The Sunday School Revolutionary!

Very Preliminary Results from the Sunday School Practices Survey

Darryl Wilson — Tue, 6 Jan 2009 09:41:00 -0400

Last week, I wrote in a post entitled Leaders Needed to Complete a Sunday School Practices Survey about having completed an online Sunday School Practices survey. There I asked for your participation by completing the survey. It is designed for Sunday School teachers, directors, pastors/staff, other Sunday School leaders, and even members. The survey is open to anyone involved in Sunday School in any church around the world.

The survey has 37 multiple-choice questions and should take only 5-10 minutes to complete. All responses are anonymous. The survey focuses on your understanding of what is happening in your Sunday School. At the end of the survey, you will be redirected back here. If you have not yet participated, would you do so now? Here is the link to the Sunday School Practices survey:

http://www.surveygizmo.com/s/77440/sunday-school-practices

In my previous post, I mentioned that this survey has the potential to help me understand what is happening in Sunday School, but it can also help you. Below is a quick and early overview of some of the results. Realize that these results are from a small number of surveys completed to date. Persons have responded from churches with under 50 in Sunday School to those with 501-1,000. Allow me to share some of the more interesting results (which are subject to change with more survey submissions). I share these results without commentary--reserving that opportunity for later when a larger number of surveys have been completed.

The numbers are percentages of survey participants whose Sunday School has grown, stayed the same, or declined since last year who responded with the answers in parentheses:

Are name tags used in your Sunday School? (yes) grown--60%; same--25%; declined--0%
Does your church offer visitation--a regular time for visiting members and prospects? (weekly): grown—60%; same—38%; declined—14%
As best as you can remember, how often are Sunday School teacher/worker training events offered? (more than once each year): grown—100%; same—13%; declined—29%
My Sunday School keeps good records of guests and prospects and expects classes to contact them regularly . . . (yes, to good records and expectations): grown—60%; same—50%; declined--29%
The last time I remember a new class (for preschoolers, children, youth, or adults) being started in my Sunday School was . . . (in the last year): grown—60%; same—25%; declined—29%
Sunday School members are regularly contacted by phone, card/letter, e-mail, or visit . . . (weekly to monthly): grown—80%; same—38%; declined—57%
My Sunday School has challenged classes to invite more people through a high attendance Sunday emphasis . . . (in the last year): grown—80%; same—50%; declined—29%
My church sets aside time to pray for Sunday School, teachers and workers, prospects, new classes, and other Sunday School needs . . . (weekly): grown—60%; same—25%; declined—0%
From the pulpit, my pastor invites people to Sunday School . . . (weekly or twice monthly): grown—40%; same—38%; declined—0%
When I think of space in current Sunday School clas ses, most classes are . . . (full or almost full): grown&m dash;80%; same—38%; declined—14%
Class fellowships are planned in my Sunday School . . . (monthly or every other month): grown—80%; same—25%; declined—43%
Most classes in my Sunday School tend to start the first class activity--announcements, prayer, fellowship, teaching, etc. . . . (late): grown—80%; same—63%; declined—57%
When a guest attends my Sunday School, they are invited to join . . . (on the first visit): grown—100%; same—25%; declined—43%

Did any of the results surprise you like they did me? More survey participants are needed. If you have not taken a few minutes to complete the Sunday School Practices survey yet, please do so. Press the link or cut and paste this address into your browser: http://www.surveygizmo.com/s/77440/sunday-school-practices . Thanks, in advance, for taking time to complete the survey. I look forward to what we will learn together. Be revolutionary!

Building Blocks for a Strong Sunday School Class, Part 3

Darryl Wilson — Mon, 5 Jan 2009 08:55:00 -0400

In Part 1, I emphasized that this blog is an attempt to challenge the status quo in Sunday School. It is about raising expectations, giving God our best efforts, doing things right, building a strong foundation, and making Sunday School effective, life-changing, and revolutionary! Then I mentioned that the building blocks of Sunday School are the individual classes, teachers, and leaders. It takes revolutionary Sunday School directors, pastors, teachers, and leaders to make Sunday School and individual classes strong.

That is why in Part 1 and Part 2 I began sharing eleven building blocks suggested by Paul Hata in an article entitled How to Build and Grow a Strong Church. I have shared the first eight of Hata's "methods you can use to build and grow a strong church." In Part 3, I will share the final three of Hata's eleven building blocks [applied to the Sunday School class] in all capitals each followed by my commentary:

[TEACH] TO GET RESULTS. Again, Hata is applying his article to the church as a whole and directing it to preachers. What he says applies to teachers: "When you preach a sermon on tithing, expect people to start tithing....Always expect additions and conversions in the services. Preach to get results!" That is so true in Sunday School. We don't see life change because we are not teaching and expecting it to happen. Build your lessons expecting results. Get learners involved. Set up accountability structures. Allow time for learners to reflect on the truth and make plans for how they will apply it to their lives. Then, check on progress. Ask for stories about (testimonies of) how they applied the truth of last week's lesson. Teachers, help learners know you are serious about obedience to His Word and growing together to be the people God desires; then, teach in such a way as to get what you are expect!
GIVE YOUR MEMBERS TIME AT HOME. Your class will be stronger if your members' marriages and families are stronger. While it is essential that you encourage your members to serve to help build up the church, it is also easy to get so busy with class and church activity that your members spend more time with each other than with their families. Avoid overscheduling. Balance class activities between some with and some without the family (and make sure those with the fellowship has some family activities rather than separating the children during the whole event). Help them to set prioritize. Teacher,your obvious concern for their marriages and families will raise their attention to this matter and increase their appreciation of you as a teacher!
DO NOT WEAR OUT YOUR MEMBERS. When a meeting is not needed, cancel it. Make sure you are not so busy with class business that you take up all of your members' time when some of it is needed for impacting their community and world. Help them to set aside regular time to invest in developing relationships with lost people. Encourage them to invite guests to class and fellowship activities. Teach them to slow down to minister to needy people. Get them involved in outreach and ministry projects, personally and corporately. Don't teach so much that they have no time to absorb and apply it. Teacher, keep their motivation and energy high to carry out God's work!

Now, evaluate your class. Want to make it even stronger this year? Check out Part 1 and Part 2 for the previous eight building blocks. Circle one building block in each part of this series. Then number the three circled building blocks in order of priority for your class. Begin focusing on the most important building block right away. Give it attention until enough progress has been made that you can begin work on number two. Build a strong Sunday School class. Be revolutionary!

Building Blocks for a Strong Sunday School Class, Part 2

Darryl Wilson — Sun, 4 Jan 2009 15:03:00 -0400

In Part 1, I emphasized that this blog is an attempt to challenge the status quo in Sunday School. It is about raising expectations, giving God our best efforts, doing things right, and building a strong foundation. It is about making Sunday School effective, life-changing, and revolutionary! Then I mentioned that the building blocks of Sunday School are the individual classes, teachers, and leaders. It takes revolutionary Sunday School directors, pastors, teachers, and leaders to make Sunday School and individual classes strong.

