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May

The New Bible Studies For Life Curriculum

By Bob Mayfield · Comments (0)

LifeWay is re-launching its most popular line of ongoing Bible study curriculum for use in churches beginning this Fall. My friend David Francis, Director of Sunday School at LifeWay, is serving as managing editor of the project. He answered a few questions about the new Bible Studies for Life.

Bob Mayfield: If we were on an elevator, and you had only a minute or two to tell me the most important things I needed to know about the new Bible Studies for Life, what would they be?

David Francis: That sounds like something you’d ask, Bob! I would tell you about the three promises we are making to churches about Bible Studies for Life. It will help churches connect the unconnected, strengthen families, and disciple people with wisdom. Each of those promises has scriptural inspiration. Connect the unconnected is inspired by the story of the woman at the well in John 4. We want groups to have spiritual conversations that lead to personal spiritual transformation. Deuteronomy 6:4 guides us in the promise to strengthen families. 1 Corinthians 3:10 challenges us to disciple people with wisdom. The passage that undergirds it all is John 10:10. And our Twitter handle says it most succinctly: @BibleMeetsLife. I think it’s time for to get off the elevator!

BM: OK! Let’s pretend I am a pastor and you are sitting in my office. I am a little skeptical. Can Bible Studies for Life really help us connect the unconnected?

DF: Not by itself! But it can sure help. The studies are compelling. They deal with real life issues. To help you communicate this, we are providing free promotional videos for each six-session unit of study. You can show it in the worship service and
make an appeal for people not connected to a group to get involved when the new study starts.

BM: Why six sessions?

DF: My friend Mark Howell, our small groups consultant for the series, jokes that if you ask an unconnected person to make a 13-week commitment, it sounds like a lifetime commitment! According to small groups pioneer Lyman Coleman, six weeks is perfect. It is short enough to commit to. It is long enough to start feeling connected. Plus, it is enough time to unpack a topic thoroughly and biblically.

BM: Most Sunday School classes meet 13 weeks each quarter. What do they do on the extra week?

DF: That’s up to them! Some may want to have fellowship and food. Others may want to plan a mission project to apply what they’ve learned. Most will want to do Bible study, so we will provide a special-focus session in every unit. In the Fall, it will be a lesson on Thanksgiving.

BM: You said the series will also help churches strengthen families. How?

DF: I wrote a blog post about that recently outlining 7 ways. Here’s the link: http://blog.lifeway.com/biblestudiesforlife/7-ways-bible-studies-for-life-helps-strengthen-families

BM: Do you have any other agenda for Bible Studies for Life?

DF: You know me too well, Bob! Of course I do! My prayer is that it will become the catalyst that helps churches start thousands of new groups. Like maybe a thousand thousand! Bible Studies for Life will have lots of material that will satisfy the most veteran teacher. We will still offer the commentaries like Herschell Hobbs and Advanced Bible Study. But at the same time, it is so easy to use, a rookie leader can use it successfully to lead a satisfying, conversational, transformational group experience. The DVD-ROM in the leader packs will include a short video to help adult teachers and group leaders prepare—featuring the writer of the material. In fact, all some groups will need are the Personal Study Guides—or the iPhone app! The leader guides are intuitive and easy to use. Optional video resources are available for all age groups. I won’t be satisfied with the launch if churches don’t seize the opportunity to start lots of new groups.

________________

New: LifeWay is hosting a webcast from 12:00 – 12:30 on May 8 entitled “Why Aren’t More People In Your Small Groups” with @RonnieFloyd @realericgeiger @pwilson and @RonEdmondson. The webcast will focus on connecting unconnected people, strengthening families, and discipling people with wisdom through small groups. View a video about the webcast by Ronnie Floyd here.

________________

Want to connect with David Francis, National Director of Sunday School at LifeWay? You can follow him on twitter at http://twitter.com/1DavidFrancis

Feel free to ask David a question in the comments section below

Categories : New Groups, Sunday School

Comments (0)

May

Be A Catalyst: Start New Groups

By Bob Mayfield · Comments (4)

Of all the things a church can do to that impacts making disciples, starting a new group(s) is at the top of the list. Last fall a group of us that are committed to see a new groups movement take place in America got together and wrote a new groups resource for pastors, education/discipleship ministers, and Sunday School Directors. Called Be a Catalyst: Start New Groups, this book is available now on Amazon for a mere $0.99.

