10 Ways to Spark Group Discussion

^{Adapted from Resource Magazine}

Research shows that the more group members participate in a study, the more they will remember about the study. Bible study leaders are always interested in finding ways to help their pupils participate in meaningful class discussions. Suggest these ten ways they can create some conversation:

1.   Agree-Disagree. Make a list of controversial statements on one topic. Have the students tell whether they agree or disagree with each and why.

2.   Brainstorming. Have the class come up with as many different ideas as it can on one subject (i.e. ways to increase class attendance).

3.   Case Study. Present your class with a real-life problem they can analyze and suggest solutions to the situation.

4.    Interview. The class is given a chance to ask questions of a resource person (i.e. a visiting Bible professor or a missionary).

5.    Listening Teams. Small groups listen to a presentation or a song, with a specific question or issue in mind. Discuss their responses and share major points with the entire class.

6.    Role Play. Teacher chooses the players, then describes a lively scenario to be acted out impromptu. Class analyzes the scene.

7.    Viewing Teams. Small groups watch a video or short film with specific questions in mind. Discussion follows in small groups, then with the full class.

8.   Debate. Two people (or more) discuss opposing views on a given topic (allow advance time for preparation), while observes and prepares to ask questions and share comments. To spark discussion, assign specific viewpoints for various class members to argue.

9.     Buzz Groups. Adults meet in small groups of four to six to briefly discuss a given topic or set of questions. A group leader reports back to the full class.

10.  Art or Picture Study. Display a painting or picture relating to the study topic and have class members describe the meaning, purpose, or action that the piece contains.
 

THINGS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….

FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL LEADERSHIP: National Sunday School Directors Seminar (NSSDS), October 26, FBC/Lithia Springs - http://www.lifeway.com/Event/Leadership-Training-National-Sunday-School-Director-Seminar-2013-Lithia-Springs

FOR SMALL GROUP MINISTRY: Beginning and Expanding your Small Group Ministry, a FREE seminar with Mark Howell, October 23, Cross Pointe Church/Duluth – http://www.markhowelllive.com/heres-where-ill-be-this-fall/?utm_source=buffer&utm_campaign=Buffer&utm_content=buffer16e91&utm_medium=facebook

FOR EDUCATION STAFF: 2014 GBACE Conference: Expanding Your Reach, staying connected in a changing culture - http://www.gbace.org/

FOR CHURCH MINISTRY: The Sermon Starts in the Parking Lot by Danny Franks (a Ministry Grid video) - http://www.ministrygrid.com/training/the-sermon-starts-in-the-parking-lot/#.UlHax6yi_pc

FOR EVANGELISM TRAINING: Engage: A Practical Guide to Evangelism - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/engage-a-practical-guide-to-evangelism-member-book-p005560882

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: Kingdom Agenda by Tony Evans - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/kingdom-agenda-living-life-gods-way-leader-kit-P005558791

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Sacred Secrets by Beth Moore - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Sacred-Secrets:-A-Living-Proof-Live-Experience?intcmp=LWMain-Hero2-SacredSecrets-20130805

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Effective Small Groups for Women by Julie Woodruff (a Ministry Grid video) - http://www.ministrygrid.com/training/effective-small-groups-for-women/#.UlHaBKyi_pc

 FOR FAMILY MINISTRY: Quantity Time with Kids by Mark Merrill (a Ministry Grid video) - http://www.ministrygrid.com/training/quantity-time-with-kids/#.UlHZpKyi_pc

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Grace Unplugged, a Bible study based on the movie - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/grace-unplugged-the-bible-study-leader-kit-P005558738

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Do Over by Ben Mandrell, a study from Romans - http://www.lifeway.com/n/product-family/bible-studies-for-life-small-group-studies/do-over?intcmp=BSFLSmallGroups-MTX-Text-DoOver-LearnMore-20130717

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Honest to God by Robert Jeffress, real answers to honest questions - http://www.lifeway.com/n/product-family/bible-studies-for-life-small-group-studies/do-over?intcmp=BSFLSmallGroups-MTX-Text-DoOver-LearnMore-20130717

