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Sunday School/Small Group

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Nathan

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To those of you who lead "Sunday School" or "small groups" (I'm sure there are other names for it also) - I have had something that has been an idea for a while. I have not tried it personally, but thought I would throw it out there in case someone was looking for something.

One thing I have noticed in these settings is that everyone looks to the 'leader' for all the instruction. Much like they do the pastor. I would hope that a leader of these meetings would be capable, but that does not mean the other people in the group don't have anything to contribute. I think in small groups like these it nice to get everyone involved. But most of the time they feel 'unable' to do it, which is mostly because the leader is going a certain direction. Much like a 'teacher' would.

So my thought was to have a box. And everyone would put down on a piece of paper a question, or something to that effect, they have come across when reading the Bible. It could be anything. Why did so and so say this? What did Jesus mean when He said this? What exactly is this that they are talking about? It could even be as simple as "is the Red Sea really red"? :)

Then a piece of paper would be pulled out, and everyone would see what it was, and spend the week looking into what they can find out about the topic. I think the leader in this regard would be more like a moderator, because it would not work if they did all the leg work. The topic might come to a conclusion in a short amount of time, or it may drag on. I think that would be the nice thing about it.

People tend to get in a rut. Comfortable. It might take a while for it to catch on, but if the members of the group started to really feel that their input mattered(not just a second rate comment to the leaders topic), then eventually I think it would pick up. Most of all, it would drive people to start actually looking into the Bible rather than just looking at what they are told too.

Anyways, that's the idea I thought of/was given to me. I usually just blow these off(I am always thinking of something), but this one has stuck around for a while.
 
I like that idea. Small groups can be tricksy. One thing I think might help would be to equal out how much input each person can have, because I've been in groups where 1 or 2 particularly enthusiastic (but not necessarily well-learned) people dominated the discussion. I read that some groups in the 60s and 70s had a "chip" system. Each person was given an equal number of chips. You contribute, say something, etc., you lose a chip. Once your chips are gone, you have to let other people have their say.

I like your idea, too. I just mentioned my idea because I'm having a mini-flashback to a small group I was in, years ago.
 
I like that idea. Small groups can be tricksy. One thing I think might help would be to equal out how much input each person can have, because I've been in groups where 1 or 2 particularly enthusiastic (but not necessarily well-learned) people dominated the discussion. I read that some groups in the 60s and 70s had a "chip" system. Each person was given an equal number of chips. You contribute, say something, etc., you lose a chip. Once your chips are gone, you have to let other people have their say.

I like your idea, too. I just mentioned my idea because I'm having a mini-flashback to a small group I was in, years ago.

Yea, I know what you mean. I've been there, and I've been the 'enthusiastic' one too. :)

But, most of the time it was just because I enjoyed the discussion and no one else wanted to talk. I learned to say what I had to say, then let it go for someone else. What always happened was no one else would say anything, and the leader would just continue on with his train of though.
 
I think that's a great idea, Nathan. It might be hard to start (because like you said sometimes in a new group people stay quiet) but once it's moving the group of people might just blossom.

A pastor I had once did this "coffee with the pastor" thing that after church people were welcome to meet in one of the church's rooms to discuss what was in the sermon or about anything else. (Often anything else would be the topic more then the sermon, which was fine). The pastor would come too, but in that church there were enough retired ministers and outspoken people that there didn't feel like there was a distinct leader for the group. I know of at least one church ministry that was started because of those discussions.

If you can start something like your idea for a small group kind of thing it would be great for the community to get engaged in a subject.
 
From what you have posted I am guessing that there is no 'curriculum' for SS in your church that needs to be followed. Leaving up the SS teacher to decide what subjects to cover as well as what info to present seems fraught with danger to teach things outside of denominational/Christian beliefs/theology unless the teachers were well versed. I see some real benefits in generating participants interest (much SS curicullum seems written for 3rd graders) but it would be accompanyed by some substantial risks minus a strong leader.
 
From what you have posted I am guessing that there is no 'curriculum' for SS in your church that needs to be followed. Leaving up the SS teacher to decide what subjects to cover as well as what info to present seems fraught with danger to teach things outside of denominational/Christian beliefs/theology unless the teachers were well versed. I see some real benefits in generating participants interest (much SS curicullum seems written for 3rd graders) but it would be accompanyed by some substantial risks minus a strong leader.

Actually, there is. Its a traditional Southern Baptist congregation. :)

That's actually my point. To get away from 'tradition' and get into what the Bible says. I could go up to a dozen people in the group and ask them some hard questions, asking where they get their thoughts from. I guarantee that over half of them would respond with "I dunno, I was taught it so I believe it".