Along with a bunch of other people, this same group prayed this morning for God to bring a spiritual awakening in America, and we truly believe that He might do it through a new groups movement.

Here are the chapter headings of the book:

Introduction – Bob Mayfield, Oklahoma
Chapter 1, Why Start New Groups – Kiely Young, Mississippi
Chapter 2, Find Your Target – David Bond, Arkansas
Chapter 3, Show Them the Apprentice – Darryl Wilson, Kentucky
Chapter 4, Forming New Groups – Mark Miller, Tennessee
Chapter 5, When and Where New Groups Begin – Jeff Ingram, Louisiana
Chapter 6, Next Steps – Sean Keith, Louisiana

Sean Keith of the Louisiana Baptist Convention and Kiely Young of the Mississippi Baptist Convention compiled the resource. Also, Dwayne McCrary of LifeWay Christian Resources provided his own editorial, proofreading, and graphics skills as well.

If you are looking for a step by step process that includes the why and how of starting a new group, this resource piece is for you. It’s a mere 44 pages in length and can be read in 30 minutes.

ASIN B00BFI9DSG

Categories : New Groups, SS/small groups, Sunday School

Comments (4)

May

Pray for New Groups

By Bob Mayfield · Comments (5)

Last night during a ReConnect Sunday School Road Trip Rally in Durant, I shared the story of a young married couple that approached me last fall about starting a new group. As we visited, I discovered:

They were both 29 years of age
Both had been Christians less than three months
They had no previous church background
They were saved during a Vacation Bible School follow-up visit from an elderly deacon
They had both experienced a dramatic change of lifestyle

I decided to support this young couple’s desire to start a new group. In typical fashion, I offered to send them the names of church members not currently attending a group and the names of guests who were about their age. Their response stunned me!

“No, that’s okay. Our friends have told us that if we will start a new group, they will join it.”

Their new group started 4 days later. Seven people showed up for the first meeting. They now have 16 people in the group.

It’s not often that people voluntarily want to start a new group. Many church members are perfectly happy with their group – be it a Sunday School class or a home group. It’s even more rare when they do not need the “church institution” to get their new group started. But as I have considered this young couple and their desire to reach their friends with the Gospel, I have discovered another question that needed answering.

Where did this couple learn they needed to start a new group to reach their friends?

Answer: no where. They had never attended a Sunday School clinic. They had not attended Sunday School week at Ridgecrest. They had never met Elmer Towns or Allan Taylor either!!

This couple started a new group because to them, it was the logical thing to do in order to engage their friends in a conversation about Jesus Christ and ultimately make disciples of their circle of friends. This couple (I believe led by the Holy Spirit) deduced that their friends would best fit into a new group and then, with no experience at all started that group.

Tomorrow morning at 7:30 (EDST), a group of us are praying for spiritual awakening through a new groups movement. We are going to pray for more people who are willing to start a new group. We don’t care if it is a Sunday School class, a home group, or if they choose to meet in a barn and have a barnyard group. We are praying for transformed lives and we believe that the best approach for spiritual life change, healing, and discipleship is through a small ongoing group; and we need more of them. A lot more of them.

We need more new groups that will reach our friends and neighbors than American churches can expect to start on their own. Like a million more groups! We need God; and we need God to intervene and supply every need. He is able.

Even if it is only for a few moments, I hope that you can join us tomorrow and pray for new groups.

Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and wondrous things that you do not know.
Jeremiah 33:3

Categories : New Groups, SS/small groups, Sunday School

Comments (5)

Apr

Pray for Awakening and for New Groups

By Bob Mayfield · Comments (1)

Eighteen months ago a group of us got together right before the State Conventions’ December Summit in Nashville to pray for a movement of new groups here in America. As we prayed and then attended the meeting, we discovered other people that were also praying for a movement of new groups.

On Thursday, May 2 (the National Day of Prayer), we are joining together to pray for a movement of new groups. Instead of meeting together in one location, instead we are all meeting together at the same time but in different locations – each of us will be on our knees in our favorite place of prayer to seek God’s direction and wisdom.