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: God’s Story, part one (the Old Testament) - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/the-gospel-project-for-adults-gods-story-part-1-P005582520

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: God’s Story, part two (the New Testament) - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/the-gospel-project-for-adults-gods-story-part-2-P005584681

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Center Your Student Ministry on the Gospel by Jason Gaston (a Ministry Grid training video) - http://www.ministrygrid.com/training/center-your-student-ministry-on-the-gospel/#.UiY11azAHTo

Nine Reasons Why Church Leaders Struggle with Prayer

by Dr. Chuck Lawless

John, a leader in a church I assisted as a consultant, admitted to me what I’d heard before from seminary students and church leaders alike: “Dr. Lawless, I don’t always pray like I should. I know better, but prayer isn’t easy.” I’ve heard something similar so many times that I’ve begun asking for more details. These findings are anecdotal, but here are my general conclusions about why church leaders struggle with prayer.

 

1. Leaders are “fixers” by nature. Most leaders don’t readily admit a need for help. Instead, we are problem solvers who seek solutions, attempt answers, and try again if the first answer doesn’t work. Indeed, our followers expect leaders to come up with solutions. Our persistence and tenacity to do so – both good traits in themselves – sometimes push prayer to a last resort option. 
2. We never learned how to pray.  Churches make this mistake with most spiritual disciplines: we tell believers what to do, but don’t teach them how to do it. “Pray. Pray. You must pray,” we proclaim. When we tell but don’t teach, though, we set believers up for discouragement and failure. If leaders are honest, we’ll admit that we, too, have much to learn about how to pray. 
3. Prayer has become more about ritual than about relationship. This reason relates directly to the previous one. We know we should pray, even if we don’t know how, so we go through the motions of prayer. It is not a relationship with a living Lord that calls us to prayer; it is instead only religious ritual. Ritual seldom leads to a consistent, vibrant prayer life. 
4. Prayerlessness can be hidden.  No one in our church needs to know about this struggle. We can talk about prayer, teach about prayer, write about prayer, and even lead corporately in prayer – all without anyone knowing that personal prayer is sporadic at best. This kind of hiddenness is an enemy of heartfelt prayer. 
5. We don’t really believe prayer works. Sure, we teach otherwise about prayer. No church leader I know would teach that prayer is ineffective. Nevertheless, our prayer life often suggests otherwise. Sometimes we don’t pray at all. When we do pray, we’re too often surprised when God does respond. Surprise is one indicator we’re not convinced about the power of prayer. 
6. We have never been broken under God’s hand. The apostle Paul, who was a leader extraordinaire, learned the power of strength in weakness (2 Cor. 12:7-10). Faced with a thorn in the flesh, he pleaded with God to remove it. God instead sovereignly used the thorn to weaken the apostle, who experienced God’s strength at his weakest moments. It is in our weakness that we learn how to pray, but leaders naturally fight against weakness. 
7. Leaders read the Word in a one-sided way. Leaders are often teachers who read the Word for information transmission more than life transformation. When we approach the Word that way, we miss the opportunity to be in dialogue with God. Our Bible reading – even when preparing for teaching or preaching – should bring us to praise, confession, and obedience. It should lead us into prayerful conversation with God. 
8. Some leaders have simply lost hope. It happens. Church leaders who prayed more consistently in the past sometimes lose hope under the weight of church conflict, family struggles or health concerns. Unanswered prayer leads to faithlessness, which leads to prayerlessness. 
9. We miss the gospel focus on the prayer life of Jesus. I love the four Gospels, but I admit to reading them for many years without meditating on Jesus’ prayer life. A seminary professor challenged me to read the Gospel of Luke with this focus in mind, and my prayer life has never been the same.

In fact, church leader, I give you that same challenge. In your quiet time this week, read these texts. Note how Jesus prayed. Listen to His teachings. Think deeply about the Word. Then, respond to Him in prayer. Take the first step toward being a praying church leader.

