When the pastor asked every class to study a series on the church’s purpose for eight weeks instead of the traditional Sunday School lesson, one man was upset. He asked the pastor, “When can I have my church back?”
Such are the roadblocks when churches try to fulfill their mission in new and creative ways, according to panelists in a recent webinar hosted by the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions.
Daniel Edmonds, director of the SBOM office of Sunday School and discipleship, moderated the discussion, “Connect with the Core: Disciple Making,” about small group Bible study ministry and discipleship in times of change, including COVID-19.
Edmonds noted it is possible for people to reside in community but not live in community.
“I think that’s what we’ve seen in COVID-19,” he explained. “We live in neighborhoods but don’t know one another.”
‘Delay of game’ concern
Fellowship is often mentioned as one goal for small group Bible study, whether its called Sunday School, LIFE groups or whatever, Edmonds said.
“The fellowship time can be a ‘delay of game’ while we wait for late-comers to arrive, and consist of sports talk (or other discussions).”
Edmonds also said prayer can become a time of sharing details and family relationships rather than asking, “How we can help this family?”
Edmonds said the “why” of small groups often gets lost in the “what.”
“If you ask a Baptist the purpose of Sunday School, they might talk about prayer, fellowship and Bible study — the ‘what’ — without getting around to the ‘why’ we do it,” Edmonds continued. “We must always be on purpose, and our purpose is to make disciples.”
Edmonds added that churches also may struggle for leaders if there is no clear purpose.
“We’re called to make disciples, and leadership grows from this,” he said.
Robert Mullins, pastor of Crossroads Community Church, Elmore, agreed the “traditional approach” to new groups and leadership is inadequate.
“We go to a group and tell them we’re making two groups, send one to another space and people get mad,” he said with a laugh. “It’s better to ask leaders to multiply themselves as they grow disciples.”
Mullins noted Crossroads has struggled with space issues as other churches have during the pandemic and has had to place on-campus groups in larger rooms so they can better spread out.
“There’s an urgency in what we’re called to do, and we have to find a way to do it,” he said.
“Many times, we use space in the church for one hour each week, and this isn’t good stewardship. We need to have ‘blue sky’ sessions and dream with our people about new ways to do our work.”
Mark Gainey, pastor of Fultondale First Baptist Church, said he tried to help his congregation make a “map” rather than a “menu.”
Offer fewer choices
“We came through the ‘seeker’ and consumer era, and many of us believed we had to offer multiple choices,” he explained. “So someone comes into the church and we say, ‘Here’s 35 things you can do.’
“This is overwhelming, and some people think they have to be in 30 of them,” he said. “But research shows committed people will give us up to three hours each week, so we need to guide them into the priorities.
“Less is more,” he explained. “Having multiple Bible studies can be almost an addiction.
“I think we have to sponsor a recovery program of sorts and focus on making disciples. The best way to do this may not be sponsoring every new Bible study program that comes along.”
Andy Frazier, pastor of Grace Baptist Church, Sumiton, said his church uses The Gospel Project series from LifeWay Christian Resources, so “every age is on the same page,” and he preaches on the same themes.
“By the time our members get into small groups, the question they ask is, ‘OK, now what are we going to do about this truth we’ve learned?’ This is ‘unpacking’ in the classroom.”
Frazier said his church also has a churchwide Bible reading plan so members are growing together.
Intensive focus on a small group of people can be very effective, Mullins noted.
“My wife and I have four couples who meet with us one hour each week,” he said. “We’ve been going verse-by-verse through the book of Acts. I tell them [that] when we’re done, I want them to do the same thing with other couples.”
For more information about discipleship training resources, contact Edmonds at 800-264-1225.
View this and other videos in the “Pathways that Lead to Connection” series at vimeo.com/alsbom.
A guide to the series is available for download at tabonline.org/connect-handout.
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