Sunday Schools that Really Excel --- Edited by Steve R. Parr

Sunday School that really Excels

                Are you looking to grow your Sunday school program? Do you need to know what will help you grow? Maybe you want real life examples? If you answer is yes to any of these questions, then this book is for you; however, the church needs to be very healthy in order to excel using the methods in this book.

When I received this book I was overly excited. I couldn’t wait to tear into it and read it from cover to cover – which I did in the matter of two days. Then I took time to really read and study the book. As a youth leader in my church, I needed to know what I needed to do to help my youth group excel and grow; this book is not a good model of what it takes to really grow a youth group or Sunday school program. While it tells how a “normal” church can become extraordinary, it really focuses on what it takes to excel as a church thus producing fruit and growth. The advice in the book is sound, and it may have worked for one church but not another. I even tried some of the advice myself to help grow my own youth group – the truth is, unless your ministry is willing to put forth effort, growth just isn’t going to happen. Each one of these churches that are used as “Real-life examples” is exactly what most churches want, but can’t have. My favorite part of the book is pg. 9; “Within each believer, God has placed seeds of excellence.” Thus stating that God has placed within our lives the ability to excel.

I probably wouldn’t recommend this book to someone who is just starting a Sunday school program; however, that doesn’t mean the examples can’t be used, instead it means that you will have to till the ground until it is ready for seeds to be planted.

***This book was provided by the publisher for an unbiased opinion. No money was exchanged for a positive review.***

11 Things That Keep Your Ministry from Growing

Over the next few posts, I am going to look at church growth trends...mainly because many churches today are not growing by leaps and bounds; while others really seem to gain momentum and begin to revolutionize and start movements. 

As I talk to youth pastors, I am always curious about how their youth ministry facilitates growth.  Over the years, I have looked with an inquisitive eye to see why some youth ministries have growth and others haven’t by analyzing developmental patterns and searching for common threads in multiple youth ministry settings.  I am always curious about youth ministry growth phenomena. In order to begin to understand youth ministry growth, one must take a behind the scenes look at why some youth ministries have massive growth and gain huge momentum.

So how do I measure youth ministry growth?

Three words:  Function.  Multiplication.  Health.

Here is a list of 11 ridiculous things that keep youth groups from growing:

(1) Copying another successful youth ministry - It is okay to learn from other youth leaders, but to copy them really hijacks your creativity to contextualize a youth ministry structure that aligns with your church culture and community.  It is imperative for youth pastors to program according to their OWN surroundings, culture, and circumstances.  It is fine to borrow ministry practices or ideas, but to completely copy a cool-hip youth ministry is not right.

(2) Trying to do it all - Reggie Joiner in The Orange Leader Handbook shares that you might need to write a stop-doing list.  Construct a list of activities to cut out of your programming that will allow you to be more effective with your strategy.  For example, I know of a church who canceled their mid-week programming because their students wanted to serve locally during the week.  So they cut their midweek programming and are now running a homeless ministry.  Joiner also highlights the idea that your job as a leader is not to wrestle your ministry toward complexity but rather toward simplicity.  It is better to do a few things well instead of doing too many things with mediocrity.  Select 2-3 things your youth ministry does really well and only do those things.  Adding more things does not necessitate growth.

(3) Recruiting the wrong adults - Assembling the right youth ministry team is paramount.  Make sure to recruit people that will energize you.  In the book Good To Great (which I wrote a book review about here), Collins wants organizations to first focus on the quality of the people on their teams before they worry about growth.  Collin states: Get the right people on the bus, the wrong people off the bus, and the right people in the right seats – then figure out where to drive it.

(4) Calendaring the same events recurrently - I have seen youth ministries do the same events for years.  One of the catalysts for stimulating growth is constant change of event scheduling.  You have to mix it up.  This doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to change your ministry strategy all the time, but you might want to change the events that demonstrate the strategy.  Youth pastors have to continuously explore new opportunities that will help to connect students with Jesus.  Sure, going to camp every summer can be a great opportunity for students to deepen their relationships with Christ…but if that is followed by the same exact event happening every August, the same movie being shown every September, the ever popular bowling night each October, family fun nights every Friday in November each year…well, you get the idea.