Why a New Groups Movement?
The first and second Great Awakenings were built around powerful biblical preachers like George Whitefield, Gilbert Tennant and Jonathan Edwards who preached the Gospel to thousands in large meetings. The 1857-58 Prayer Revival was a lay-led awakening that began with Jeremiah Lanphier starting a small prayer group in New York City.

God can move in any fashion He chooses. As we look at our culture today, it appears that a small groups movement could be used by God to bring sweeping spiritual transformation to our nation. Small groups can be started anywhere. The cost can be almost nothing. Small groups are led by lay leaders. They can meet anytime, virtually anywhere, and in any number of formats. Gospel-centered small groups focus on Bible study/discipleship, evangelism, community, and being on mission to impact lostness and start more groups.

On his blog, my friend Darryl Wilson references Ed Stetzer and LifeWay Research; every new group will reach three lost people. Friends, my prayer is that we could see an explosion of a million or more new groups in our nation over the next few years.

I want to encourage you to join us as we pray for a moving of God’s Spirit through our land. Here is the simple plan:

Thursday, May 2 at 7:30 am (EST)
As we gather in our own unique places to pray before God, let’s pray:

For the Gospel to be shared with every person in America;

For the Lord of the harvest to raise up leaders for new groups;

For our leaders; pastors, Sunday School directors, education ministers, and denominational servants to be humble and sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and open to the possibilities that new groups offer to engage people with the Gospel and the Christian community;

That we will see spiritual transformation among ourselves and across our nation;

For partnership and cooperation;

For spiritual wisdom and insight;

Let’s be sure to listen to leading of the Holy Spirit as we pray.

This Thursday at 7:30 (EST), I am going to read Ezekiel 37:1-14 and pray for God to “breath in us so that we may come to life
and know that He is Lord.”

I hope you can join us wherever you are this Thursday, and pray for a movement of new groups. It can start anytime, so why not now? It can start anywhere, so why not with you?

Praying for a new groups movement…

Categories : SS/small groups, Sunday School

Comments (1)

Apr

7 Practical Actions to Build Group Community

By Bob Mayfield · Comments (0)

Many times we understand the concepts or ideas of building community within a Sunday School or small group. I find some small group leaders who appear to believe that community “just happens.” Nothing could be farther from the truth. Biblical community must be intentional. Today I want to offer seven practical actions that a leader can do to influence his or her group to grow together in community.

Nametags
Yes – use nametags! Sometimes it is the simplest of things that can have the greatest impact. The fact is that it is unlikely that you are going to get close to someone if you do not know each others names.

Make Phone Calls
A phone call is often one of the best ways for you to discover ministry needs in your group. Plus, you can call someone for any reason. Consider the following ideas about making a phone call:

When someone misses a group meeting. They may have been absent because they were out of town, or it could be something more serious. But you will never know if you do not make a call;
To enlist them to help for the next group meeting. You may call them to ask them to share their testimony, or bring some food to the next group gathering;
Ask them to help with ministry. Could they help out another group member that lives near them that is in need of some ministry;
Follow up on a prayer request they shared with the group. Making a follow-up call communiciates genuine concern;
Always call someone who has visited your group. Preferably within 48 hours. Someone has put forth the effort to join your group for an hour or two. If they never hear from you or someone in your group, then they probably think that your group is not a place where they are going to belong. On the other hand, a phone call from the group a day or two after they visit communicates volumes about the openness of the group.

Fellowship Together
Some parts of the country call these “socials”, but whatever you call it your group needs to get together and have fun. I recommend one fellowship a month, but definitely no fewer than four per year. If your group meets in a home during the week, take advantage by eating dinner together.

Minister to Each Other
When you discover someone in your group is in need of ministry – get proactive! Rally the team and respond appropriately. Simple actions like taking a casserole to a family or stopping by the hospital for a visit says a lot about your group and builds community. People remember who was – and wasn’t – there during a crisis.

Mission Projects
Do a mission project together as a group. Enlist people in the group to lead the project, select a date to launch the mission effort, and then do it. Groups that join together around a common mission build community as a by-product of their work.