Luke 3:21-22; 4:42 (cf. Mark 1:35); 5:15-16; 6:12-13; 6:27-28; 9:16, 18, 28-29; 10:1-2, 21; 11:1-13; 18:1-8, 9-14; 19:45-46; 20:45-47; 21:36; 22:17-19, 31-32, 39-46; 23:33-34, 46; 24:30, 50-51.

THINGS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….

FOR STAFF LEADERSHIP: Time Management by Jim Baker (a Ministry Grid training video) - http://www.ministrygrid.com/training/time-management/#.UiY3aKzAHTo

 

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Fast Track: Through the Bible in Eight Weeks for Kids, Students, and Adults - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Fast-Track:-Genesis-to-Revelation?emid=PD-Product-BSI-FastTrack-20130731

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Authentic: Developing the Disciplines of a Sincere Faith by James McDonald - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/authentic-developing-the-disciplines-of-a-sincere-faith-leader-kit-P005399891

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: This Changes Everything: Lessons from James by Ben Stuart - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/this-changes-everything-lessons-from-james-leader-kit-P005560878

FOR CHILDREN’S MINISTRY: Kids Ministry Conference, October 7-10, Nashville, TN – for children’s ministry leaders, both paid and volunteer - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/LifeWay-Kid%27s-Ministry-Conference?type=events&intcmp=KidsMinistryConferenceSearch-Button-KidsMinistryConference-20130426

FOR CHILDREN’S MINISTRY: 8 Approaches to How Kids Learn by Melita Thomas (a Ministry Grid training video) - http://www.ministrygrid.com/training/8-approaches-to-how-kids-learn/#.UiY206zAHTo

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Center Your Student Ministry on the Gospel by Jason Gaston (a Ministry Grid training video) - http://www.ministrygrid.com/training/center-your-student-ministry-on-the-gospel/#.UiY11azAHTo

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Helps and Resources for Planning Your Next D’Now - http://www.lifeway.com/n/merchandised-landing-page/DiscipleNow?intcmp=LifeWayStudents-MTX-Text-Dnow-20120906

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Small Group Discipleship studies - http://www.lifeway.com/Discipleship-Groups/Youth/c/N-1z13x25Z1z141rsZ1z141ym?emid=Student-BibleStudies-20130806

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Sacred Secrets by Beth Moore - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Sacred-Secrets:-A-Living-Proof-Live-Experience?intcmp=LWMain-Hero2-SacredSecrets-20130805

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Living Proof Live Simulcast with Beth Moore, September 14 - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Living-Proof-Live-Simulcast?type=events&emid=PD-Event-BSI-LPLSimulcast-20130826

MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT: Marriage Getaways - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Marriage-Getaways?type=events

Expand Your Church's Ministry to Families

 Here are some tools that are available to you to use in ministering to your families and the best part – they can minister to them when no one else can!  These magazines can provide help, ministry, and inspiration at times when no one else is around regardless of time or day of the week.

You can augment your family ministry by pointing out the value of these upcoming articles in these magazines through sermons, announcements, websites, and church papers.

HomeLife

• Labor Union: Where your day job and kingdom work meet
• Stuck in Neutral: You can shift your marriage into high gear
• Breast Cancer before 40
• Shadow of His Former Self: Loving ways to support your husband through difficult times
• Raising the ‘Me’ Generation: Loosen your kids’ grip on the chains of entitlement
• Creating a Couple Identity

ParentLife

• Embracing Children With Differences
• The Comparison Trap: How New Moms Can Avoid Stepping Into One
• A difference Only a Father Can Make
• Adoption: The Ins and Outs
• How Boys and Girls Learn Differently
• For Their Eyes Only: How iShine is Changing the Face of Tween Media

