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Journey with Jesus
Making Disciples Through Sunday School
Purpose Statement
This is a conference for Youth teachers and leaders. The purpose of this conference it to lead workers through the WHY and HOW to use Sunday School for the process of making student disciples.
Before the Conference
Focal Wall, Room Setup & Decorations
Select and focal wall in the room.
· | Place 4 tear sheets on different walls or at least spread throughout the room. |
· | Place cutout footprints between tears sheets symbolizing a “journey”. |
Audio/Visual Needs
· | Projector and Screen, if needed for PowerPoint Presentation |
During the Conference
Procedure Steps
· | Questions Answered: |
1. How can I make Sunday School more than just bible study and fellowship? | |
2. Is there a way to use Sunday School as a discipleship tool as well? | |
WHY? | |
1. Great Commission: Matthew 28:18-20 | |
· | Jesus’ purpose is to be savior/redeemer of the entire world and all men for all time. |
· | All authority in heaven and earth has been given to Jesus. He has a purpose and now all authority has been given to him so his plan should work. |
· | His Plan – go and make disciples. His plan for reaching the world is for his disciples to go and make disciples. We are commanded to make disciples . |
Illustration: PP illustration of Multiplication | |
2. Workers Are Few: Matthew 9:37 | |
· | It is obvious that there are not enough workers reaching teens today. Teens are the best to be able to reach other teens. |
· | Disciplining teens to disciple teens should be a focus of our efforts and energy. |
· | It takes students to reach students. |
· | Jesus Did Matthew 3:13 – 4:17 |
“Journey” to first tear sheet and write “Jesus Did”. Have volunteer read passage. Ask group to list disciplines that Jesus modeled. Write answers on the tear sheet. | |
Sample answers found in this passage: study of scripture (implied), memorize, serve, worship, share, evangelize. | |
Explain: | |
Jesus modeled the basic disciplines of a relationship with God. To be a discipler, we must likewise first model these disciplines in our lives. Students will know if you have an authentic, active relationship with Christ. It will overflow in your daily life. | |
Students will be drawn to an authentic walk with God. | |
Too often Sunday School teachers are living a stagnant walk with God and the only study or discipline they have is teaching the class. | |
Jesus had no problem with getting followers. They saw something different, something real and something that demonstrated authority. | |
Students must see the disciplines of an authentic walk to recognize that their walk is lacking. | |
We cannot expect to lead students where we are not ourselves | |
2. Jesus Did and Disciples Watched | |
“ Journey” to the next tear sheet and write “Jesus Did and Disciples Watched”. | |
· | Jesus Selected : Matt 4:18 – 22 |
Have volunteer read passage. Write “Jesus Selected” on tear sheet. Ask for group to fill in the blank on their handout based upon the passage. | |
Jesus picked out of the crowd those whom he believed would follow and go deeper. In our classes we too will need to pray and discern those to disciple. | |
Sunday School is not the environment in which to disciple, however it is the place to cultivate relationships and discover those to disciple. | |
Discipling will always include meeting with selected students outside of the Sunday School class. |
· | Jesus Modeled : Matt 4:23, Matt 8 & 9 |
Have volunteer read Matt 4:23 and you summarize Matt 8 & 9. Write “Jesus Modeled” on tear sheet. Ask for group to fill in the blank on their handout based upon the passage. | |
Jesus spent his time showing the disciples how to Love God and Love People. He walked with them and lived out his faith for them to see. | |
Teachers must likewise create opportunities inside and outside of class to model Loving God and Loving People. | |
If the only time we spend with students is in Sunday School, it is not enough. | |
Students need to be shown how to live out their faith at ball games, lock-ins, missions efforts/trips. |
· | Jesus Taught : Matt 5 – 7 Sermon on the Mount |
Have knowledge of passage. Write “Jesus Taught” on the tear sheet. Ask for group to fill in the blank on their handout based upon the passage. | |
Sermon on the mount was primarily to his disciples (5:1). | |
Students need someone to come along side of them to teach them how to pray, study, meditate, memorize, serve, witness. This is not automatic at salvation. This takes intentional effort and typically cannot happen in Sunday School due to cross-section of students in class. | |
We must work at teaching the disciples while at the same time including the “fringe”. Too often we teach the “fringe” student and water down for the disciples. | |
3. Disciples Did and Jesus Watched: Matt 10; Luke 10:1-20 | |
“Journey” to the next tear sheet and write “Disciples Did and Jesus Watched”. Use scripture to get workers to recognize points. | |
· | Jesus Sent Out Write “Jesus Sent Out” on the tear sheet. |
Jesus was intentional to send out his disciples. He gave them opportunity to put into practice what they had seen and heard. | |
Disciples can be used to help teach the Sunday School lesson by giving specific assignments for specific outcomes. | |
Disciples can be given assignments on whom to contact from the class. | |
Disciples can be given assignments to be making new relationships for the purpose of sharing the gospel. | |
Disciples can be given responsibility of befriending new attenders to class . | |
· | Jesus Debriefed Write “Jesus Debriefed” on the tear sheet |
Accountability is important part of discipling. | |
Disciples need to be held accountable for given responsibilities. | |
Joy and encouragement is shared in the sharing of accomplished tasks (Luke 10:17, 21). | |
Time must be taken to celebrate accomplishments and to further instruct as disciples have questions. | |
4. Disciples Did: Acts 1:9, 2:11… | |
“Journey” to the next tear sheet and write “Disciples Did”. Guide workers to answer on handout. | |
Jesus left the responsibility with his disciples. This is our goal although we might not get completely there while student is in class. | |
Goal is to get students to begin to reach out to other students. | |
At some point getting students to lead other students in discipleship. | |
Remember, Jesus spent three years with his disciples and had to die for them to get the picture…. | |