That is why I began sharing eleven building blocks suggested by Paul Hata in an article entitled How to Build and Grow a Strong Church. In Part 1, I shared the first four of Hata's "methods you can use to build and grow a strong church." In Part 2, I will share the middle four of Hata's twelve building blocks [applied to the Sunday School class] in all capitals each followed by my commentary:

CHOOSE THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE TASK. This is important! Do not go for the first volunteer or a person simply because he/she is popular. Enlist a God-called person for every task. Pray. Observe. Watch the person in class and away. Listen to what he/she says as well as watch what he/she does and how he/she lives. Seek to understand the individual's gifts, passions, personality, and experiences and how they intersect with the task. And don't enlist and then drop them; coach the right person to successfully accomplish the task!
DO NOT SET TOO MANY GOALS AT ONE GO. Many Sunday Schools and classes set no goals. That leads to failure and misses opportunity to work together to achieve something significant. But setting too many goals also leads to failure. We can only juggle so many priorities, goals, plans, and foci. Attention, energy, and enthusiasm become too diluted. Like Hata, I recommend pursuing only one or two goals at a time. For more ideas about class and Sunday School goals, type "goals" in the search box on the upper right side of this blog. Teacher, help your class focus on priorities and keep the goal(s) in front of the class!
IF YOU SET A GOAL, SET IT HIGH. Set a God-sized goal that can only be accomplished with God's blessing and help. Then, when it is reached remember to give God the praise and thanks He deserves. Setting a goal high helps the class to break out of habits and old ways of thinking. It stretches their vision and ideas. It makes attenders rely upon God. For more on this, check out Set God-Sized Goals for Sunday School Growth, Grow Your Sunday School: Set Goals This Year, How LARGE Should We Make Our Sunday School Goals?, Plan for Your Sunday School to Grow This Year, Part 1, Plan for Your Sunday School to Grow This Year, Part 2, How BIG Is Your Vision for Sunday School?, Increasing Sunday School Class Attendance, Part 1, and Next-Level Sunday School. As Hata stated, "A church will come nearer reaching a high goal than a low one." Teacher, lead your class to set God-sized goals!
EAT IN THE HOMES OF YOUR MEMBERS. There is just something about getting to know someone over a meal. And when you do so in a home, it is even more special. Invite them to your home. And as Hata states, "When invited for a meal, try never to reject such an invitation." It is in casual conversation and interaction outside of class that the deepest, most trusting relationships are built. And as a result, members are more willing to take risks in their spiritual growth and in class growth. They will be more likely to follow where the Lord and you lead. Teacher, set aside time to eat with your members (and prospects)!

Evaluate your class. Want to make it even stronger this year? Check out Part 3 for the final three building blocks. Circle one building block in each part of this three-part series. Then number the three circled building blocks in order of priority for your class. Begin focusing on the most important building block right away. Give it attention until enough progress has been made that you can begin work on number two. Build a strong Sunday School class. Be revolutionary!

Building Blocks for a Strong Sunday School Class, Part 1

Darryl Wilson — Sat, 3 Jan 2009 16:30:00 -0400

In many ways, The Sunday School Revolutionary is about this very topic. This blog is an attempt to challenge the status quo in Sunday School. It is about raising expectations, about giving God our best efforts. It is about doing things right, about building a strong foundation. It is about making Sunday School effective, life-changing, and revolutionary!

The building blocks of Sunday School are the individual classes, teachers, and leaders. Revolutionary Sunday School directors, pastors, teachers, and leaders seek to make classes strong. That is why I want to share eleven building blocks suggested by Paul Hata in an article entitled How to Build and Grow a Strong Church. The first four of Hata's "methods you can use to build and grow a strong church" will be shared in Part 1 [and applied to the Sunday School class] in all capitals each followed by my commentary:

BUILD UNITY AMONGST THE [CLASS] MEMBERS. Growth without unity will seldom produce lasting results (if any). In fact, lack of unity often leads to bad attitudes, strained relationships, dissatisfaction, and departures from the class. I like Hata's concluding statement for this building block: "It delights God and pleases Him when the pastor [teacher] and his people love each other, pray together, work together, serve together, worship together, win souls together, and give together as one." Disunity may be caused by unresolved conflict. Pray about and address it! It can be caused by an internal focus rather than pursuit of God's agenda with excitement and determination. Focus your fighting on the enemy rather than each other. Teacher, lead the class to accomplish God's agenda!
BE EXPRESSIVE IN YOUR LOVE FOR MEMBERS. Do this privately and in public (obviously in appropriate ways with members of the opposite sex). Do this for individuals and the whole class. Affirm people. Pat them on the back. Pray for them privately and corporately. Thank them for their support, heart, and efforts. Listen carefully when they speak. Give them your full attention. Catch them doing something good. Celebrate success. Remember significant days. Be with them in times of stress. Write cards, letters, and e-mail. Make phone calls. Make personal visits to home or work. Spend a few minutes together before or after class. Teacher, love your class out loud!
USE YOUR PEOPLE TO BUILD GREAT PEOPLE. Remember the words of Paul in Ephesians 4:11-13: "It was he who gave some to be . . . be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ" (NIV). Prepare them to be God's people. Prepare them to serve Him. Prepare them to build up the body. Lead class leaders and members to encourage one another. Organize the class to minister to one another. Lead them to serve God in needed ways in the church, community, and beyond. Help them as a class to grow in wisdom, and in stature, and in favor with God and man. Teacher, don' try to do it all yourself; give the responsibility and work away!
MAKE PEOPLE FEEL THAT YOU ARE THEIRS. Be accessible. Spend time with class members and guests. Let them know you are with them and for them. When the class does something, be a part of it. Hata put it this way, "It is important to spend time with your flock, live with them, love them, pray for them, work with them and seek their good not your own." Personally be sensitive to attenders on the fringe and lead the class to be sensitive. Pay attention to dropouts and uninvolved members. When the class gets too large for this, apprentice another teacher and lead the class to start another class.

How strong is your class? Want to make it even stronger this year? Circle one building block in each part of this three-part series. Then number the three circled building blocks in order of priority for your class. Then begin focusing on the most important building block right away. Give it attention until enough progress has been made that you can begin work on number two. Build a strong Sunday School class. Be revolutionary!

Is It Time for a Sunday School Clean-up Day?

Darryl Wilson — Fri, 2 Jan 2009 12:49:00 -0400

From time to time in the course of the Sunday School year, it is appropriate to set aside a day or week to emphasize cleaning up the space. This is true even if you have a great custodian and if every teacher and class does a great job of picking up trash at the end of class on Sunday. There is much more to keeping space clean than simply picking up trash!

In most Sunday Schools, this should happen probably three times a year: (1) the week leading up to the new Sunday School year beginning--often August or September, (2) the week after the new year begins--early January, and (3) the week after school dismisses (late May/early June). One other time might also be appropriate: the week after Vacation Bible School. In between these special times, classes should be expected (and held accountable) to make sure their space is kept clean and creates a positive impression every week.

