Bob Mayfield

New eBooks Available

We have taken the two series I put together called "31 Days of Sunday School" and also "31 Days to a Better Sunday School" and put them in ebook format for you to download free. Combined, this series of practical suggestions about having a quality Bible study ministry gathered over 10,000 hits. I had several people ask if we would put them on the web, so we did. My assistant Tiffany did a great job reformatting everything.

Just click here on our Missional Resources page and these new eBooks are available now for download.

We also included an e-version of last year's book, Missional Pivot Points as well. Pivot Points is also available on the Missional Resources webpage.

While you are there, you will also find podcasts, PowerPoint presentations, and some inspiring videos for you to use as well.

Day 31 - Your Group's Purpose

Today's activity - briefly write your group's purpose, and make a list of three actions you will take to help your group stay on purpose.

Before you get too far along, remember that your group's ultimate purpose is to "make disciples" (Matthew 28:18-20). The ingredients of making a disciple include:

• Following the Holy Spirit;
• Bible study;
• Prayer;
• Community;
• Evangelism;
• Missional activity.

Too often we get sidetracked on one of the ingredients instead of the purpose. Often when leading a seminar about Sunday School, I will ask the group of leaders what their purpose is. Here are the top three answers: Bible study, ministry, and fellowship. No, your purpose is to make disciples. We make disciples by reaching out to unsaved people in our neighborhoods, by Bible study and prayer, and yes even class fellowships and ministry. These are actions we take to build disciples.

As you reflect and pray about what God would like for your group to do, remember that these actions are to support the purpose of your group.

After you are done, put the paper with the action items in a noticeable place like your bathroom mirror, or on your refrigerator. Then... do them!

For a companion blog for pastors, 31 Days to a Better Church, go to http://brettselby.com

Day 30 - Show You Care

Today's activity - Call every person in your group.

Several years ago, my wife and our pastor's wife began a new ladies Sunday School class. Because we were out of room, the group met in the home of our pastor. Every Saturday afternoon around 4:00, Judy and Tracy called each other and talked for a while, then they teamed up and called every lady in their group (plus any guests). By 7:00 each Saturday, every lady in their group had not only been contacted, but ministry needs had been discovered, and they had been prayed with.

Over time, these weekly contacts became something that each lady in the group really looked forward to. I would often hear laughter as my wife would visit with her group. But this sense of family and ministry did not happen with the first call, but after several visits over many weeks. The community and sense of belonging these ladies had carried over from Saturday evening to Sunday morning. Then, the calls would occasionally reverse... and when a group member had something exciting to share or a prayer need, they would not wait until Saturday but will call earlier in the week.

Taking the time to contact your group is one of the best community builders there is. Yes, you can have fru-fru coffee, snacks, and a green plant in the corner of the room, but nothing builds community like personal contact over a period of time.

For a companion blog for pastors, 31 Days to a Better Church, go to http://brettselby.com

Day 29 - Be a Gracious Leader

Today's activity - write down five things for which you are grateful.

Leaders who are gracious have incredible traction with their group and others they come in contact with. Make sure the motive is right... we don't practice graciousness so we can have a great group. But many leaders have a great group because they are gracious!

I will say however, that it is highly unlikely that you are exercising grace in your group if you are not a grateful person yourself. That's why today's activity is focused on what you and I are grateful for. There seems to be a correlation between graciousness and gratefulness (grin). So take a few moments and write your grateful-ness list. Here's mine:

I'm grateful for:

• A God who cares for me through life's struggles, even when I'm not always appreciative and sometimes would rather have a pity party than dwell on how God has blessed me;
• My wonderful wife, and our two great kids;
• God's provision for my earthly needs, plus more than I need;
• A godly heritage passed down from several generations of Mayfield's, Price's, Wilson's, Hickerson's, etc.
• A purpose that keeps me focused so that I don't entirely waste my life.