The way I see it is the Bible says the Holy Spirit lives in every believer. It would do good, I think, to be able to start understanding when the Holy Spirit is telling you something is or is not correct. Not just listening to another guy say this and that is correct. All curriculum is written by someone. I just think the Bible would be an excellent curriculum to learn from. :)
 
I think that's a great idea, Nathan. It might be hard to start (because like you said sometimes in a new group people stay quiet) but once it's moving the group of people might just blossom.

A pastor I had once did this "coffee with the pastor" thing that after church people were welcome to meet in one of the church's rooms to discuss what was in the sermon or about anything else. (Often anything else would be the topic more then the sermon, which was fine). The pastor would come too, but in that church there were enough retired ministers and outspoken people that there didn't feel like there was a distinct leader for the group. I know of at least one church ministry that was started because of those discussions.

If you can start something like your idea for a small group kind of thing it would be great for the community to get engaged in a subject.

Thats a good thing. I would be very hesitant to sit under, and believe everything said, from a guy who would not then answer any questions you had about the topic.

I figure, if you have the group - individuals in the group - bringing up the topic for discussion, then it gets people thinking instead of just listening. Faith in action is what I see growing from a group like this.
 
Actually, there is. Its a traditional Southern Baptist congregation. :)

That's actually my point. To get away from 'tradition' and get into what the Bible says. I could go up to a dozen people in the group and ask them some hard questions, asking where they get their thoughts from. I guarantee that over half of them would respond with "I dunno, I was taught it so I believe it".

The way I see it is the Bible says the Holy Spirit lives in every believer. It would do good, I think, to be able to start understanding when the Holy Spirit is telling you something is or is not correct. Not just listening to another guy say this and that is correct. All curriculum is written by someone. I just think the Bible would be an excellent curriculum to learn from. :)
So, you are really talking about Bible Study in its most fundemental meaning....actually studying what scripture means, using Hebrew/Greek lexicon and looking at the Christian/Christological/historical/political/geographical context?.......Sign me up!!!!!!!!!!!!!:boing
 
As a child i do not remember a time when i was not in Sunday School... born 1946 we are talking a long time ago.. The Sunday School curriculum was from the AofG... It was Bible Stories made age appropriate ..Nothing like what the same organization pushes today... Many many times i draw on those lessons .. I see the old flannel graph pictures .. Most often the first one that comes to mind is Joshua & Caleb bring back a good report... a bunch of grapes, each the size of an apple, on a stick they carried between them on their shoulders ... Also lessons about "Moses Tabernacle" .. never understatement the simple power of Gods Word.. We should not water down scripture to make it acceptable.
 
So, you are really talking about Bible Study in its most fundemental meaning....actually studying what scripture means, using Hebrew/Greek lexicon and looking at the Christian/Christological/historical/political/geographical context?.......Sign me up!!!!!!!!!!!!!:boing

You and me both brother!
 
As a child i do not remember a time when i was not in Sunday School... born 1946 we are talking a long time ago.. The Sunday School curriculum was from the AofG... It was Bible Stories made age appropriate ..Nothing like what the same organization pushes today... Many many times i draw on those lessons .. I see the old flannel graph pictures .. Most often the first one that comes to mind is Joshua & Caleb bring back a good report... a bunch of grapes, each the size of an apple, on a stick they carried between them on their shoulders ... Also lessons about "Moses Tabernacle" .. never understatement the simple power of Gods Word.. We should not water down scripture to make it acceptable.
Pre civil war is a few years ago
 
To those of you who lead "Sunday School" or "small groups" (I'm sure there are other names for it also) - I have had something that has been an idea for a while. I have not tried it personally, but thought I would throw it out there in case someone was looking for something.

One thing I have noticed in these settings is that everyone looks to the 'leader' for all the instruction. Much like they do the pastor. I would hope that a leader of these meetings would be capable, but that does not mean the other people in the group don't have anything to contribute. I think in small groups like these it nice to get everyone involved. But most of the time they feel 'unable' to do it, which is mostly because the leader is going a certain direction. Much like a 'teacher' would.

So my thought was to have a box. And everyone would put down on a piece of paper a question, or something to that effect, they have come across when reading the Bible. It could be anything. Why did so and so say this? What did Jesus mean when He said this? What exactly is this that they are talking about? It could even be as simple as "is the Red Sea really red"? :)

Then a piece of paper would be pulled out, and everyone would see what it was, and spend the week looking into what they can find out about the topic. I think the leader in this regard would be more like a moderator, because it would not work if they did all the leg work. The topic might come to a conclusion in a short amount of time, or it may drag on. I think that would be the nice thing about it.

