Newsletter 36
Newsletter 36 from Maurice Sweetsur
Contents.
Story - A free pardon.
Excellence in Sunday School.
If children live - - -
Welcome to my latest Newsletter. This edition is shorter than usual because I have been preparing programmes for a large number of bookings I have received for the forthcoming New Zealand school holidays (Ninteen over the two week period - Praise God!) when many children's camps and holiday clubs are run. And as every teacher knows the preparation time for our lessons often greatly exceeds the actual presentation time. 'Normal' service should be resumed next month.
Maurice Sweetsur
Email: mnmsweetsur@xtra.co.nz
Web sites: All Newsletters - http://mauricesweetsur.blogspot.com/
Object lessons - http://objectlessons.blogspot.com/
Teaching tips - http://teachinglessons.blogspot.com/
Story - A free pardon.
Back in the ninteenth century an American by the name of George Wilson spotted a burglar trying to break into a Post office. Wilson pulled out his gun and shot the burglar, who subsequently died of his wounds. George Wilson was arrested and sent to trial for murder. He was found guilty and sentenced to death.
Wilson's lawyers petitioned the President, Andrew Jackson, on his behalf. On considering the nature of the case, President Jackson decided to offer Wilson a free pardon. Excitedly the lawyers took the good news to Wilson in prison. But amazingly the condemned man refused to accept the President's free parden. The country's legal experts weren't sure what to do in these circumstances, but on consideration concluded that, as Wilson refused to accept the free pardon, it was not valid. Therefore George Wilson was executed for his crime.
We have all sinned against a holy God and stand condemned. The penalty is death (separation from God). However because He loves us, God sent His only Son to pay the penalty for our sins by dying on the cross. This means that God is now able to offer each one of us a free pardon. However, just as in the case of George Wilson, that free pardon has to be accepted - otherwise it is not valid and we will have to pay the penalty ourselves.
Excellence in Sunday School
Written by Mark Lewis
Recently, I visited with a couple who was considering joining our church. We talked in my office one night, and they asked several questions about our church and its ministries. One question caught my attention because no one had ever asked it before: “What is your church best known for?”
Well after our meeting, that question stayed on my mind. As the minister to adults at our church, I considered the question as it related to our Sunday School ministry. It caused me to pause and consider those areas of Sunday School in which we excel and those areas in which we needed to grow.
Excellence matters in Sunday School ministry. The more I understand the nature of the church’s work and see how that work is rooted in the Great Commission, the greater appreciation I have for the pursuit of excellence in this vital ministry. Sunday School as strategy is the Great Commission unleashed. As a primary vehicle in many churches for accomplishing the Great Commission, Sunday School must rise to a new level of excellence.
You will be hard-pressed to find any minister who does not agree that the church should foster excellence in Sunday School. But exactly what does an excellent Sunday School ministry look like?
To answer that question, we must apply the definition of excellence to the work of Sunday School ministry: Excellence, simply stated, is consistently doing the right things well. The pursuit of excellence in any endeavor requires a focus on what is truly important and efforts to discover how to do the most important things well.
Doing the Right Things Well: What Does an Excellent Sunday School Look Like?
Whether you lead in the area of children’s, youth, or adult ministry, some key practices are common to any Sunday School class known for excellence:
Excellent classes make great first impressions. Loving relationships are the hallmark of excellent classes. Visitors and members alike are consistently received with warmth and hospitality.
A classroom characterized by excellence offers a warm, inviting atmosphere. There is room for visitors. The classroom space is organized and free from clutter. The room seems to communicate an anticipation of gathering and learning.
Excellent classes provide quality instruction. The teacher sees his or her role as a disciple maker, not a guest lecturer. Well-prepared teachers catch and retain the attention of learners. Excellent teachers have encountered and struggled with the truths of the lesson firsthand. They speak from an experience of knowing and doing God’s will as it relates to the lesson truths.
Excellent classes reach out to their visitors. Excellent classes value their guests and seek to make contact with them shortly after they visit. Outreach workers and FAITH team members can engage their guests in a manner that encourages them to return. Adequate follow-up enables Sunday School workers to build relationships with visitors, relationships that can lead to opportunities for sharing the gospel. We must never forget that relationships are the bridges over which the gospel can easily pass.
Excellent classes minister to their members. According to Jesus, people will know we are His followers if we love one another (John 13:35). Classes organized to give care to members in need not only care for the needy member but also provide a witness to the love and compassion of our Savior.
Doing the Right Things Well: How Do Leaders Get Started?