Pray Together
I shared something with a small group over the weekend. Spontaneously, three men stepped up, put their hands on my shoulders and prayed for me. Those aren’t just three guys anymore – they are brothers.

Social Media
I use an app on my smart phone called “Group Text”. It’s cheap (about $2.99) and it lets me text everyone in my group at the same time. Plus, if someone texts me back, their return text only comes to my phone. No one else sees what everyone else may send back to me. Most people read text messages as soon as they are received, so a message you send to your group is probably going to be seen by everyone. Use other social media like Twitter or Facebook.

As you process this, what are some specific actions that you and your group can take to build community.

Categories : SS/small groups

Comments (0)

Apr

Leaving The Leader Guide Behind

By Bob Mayfield · Comments (1)

Aaron Summers is a follower of Christ, husband, and father of two who currently serves as the pastor of First Baptist in Perry, OK. You can find out more at www.theintersect.us.

Leaving the Leader Guide Behind

In so many lives there is that seminal moment where the choice to leave all that is comfortable for the greater adventure must be made. Robert Frost wrote that two roads diverged in a wood. He took the one less traveled and it made all the difference in his life. The day that I left the leader guide in the office was the scariest moment in teaching. What it forced me to do was teach from my heart more than the notes. We talked as a group. Instead of just opening a guide we opened our hearts. I have not brought a leader guide to class since that day. I assure you that I prepare using the tools I will talk about. However, I teach from the overflow of that preparation, planning, and prayer. How does one teach/lead a group without a guide in hand?

How can we lead a group successfully unless there is an outline to provide guidance? Let me share with you the few things you really need:

1. Communication. Talking with God is an absolute must! No amount of study will prepare you as much as this one thing. Whenever I am about to dive into a project around the house I make sure my phone is charged and in my pocket. Depending on the project, I have a “guy” that I will call. We talk about the project, the potential hazards, and the plan to get through it. Our Father wants to share his wisdom and experience with whatever is going with you or the group. He can help you know what is needed for discussion or development. Praying over the needs of the group and the passage under review is critical. Each lesson must be real for us before it becomes real to someone else.

2. Manual. When the head on my engine leaked I immediately bought the Chiltons Manual. It was there that I found out all I could ever know about the vehicle. It gave me clear instructions on how to fix the problem I was having. The Scriptures are the manual we need. So often I find teachers spend more time in the teacher’s book before class than they do in THE book. A regular time spent in the word will provide immeasurable depth and ability. As you allow the Bible to shape you it will shape your thoughts and abilities. One day in class you will be able to answer a person’s question with a Scripture because you will be familiar with it. Your time in the Word prepares you to receive those on-the-fly memos from the Holy Spirit. In the same way, read and meditate on the passage in your lesson. Read the Word before you read about the Word.

3. Expert Advice. After we have read the Bible and prayed over it, we are ready to read the works of those who have expert advice based on education and experience. I was building a play set in the backyard and discovered I could not dig the holes I needed. I called a buddy of mine and he came over. He kicked the dirt around a little, dug a small hole and then shared his advice. He left and came back later with his tractor, an auger, and a cheater bar. There are times when we need the expert advice and experience of those who have gone before us. When I study scripture, I like to use The Expositor’s Bible Commentary.

4. Elbow Grease. The final thing I want to share with you is the need to work hard. I have a few shirts that have 19 yrs of worth of paint on them because no matter what the project I get dirty doing it. When leaders do not get dirty doing the job they are not working hard enough. The Oklahoma Sunday School Initiative “ReConnect Sunday School” reminds us that Sunday School is the church’s primary strategy to connect people with Jesus, His truth, His community, and His mission. Know your people and listen with your heart. I have found that teaching a scripture that has meant something to you in the past week is more encouraging than popping out a lesson. I implore you to research the options: Explore the Bible, The Gospel Project, and the new Bible Studies for Life. Each of these offer unique experiences with the Bible.

Leaving the leader guide behind means that you must do the time in preparation through prayer and study on your own. In the group, teach from the Bible and your heart allowing what God has taught you to overflow into the group.