(5) Dismiss parent feedback - Parents should have a voice in your youth ministry.  It is not wise to blow off parent feedback.  Ultimately, parents are entrusting the spiritual shepherding of their children to you, so pay close attention to what parents are saying about you and the ministry.  A few negative parents can kill the momentum of your youth ministry in a matter of months.  This doesn’t mean that you should do whatever parents want and tell you to do.  Your ministry should, however, reveal a partnership with parents if the students themselves are going to grow into a mature relationship with Christ.  You see students for a few hours each week.  The work you do with students and the changes in their lives will either be strengthened or crushed by what happens at home.

(6)  Forgetting about strategic and intentional evangelism - I think we have forgotten how to evangelize.  Look at the book of Acts – evangelism was the central focus.  When people get saved not only do the numbers increase but so does the excitement for what God is doing.  Those involved in leading others to Christ are strengthened and empowered.  So let’s make sure that youth ministries are out there bringing the Kingdom of God.  Greg Stier argues in chapter 10 of the GreenHouse Project that youth ministries need to make evangelism their #1 priority.  He also argues that many need to revamp their methods for evangelizing.  You are not making evangelism a priority unless you are doing it relentlessly and consistently in your ministry.  Honestly strong evangelism efforts will definitely 1) get your students focused on how to love others outside of their youth group bubble and 2) grow your youth group.

(7)  Ignoring fund raising - Money makes everything happen.  However, fundraising is hard!!  A lot of youth pastors tell me that they just don’t have any (or nearly enough) money in their budgets.  With this being an unfortunate truth many face, it is up to each youth worker to fund the vision and mission of their youth ministry.  Do not shy away from or be ashamed of fund raising.  Get creative in how you fund raise.  One of the easiest ways to fundraise is to get the message out by telling people why you need $$$$.  The older generation loves to financially contribute to “making” this next generation a better generation.  You need to discern who are the right people who have money and want to financially invest in the lives of teens.  Make sure to be compelling by describing how their precious coin will be used.  Always do something special for the individuals who contributed money to your youth ministry.  Throw them a party or a dinner, just do something!!!  I really wish I learned the insane importance to fundraising early on.  I  wrote two posts: 1) how to write a youth ministry Christmas wish list and 2) youth ministry fund raising tips that might help get you started.  Be sure to share ideas that work with your friends and colleagues.

(8)  Failure to set goals - Goals give you the ability to create your youth ministry future in advance.  They can make your youth ministry grow, expand, develop, and possibly transform.  Compelling goals contain two key components: identifying your youth ministry goals and identifying your youth group mission.  What do you want in your youth ministry? Something magical happens when you take generalized impulses and start defining them more precisely. Why does your youth group need it?  What will it give your youth group? Reasons come first; answers come second.  When you get a big enough reason to accomplish something, you can figure out how to do it. Plus, we work for God and He can make anything possible!!  Possible areas to set goals in:  programming attendance, outreach events, retreats/camps, student spiritual maturity, mission trips, family ministry, service events/student involvement, and leadership development.

(9) Information overload - Just pick a ministry strategy and philosophy that works and stick with it.  Trust me; there are thousands upon thousands of theories that tell us how youth ministry “should” be done.  It is easy to read all the latest books, attend all the conferences, and feel overwhelmed.  You will find yourself stuck as you try to decide what strategy will best work in your youth ministry context.  Feel free to experiment with different youth ministry strategies, but do not feel like you have to implement all of what you come across.  Use what works for you; get rid of the rest.