So how do leaders build a Sunday School ministry characterized by excellence? Here are some suggestions:
Focus on one area at a time. Our church staff recently evaluated the health of our church using eight characteristics common to most growing churches. The results of the inventory were quite revealing. Some areas I thought were strengths were actually growth areas. We decided as a staff to focus on just one area in the coming year.
Too often, we become overwhelmed by the task at hand and fail to realize that excellence is best pursued one area at a time. Perhaps your focus should be on building loving relationships within classes or on improving the quality of Bible instruction in Sunday School.
Consult with those who are hitting home runs. If you focus on building excellence in outreach, then consult other churches that are effectively reaching people for Christ. Do your homework. Talk to leaders of growing, healthy Sunday School ministries. While you do not want to carbon-copy what another church is doing, you can learn from churches that are hitting home runs.
Recruit leaders who have a heart for that particular ministry area. If you want to turn outreach into a strength, pray for and recruit people who have a passion for outreach and evangelism. Every summer our preschool minister faces the daunting task of locating enough workers to staff our Sunday School, which averages nearly 350 preschoolers. During one staff meeting he shared that he needed about 70 workers to complete his volunteer staff for the coming year. Despite the need, Phil did not panic. He had learned the incomparable value of prayer when it comes to recruiting the right people for the job.
Pray for the workers you need. Be on the lookout for Sunday School leaders who can provide the strength of desire you need to achieve excellence in a particular area.
Your Sunday School can become known as a ministry of excellence. It takes time, but it is time well invested and spent. As we consider fully the significance and weight of Christ’s command to make disciples, we must foster excellence in our classes—one at a time.
Mark Lewis is minister to adults, First Baptist Church, Hendersonville, Tennessee.
Adapted from the March 2003 issue of The Sunday School Leader, pp. 17-18.
Source: http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/article_main_page/0,1703,A%253D153527%2526M%253D200105,00.html
If Children Live - - -
If children live with criticism,
they learn to condemn and be judgemental.
If children live with hostility,
they learn to be angry and fight.
If children live with ridicule,
they learn to be shy and withdrawn.
If children live with shame,
they learn to feel guilty
If children live with tolerance,
they learn to be patient.
If children live with encouragement,
they learn confidence.
If children live with praise,
they learn to appreciate.
If children live with fairness,
they learn justice.
If children live with security,
they learn to have faith.
If children live with approval,
they learn to like themselves.
If children live with acceptance and friendship,
they learn to find love in the world.
--Dorothy Knolte
Contents.
Story - A free pardon.
Excellence in Sunday School.
If children live - - -
Welcome to my latest Newsletter. This edition is shorter than usual because I have been preparing programmes for a large number of bookings I have received for the forthcoming New Zealand school holidays (Ninteen over the two week period - Praise God!) when many children's camps and holiday clubs are run. And as every teacher knows the preparation time for our lessons often greatly exceeds the actual presentation time. 'Normal' service should be resumed next month.
Maurice Sweetsur
Email: mnmsweetsur@xtra.co.nz
Web sites: All Newsletters - http://mauricesweetsur.blogspot.com/
Object lessons - http://objectlessons.blogspot.com/
Teaching tips - http://teachinglessons.blogspot.com/
Story - A free pardon.
Back in the ninteenth century an American by the name of George Wilson spotted a burglar trying to break into a Post office. Wilson pulled out his gun and shot the burglar, who subsequently died of his wounds. George Wilson was arrested and sent to trial for murder. He was found guilty and sentenced to death.
Wilson's lawyers petitioned the President, Andrew Jackson, on his behalf. On considering the nature of the case, President Jackson decided to offer Wilson a free pardon. Excitedly the lawyers took the good news to Wilson in prison. But amazingly the condemned man refused to accept the President's free parden. The country's legal experts weren't sure what to do in these circumstances, but on consideration concluded that, as Wilson refused to accept the free pardon, it was not valid. Therefore George Wilson was executed for his crime.
We have all sinned against a holy God and stand condemned. The penalty is death (separation from God). However because He loves us, God sent His only Son to pay the penalty for our sins by dying on the cross. This means that God is now able to offer each one of us a free pardon. However, just as in the case of George Wilson, that free pardon has to be accepted - otherwise it is not valid and we will have to pay the penalty ourselves.
Excellence in Sunday School
Written by Mark Lewis
Recently, I visited with a couple who was considering joining our church. We talked in my office one night, and they asked several questions about our church and its ministries. One question caught my attention because no one had ever asked it before: “What is your church best known for?”
Well after our meeting, that question stayed on my mind. As the minister to adults at our church, I considered the question as it related to our Sunday School ministry. It caused me to pause and consider those areas of Sunday School in which we excel and those areas in which we needed to grow.