What are some of the ways Sunday School space needs to be prepared, straightened, and cleaned on these special clean-up days? Consider the following in classrooms, Sunday School office, hallways, etc. (and feel free to add to the list):

pick up and throw away all trash/remove all clutter;
clear out all old curriculum (pupil books, teaching kits, posters, etc.);
erase/clean the markerboard/chalkboard (clean erasers and make sure markers and chalk are usable);
dust all furnishings (chairs, tables, etc.), bookcases, cabinets, and equipment;
dust all blinds, window ledges, doors, chalkboards/markerboards, and picture frames;
clean all windows, walls, and floor moldings;
vacuum, clean, and/or mop the floor, rugs, or carpet;
clean all light fixtures (replace bulbs as needed), light switches, and outlet covers (make sure they are all safe);
in preschoolers and children's rooms, toys and learning stations should be disinfected each week and after every use;
check/touch up the paint on walls and ceiling, including wallpaper (is it peeling, scuffed, marked, molded, etc.?);
empty and clean the trash can/replace the liner;
check for/address any odor problems (but avoid all strong fragrances which may cause allergic reactions);
check to see if any chairs, tables, furnishings, or equipment can or should be removed;
check to see if any chairs, tables, furnishings, or equipment is in need of repair or disposal;
make sure the room has a sign outside the door in a visible location when the door is open or close which announces the class or classes meeting in the space;
make sure all chairs and furnishing are of appropriate size and match one another
update/change all display boards (in classrooms and hallways).

One way to use this list would be to cut and paste it into a Word document. Add space at the top for the class name, room number, date completed, and person completing the sheet. Add an underlined space at the front of each item that can be checked when completed. Some of these items are included in another blog post you may want to read: Conduct an Adult & Student Sunday School Space Walk.

Then ask the class to complete the work during the assigned week or on the day that has been set aside. This should be a class activity rather than another responsibility for the teacher (even the teachers of preschoolers and younger children can seek the help of some interested parents or volunteers). You might even want to combine the "work" with a fellowship activity. For some other space issues, check out General Sunday School Space Issues: Welcoming Guests.

The Sunday School Revolutionary: Year in Review

Darryl Wilson — Thu, 1 Jan 2009 14:32:00 -0400

Allow me a point of personal privilege. Readers, thank you for making 2008 another record year for The Sunday School Revolutionary! Since the counter was turned on in July of 2006, every month has had more page views (hits) than the same month the year before. That means that 2007 was a record year with 30,296 hits which was exceeded in 2008 with 52,240 hits, an increase of 72.4%. Wow!

There were 282 blog entries written this year. As a result of those posts and previous ones, pages have been viewed in all 50 states and 126 countries with the vast majority in the United States. Here are the top ten countries and top ten states with their respective hits since April 2007:

	Country	Hits	State	Hits
1	United States	71,330	Kentucky	14,879
2	Canada	1,266	Texas	5,060
3	Philippines	747	Georgia	4,187
4	United Kingdom	626	Illinois	3,809
5	Australia	274	North Carolina	3,698
6	South Africa	235	Florida	3,205
7	Jamaica	221	California	2,805
8	Malaysia	210	Tennessee	2,683
9	Singapore	210	Ohio	2,081
10	India	171	New York	2,008

Here are the top 25 posts (and others in any series) for The Sunday School Revolutionary of 2008 along with the number of hits:
1. Free Training Materials for Sunday School Teachers (585)
2. Plan Your Sunday School Teacher Appreciation Day (564)
3. Qualifications of a Sunday School Teacher, Part 1 (266)
4. Presenting a Creative Sunday School Lesson (231)
5. Pulpit Sunday School Promotion (224)
6. Qualifications of a Sunday School Teacher, Part 2 (221)
7. Grow Your Sunday School by Following Up Vacation Bible School (217)
8. Sticky Sunday School Lessons (190)
9. Sunday School Invitations (Postcards), Updated (168)
10. Grow by Increasing Your Sunday School Enrollment (140)
11. Sunday School Teacher, You Are in Charge of Keeping Your Learners’ Attention! (140)
12. 25 Ways to Recognize Sunday School Workers, Part 2 (132); 25 Ways to Recognize Sunday School Workers, Part 1 (30th, 87); 25 Ways to Recognize Sunday School Workers, Part 3 (35th, 84)
13. Apply God’s Word Through a Sunday School Project This Thanksgiving (128)
14. Training Sunday School Teachers for Change (126)
15. Improve Sunday School Through Evaluation (119)
16. Opposition to Sunday School Change (118)
17. The Impact of One Hour of Sunday School (116)
18. Sunday School Class Growth Is Spelled W-O-R-K, Part 1 (113); Sunday School Class Growth Is Spelled W-O-R-K, Part 2 (41st, 78); Sunday School Class Growth Is Spelled W-O-R-K, Part 3 (50th, 70); Sunday School Class Growth Is Spelled W-O-R-K, Part 4 (133rd, 42); Sunday School Class Growth Is Spelled W-O-R-K, Part 5 (164th, 35); Sunday School Class Growth Is Spelled W-O-R-K, Part 6 (42nd, 78)
19. Set God-Sized Goals for Sunday School Growth (111)
20. Essentials of an Effective Weekly Sunday School Workers Meeting (108)
21. Focus Your Sunday School Lesson Preparation to Make the Most Difference! (104)
22. Wisely Choosing Sunday School Teaching Methods, Part 1 (103); Wisely Choosing Sunday School Teaching Methods, Part 2 (116th, 48)
23. What Is Keeping Your Sunday School from Growing? (101)
24. A Simple Two-Part System for Getting Sunday School Class Ministry Done, Part 1 (100); A Simple Two-Part System for Getting Sunday School Class Ministry Done, Part 2 (28th, 90); A Simple Two-Part System for Getting Sunday School Class Ministry Done, Part 3 (87th, 53); A Simple Two-Part System for Getting Sunday School Class Ministry Done, Part 4 (138th, 40); A Simple Two-Part System for Getting Sunday School Class Ministry Done, Part 5: Early Adjustments (249th, 18)
25. Plan for Your Sunday School to Grow This Year, Part 1 (99); Plan for Your Sunday School to Grow This Year, Part 2 (155th, 36)

The past year has had many ups and downs. It has been filled with victory and defeat, celebration and grief. And yet the year has given me so much hope for the potential for Sunday School. Many are expressing their desire to give God their best efforts in Sunday School. Many are seeking to learn how to serve effectively as Sunday School leaders. All of us want to reach more people, teach them to apply God's Word, and lead them to live like Jesus in the world. What lies ahead in 2009? Only God knows. He deserves our best. Be revolutionary!

Sunday School Reflection, Adjustment, and Anticipation at the Beginning of a New Year

Darryl Wilson — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 15:59:00 -0400

Revolutionary Sunday School sets aside regular times for evaluation of progress. This should happen annually in an extended time of planning, like a Sunday School leadership planning retreat. Check out these blog entries for more information about a retreat: Giving Sunday School Direction Through a Planning Retreat and Sunday School Retreating to Move Forward. But it should happen regularly throughout the year as well. Quarterly check up times are probably spaced too far apart and will likely result in loss of momentum and accountability. Progress meetings about every four to six weeks are probably best (unless your leadership team already meets weekly or semi-monthly).