Parenting Teens

• Time and Schedule Management: What’s the line between growing your teen and stretching him too far?
• The good, the bad, and the ugly of technology in the home
• When a special needs child becomes a teenager
• How to create community in tough situations – testimonies from pastors wives, homeschooling parents, rural families, missionaries and empty nesters
• The need for a Sabbath when it comes to technology – what’s the value in unplugging?
• Q&A with Grace Unplugged’s AJ Michalka and James Denton on how the movie speaks to the concept of the prodigal

More Living

• The Eye-Opening Prayer of Coach Bear Bryant
• Angela Thomas Reveals the True Goal of the Christ Follower
• Gary Chapman Discusses the 5 Languages of Gratitude
• Spiritual Insights for the Holiday Season
• What You Must Know About the Boomer Brain

Mature Living

• International adoptions require adjustments and support from grandparents
• Addiction to Pain Killers: a growing problem for senior adults
• Celebrating holiday traditions even when you leave traditions behind
• Keith Getty writes hymns with strong theology and memorable melodies
• Three minutes a day leads to a solid commitment to study God’s Word
• How to start a support group for caregivers

THINGS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….

FOR CHURCH-WIDE EVENT: Follow Me Simulcast with Dr. David Platt, August 16, 6:00pm/EDST, broadcasting from an undisclosed place where it’s dangerous to follow Christ, David Platt will challenge you to live your faith at a deeper level - http://www.lifeway.com/Event/adult-event-follow-me-simulcast

FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL LEADER TRAINING: 2013 Georgia Baptist Sunday School Training Workshops, August 3, 10, 17, 24; click on the link to find which of the 23 workshops is closest to you –

https://www.cvent.com/Pub/WebEmails/WebEmail.aspx?te=B55DC013-F8BD-4548-8658-9F5255DBCDA6&ti=C70CC61D-9122-4CAA-8A09-A39B0D8E28EF&tc=2F700517-631A-4069-A7F3-C7FC105D4CC0

FOR NEW MEMBER TRAINING: I Am a Church Member by Dr. Thom Rainer, a great gift for new members or class material for a new member’s class - http://www.lifeway.com/Keyword/i+am+a+church+member?emid=Product-PastorsToday-IAmaChurchMember-20130701

FOR STAFF LEADERSHIP: “The ‘What’ & ‘How’ of Baptism” by Mark Marshall (A Ministry Grid training video clip) - http://www.ministrygrid.com/training/mark-marshall-the-what-how-of-baptism/#.UgEQtqzAHTp

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Fast Track: Through the Bible in Eight Weeks for Kids, Students, and Adults - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Fast-Track:-Genesis-to-Revelation?emid=PD-Product-BSI-FastTrack-20130731

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Glorious Ruin; How Suffering Sets You Free by Tullian Tchividjian – http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Glorious-Ruin:-How-Suffering-Sets-You-Free?emid=PD-Product-BSI-GloriousRuin-20130625

FOR CHILDREN’S MINISTRY: Kids Ministry Conference, October 7-10, Nashville, TN – for children’s ministry leaders, both paid and volunteer - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/LifeWay-Kid%27s-Ministry-Conference?type=events&intcmp=KidsMinistryConferenceSearch-Button-KidsMinistryConference-20130426

FOR CHILDREN’S MINISTRY: Salvation Conversations with Kids by Klista Storts (on Ministry Grid) - http://www.ministrygrid.com/klista-storts-salvation-conversations-with-kids/#.UdLXiazhfTo

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Helps and Resources for Planning Your Next D’Now - http://www.lifeway.com/n/merchandised-landing-page/DiscipleNow?intcmp=LifeWayStudents-MTX-Text-Dnow-20120906

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Sacred Secrets by Beth Moore - http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/Sacred-Secrets:-A-Living-Proof-Live-Experience?intcmp=LWMain-Hero2-SacredSecrets-20130805

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Stronger: Finding Hope in Fragile Places by Angela Thomas - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/stronger-finding-hope-in-fragile-places-leader-kit-p005474740

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: The Real Win by Colt McCoy & Matt Carter, a study on the steps toward biblical manhood - http://www.lifeway.com/Product/the-real-win-leader-kit-P005558785