____________________________

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Categories : Sunday School, Theology

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Apr

Why Theology Matters in Small Group

By Bob Mayfield · Comments (10)

Bob Pittenger has served as senior pastor of Living Oaks Baptist Church, Tulsa, for the last eight years. Over the last twenty years he has served as a missionary, youth pastor, evangelism pastor and senior pastor.

Why Theology Matters in Small Group

I enjoy reading in Scripture about the formation of the first church. They started with one hundred twenty people praying together, and then over the next thirty years proceeded to change the world. They did not have gospel tracts, Christian bookstores, radio programs, church buildings, or websites to spread the word, yet they were able to turn the world upside down.

How did a small group of people make such a difference? They did it by taking new Christians, teaching them sound doctrine, developing them into leaders, and then sending them into their communities to start the process themselves. This strategy of taking theologically sound believers and placing them into a small group of unbelievers resulted in people becoming followers of Jesus. Because the teaching was built upon the solid foundation of sound theology, lives were changed and people were saved.

Theology matters in small groups because it teaches us to go and make disciples. That was Paul’s purpose in training up believers. It was not practical for Paul to do all the work himself. He needed to develop sound teachers who could take what they had learned and teach others to go out and do the same. The purpose of the small group is not for participants to grow in mental assent—the purpose of the small group is to train them to take what they have learned, start their own small groups by connecting with people they know, and train them to do the same.

Theology matters in small groups because there are many who have been exposed to bad theology. Paul believed Scripture was given for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. There are those who have picked up false beliefs and need to be corrected for their own good. I once sat in a meeting where a gentleman said, “I don’t worry about correcting false doctrine. I am here to make a connection and create a safe environment. I will choose friendship over bad theology any day.” If the purpose of a small group is to make theologically sound disciples, a misunderstanding of Scripture must be addressed gently by a gracious leader.

Theology matters in small groups because it helps promote unity within the church body. The little pulpit in Sunday School or a small group is much more powerful than the big pulpit in the sanctuary. If a small group leader is teaching bad theology, he can cause great turmoil in a church very quickly. A well-trained leader will enhance the people’s understanding of the pastor’s teaching not oppose it. Small group leaders who understand the Bible are able to take care of conflicts, misunderstandings, and hurt feelings within the group. This type of shepherd will ensure no one falls through the cracks, faces trials alone, or has an unmet need. A small group leader who understands the theology of biblical community helps promote unity within the church.

The first church was able to change the world in thirty short years because they trained people to connect with others and teach theological truths about Jesus. The results are unmistakable. Today, we need to make sure that our leaders are properly trained in sound biblical doctrine. They need to be equipped in how to make and develop disciples who will go out and make and develop disciples. This type of training will be intense, time consuming, and will require a great commitment. Who knows what we can accomplish in the next thirty years if we start training up a new generation of theologically sound small-group leaders. We might even turn the world upside down.

__________________________

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Categories : SS/small groups, Theology

Comments (10)

Apr

Necessities and Suggestions for Teaching Doctrine in Small Groups

By Bob Mayfield · Comments (6)

Brent Prentice is grateful to be the pastor of Eagle Heights Baptist Church in Stillwater, OK. He has been happily married to Lacey for 11 years and together they have three children: Luke, Elijah and Bella.

Necessities and Suggestions for Teaching Doctrine in Small Groups

Can doctrine really be taught in a small group so that disciples are being made?

What if the doctors and nurses (the professionals) from your local hospital gathered some reliable laypeople from the community who were committed to their own health and handed them a copy of “Healthcare for Dummies” and instructed them to teach a small group how to prevent, diagnose and treat every imaginable illness and disease? Would you be okay with a well-meaning, but untrained person(s), diagnosing your stomach virus or inflamed appendix, and then treating it?

What about your local church? Do you really want to turn your laypeople loose, even your most mature people, to teach and apply the finer points of difficult doctrines concerning the Trinity, baptism, eschatology, election, sin and so forth? Can teaching doctrine be done well in small groups, or is it just too difficult and dangerous given the intricacies of these eternally serious doctrines?

I suspect the tendency for many is to avoid using small groups to teach doctrine for the fear of the propagation of error, divisive arguments or even boredom that leads to attendance loss. However, I believe teaching doctrine must be done in small groups and can even be done well – if there is a plan.