The beginning of a new year is also a great time to pause for three actions: reflection, adjustment, and anticipation. The new year can either be just before or just after the beginning of a new Sunday School year, whether it starts in June, August, September or another month. Or the new year can be the calendar year. Both are great times for these three actions.

As a new year begins, let's look at the three actions:

REFLECTION. There are several questions which should be addressed. (1) What has God been doing during the previous months? List them in a written form, and share them with the church at a business meeting or in some other way. Make sure to spend time in prayer as a group praising God for what He has done! (2) What are the strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats in our ministry? Check out this post for more information: S.W.O.T. Your Sunday School Work. (3) What progress has been made towards goals? Where have you done well? Where do you need to do better? Check out these posts for more information: Evaluate the Past Year Before You Set New Sunday School Goals, Sunday School Health Checkup, Part 1, Sunday School Health Checkup, Part 2, and Annual Sunday School Progress Report. (4) How are the people doing? How are teachers and leaders doing? Are apprentices being developed? Are members becoming more like Jesus, receiving ministry, and being challenged to serve? Are prospects being prayed for, contacted, and invited?
ADJUSTMENT. Having taken a good picture of your class or Sunday School as a whole, what did you see that needs to be adjusted? Where is God leading? Where is more work needed? Where is new work needed? What directions or plans need to be tweaked? What training needs to be offered? What new goals need to be set? What new classes and/or leaders are needed? What additional promotion or communication could help? If you are only off course by a small bit, it won't take long before you are a long way from where you should be. Making adjustments early will save a lot more trouble later.
ANTICIPATION. Pray for God's leadership. Pray for God to show Himself in a big way. Set God-sized goals. Expect results. Pray hard. Work hard. Challenge each other. Hold each other account able. Pursue God's agenda. Believe He will grant what you ask. Anticipate what He will do! And when He does, stop and give Him the praise He is due. Share these moments with the church as a whole. Celebrate together.

How could your Sunday School benefit from taking some time for these three actions? Which is most important? What would you add to each of these three actions? When could you gather your class leadership or total Sunday School leadership for an evaluation of progress? Who should be involved? What information do you need to bring with you? How should you communicate to your leadership team? What do they need to do to prepare for the time together? It's new year time again. Reflect. Adjust. Anticipate. Be revolutionary!

Leaders Needed to Complete a Sunday School Practices Survey

Darryl Wilson — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 10:33:00 -0400

I have just completed my first version of an online Sunday School Practices survey, and I would like to ask for your help in enlisting leaders to complete it. It is designed for Sunday School teachers, directors, pastors/staff, other Sunday School leaders, and even members. Would you ask your Sunday School leadership to complete it? The survey is open to anyone involved in Sunday School in any church around the world.

This survey has the potential not only to be able help me to understand what is happening in Sunday School, but it can also help you. In a few weeks when I have received enough participation, I will begin to sift through the responses. And as I discover relevant tidbits, I will share the results here in one or more blog posts. I am hoping for at least 200 survey participants, and I will need your help in enlisting others to achieve that number.

The survey with 37 multiple-choice questions should take only 7-10 minutes of your time. All responses will be anonymous. Along with a few demographics questions, the survey focuses on the participant's best understanding of what is happening in his/her Sunday School. At the end of the survey, you will be redirected back here. If you have any trouble understanding or completing the survey, please let me know by leaving a comment here.

Here is the link to the Sunday School Practices survey:

http://www.surveygizmo.com/s/77440/sunday-school-practices

Thanks, in advance, for taking time to complete the survey. I look forward to what we will learn together. Be revolutionary!

A Key Question to Deeper Sunday School Relationships

Darryl Wilson — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 13:50:00 -0400

Yesterday, my family and a friend enjoyed lunch with Jeff who was home for a couple of weeks from the mission field. Just before the meal was served, I asked the server how I could pray for him. He stopped and said things were going great for him right now. He was grateful we asked and that we promised to pray for him. And I did not fail to pray for him when we bowed to ask God to bless our meal.

Then, at the end of our visit with Jeff, my wife stopped Jeff to ask him the same question: "How can we pray for you?" She often leads her eighth grade homeroom to pray for missionaries by name, and Jeff is one of them. We and her class will remember him and his specific requests. Since we get regular e-mail newsletter updates from him, we will be able to watch to see how God is answering our prayers.

This same question is needed in our relationships in Sunday School. Here is the issue. Do we care? Do we really care? If we really care, those of us with a relationship with God will want God's blessings and help for the lives of those for whom we care. We will desire to pray for them and will want our prayers to be specific. We will simply ask, "How can I pray for you?" We will pray, often with the person and then after we depart. And we will check on what happens as a result of our prayers--because we care.

But this is not only true of friends and class members, this should also be true of our interactions with people in our community and life--like our server yesterday. I pray God gives him a great year that is even better than 2008 and that God will continue to make himself known in a clear way. If we ask unconnected people how we can pray for them, they will recognize two things: (1) we believe in prayer and God and (2) we care for them enough to pray. Don't you think the world needs to know those two things?

But whenever possible, we also need to follow up on our question to find out how God has answered our prayers. This gives us an opportunity to continue the relationship and to give God credit for how He has responded and to pray again for the individual. The difference between "friendliness" and "friendship" is spelled T-I-M-E. Friendship is a desire to continue the encounter into an ongoing relationship.

Give the gift of relationships through the question, "How can I pray for you?" Care enough to ask. Care enough to desire God's blessings and help. Care enough to pray. Care enough to follow up. It is a small but key question which can deepen Sunday School relationships in class and the community. Pray. Care. Be revolutionary!

For other blog posts about prayer, check out the following:

Balanced Triangular Sides of Life-Changing Sunday School Lessons

Darryl Wilson — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 16:17:00 -0400

At the end of today's Sunday School lesson, the teacher apologized that there was so much lecture. I had not really noted the difference until he pointed it out. And yet, I had not been as engaged in the lesson as usual. I had not made my normal verbal contributions.

Reflecting on the experience, I began to think about the major elements of a life-changing Sunday School lesson. All of them assume that a proper amount of prayer and preparation have taken place. I want to challenge you to stop now to think of what those elements are. What elements should every effective lesson contain? When you can name them (or have written them down), continue to the next paragraph.