(10) Forgetting about the children’s ministry - Youth and children’s ministries need to be in alignment.  Youth pastors forget that the kids in the children’s ministry will eventually play a vibrant role in their youth ministry one day.  This is why it is wise to support the children’s ministry.  It is an investment for the future.  If the youth pastor knows what the kids have been taught and that their parents have been taught that they are the primary spiritual leaders, the transition from children’s ministry to student ministry will be so much easier.  If a youth ministry can retain and transition all the kids coming from the children’s ministry to the youth ministry, then this will be instant growth.  I always had a difficult time retaining 5th graders as they transitioned into 6th and into the youth ministry.

(11) Not celebrating what God has already done - It is too easy to lose focus on what God is doing in our youth ministry because you and I are powering through programming— moving from event to event.  Failing to remember and celebrate what God has already done is a momentum killer.  Celebrating the victories helps generate a momentum where everyone is excited about what God is doing and realizes He is in fact moving!  Take time before you give your talk at youth group to invite students to share testimonies.  Ask students to share about what God is doing.  Share with the rest of the youth group what God did through a few students last weekend at the homeless shelter, etc.  The important thing to remember is to stop and give praise for what God is already doing. We are always needing reminders of what God has done for us, this is why He gave us communion, baptism, the resurrection, the birth of Jesus, the Bible, the Church, and His people. 

**This article was written by Jeremy Zach and published at http://www.churchleaders.com/youth/youth-leaders-articles/149704-11-things-that-keeps-your-ministry-from-growing.html

Homemade Laundry Soap

Having recently bought my own home, I have realized how much money goes into living. A $100 here, $50 there. It’s amazing! As a state employee I make below the poverty level and meet all the criteria for poverty; food stamps and well-fare. However, being an honest person I refuse to use the welfare system. 

So cutting corners is the best I can do to make sure that I have the income needed to run a successful household. The best corner that I have managed to cut is by making my own laundry soaps and softeners. 

This tub of laundry soap cost me only $30 dollars to make, and as you can see I have used less than half of it. Having made it in January, it’s made it to month six (June); and it’s made just for High Efficiency (front end loading) washers that need low sudsing soaps. We have always equated bubbles with cleanliness. This however, is not true. Bubbles don’t equal clean-it equals bubbles; then take all the chemicals that are in commercial made soaps. 

Having been using this for 6 months; I can say that my clothing all smells good, it’s clean and most of all, there isn’t a soapy residue left that many commercially made detergents leave. 

Pennywise savings??? 

Store Bought Soap: $.20 per load 

Homemade Soap: $.07 per load

Over 50% savings

Another suggestion is lemon juice in my laundry instead of bleach and white vinegar for softener--and no your clothes don’t turn out smelling like vinegar. 

Next time: Making your own soap!

Eternal Security: Can Salvation be Lost?

                 I have been speaking with a host of people recently on the teaching of eternal security. I have a varying view of the topic; but since I am prone to attack when I speak, I am writing this blog post to explain my stance.

                To start with there are two main schools of thought on this matter: The Calvinist and the Arminian. Both views agree that God is powerful and faithful, willing to keep his promises. They also agree that salvation is neither attained nor retained by human works. Both also insist that the believer can indeed know that he or she currently possesses salvation.

                The differences between the two are significant. The Calvinist view states “They whom God has accepted in His Beloved, effectually called and sanctified by His Spirit can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace; but shall certainly persevere therein to the end and be eternally saved.

                There are numerous Biblical teachings serve independently support the doctrine. Including 1 Peter 1:3-5 and Romans 8:31-39.

                While the position detailed in the Sententia Remonstrantium presented to the Synod of Dort is in many ways quite moderate, insisting only that falling away is possible, later statements of the Arminian position are more emphatic. This is also backed up in Scripture. Hebrews 2:1 “We must pay more careful attention therefore to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” Another instance is Hebrews 10:26-27 “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.”

                So, I know you are now asking, “So which teaching do you adhere?” Quite honestly I adhere to the middle of the road teaching…while I agree that salvation can’t be lost. However, like we can tell our children, not to play in the road; give them all rules and such, but it doesn’t mean that they won’t run into the road. Just as God gives us all the rules and all, it doesn’t mean that the "believer" won’t lose their salvation.  

