1. What is Sabbath School and Personal Ministries About?
“The highest of all sciences is the science of soul saving.” - Ellen G White, Ministry of Healing, p. 398.

2. Mission, Purpose and Organization
Sabbath School
Mission, Purpose and Organization

3. Core Biblical Mandates
Deuteronomy 4:9 – “Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.”
2 Timothy 2:2 – “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” 

4. Ellen G White Core Mandate
Counsels on Sabbath School Work, p. 9 – “The Sabbath school work is important, and all who are interested in the truth should endeavor to make it prosperous.”
Page 10 – “The Sabbath school should be one of the greatest instrumentalities, and the most effectual, in bringing souls to Christ.”

5. Sabbath School Mission Statement
Local Church Religious Education That Builds Faith and Practice

6. Four Purposes of Sabbath School
Study of the Word
Fellowship
Community Outreach
World Mission Emphasis

7. Core Elements of Sabbath School Education
Knowing = What you believe.
Being = What/who you are.
Doing = How you put the two together in everyday life = Application.

8. The Role of Sabbath School
Adventist world membership —
Adventist dayschool attendance =
About 80% of all Seventh-day Adventist members learn about the Bible and Seventh-day Adventist beliefs through Sabbath School.

9. Sabbath School Organization
Sabbath School only happens at the local church/district level.
Other organizational levels provide resources, training, etc.

10. Sabbath School Organization
At the local church/district level Sabbath School can be organized in a variety of ways.
Include the four purposes.

11. Four Attendance Categories
New converts
Discipled Adventists
Generational Adventists
Institutional Adventist audiences

12. Key Sabbath School Problems
Attendance
Societal realities
Organization
Pastoral support

13. Key Sabbath School Problems— Society
NAD Churches
Most church buildings — c members in rural areas.
c. 80% church members attend “urban cathedrals.”
Commuter churches — Many members no longer live close to the church.
The nature of urban living.
Key problems — time and determination.

14. Key Sabbath School Problems— Organization
Talking heads=“Boring”
Modeling the Sabbath School on the worship service.
Lack of participation.
Poor teaching.

15. Key Sabbath School Problems— Organization
“They make long, dry speeches in the Sabbath school and the teachers' meeting, thus wearying the minds of both teachers and students. Such remarks are greatly out of place. They do not adapt their instruction to the real wants of the school, and they fail to draw hearts to them, for their own hearts are not full of spiritual sympathy. They do not realize that by their long, tedious talks they are killing the interest in, and love for, the school”— CSSW, p. 166.

16. Sabbath School Weak Points
Sabbath School disorganization.
The “Church At Study” concept.
Lack of training
Disappearance of teacher’s meetings.

17. Sabbath School Toolbox. AdventSource. Festivalofthelaity.com
Current Resources
Sabbath School Toolbox.
AdventSource.
Festivalofthelaity.com
Various internet resources.
Internet Sabbath School Teacher Training System.
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18. Teacher Training System
Core Units
The High Calling and Spirit of the Sabbath School Teacher.
Introduction to the Bible.
How to Interpret the Bible and the Writings of Ellen G White.
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19. Teacher Training System
Essential Skills
Seven Laws of the Teacher.
Lesson Preparation.
Learning Process — Learning Styles
Finishing the Core Unit and Essential Skills = “Qualified Adult Sabbath School Teacher”
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20. Teacher Training System
Advanced Skills
Small Group Dynamics.
Teaching Techniques of Jesus.
Additional courses as needed.
Finishing the Core Unit and Essential Skills, and Advanced Skills = “Qualified Master Adult Sabbath School Teacher”

21. Personal Ministries
“The highest of all sciences is the science of soul saving. The greatest work to which human beings can aspire is the work of winning people from sin to holiness. For the accomplishment of this work, a broad foundation must be laid. A comprehensive education is needed – Ministry of Healing, p. 398.

22. Mission, Purpose and Organization
Personal Ministries
Mission, Purpose and Organization

23. What is Personal Ministries?
Personal Ministries is the name of a department sponsored by the Seventh- day Adventist church,
Also a designation for any ministry carried out by individual members, or small groups of people, focused on direct evangelistic contact,
Such as Bible studies, baptismal classes, and church member-led evangelistic campaigns, or other methodologies involving direct soul winning outreach.

24. Purpose
The purpose of Personal Ministries is to recruit as many church members as possible in direct soul winning activities.

25. Core Methodology
“Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, 'Follow Me.’” - Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing, p. 143.

26. Organization

27. Resources Festivalofthelaity.com Older resources: AdventSource
Church Growth series
Reaching and Winning series
Friendship evangelism
Various resources
Festivalofthelaity.com
Older resources:
Training Light Bearers

28. Personal Ministries Training System
Core Units
The Great Commission: The Call to Be Fishers of People
Introduction to the Bible.
How to Interpret the Bible and the Writings of Ellen G White.
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29. Personal Ministries Training System
Essential Skills
The Science of Soul Winning: Methodologies, Resources, Basic Skills.
How to Give Bible Studies.
The Art of Obtaining Decisions.
Reaching and Winning Christians of Various Persuasions.
Reaching and Winning Non—Christian People.
Finishing the Core Unit and Essential Skills = “Qualified Personal Ministries Participant”
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30. Personal Ministries Training System
Member—Led Public Evangelism
The Basics of Evangelistic Sermon Preparation and Delivery.
How to Organize and Run an Evangelistic Campaign.
Additional courses as needed.
Finishing the Core Unit and Essential Skills, and Member—Led Public Evangelism= “Qualified Master Personal Ministries Participant”

31. How Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Fit Together
“The Sabbath School should be one of the greatest instrumentalities and the most effectual in bringing souls to Christ.” —Counsels on Sabbath School Work, p. 10.

32. Quick History Integrating Sabbath School and Personal Ministries
Sabbath School Evangelistic classes.
North American Division = Sabbath School Action Units.
Branch Sabbath Schools.
World Mission sponsorships.

33. Shared Functions
Sabbath Schools/Sabbath School classes are ready made small groups.
Fellowship and Community Outreach are two basic purposes of Sabbath School.
Every Sabbath School/Sabbath School class should have an outreach project.
Coordination is a matter of internal organization.

34. Cooperative Organization
In conjunction with the overall evangelism objectives/plans of the local church/district
Joint planning sessions of Sabbath School and Personal Ministries committees.
Recruitment and task assignment and organization.

35. What Personal Ministries Offers
Training in various methodologies
How to give Bible studies
Friendship evangelism
Outreach plans
Member—led campaign organization and venues.

36. What Sabbath School Offers
Ready made small groups.
Branch Sabbath Schools.
Recruitment pool of outreach witnesses.
Ready made weekly audience.
Ready made small group communication and systematic update.

37. The Junction
“Not every member is an evangelist — But every member is a witness”
Personal Ministries plans/events/
participation
Sabbath School community outreach participation