"...grace and truth came through Jesus Christ"... John 1:17

For a companion blog for pastors called "31 Days to a Better Church", go to http://brettselby.com

Day 28 - Focus for Results

Today's activity - name 3-5 people you could disciple... and start doing it!

We all know the adage about quail hunting: aim at the covey and miss all the birds, but aim at one bird and you are more likely to bring it down. I find that often times we may have a similar situation when our group gets sizable (I'm talking number of people here). As a leader, we need to focus the bulk of our attention on a few people who can then help with the discipleship of the entire group (I almost replaced "discipleship" with "ministry" in this sentence. Ministry sounds so much nicer, but discipleship involves commitment). Although you are focusing the bulk of your time on fewer people, you will have better long term results because you will actually be making disciples.

Here are a few suggestions:

• Focus on fewer people;
• Make time in your schedule to share with them during the week;
• Disciple for mission and evangelism (they'll grow spiritually too);
• Have visible targets. Targets should include both length of time and personal growth... i.e. accountability!
• Give ministry away! In other words, turn these folks loose. You are making disciples, not establishing a fan club!

Need a resource or two? I would highly recommend "One on One With God" by Jerry and Marilyn Fine. This is an excellent and time proven resource that is fairly inexpensive and has a leader's guide. Plus, Jerry and Marilyn are disciplemakers themselves. I like to learn from those who are doing it!

For a companion blog for pastors, 31 Days to a Better Church, go to http://brettselby.com

Day 27 - Gospel-centric Groups

Today's activity - Read Romans 5:6-11.

If you are of the evangelical persuasion, then you recognize the call that we believe God has put on the heart of all believers - to be sharers of the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ. In a survey conducted by the Nevada Baptist Convention, they discovered that even among Southern Baptists in Nevada, only about one-third of them could adequately explain the gospel to the interviewer. How could this occur in an evangelical denomination?

There is not one smoking gun, but multiple reasons of how this could occur (and not just in Nevada). But a major reason is that we are not as direct about the gospel as we should be with our small groups or Sunday School classes. As a teacher or small group leader, it is vital that you regularly (weekly) share the gospel in your group. Remember that there is a difference between a lesson about evangelism and an evangelistic lesson!

Here are some suggestions that may help make sure that your group is regularly engaging the good news of the gospel:

• Regularly enlist a group member to share their testimony in class;
• When you do have an evangelistic lesson, make sure you teach it in such a way that you are encouraging lost people to come to Christ, and not just dispensing information about the gospel;
• Learn how to share your own story of how you came to Christ in two minutes or less;
• Call attention to parts of your Bible study that relate directly to the gospel, such as: grace, sin, redemption, the cross, the resurrection, Jesus' humanity/divinity, atonement, and repentance;
• Lead your class to adopt mission trips, especially mission trips where they have opportunities to witness;
• Encourage your group to learn the gospel;
• Go to websites such as www.my316.com or www.mostimportantthing.org and put your testimony online.

On occasion I meet group members who are discouraged that people who do not know Christ personally are not attending their group. May I point this out: People in need of healing do not need a school, they need an ambulance. Groups that do not have a gospel-centric focus are functioning as a school. Pray your group becomes an ambulance bringing the gospel to your community.

Day 26 - Adopt an Orphaned Church Leader

Today's activity - discover a Sunday School leader in the preschool/children's area and adopt them into your group.

I think that the people that serve in the preschool and children's Sunday School classes are among the most overlooked and underappreciated leaders in the church family. They serve in this area because they love children and they have a calling to be Bible teachers and leaders to our kids. Unfortunately, they are often forgotten by adult classes. The end result is that many of these teachers miss adult fellowship and adult Bible study, which they still need!