Over the years, I have seen difference phrases for the three I will share. You might have a preferred term that is different from one of my choices. But I cannot prepare a lesson today without the following three coming to my mind. The following triangular sides are slightly sequential, but they also ebb and flow throughout a good lesson. They should also be balanced. Life-changing lessons include these three sides:

CONNECTION. Connection starts with a relationship with learners, or at least the beginning of one. This side is based upon a growing knowledge of learners and their affinities, needs, spiritual progress, learning styles, and more. Connection is strengthened by spending time with learners outside of class. Connection is addressed in lesson preparation by prayerful consideration of what learners need to do as a result of encountering God in Bible study. It is addressed by considering how to get learners interested. If a teacher does not gain learners' attention early in the lesson, they are likely to benefit less from the experience. Icebreakers, stories, testimonies, and questions are often used at the beginning and throughout the lesson to create interest in the truth of the passage for the day. Connection presupposes a growing relationship with God in which the teacher has sought a encounter with God in Bible study personally prior to leading the group to do the same. Connection looks for opportunities to get learners to participate in the lesson in meaningful ways. This participation leads to greater connection with God, His Word, each other, and the teacher.
EXAMINATION. Examination involves study of and meditation on God's Word. This side is listening to God speak through His Word. Examination begins with meeting God in personal Bible study where the teacher listens to and asks God to help him/her personally understand the truth. Then out of the overflow of that personal encounter, examination in the classroom is an exercise in helping learners to do the same. It is helping learners listen to what God is saying for themselves. It is more than a teacher sharing what he/she discovered in studying the lesson--because that is simply a testimony. Instead, examination is made personal. Each person is led to examine God and His Word for himself/herself. As a teacher, I cannot life-change into your life. It is only God in His Word who can do so, and that means that you must encounter God for yourself. So it is the teacher's responsibility to lead the class in an examination of the passage until learners meet God and the truth of His Word face-to-face.
APPLICATION. God expects change as a result of these encounters. Again, this side begins with a teacher who has an encounter with God in His Word. He/she has listened to what God had to say and realized a need for change in attitude or action. And as a result, he/she makes a commitment to God to be obedient. Then, class time becomes an experience in utilizing connection and examination to lead learners to do the same: to realize the need for change and committing to obey. This depends on those connections (with God and l earners) in order to know how best to help learners apply the truth of God's Word. This is where learners recognize what God is saying and what it means for their lives. This is where commitment and response are needed. This is also where a good class holds one another accountable to live out the commitments class members make.

Teachers who shortchange the prayer and preparation process tend to create lessons which are distorted triangles rather than balanced ones. They focus too much on connection. Or they skip connection and move right to examination. And very often there is no attempt at application. Many lessons run out of time before application is begun.

In my experience, when one of these three sides is missing, life-change is much less likely to result. Teacher, which of these three sides is your favorite? Which one(s) need a little work in the year ahead? What can you do this week to strengthen that side? What can you do in your prayer and preparation to ensure that there is less distortion and more balance resulting in life-change? Begin practicing now in your personal encounters. Seek to change as a result. And seek to lead life-change. Be revolutionary!

For additional thought on this subject, check out the following blog posts:

Grow Your Sunday School: Set Goals This Year

Darryl Wilson — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 13:21:00 -0400

How can you measure progress in your Sunday School? It is much more than more bodies. It is the amount of ministry taking place. It is deeper relationships. It is greater understanding of God's Word, His will, His ways, and God Himself. It is growing to be more like Jesus. It is living out truth learned, application to life. It is increasing the number of prospects prayed and cared for.
Sunday School progress can be measured in lives changed. It's a growing trust of the group. It's people sharing their faith. It's leaders apprenticed, trained, and developed. It's new groups started. It's needs met and people touched in the community and world. It's greater concern for the lost and a greater desire to spend time with God in private devotions--in personal Bible study and prayer. It's an increasing number of invitations extended to Sunday School and church by members. It is more guests than last year.
In which of these areas (and others) would you most like to see your Sunday School grow this year? Don't just write them down and throw a dart to choose which one(s). Don't just choose the easiest one(s). Instead, spend some time praying. Invite your Sunday School leadership team to join you in praying for goals to set this year. What does God most want from your Sunday School? Prayer and seeking God's leadership is also a goal, but it is one that every Sunday School needs. His leadership will result in God-sized goals!
Then, when you have determined your goals, plan out steps to lead your classes and Sunday School as a whole to accomplish those goals. What do you need to do first? Second? Involve your leadership team in planning the steps so they will take even greater ownership of the pursuit of those goals. Then determine who should be responsible. When is the deadline for each step?
Divide large goals (and action plans) into smaller ones. What is your goal for the first quarter or the first month? When the total goal is divided by your number of classes, what is the goal per class? And what is the goal per class per quarter or month? Large goals can in that way be broken down to be less intimidating.
But remember: don't set your goals so low that they are not motivating and so low they require no dependence on God to accomplish! That, in itself, is reason enough to set goals (and yet another way to grow your Sunday School). So pray and seek God's leadership. Determine to measure progress. Set goals. Make plans. Take steps forward together. Grow. Be revolutionary!
For more blog entries about goals, check these out:
Set God-Sized Goals for Sunday School Growth
How LARGE Should We Make Our Sunday School Goals?
5 Goals for Sunday School Growth This Year, Part 1
5 Goals for Sunday School Growth This Year, Part 2
Churches Cooperating to Make Sunday School Stronger
Annual Sunday School Progress Report
Starting a New Sunday School Year with Momentum
What Is the Key to Unlock Sunday School Growth?
Plan for Your Sunday School to Grow This Year, Part 1
Plan for Your Sunday School to Grow This Year, Part 2
Calendaring Sunday School Growth
Sunday School Retreating to Move Forward
Aerobics and Weight Training for Sunday School
The 3-5-10 Formula for Sunday School Growth
Sunday School New Year’s Resolutions
Sunday School Growth Spiral
Sunday School Effectiveness Begins with Prayer and Evaluation
Revolutionary Sunday School and Kingdom Purposes

Sunday School: Giving the Gift of Presence

Darryl Wilson — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 23:35:00 -0400

For many, Christmas and birthdays focus upon "presents." And yet, without "presence" these special days can be rather lonely. I spent much of today with family. We travelled to my mom's house and celebrated Christmas a day early as we have for years. Both of my sisters and my nieces and nephews were there.
As I prayed the prayer for our Christmas eve meal, I realized the number of painful experiences going on in my extended family. We needed each other. Presence was important. At the same time, all of us have accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord, including my youngest nephew. That was cause for celebration even as we celebrated Jesus' birth! In fact, not only was our presence important, but His presence was so needed and obvious in that moment.
Sunday School is a gift that can provide opportunity for both. It is an opportunity for us to be with each other. We get to know, love, and trust each other. We are able to come to each other's aid. We encourage each other and cheer one another on. We are invited to homes. We fellowship together. We cry and laugh together. We study God's Word together and challenge one another to live the Christ-life.
Not only are we able to give each other presence, but we realize that much of the world is looking for love and presence. We reach out and touch those around us. We care with our hearts and hands. We hold up the light. Presence is spelled T-I-M-E. We walk through life's difficult days with unchurched friends, relatives, associates, and neighbors sharing our faith, hope, trust, and love for our Lord and Savior.
And most importantly, Sunday School is a gift that can provide opportunity for His presence. Each lesson should be an opportunity for attenders to encounter God's living presence in His Word and in the midst of those who have gathered. When we meet God in Bible study, our lives are changed--here and hereafter. Our attitudes, values, hopes, thoughts, desires, and actions change. In His presence we realize how awesome He is and how insignificant we are--and yet He loves us! In Sunday School we Total grace!
Change Sunday School this year. Realize that it is more than meeting together and opening a book called the Bible. Pause to recognize His presence and the presence of those in the room and beyond the room. Give the gift of presence this year. Be present with each other and with people in your circles of influence. Take time. Care. Love them to Sunday School. And most importantly, love them to Jesus. Be revolutionary!

