1. DEVELOPING SABBATH SCHOOL ACTION UNINTS

2. Sabbath school Problems
The decline of Sabbath School attendance in many places.
Nearly 20% of those who have been Adventists from 4 – 10 years never study the BSG lessons.
The comparison between church books and Sabbath School attendance shows a large number of missing members.
The majority of teachers have never had any training.

3. Sabbath school problems
Many are missing in Sabbath School

4. Sabbath school problems
Many People don’t come to Sabbath School today. Why is this so?

5. Sabbath school problems
Lack of warm fellowship and support by fellow members.
Church services that do not meet people’s felt needs in coping with the complexities of daily life.

6. Sabbath school problems
”Our Sabbath schools are not what the Lord would have them to be, for there is altogether too much dependence placed upon form and machinery, while the life-giving power of God is not manifested for the conversion of souls, for which Christ died. This order of things must be changed if our Sabbath schools meet the purpose for which they exist …” - CSSW, p

7. Sabbath school problems
“How sad it is to think of the great amount of mechanical work that is done in the Sabbath school, while there is little evidence that there is moral transformation in the souls of those who teach and who are taught!” – TSSW, p. 72.

8. Sabbath school problems
”There is much to be done in the Sabbath School work, in bringing the people to realize their obligation and to act their part. God calls them to work for Him, and the ministers should guide them their effort.” – Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 256.

9. Sabbath school objectives
Bible Study and Prayer
Fellowship
Mission

10. Sabbath school objectives
These objectives can best be achieved through the Sabbath School small groups called Action Units.

11. Sabbath school action units

12. Advantages of sabbath school action units
Basic Divine Imperatives for a Finished Work.
The Potential: The Small Group Sabbath School Classes Can Provide Adherence to the Above Imperatives.

13. Basic divine imperatives for a finished work
The church must realize its obligation to carry the gospel of present truth to every creature (CS, p. 111).
The work will never be finished until the membership unites in the work (GW, p. 352).
Every church should be a training school for Christian workers (MH, p. 149).

14. Basic divine imperatives for a finished work
The greatest help that can be given our people is to teach them to work for God, and to depend on Him, not on ministers (Testimonies, vol. 7, p. 19).
The Sabbath School should be one of the greatest instrumentalities and the most effectual in bringing souls to Christ (CSSW, p. 10).
One who cannot err has advised the formation of small groups as a basis of Christian effort (Testimonies, vol. 7, pp. 21, 22).

15. The formation of small groups
“The formation of small companies as a basis of Christian effort is a plan that has been presented before me by One who cannot err. If there is a large number in the church, let the members be formed into small companies, to work not only for the church members but for unbelievers also” - Evangelism, p. 115

16. Sabbath school action units potential
Provide an excellent training school.
Turn spectators into participants.
Prepare members for effective outreach.
Enable members to reclaim and retain backsliders.
Assist members to reach their own goals.
Contribute to a finished work through focused, coordinated effort.
Provide assistance to most church projects and activities.

17. The sabbath school action unit plan
Classes of twelve to fifteen (6 – 8 elsewhere)
Outreach Leaders/Care Coordinators
Outreach Plan
Class Time – One Hour
Time for Missing Class Members

18. The sabbath school action unit plan
Time for Outreach
Lesson Discussion Application
Monthly Corporate Sharing
Monthly Home Fellowship/Evaluation
Weekly, or Monthly Leader Consultation

19. Class operation
Discussion Group Leaders take 5 minutes to care for missing class members.
Care Coordinator takes 20 minutes to:
- call for experiences related to class plan
- Train from experiences shared
- Assign visits
- Promote the class plan
- Conduct prayer session

20. Class operation
Discussion Group Leader – a choir director, not a soloist (35 min.)
- Reviews the high points of the lesson
- Asks 3 or 4 questions
- Secures full participation
- Applies lesson to life this week

21. Class operation
Who, Where, How, When?

22. Who?
Decide on the number of classes needed by dividing current Sabbath School adult attendance by twelve.
Review briefly the Care Coordinator and qualifications needed.
Have the group select the best possible.

23. Where? This is not a problem, by using the ordinary pews.
The ideal is folding chairs in circles.

24. How?
Prepare a list for each class with the Discussion and Care Coordinator and twelve to fifteen blanks under their names.
Superintendent, Secretary, Personal Ministries Leader, and Pastor assign members into balanced “family” group.
Forming classes in specific territories is excellent.

25. When?
Superintendent, Personal Ministries Leader and Pastor should over a one to three week period, explain the plan and its benefits to the adult Sabbath School.
Efforts should be made to convince those who are totally opposed to this approach.

26. Task of discussion group leader
Study Broadly
Select Focus
Prepare a Brief Introduction
Write 3 to 4 Application Discussion Questions
Give an Overview of the Main Points
Encourage Participation and Assist in Making Definite Personal Application
Summarize and Express Appreciation for Participation
Pray for Help to Meet Application Objectives for the Week

27. Good questions The Meaning: What does this text mean to you?
Learning from Experience: Share an experience where this text was fulfilled or was significant in your life.
Application to Life: Think of what will possibly happen to you this week. How can you apply this text to your life this week? How can you use this text in reaching out and sharing with someone this week?

28. The care coordinator
Should be a tactful, enthusiastic, persevering, and loving concerned active member with a burden for souls, developing a band of well trained soul winners.

29. Care coordinator’s preparation
Claim the Holy Sprit’s infilling and wisdom
Discover outreach plans of the church
Know the Personal Ministries Leader’s objectives
Determine what activities have worked best in the past to increase quality membership
Dream big
List appropriate quality activities
Make a potential plan

30. Class planning session
Pray earnestly
Elect a secretary to assist and record plans
Share thrilling experiences of other action unit classes
Challenge each member with a vision to dream big
Pray two by two for cleansing
Explain the church focus and plan in the Personal Ministries Leader’s objectives

31. Class planning session
Ask what has worked best in the past toward the finishing of God’s work
Call for and value as important each member’s opinions and comments
Write down all suggestions
Select together a few workable ideas or plans
Do strategic plans

32. Seven key elements of success
Class planning session
Care for missing class members
Care coordinator time: to share experience and to train, pray, promote and assign visits
Application of lesson
Leader consultation/evaluation
Corporate sharing
Home fellowship/evaluation