So as a part of the ReConnect Sunday School Initiative, here are some necessities and suggestions to accomplish teaching disciple-forming doctrine in small groups.

Necessity: Doctrinal Preaching. Doctrinal preaching must be seen by the pastor and church staff as the catalyst for teaching doctrines in small groups. The pastor has the opportunity to show that doctrine is critical and applicable, as well as, setting the boundaries of truth for doctrine to prevent error. Preaching and teaching on doctrine must be
more than a dry classroom-style lecture. Yes, teaching must be systematic and clear, but we must show why doctrine is eternally serious and how it changes people when all of our lives are submitted to the authority of God’s written truth. The pastor can also guard the small groups from error by pointedly saying what a doctrine does and does not mean and why it matters. The bottom line is that a local church will be excited about what the pastor is excited about and emphasizes. The pastor must set the tone if doctrine is to be embraced and taught in small groups.

Suggestion: Link the content of the small group to the Sunday sermon to emphasize doctrine. Suppose your church was preaching through the book of Acts and questions about baptism kept being asked. The pastor and staff may decide to emphasize baptism by doing several sermons about it. In addition, to really press the understanding and application of baptism the small groups may be asked to take several weeks to go through supplemental content with application questions. The benefit of this is that the pastor can
frame the boundaries of the doctrine of baptism so as to guard against error and then ask his group to dig deeper. This also helps people listen more carefully to the sermon because they know they will be discussing it in their small group.

Necessity: Equipping and Training. Easier said than done – right? To teach doctrine simply means we are teaching the teachings of the whole counsel of God from Genesis to Revelation (Matt. 28:20, Acts 20:27, 1 Tim. 6:3). We have to multiply other Bible teachers by training them, but how do we do that besides handing them “Doctrine for Dummies?” Below are multiple ideas.

Suggestion: A multi-pronged strategy for training and equipping. Training Meetings – A couple of times a year get together with all the leaders and train them in a specific area like Bible interpretation.

Conferences – Take laypeople with you. Often pastors and staff go to conferences alone when they should be taking key people like small group leaders.

Blogging and Social Media – Start a blog and set a goal to write on a specific doctrine once a week (perhaps connected to the sermon), and put it on Facebook or Twitter, or send the link to the blog via email.

Articles and Video – Don’t have time to write? There is a mind-boggling amount of reliable resources via the Internet that you can post on Facebook or Twitter, or send by email. The Gospel Coalition Website is a wonderful resource with varying doctrinal points of view.

Modeling – The fact that you are writing, reading and then sending doctrinal content shows that you believe learning doctrine is important and people will see that and emulate it.
Model a learning atmosphere.

Free Books – Set aside some money to buy books for various groups to read. For instance, our staff, Elders and deacons recently read Mark Dever’s book, What Is A Healthy Church? Also, give good books away.

Availability and Lunches – Inquiring minds want to know, and when they do we should be available to teach them and learn with them. Carve out two or three hours a week to meet with people and make it known that you are eager to meet with those who want to discuss the Bible. Take people to lunch and make the most of it by asking a doctrinal question that is relevant to the sermon series or small group discussion.

Necessity: Intentional and Urgent Planning. Teaching disciple-making doctrine won’t happen by accident. There needs to be a customizable and intentional strategy that accomplishes a specified end. My guess is that almost all small groups are teaching doctrine, but the question is this: Are they teaching meaningful and life-changing doctrine? If you don’t know then there probably isn’t a plan and I hope you make one soon. For the sake of the spiritual health of our people and the glory of God, our small groups need to be teaching sound doctrine. What’s your plan?

__________________________

We encourage you to interact with Brent by leaving a comment below. Brent will be checking by the blog today to respond to your comments.

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Categories : SS/small groups, Theology

Comments (6)

Apr

Why Small Groups Need Theology

By Bob Mayfield · Comments (20)

Jason Langley is pastor at Lakeside Baptist Church in Mannford, OK. Jason is a fan of the Clemson Tigers, and a father of two with one more on the way. He’s also a somewhat decent fisherman!