People tend to get in a rut. Comfortable. It might take a while for it to catch on, but if the members of the group started to really feel that their input mattered(not just a second rate comment to the leaders topic), then eventually I think it would pick up. Most of all, it would drive people to start actually looking into the Bible rather than just looking at what they are told too.

Anyways, that's the idea I thought of/was given to me. I usually just blow these off(I am always thinking of something), but this one has stuck around for a while.
i see nothing wrong with this do it couple times each month
 
To those of you who lead "Sunday School" or "small groups" (I'm sure there are other names for it also) - I have had something that has been an idea for a while. I have not tried it personally, but thought I would throw it out there in case someone was looking for something.

One thing I have noticed in these settings is that everyone looks to the 'leader' for all the instruction. Much like they do the pastor. I would hope that a leader of these meetings would be capable, but that does not mean the other people in the group don't have anything to contribute. I think in small groups like these it nice to get everyone involved. But most of the time they feel 'unable' to do it, which is mostly because the leader is going a certain direction. Much like a 'teacher' would.

So my thought was to have a box. And everyone would put down on a piece of paper a question, or something to that effect, they have come across when reading the Bible. It could be anything. Why did so and so say this? What did Jesus mean when He said this? What exactly is this that they are talking about? It could even be as simple as "is the Red Sea really red"? :)

Then a piece of paper would be pulled out, and everyone would see what it was, and spend the week looking into what they can find out about the topic. I think the leader in this regard would be more like a moderator, because it would not work if they did all the leg work. The topic might come to a conclusion in a short amount of time, or it may drag on. I think that would be the nice thing about it.

People tend to get in a rut. Comfortable. It might take a while for it to catch on, but if the members of the group started to really feel that their input mattered(not just a second rate comment to the leaders topic), then eventually I think it would pick up. Most of all, it would drive people to start actually looking into the Bible rather than just looking at what they are told too.

Anyways, that's the idea I thought of/was given to me. I usually just blow these off(I am always thinking of something), but this one has stuck around for a while.
I like it!!! One of the challenges that I see with my high school group is a lack of involvement and contribution. I don't want to just lecture to them every week but rather would love to find a way to get them to open up and express their views. Getting them to open up can help me better understand where they are and if I'm being influential or just boring them to death. Granted, I believe a part of the difficulty could be the age gap. At 58 I'm hardly their peer. In the last couple weeks I have noticed a little more relaxed atmosphere in the class, particularly with two students and it is encouraging and exciting. I'd like to give this a try and see if I can use it to inspire them more. Thanks for the idea!
 
I like it!!! One of the challenges that I see with my high school group is a lack of involvement and contribution. I don't want to just lecture to them every week but rather would love to find a way to get them to open up and express their views. Getting them to open up can help me better understand where they are and if I'm being influential or just boring them to death. Granted, I believe a part of the difficulty could be the age gap. At 58 I'm hardly their peer. In the last couple weeks I have noticed a little more relaxed atmosphere in the class, particularly with two students and it is encouraging and exciting. I'd like to give this a try and see if I can use it to inspire them more. Thanks for the idea!

I bet high school students would have tons of questions.
 
I think this is a great idea, too. I've lead or been in home Bible studies for decades, and I've read my share of instruction on how to run an effective long term small group.

Two main things such groups need are trust & comfort and challenge. Trust & comfort comes over time, but I think the model you describe would move small groups along that line quicker. Real people with honest questions that matter to them.

By challenge I mean there must be an expectation of them and give them a reason to dive into the Word in between meetings. If they don't feel like they are growing in a group, they'll often drop out. This model would help with this too, especially if people who pose questions are asked to learn what they can on their own before the Bible study.

Maybe we'll try this some time. Thanks for the idea!
 
I've been in groups where 1 or 2 particularly enthusiastic (but not necessarily well-learned) people dominated the discussion.
Being able to handle a group with it's various problems is a gift. The problems don't make it impossible to meet together the way Paul says to meet in 1 Corinthians 14:26-33 NASB, but which the church has ignored in favor of our sacred cow style of meeting where one person prepares a speech for the rest of us to listen to quietly and which rarely addresses the issues that those in the body actually need to hear that day in their particular circumstances.
 
,
Being able to handle a group with it's various problems is a gift. The problems don't make it impossible to meet together the way Paul says to meet in 1 Corinthians 14:26-33 NASB, but which the church has ignored in favor of our sacred cow style of meeting where one person prepares a speech for the rest of us to listen to quietly and which rarely addresses the issues that those in the body actually need to hear that day in their particular circumstances.
You don't feel, perhaps, that both could be utilized? I really do like a well prepared and delivered Sunday sermon that usually seems to leave more of an impression on me than many of out in-home Wednesday meetings where often ten or more people seem to be vying for a portion of the couple of hours we have there.
 
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