                It is questionable whether anyone who reasons, “Now that I am a Christian, I can live as I please,” has really been converted and regenerated. Genuine faith issues, instead in the fruit of the spirit. Assurance of salvation, the subjective conviction that one is a Christian results from the Holy Spirit’s giving evidence that he is at work in the life of the individual. Of course the Spirit’s work results in conviction on Biblical grounds that God will enable the Christian to persist in that relationship—that nothing can separate the true believer from God’s love.

Kregel Book Review (Charts on the Life, Letters and Theology of Paul)

Do you find all the facts about Paul to be confusing? Do you see yourself wanting to know some “fine” details about the Apostle’s life, yet find yourself not knowing exactly where to start? Maybe you are a student at a seminary and you need information on Paul that the bible just didn’t give you and that your professor went over too fast in class to really ‘get.’ Maybe you are the professor and you want to tell your students everything that you can about Paul and you don’t know how to write it all down in notes that will not hinder your student’s success. No matter where you are in your discovery of Paul, this book is a MUST have.

As a recent seminary student, I wished I had this book when I was studying New Testament II. Like many others I found myself struggling with understanding Paul and his Theology; but once I read this book, I realized that what I was missing wasn’t the “what”; I was totally missing the organization that this book provides. The simple way the charts are laid out and the information that they give are more than most of my textbooks put together. In over 100 charts the background, life, letters, theology and missionary journeys are laid out.

The layout is fantastic, the charts are chock full of information on every facet of Paul that one can ever want to know; Lars Kierspal writes with such knowledge about Paul, that it leaves you wanting to dig deeper into your studies on Paul and even left me wanting to meet this Paul face to face!

This is definitely a resource must for student, layman, and professional minister.

**The book was provided to the reviewer (by the Publisher) for an unbiased opinion and is not contingent on a positive review.**

Devote Yourself to the Public Reading of Scripture

Have you ever been in a sermon where it was deadly dull due to the minister’s lack of formal training in speaking the Word with passion? In the book Devote Yourself to the Public Reading of Scripture Jeffery D. Arthurs introduces us to the power of reading Scripture properly and now to go about bringing forth the full power of God’s words.

Public reading of the scripture is vital to the spiritual health of a Christian, not to mention the health of a nation. There are even churches that pride themselves on being a Bible church, and they feature very little scripture reading.

                In the first chapter Arthurs points out that Eugene Peterson (The Message) likens reading the word of God to a feast. The apostle’s took part in this feast every time they opened their mouths. Some of them had been eye-witnesses to Jesus here on earth; others had only “Caught the fire” after being changed by those who were ministering His love and devotion.

                This book is for you most definitely if you are a minister that doesn’t use a lot of scripture in your church or even the lay person who doesn’t completely comprehend all the forms and formulas for ministering the gospel.  One feature of this book that I personally found helpful was the DVD tutorials that came with the book. They have allowed me to see what things may actually distract my audience from the scripture and even my delivery of the scripture.

                I am honestly glad that this book came into my life when it did! This book will help anyone who is a speaker of the scripture; from the congregational halls to that of small groups at homes.

 

**This book was provided by Kregel Publishers and is not contingent on a positive review.**

sometimes wacky ideas are the BEST ideas!

I have been thinking...mainly about friendship; especially those that God allows you to stumble upon!

On March 2, 2013, my friend from work Mrs. R. told me “Rachel, you’ve had some pretty wacky ideas!” when I asked her to name one, she said, “Being my friend!” Well, I haven’t gotten to tell you...Mrs. R. being your friend wasn’t a wacky idea! It was probably the best idea I have ever had! 

You see, when God closes one door, he always opens another! I have a friend...probably someone that I would call my “best friend.” 

Ephesians 1:16 “I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.”