Why Small Groups Need Theology

Experience has taught me that every conversation has a purpose. It might be clearly understood, or it might be veiled to one or both of the participants. The purpose of the conversation helps me know what to do in the conversation. Am I just listening, or do you want my viewpoint? Are you asking a question, or is there some specific action you want me to take?

The same is true for small groups. What is the purpose of our conversation? Are we simply trying to get know each other? Are we trying to organize a mission project? I believe that the central purpose of small groups is theology.

In his epistle to the Ephesians, Paul writes, “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s son, growing into a mature man with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness. Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit.”

Theology is important first of all because without it, we are not stable people. As I write these words, the week is coming to a close where the Supreme Court heard oral arguments concerning gay marriage. The controversy has stolen the focus from Easter, and inflamed a firestorm of debate on social media complete with marriage equality profile symbols. The whole situation is a reality check for evangelical Christians on what is to come in the future. The topic itself involves many different aspects of theology including the nature of God, the nature of sin, marriage, and government.

Where does one even begin to navigate these turbulent waters? Even for those with advanced degrees it is a very difficult task. For the average Christian in the pew, it is overwhelming. It was hard to watch those who dared to take a stand chewed to pieces by their opposing friends.

The bad news is that it will not get any easier to be a Christian in America. Christians who are weak in theology will be unable to live biblical lives that invite their lost culture to take a closer look at Jesus. In fact, I fear many will walk away simply unable to apply God’s Word to their daily lives in the face of the cultural onslaught.

Theology is literally “reasoning about God.” As we live, we pick up ideas about the nature of God and this world from many different sources. We put this together into a worldview, the structure from which we make decisions about life. Some of the structure is right, but all worldviews have misconceptions about God.

Because worldviews explain the why and the how of the way this world operates, wrong theology leads to wrong behavior. Correct theology seeks to understand God in light of the truth of scripture. So theology is also important because it helps us to correctly interpret what is going on around us.

Only so much effective theology can be done in the worship service. As a pastor, it is easy for me to recognize the limitations of the long-term impact of a sermon. For Christians to be prepared for life and ministry in this culture, they must be theologically trained in a small group. They need to sit down with others, look at the word, discuss it, and wrestle with how to live it out. People want more than a one way conversation; they want to ask the hard questions of life. Small groups provide a safe and effective place for people to do theology. Only in this way will they build enough conviction to live it boldly in our changing world.

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Categories : SS/small groups, Sunday School, Theology

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Apr

Rightly Divided –

By Bob Mayfield · Comments (15)

Jeremy Freeman was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, but has called Oklahoma home since his college days at Oklahoma Baptist University. Jeremy was saved at 16 years of age and called to ministry at 17. He received his high school diploma from Castle Hills First Baptist Christian School in 1995; received an undergraduate degree from Oklahoma Baptist University in 1999, and received a Master of Divinity degree from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY in 2008. He is married to Emily ‘McMains’ from Seminole, OK (also a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University, 2000), and they have five children: Brittany (12), Caleb (11) Clayton (10) Trey (7), and Aubrey (4). Follow Jeremy on Twitter @JeremyFreeman_

Jeremy has been a youth evangelist, youth minister, associate pastor and involved in many different types of mission trips and projects. He has served in Southern Baptist churches in Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Jeremy began his ministry as the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church Newcastle, OK on July 1, 2009. Some of Jeremy’s hobbies include spending time with his wife and children, traveling, reading, and playing and watching sports (especially the San Antonio Spurs and the OU Sooners). His main passion in ministry is to thoroughly study and preach the complete and perfect Word of God. His favorite Scripture verse is 2 Corinthians 4:18, which says, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, for what is seen is temporary and what is unseen is eternal.

Rightly Divided: Qualities Needed to Study and Understand Scripture

Studying, understanding, and applying God’s Word are at the heart of a Christian’s walk with the Lord. If one does not study Scripture, they will of course never understand it or apply it to their life. This is true for the individual, small group, or church. All that we know of God and His desires for us come from His inspired, inerrant and infallible Word. Hebrews 4:12 tells us that “The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and the intentions of the heart.” What that tells us is that we must immerse ourselves in the Word, that we might be pierced in the heart and changed by the Word. It could be said then that the heart, or the goal of Bible study, both personal and corporate, is transformation. Romans 12:2a says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…” Every believer, every small group, and every church must approach God’s Word with that goal in mind…to be transformed!