Change a Life: Give the Gift of Sunday School

Darryl Wilson — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 22:06:00 -0400

There are so many reasons that Sunday School is a great gift. According to Andy Anderson, a person is 114 times more likely to accept Jesus Christ through attending Sunday School over twelve months than through worship attendance alone. For ideas, check out Ways Sunday School Can Help Increase Baptisms. What better gift could you give than the gift of salvation?
Besides that, Sunday School is a great place to learn to understand and apply God's Word. It is a safe place to ask questions, to be honest, and to get the help you need. Attenders learn about the Bible, each other, God, and how to live for Him. Revolutionary teachers get to know learners and their learning styles. These teachers add impact to teaching-learning experiences by using teaching methods to address those learning styles and by involving learners. This leads to learning experiences that are fun and have impact! When learners encounter God in Bible study, lives are changed. For ideas, check out Pray, Plan, and Prepare to Teach Sunday School for Lives to Change, Part 1, Pray, Plan, and Prepare to Teach Sunday School for Lives to Change, Part 2, and Five Practices of Life-Changing Small Groups. Life-change is a great gift to give!
And great friendships are made through Sunday School. They are made through interaction in class, through fellowships, serving together, and experiencing life together. Sunday School tends to develop friends you can count on in times of life's stress and difficulty. Today the world is hungry for this kind of relationships. For ideas, check out Best Friends in Sunday School, Ways Sunday School Can Encourage Friendship-Development, and Ideas for Making Friends Through the Adult Sunday School Class. Friendships makes Sunday School a great gift to give!
All of the above contributes to what makes Sunday School a great gift. And all of the above contributes to what helps people stay connected. Thom Rainer's research has shown that new members are more than six times as likely to still be in church five years later if they get involved in a Sunday School class. It is rewarding. It meet needs. For ideas, check out Measures of Assimilation in an Adult Sunday School Class, Balancing First Impression and Connection in Sunday School, The Big Four to Be a Sticky Sunday School Class, Part 1, The Big Four to Be a Sticky Sunday School Class, Part 2, and Diagnosing Your Sunday School’s Assimilation of New Members. Sunday School connects and is a great gift.
Let's work together to make Sunday Schoo l the great gift that it can be. Let's pray and prepare and invite. Let's give our best effort to God through Sunday School. Build up the gift. Tell others about Sunday School. Let them know how it has impacted you. Share the benefits. Share the gift. Be revolutionary!

Challenge Your Adult Sunday School Members to Make New Year’s Resolutions

Darryl Wilson — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 13:29:00 -0400

In reality, at the beginning of the new year is not the only time Christians should be making commitments (resolutions) about serving God, each other, and others. Every day that we have private devotions or enjoy Sunday School and worship together is a time to make fresh commitments. But to make a commitment to God or others and not keep it is to break our promises or simply to lie.
In the effort to keep our commitments (to keep our promises/tell the truth), Christians should band together to "encourage one another," or hold one another accountable. Prayer/accountability partners can be helpful. Teachers can ask next week about commitments we make this week in class. In my personal experience, one practice that has helped over the years is keeping a spiritual journal in which I write about my encounter with God in Bible study and commitments made as a result. And why not band together as prayer/accountability partners and commit to journal? For additional ideas, check out How to Develop a Spiritual Journal.
Since we are approaching the beginning of a new year, what are some other commitments that you could challenge your adult attenders to make? A few months ago, I shared twelve ideal behaviors of adult Sunday School class members in two blog entries: Ideal Behaviors of an Adult Sunday School Member, Part 1 and Ideal Behaviors of an Adult Sunday School Member, Part 2. For a fuller explanation, read the two posts. Here I will simply share the twelve behaviors as possible areas for commitments (resolutions):
Have a daily quiet time to read the Bible and pray.
Read the lesson weekly.
Pray for and invite guests.
Share a Sunday School testimony with prospects.
Fellowship with class members and guests monthly.
Are willing to help a class friend in time of need.
Communicate with one or more class members weekly.
Participate honestly and openly in the lesson each week.
Serve in some way to strengthen the class, church, and Kingdom.
Seek to meet God in Bible study in class and daily quiet time.
Weekly live out the truth learned in Sunday School.
Support efforts to start new classes.
Obviously, there can be any number of personal, family, spiritual, ministry, and other life commitments that could be appropriate as well. What would happen if Christians began to seek God in prayer and Bible study daily? What if they desired to be obedient? What if that desire led them to seek accountability? What would happen in the lives of those Christians? Would the unchurched in the world around them see the difference?
Challenge your class to commit (resolve) to be the person God desires. Challenge them to take steps to keep their commitments this year. And as a Sunday School leader, you be the change you want to see in them! Be revolutionary!
For other blog posts about resolutions and daily Bible reading, check out these posts:
Teach Your Sunday School Students to Read the Bible Daily
Sunday School: Make a Resolution to Read the Bible
Sunday School New Year’s Resolutions

Should We Promote, Trim, or Cancel Sunday School at Christmas?

Darryl Wilson — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:45:00 -0400

By their own admission, prospects and absentees are more likely to attend on special days, especially Easter and Christmas. Since that is the case, why do so many churches cancel Sunday School close to Christmas? Having served for years as a Minister of Education, I know part of the answer. Like class members, many teachers and their substitutes/apprentices travel to spend time with family around holidays. That makes staffing classes difficult. In fact, the closer that Christmas falls to Sunday, the fewer teachers, workers, and members who attend.
That means that some classes (all age groups) will likely have difficulty finding a teacher for that Sunday. And that means that the usual number of classes may not be needed because of the small numbers in attendance. If both of these statements are correct, then what are the options? What can be done in response? Should we promote or cancel Sunday School?
Let me make three suggestions (though you should know that it is against my nature ever to cancel Sunday School):
CANCEL CHRISTMAS SUNDAY SCHOOL. Cancel on the challenging Sunday, but move Christmas lessons to the final Sunday before Christmas on which you will have Sunday School. Just because curriculum offers a Christmas lesson on one specific date does not mean you cannot change it to suit your schedule. Communicate this change early with your teachers and classes. Then, promote this change as you invite absentees, prospects, and your community. You might end up with a high attendance!
TRIM CHRISTMAS SUNDAY SCHOOL. Rather than cancel, why not trim the number of classes in each age group. Talk to your teachers about who will be there that Sunday. You could even survey your attenders. Then, make your best educated guess and trim the number of classes for that Sunday to half, a third, or a quarter of the normal number. In a small church with four or five classes, you might offer two: one for preschoolers/children and one for youth/adults. Communicate this change early with your teachers and classes. Then, promote this change as you invite absentees, prospects, and your community.
PROMOTE FULL CHRISTMAS SUNDAY SCHOOL. That means you will have to start early talking to your teachers, apprentices, and substitutes. Print some special Christmas Sunday School invitations. Ask every attender who plans to be present on that Sunday to share invitations with friends, relatives, associates, and neighbors. Encourage attenders to offer a ride and call and remind on Saturday any who agree to attend. Make the lessons special. And make the day special. Remember to celebrate our Lord's birthday in the midst of the day. And remember to invite attenders to accept Jesus as Savior and Lord!
What are your plans for Christmas this year? Do your plans include one of these three options? If so, press Comments below and share which one. Do your plans include another option not listed? If so, share what your plans include. Take advantage of every opportunity to impact lives through Sunday School, especially absentees and prospects. Be revolutiionary! Happy Birthday, Jesus!
For more Christmas ideas for Sunday School, check out the following blog entries:
Multiply the Potential Impact of Your Sunday School Class Christmas Party
Christmas Invitation to Sunday School
As a Su nday School Teacher, You Might Be Unprepared for Christmas If . . .

