.Introduce guest to escort. Welcome Center

Give one copy of registration form for each family member to escort.Give one copy of registration form for each family member to escort. Take to classes or departments.Take to classes or departments. Welcome Center

Care/Connect Groups 5-7 people per group Separate groups for men and women. Care/Connect Leaders Contact every assigned member every week. Communicate prayer and ministry needs. Care/Connect Leader

Family Worship Absentees Affinity Group Fellowship Prayer Discipleship Ministry CONNECT MEMBERS AND PROSPECTS

Remember that adequately staffing preschool, children’s, and student classrooms should be a priority. Develop a culture where members are encouraged to serve. Ministry

Assign in-service members of adult classes to group leaders to stay in touch with them as associate members. Involve in-service members in class activities. Ministry

Have a well-organized care group structure in order to communicate prayer requests and praise reports. There are devotional helps like Open Windows to assist individuals in praying for missionaries by name. Prayer

Fellowship is a spiritual discipline; it requires time and must be planned. Encourage groups to set aside specific times for class fellowship activities. Fellowship

Encourage fellowship activities by providing proper support through publicity and child care. Fellowship often involves food. Fellowship

Group leaders contact every member every week. Do not drop people unless they die, move beyond a reasonable driving distance, or join another church. Regular contacts do not need to be extended conversations, especially for active members, just weekly touch points. Absentees

You will discover things about people: hobbies, interests, where they grew up, etc. Connect people with common interests. Common interests may be the basis for care groups. Affinity Groups

Connect newcomers to worship by accompanying them and offering to sit with them. During worship, watch for new people who may be prospective class members. Worship

Encourage class participants to conduct personal worship each day at home. Distribute devotional literature to all age groups. Worship

Sunday School is family friendly. There are no baby-sitters, just teachers. Prepare well for preschool, children, and students. Families

Have safety and security measures in place. Have appropriate age group learning experiences. Provide parents with supportive follow-up. Families

The Bible is the textbook of the Sunday School. Sunday School cannot do the whole job of discipleship. Discipleship

Discipleship groups are closed groups focused on a specific subject or topic for a defined period. Hold discipleship groups at a different time than when Sunday School meets. Discipleship

A Sunday School accomplishes foundational evangelism, discipleship, ministry, fellowship, worship, and much more.