It is with that in mind, that a few essentials need to be considered in order to “rightly divide” and be transformed by the Word of God:

First, a proper perspective of the Word of God will lead believers to stand in awe ofGod. When we approach the Scripture, we must realize that we are approaching God Himself! This understanding should provoke a holy reverence and humility in the heart of every believer. As we seek to handle the Scripture, we need to understand that it is God who first needs to handle us. Someone has wisely said, “We do not study Scripture to master it, rather we study Scripture that it might master us.” Individuals and groups must approach the Word of God first and foremost with that perspective. The fact that God has spoken and revealed Himself so clearly in His Word, should “floor” every believer every time they open their Bible. Acts 2:42 says, “And they devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And AWE came upon every soul…” Believers need to stand in awe of God, and that best happens by having the proper perspective when approaching His Word.

Second, when studying the Scripture, believers must always think about context before they do application. When a passage is read, the first question should not be, “What does this passage mean to me,”but rather, “what does this passage mean?” Students of the Word have to look at the intent of the author, the audience he was speaking to, and the message he was conveying under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Who,what, when, where and why must be asked of every passage that is read. It is critical that believers studying the Scripture get to the heart of the original meaning of the passage they are considering in order to have genuine, biblical application. Context must drive meaning, and when it does, the Holy Spirit will provide proper and powerful application.

Third, a devotion to prayer and yieldedness to the Holy Spirit are absolutely essential when studying God’s Word. Believers have a tendency to consult everyone except the Holy Spirit when seeking to understand Scripture. Keep in mind, it is invaluable to utilize good commentaries and other biblical resources when studying God’s Word, but do not forget that Jesus said the Holy Spirit would “guide us into all truth (John 16:13).” Before “others” are consulted on the meaning of a passage, make sure and spend considerable time in prayer and asking the Holy Spirit to speak clearly. As I said, there is great value in listening to others who have studied the Bible extensively, but do not sell the Holy Spirit short and run to other people first. Pray, ask, listen, and wait as you read…and you will be surprised how loudly and clearly the Holy Spirit will speak.

Finally, study with the intention of sharing! True disciples make other disciples, and the best way to begin that journey is by sharing with others what God is teaching you. As Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:1-2, “You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” Scripture should be studied for the purpose of being transformed by God, that He might use you in the lives of others. Whether studying the Scripture alone or with others, Christians need to get comfortable talking about what they are learning. Many Christians read their Bible consistently, but share what God teaches them rarely. That should not be the case. A careful, thoughtful study of God’s Word should produce a “fire in your bones” that cannot be quenched. Believers need to have the attitude that Peter and John had when they said, “We cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard (Acts 4:20).” The world is desperate for the “church to be the church,” and that begins by Christians being the kind of Christians God calls us to be. Do not study God’s Word to just collect information…study for transformation! Do not study God’s Word to just grow personally…study to be used powerfully! Just think if these principles were employed in every Sunday School class in our churches. Sunday School would then be the driving force we know it can be in the church.

The Oklahoma Sunday School initiative, ReConnect Sunday School, only helps foster this kind of attitude and atmosphere. What a great tool and emphasis! I have never been more proud to be an Oklahoma Baptist.

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We encourage you to interact with Jeremy by leaving a comment below. Jeremy will be checking by the blog today to respond to your comments.

Special Offer – Receive a one of a kind “Herschel Hobbs – My Homeboy” coffee mug!!
To receive a free Herschel Hobbs Homeboy mug follow these three steps…

Leave a comment in the comments section below;
Subscribe to bobmayfield.com by entering your email address in the box located at the top of the right sidebar;
Copy and post the following on either Twitter or Facebook:

RT @bobmayfield Want a Herschel Hobbs Homeboy mug? Go to http://bmayfld.us/10LnGZ1 #theologyweek #sundayschool

We will email you to request a shipping address for your Herschel Hobbs Homeboy mug (supplies are limited, but we will post when we run out of mugs). I’m sure that you will enjoy it!

Categories : Sunday School, Theology

Comments (15)