What Happens When a Pastor Invests Time and Leadership in Sunday School?

Darryl Wilson — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:20:00 -0400

Pastors are busy people. The majority of them are bivocational. Schedules are full. Priorities are hard to balance. Pastors are pulled in so many different directions by so many people in the church and community. They also have family and personal needs which demand attention.
That is why so many have abdicated responsibility for and involvement in Sunday School. It is not that pastors believe Sunday School is unimportant. It has just not been a high enough priority to demand time and attention. In fact, yesterday I consulted with a pastor who asked me to help him thinking through launching a small group ministry. He was thinking through stopping Sunday School completely. In the process of our time together, he realized why Sunday School was in the shape it was. Since the last Sunday School director resigned 18 months ago, no one has been leading Sunday School. In fact, he realized that the problem was that he was not leading it.
Pastor, what if I could suggest a small investment of time each week that would help reduce your other load? What if you could strengthen your assimilation and outreach; support the discipling efforts; keep leaders from quitting; and mobilize others to minister to people in need? ? What if you were able to accomplish these essential tasks and even more in only 1-2 hours each week? Would you schedule that appointment?
Here's how it can be done to produce that fruit and more: (1) enlist and regularly meet with a Sunday School director or (2) if the absence of a director invest time personally every week in the Sunday School. When you have a director, your time spent helping him/her focus Sunday School efforts is valuable. Check on progress and make plans together. Your one-hour weekly meeting can produce hours of impact as the director carries out the work.
Other ways you can invest another hour of your time and leadership in Sunday School that can have significant impact:

personally invite people to and enroll people in Sunday School
your example is powerful, so attend or teach a class (check out When Pastors Attend Sunday School/Small Groups, It Is Contagious!)
emphasize Sunday School in your preaching and through pulpit announcements (check out Pulpit Sunday School Promotion)
plan Sunday School testimonies to be shared during worship (check out Sunday School Testimony: Powerful Revolutionary Tool)
spend time with different teachers each week
pray for teachers and classes by name (check out Pastor as Revolutionary: Leading the Sunday School by Word and Example)
coach your teachers (check out Three Great Coaching Questions for Pastors and Sunday School Directors)
lead the church to provide needed Sunday School financial resources, equipment, supplies, and space
schedule/plan a Sunday School leader planning retreat (check out Evaluate the Past Year Before You Set New Sunday School Goals and Giving Sunday School Direction Through a Planning Retreat)
schedule/plan Sunday School teacher and worker training events (check out Creative Ways to Train Sunday School Teachers)
lead the Sunday School to be organized to reach, teach, and care (check out Steps for the Pastor’s Leadership of the Sunday School)
encourage teachers and classes to be evangelistic (check out Ways Sunday School Can Help Increase Baptisms)
hold teachers and classes accountable to enlist greeters and care group leaders (check out A Simple Two-Part System for Getting Sunday School Class Ministry Done, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.
lead Sunday School teachers and workers to raise expectations (check out Raising Sunday School Expectations without Losing Your Hair and Steps for the Pastor’s Leadership of the Sunday School)
lead classes, teachers, and Sunday School as a whole to set and pursue goals (check out 5 Goals for Sunday School Growth This Year, Part 1, 5 Goals for Sunday School Growth This Year, Part 2, How LARGE Should We Make Our Sunday School Goals?, and Set God-Sized Goals for Sunday School Growth)
Pastor, your investment in Sunday School will bear fruit beyond the time it takes. Your ministry will be strengthened. Leaders will be more effective and continue serving. Assimilation, outreach, and discipleship efforts will improve. It will take less time to deal with recurring problems. Your leadership and a little of your time is needed. Invest it in your director and in Sunday School. Be revolutionary!

Ten Sunday School Ideas for Welcoming Guests

Darryl Wilson — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:54:00 -0400

I read a two-part blog series about welcoming worship guests that has many points that can be retasked to our Sunday School efforts. The two post posts are 10 Practices to Welcome Church Visitors Part 1 and 10 Practices to Welcome Church Visitors Part 2. The two posts offer many additional resources to help improve your first impressions. The ten practices are in all capitals (changed and in italics where necessary to apply to Sunday School) followed by my commentary:

RECRUIT A GREETING MINISTRY TEAM. Here the emphasis is on a general team to welcome guests at entrances. Make sure they are in place 15-30 minutes before Sunday School starts and stay in place for 10-15 minutes after it has started. Worship greeters should be in place similarly before and after worship. Enlist friendly people. Look for an opportunity to serve. Register guests. Take them to classes. Introduce them to the classes with as little interruption or embarrassment as possible. Share a copy of the registration information.
REGULARLY TRAIN NEW GREETERS. Train new general and class greeters, but also provide reminders and updates for greeters already serving. Depending on greeter turnover and church size, training twice yearly or quarterly should be enough. Help greeters know how to serve people, break the ice conversationally, and do the basics.
HOSPITALITY OR WELCOME CENTER. Door greeters direct people to your welcome center greeters who greet guests, register them, share church and Sunday School information, and escort them to classes.
CLASS WELCOME FOLDER OR PACKET. Why not develop a brochure for your class or Sunday School as a whole? For more information, check out this blog post: Company’s Coming: Writing a Promotional Piece to Attract Sunday School Guests for a Second Visit. Give them out at the welcome center or in the classes. Add a few nice expressions of appreciation for their visit to each packet.
"GO AND GREET SOMEONE" OR "PASS THE PEACE." The teacher or other class leader initiates this time which could take place just before the official start of the Sunday School lesson. Or it could take place at lesson end after the closing prayer (make sure you save time). The original post referenced above suggests four actions: get up, go meet, give your name, and greet (especially focused on guests). We do this whenever we have guests in my Sunday School class at the end of class.
SECRET GREETERS. Why not enlist a few "unofficial" greeters to supplement the greeting of your officially enlisted general and class greeters? Release the willingness to serve by extroverts, former pastors, and others who can give extra attention to guests and members alike.
TEACHER RECOGNITION. Russ, the teacher of my class, at the end of class simply thanks guests (by name) for attending and encourages class members to introduce ourselves before leaving the class. The blog post referenced above shared a quote from page 110 of a great book by Gary McIntosh entitled Beyond the First Visit: The Complete Guide to Connecting Guests to Your Church. Here is the quote:

