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Leaders for Life 03/31/11 Notes for Bible Study Leaders… Spring is wonderful time of year as we leave the cooler months behind us. Besides the change in temperature the springtime clues are everywhere from yellow tinted automobiles to itchy and watery eyes. We’ve turned the clocks ahead and are enjoying that extra hour of daylight when we get home in the afternoon. Easter is late this year (April 24) but will be upon us before we know it. Don’t forget our combined services and choir presentation on Palm Sunday the 17^th. A book in my stack that I’ve finally started is “Sunday School That Really Works” by Steve Parr. He presents a great challenge to those in Sunday school leadership. He reminds us it doesn’t matter what it is called and doesn’t even have to meet on Sunday, but it is necessary for a church to be healthy and growing. Parr states four leadership principles modeled by Jesus that we all need to apply. #1 We must pray and directly enlist people to be a part of your small group. Jesus specifically asked the disciples to follow Him. He did not take a passive approach to the spiritual development of the men He had enlisted. Jesus engaged them in the study and application of the Word of God. The Sunday school will not grow if others are not invited to become involved. He personally engaged and challenged them to live what they learned. #2 We must determine how we will engage every member of our group to help them grow spiritually. Jesus took the apostles outside the classroom and into the community to apply what they were learning. If we want class members to minister to one another, be strong in prayer, be friendly to guests then we must equip them to do so. Organization and accountability is the key. #3 We must equip members of our group to serve. The disciples spent time observing Jesus as He ministered and taught, and as time passed they began to minister alongside Him. He further instructed and equipped them and then at that time Jesus sent the disciples out to apply what they learned and experienced. #4 We must extend our influence by releasing leaders to serve outside the group. Sunday school that really works is more than a weekly Bible study. It is a life-changing experience for the participants. The teacher has the big picture in mind and understands that he or she is commissioned to lead a group of followers on a spiritual journey. Each year new members are added and established members are released to go and serve. See ya Sunday, Brother Chris