Your challenge today is to discover one of these treasured saints and adopt them into your class. Your group may already have some folks who have left your class to serve in the children's area. Make sure you are staying in contact with them. Here are some things that an adult group can do to minister to teachers in the children's Sunday School:

• Make sure you include them in your care ministry and that they receive regular phone calls;
• Take their picture and display their name, picture, and class they teach. You might have one part of your room that says "Sunday School Missionaries" and put pictures there of all of the workers who relate to your class;
• Remember to invite them to class fellowships;
• Ask if one of your class members can substitute for them once a quarter so that the children's teacher can have some "adult" class time occasionally;
• Send them a card signed by the whole class and thank them for their ministry and let them know you pray for them;
• Pray for these workers each time your group gets together.

Day 25 - New Group Strategy

Today's activity - Plan the start of a new group. Write it on a sheet of paper and tuck it in your Bible.

There is no better time than today than to begin planning when and how you are going to start a new group out of your class. I know you probably don't want to, and I'm pretty sure the people in your group do not want to even think about starting a new class. But you need to do it, and they need to participate.

The simple fact is that the larger in attendance your group gets, the less connected it becomes. Big classes are the bane of group intimacy. It may feel good for a while as the class grows and increases, but after a while the group begins to lose the closeness that is needed for good small group ministry. Mini-worship is not the same thing as small group!

Here are some ideas to help you plan the start of a new group:

• Pray for a leader. The new group will need a leader. You may already have an idea of who in your group would make a great new leader.
• Begin talking about the importance of a new group with your class. Do not blame this on the pastor or your Sunday School director. Being a leader means doing what is right, even if it isn't popular.
• Start asking some people in your group if they believe God may be leading them to help start the new group.
• When things start solidifying, put a target date on the calendar.
• Have a party! The week before you start the new group, throw a party and celebrate.

Every class has a legacy. You don't want to have a legacy of a Sunday School Scrooge who wouldn't let his folks venture out and grow!

Day 24 - Your Dash

Today's activity - Write the story of how you came to Christ for your kids/relatives to share at your funeral.

What will the final story of your life be? I want to encourage you to take the time today to write in some detail how you came to faith in Jesus Christ. A good way to do this is to write your story as a letter to a loved one. Share some details, but share the most important thing that ever happened in your life. Share some scripture verses that have impacted your life - and share why these verses were so critical in your spiritual development. Tell your loved ones about people that God placed in your journey so that they realize the importance of sharing their faith with others as well.

There is a short story by Linda Ellis that is worth watching. On your tombstone there will be your name, the date you were born and the date you died. In between those two dates is a dash, like 1909-1989. It's the dash that counts. Watch this video and make your dash count.

http://www.thedashmovie.com/

Day 23 - Your Group Needs a Story

Today's activity - Write your group's story on a sheet of paper. Tomorrow, ask your class to share their favorite group story.

What is your group's story? Your story is what someone in your group shares with a co-worker, neighbor, or friend when they ask about their class. It goes something like this: "Bill, I see you driving off in nice clothes every Sunday. Are you going to Sunday School or something?" Bill - "Yeah, you know some day you ought to come to our Bible study group." Jim - "What do you do in your group?" Bill - "Uhmm, well we share a little, and pray, and study our Bible." Jim - "I'm golfing Sunday!"

The story a person in your group shares with someone is very revealing about their perception of the value of the group. A basic story like the one shared above does not reveal a lot of passion about the group, and Jim can detect it. People are drawn to passion, and put off by apathy or a non-committal response.

At your next meeting, ask some people to share their favorite story. Another way to ask this question might be for them to share their most meaningful group story. Listen carefully to the stories shared. Do the stories shared occur in the classroom? Are the stories centered around parties and fellowships? How about stories related to spiritual transformation? A meaningful moment helping a family in crisis? A class mission trip?

Compare the difference between the conversation between Bill and Jim, with this answer from Bill: "Jim, our group studies God's word together. I got some great insight from last week's study that has helped me with a problem I had at work. And you know, this Saturday a group of us guys are going to someone's house who needs some help and install a hot water heater for them. Wanna come?"

In their book Essential Church, Thom and Sam Rainer state that a major reason for many people to remain unchurched is that they do not view the church as being essential. The answers your group shares as their favorite story is very revealing about how essential the group really is.