Bible Teaching Discipleship and Networking Adult Christian Education in the Church Bill Alphin 42106

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Bible TeachingDiscipleshipandNetworkingAdult
Christian Educationin the ChurchBill
Alphin4/21/06
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What is your role as an adult leader?

• What do you want out of this session?

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Essential Groupsin the church

• Worship/Celebration/Unity of Purpose. (50
  persons gathered)
• Congregation (17-70 persons) Networking/Fellowsh
  ip/Bible Study.
• Small Groups/Intimacy/Accountability
• (7-20 persons gathered)

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The Adult Sunday School is the best instrument
for moving of worship attendees into the church
network.

• For adults to stick with the church, they must
  find a place where they are known by name. They
  must find a place where friendships can develop.
  That place is the adult Sunday School.

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The Main Priority of Sunday School
Evangelism And assimilation Of new attenders
Care Ministry
Bible Study
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A church that relies only on member participation
in the Sunday morning worship experience and
adult Sunday School class will not go very far in
developing mature disciples of Jesus Christ.Bill
Alphin
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How did Jesus grow in faith in God?

• Lk 2Formal study/training.
• Lk 3With God in the Wilderness.
• Lk 4Life crisis at home.
• Lk 8Family conflict.
• Lk 9Peters confession.
• Lk 22-The Garden experience.
• Lk 23-Crisis at the cross.

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Mature faith doesnt happen over night!

• Faith in God grows in stages.
• It grows in faith community.
• It requires discipline and work.
• Growing faith is a life-long endeavor. We never
  arrive.

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Intimacy and accountability will lead to closed
groups.
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Small groups should be sequential...

• This means people are grouped together according
  to where they are in their faith journey...

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About the Adult Sunday School

• Sunday School groups must be open.
• Sunday School groups do not have the allotted
  time needed to develop intimacy in relationships.
• Neighborlycommitments vs. family commitments.
  
• Sunday School provides for networking and caring.

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Teaching for Maximum Impact
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Life experiencesimpact our perceptions about
life andhow we learn.
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Consider what generation of adults you are
teaching...

• G.I. Generation (1901-1924)
• Silent Generation (1925-1945)
• Boomer Generation (1946-1964)
• Buster Generation (1965-1981)

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Adults are motivated by unmet needs.

• Adults will engage in learning experiences when
  they believe the learning experiences will be
  useful and beneficial.

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Why do adults learn?

• Need to deal with life situations.
• Need to make a difference in the world.
• Cope and adjust to life changes.
• Specific events trigger learning.

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Adult Learning...

• Learning must start where the pupil is.
• Learning is based on interest.
• Learning is based on need.
• Learning occurs through activity.
• Learning occurs through identification.

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How We Learn

• 11 Through HEARING
• 83 Through SIGHT

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We retain...

• 10 of what we read
• 20 of what we hear
• 30 of what we see and hear
• 70 of what we say as we talk
• 90 of what we say as we do a thing!
  Scony-Vacumn Co. studies.

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Use a Variety of Teaching Methods to Engage the
Learner.

• Lecture
• Brainstorming
• Case Study
• Discussion
• Question and Answer

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Consider shifts in our culture Postmodern
Churches Bill Easum, 21st
Century Strategies.

• Grounded in Bible, not theology.
• Culturally relevant.
• Transformational. (people want to make a
  difference)
• Lay-led.
• Centered around life in community.
• Experiential.

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The teacher creates an environment where learners
can discover what God is saying to them in their
time and place through the Bible.

• The teaching climate is important!

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Climate to Grow Disciples

• Intimacy and loving accountability.
• Happens best in small groups.
• Happens best in closed groups!

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Group buzz groups in three or more
Group one
Group two
Group Three
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Creating A Thinking Climate

• Are questions encouraged or discouraged?
• How does the congregation deal with diverse
  opinions?
• Are members challenged to examine their faith in
  their everyday lives?
• Are people given answers, or are they led to
  discover answers?

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The focus of activity is not on what the teacher
will do. Rather it is on what the pupil will do!

• The environment for climate for learning should
  be learner centered not teacher centered.

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Guidelines for Teachers...

• Function as a facilitator-teacher.
• Rely on the inner motivation and needs of the
  learners to guide the group.
• Make available a wide range of resources for
  learning.
• Value the learners and their life experiences.
• Participate as a learner and recognize your
  limitations.
• Be a good role model.

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Remember

• Less is More!

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God put me on Earth to accomplish a certain
number of things. Right now, Im so far behind,
I will never die!
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A Look at Class Leaders...

• Adult Teacher
• Adult Class Coordinator
• Adult Class Outreach-Evangelism Leader
• Adult Apprentice
• Adult Class Leaders

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The ministry ofCare Group Leaders

• Keep in touch with group members
• Lead in ministry with group members
• Serve as an encourager for new Christians
• Serve as fellowship leader or prayer leader as
  needed (small classes)

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The ministry of the Class Outreach-Evangelism
Leader

• Lead the class to cultivate prospects
• Develop the class prospect file
• Assign prospects to members for contact
• Assist in training class member to visit and
  witness
• Serve as class secretary as needed
• Model and serve as a mentor

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The ministry of the Teacher

• Facilitate Bible study
• Serve as class administrator
• Enlist and train class leaders
• Lead in organizing the class
• Model Christian discipleship and ministry
• Plan with the team
• Mentor future leaders

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A Good Recruitment Plan

• Make an appointment for a personal visit.
• Discuss why you feel led to this person.
• Share expectations.
• How long will the person serve?
• What resources and training is offered?
• Pray and determine a time for the follow-up
  contact.

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Start newClassesandDepartments
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Why Start New Classes?

• New classes generally grow faster than existing
  classes.
• New classes tend to more open to new people
  joining.
• There are fewer barriers to growth.

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What will you do next?
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Dont give up!