Whatever you do, take great pains not to embarrass the newcomer. Among other things this means you should not identify new people by placing a ribbon, flower, or nametag on them. Do not ask visitors to stand and speak before the entire congregation. A survey of one thousand adults 18 years of age or older reported that “making a speech” was the number one event causing adults to be nervous. It ranked first, ahead of, in order, getting married, interviewing for a job, going to the dentist, a first date, and getting a divorce.
FRIENDSHIP PADS, FELLOWSHIP BOOKS. These are more often used in worship, but they could be used in medium and larger classes. The blog post says, "These are books that gather attendance information and provide a place for visitors to identify themselves by checking a box on the form. The idea is that other people in the row would see the check in the visitor box and take the initiative to greet." Another way to get guest contact information is to have all attenders complete a card/slip. Members can turn in prayer requests, number of ministry contacts made, etc. while guests give personal contact information. This is the system mentioned in another great book: Fusion: Turning First-Time Guests into Fully-Engaged Members of Your Church.
QUALITY SNACKS AND BEVERAGES. Make a great impression. Don't offer stale cookies and burnt coffee. Keep it fresh. While quality costs a bit more, it is worth the difference. Warn if a food contains nuts or other allergen. Healthy options are also appreciated by many. Look for opportunities to connect especially with those who are by themselves around the snacks and beverages.
SUNDAY SCHOOL GREETERS AND HOSTS. Class greeters/hosts can make members and guests feel welcome. Class greeters greet guests, register them, introduce them, and escort them to find their children, restrooms, and worship. Bottom line, class greeters extend interest and care to the guests. For more ideas about greeters and care group leaders, check out these posts: A Simple Two-Part System for Getting Sunday School Class Ministry Done, Part 1, A Simple Two-Part System for Getting Sunday School Class Ministry Done, Part 2, A Simple Two-Part System for Getting Sunday School Class Ministry Done, Part 3, and A Simple Two-Part System for Getting Sunday School Class Ministry Done, Part 4.
What would you add to these ideas? Which ones are in place in your Sunday School? Which one(s) do you need to add? What do you need to do to begin taking steps toward doing an even better job of welcoming guests? Since second-time guests are even more likely to join your class and church, what can you do to help even more of your first-time guests have a great connecting experience? Take steps to love and serve your guests. Be revolutionary!

Simple Steps for a Successful Sunday School High Attendance Day

Darryl Wilson — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 21:59:00 -0400

Adding a high attendance Sunday to your Sunday School plans can be an effective way to accomplish many things. It can help you make contact with absentees, reach out to prospects, generate excitement about Sunday School, and so much more. See Benefits of High Attendance Sunday for more ideas. Here is a schedule of simple steps for a successful high attendance day:
Prior to Sunday 1 (4-6 weeks before the day):
Print all HAS (high attendance Sunday) materials a month before your preparation meeting: HAS schedule, posters, attendance commitment cards, friend attendance commitment cards, and reminder postcards
Announce a teacher/worker preparation meeting at least one week in advance of preparation month
Preparation meeting agenda:
take note of teachers/classes who are not present so you can communicate details with them one on one
thank teachers/workers for the difference they make through Sunday School and for their attendance at the meeting
explain the benefits of a HAS; see the following blog post for help: Benefits of High Attendance Sunday
explain the schedule, details, and expectations
give them the posters, attendance commitment cards, friend attendance commitment cards, and reminder postcards
answer all questions; pray in small groups for the day
Sunday 1 (three Sundays before the day):
Place a reminder of all expectations for today in each classroom
Individual classes set God-sized class attendance goals for HAS
Each class hangs the HAS poster in the classroom, adding the class goal and HAS date
Pray for HAS along with class members and guests who will attend
Ask all attenders (including guests who are present) to sign attendance commitment cards (check with parents of children)
Count the number of signed commitment cards; color in the circle on the poster representing the number of signed commitment cards (as progress toward the goal)
Divide the names and phone numbers of the persons not present among the class attenders to call during the following week
Announce the HAS from the pulpit; place details of the HAS in the bulletin
Sunday 2 (two Sundays before the day):
Place a reminder of all expectations for today in each classroom
Call attention to the class HAS poster, goal, and commitments-to-date and pray for HAS and class members and guests who will attend
Ask all previously-uncommitted attenders (including guests who are present) to sign attendance commitment cards (check with parents of children)
Count the number of signed commitment cards; color in the circle on the poster representing the number of signed commitment cards (as progress toward the goal)
Each class announces the details of a fellowship (youth and adult classes) scheduled for the Friday or Saturday before HAS
At the end of class, pass out friend attendance commitment cards; ask all attenders to invite friends during the next two weeks and return the signed cards of all friends who agree to attend
At the end of class, pass out reminder postcards with absentee names and addresses; ask attenders to write a short note to absentees inviting them to HAS; mail cards on Monday
Remind about the HAS from the pulpit; place details of the HAS in the bulletin; pastor/staff announce friends they have invited who have agreed to attend
Sunday 3 (one Sunday before the day):
Place a reminder of all expectations for today in each classroom
Call attention to the class High Attendance Sunday poster, goal, and commitments-to-date and pr ay for HAS and class members and guests who will attend
Ask all previously-uncommitted attenders (including guests who are present) to sign attendanc e commitment cards (check with parents of children)
Count the number of signed commitment cards; color in the circle o n the poster representing the number of signed commitment cards (as progress toward the goal)
Each class reminds attenders about the details of the fellowship (youth and adult classes) scheduled for the Friday or Saturday
At the end of class, again pass out friend attendance commitment cards; ask all attenders to invite friends to the class fellowship and HAS during the week
Divide the class roll and prospect list among members; develop a plan for every member and prospect to receive a reminder call on Friday or Saturday about HAS
Announce the greeters who will be for next Sunday
Remind about the HAS from the pulpit; place details of the HAS in the bulletin; couple of teachers announce friends they have invited who have agreed to attend; share a quick Sunday School testimony and invite worship attenders to attend Sunday School next week (for Sunday School testimony ideas, check out the following blog post: Sunday School Testimony: Powerful Revolutionary Tool)
On Monday, the pastor writes and mails a letter to all Sunday School and church members and prospects inviting them to join him in Sunday School for HAS
On Monday, purchase enough name tags for all classes to use on HAS
On Thursday, teachers call those responsible for calling every member and prospect
High Attendance Sunday:
Place a reminder of all expectations for today in each classroom
Arrive early to prepare the room and pray for the day
Have class greeters in place to welcome members and guests; help all attenders use name tags for the day; make sure all attenders are counted, even late-arrivers
Get good registration information from all guests; invite guests to enroll in the class; call guests by name
Celebrate what God has done both in class and worship (that day or next Sunday if worship is before the final Sunday School session); affirm the work of the classes which resulted in increased attendance and guests (avoid making guests feel like a number)
Follow up within 72 hours and on an ongoing basis with every guest; for follow up ideas, check out these posts:
Sunday School Class Guest Follow Up, Part 1
Sunday School Class Guest Follow Up, Part 2
Sunday School: Guest Follow Up Temperature
Prospecting for Sunday School Prospect Gold
Focusing on Prospects for Sunday School
Company’s Coming: Writing a Promotional Piece to Attract Sunday School Guests for a Second Visit
Growing Sunday Schools Have More Visitors Who Stick Around