Excellence matters in Sunday School ministry. The more I understand the nature of the church’s work and see how that work is rooted in the Great Commission, the greater appreciation I have for the pursuit of excellence in this vital ministry. Sunday School as strategy is the Great Commission unleashed. As a primary vehicle in many churches for accomplishing the Great Commission, Sunday School must rise to a new level of excellence.
You will be hard-pressed to find any minister who does not agree that the church should foster excellence in Sunday School. But exactly what does an excellent Sunday School ministry look like?
To answer that question, we must apply the definition of excellence to the work of Sunday School ministry: Excellence, simply stated, is consistently doing the right things well. The pursuit of excellence in any endeavor requires a focus on what is truly important and efforts to discover how to do the most important things well.
Doing the Right Things Well: What Does an Excellent Sunday School Look Like?
Whether you lead in the area of children’s, youth, or adult ministry, some key practices are common to any Sunday School class known for excellence:
Excellent classes make great first impressions. Loving relationships are the hallmark of excellent classes. Visitors and members alike are consistently received with warmth and hospitality.
A classroom characterized by excellence offers a warm, inviting atmosphere. There is room for visitors. The classroom space is organized and free from clutter. The room seems to communicate an anticipation of gathering and learning.
Excellent classes provide quality instruction. The teacher sees his or her role as a disciple maker, not a guest lecturer. Well-prepared teachers catch and retain the attention of learners. Excellent teachers have encountered and struggled with the truths of the lesson firsthand. They speak from an experience of knowing and doing God’s will as it relates to the lesson truths.
Excellent classes reach out to their visitors. Excellent classes value their guests and seek to make contact with them shortly after they visit. Outreach workers and FAITH team members can engage their guests in a manner that encourages them to return. Adequate follow-up enables Sunday School workers to build relationships with visitors, relationships that can lead to opportunities for sharing the gospel. We must never forget that relationships are the bridges over which the gospel can easily pass.
Excellent classes minister to their members. According to Jesus, people will know we are His followers if we love one another (John 13:35). Classes organized to give care to members in need not only care for the needy member but also provide a witness to the love and compassion of our Savior.
Doing the Right Things Well: How Do Leaders Get Started?
So how do leaders build a Sunday School ministry characterized by excellence? Here are some suggestions:
Focus on one area at a time. Our church staff recently evaluated the health of our church using eight characteristics common to most growing churches. The results of the inventory were quite revealing. Some areas I thought were strengths were actually growth areas. We decided as a staff to focus on just one area in the coming year.
Too often, we become overwhelmed by the task at hand and fail to realize that excellence is best pursued one area at a time. Perhaps your focus should be on building loving relationships within classes or on improving the quality of Bible instruction in Sunday School.
Consult with those who are hitting home runs. If you focus on building excellence in outreach, then consult other churches that are effectively reaching people for Christ. Do your homework. Talk to leaders of growing, healthy Sunday School ministries. While you do not want to carbon-copy what another church is doing, you can learn from churches that are hitting home runs.
Recruit leaders who have a heart for that particular ministry area. If you want to turn outreach into a strength, pray for and recruit people who have a passion for outreach and evangelism. Every summer our preschool minister faces the daunting task of locating enough workers to staff our Sunday School, which averages nearly 350 preschoolers. During one staff meeting he shared that he needed about 70 workers to complete his volunteer staff for the coming year. Despite the need, Phil did not panic. He had learned the incomparable value of prayer when it comes to recruiting the right people for the job.
Pray for the workers you need. Be on the lookout for Sunday School leaders who can provide the strength of desire you need to achieve excellence in a particular area.
Your Sunday School can become known as a ministry of excellence. It takes time, but it is time well invested and spent. As we consider fully the significance and weight of Christ’s command to make disciples, we must foster excellence in our classes—one at a time.
Mark Lewis is minister to adults, First Baptist Church, Hendersonville, Tennessee.
Adapted from the March 2003 issue of The Sunday School Leader, pp. 17-18.
Source: http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/article_main_page/0,1703,A%253D153527%2526M%253D200105,00.html
If Children Live - - -
If children live with criticism,
they learn to condemn and be judgemental.
If children live with hostility,
they learn to be angry and fight.
If children live with ridicule,
they learn to be shy and withdrawn.
If children live with shame,
they learn to feel guilty
If children live with tolerance,
they learn to be patient.
If children live with encouragement,
they learn confidence.
If children live with praise,
they learn to appreciate.
If children live with fairness,
they learn justice.
If children live with security,
they learn to have faith.
If children live with approval,
they learn to like themselves.
If children live with acceptance and friendship,
they learn to find love in the world.
--Dorothy Knolte
posted by Maurice Sweetsur @ 3:09 AM
0 comments
