Monday Morning Scattershooting

Monday Morning Scattershooting while wondering why they call it a Fiat? Probably because if you get mad enough, you can throw one.

   I always thought that Bible class numbers are a more accurate measure of the health of a church than worship attendance. I think it was Ira North that said “as the Bible class goes, so goes the church”.  But even those numbers can be off if we don’t make Bible class a priority in the church.  I've seen lots of churches that have poor class number because they don’t really make the classes worth attending. I’m focusing on adult Bible classes since if the adults come then the children will as well.[*] Here are some things that might help to fix that:

           1. It’s all about the options.

    If you only give folks a choice between one type of class and not coming, more people will take that choice to not come.  More classes make for smaller class size, which in turn will keep people coming. If you are in a larger auditorium class you can miss and no one really notices. Being in a smaller class changes that. Also, more classes fit more learning styles. Some people enjoy a discussion class; some enjoy more of a lecture style. Having a variety of classes lets people find something that fit their learning style, so they will learn more and come more.

           2. Don’t get restrictive

    If you have a ladies class, a young adult class, and auditorium class, you still have the same problem of having only one choice.  Don’t do something that makes people feel like they shouldn’t be in a class.  If you must have a class geared to a particular group, call by the topic rather than group (“Being Biblical Parents rather than Teen Parent Class). That way they chose rather than being excluded.

           3. Always have something new

    If you are on the quarter system don’t have a quarter go by without starting at least one new class or topic. Too many classes get stretched out too long.[†]  Nine times out of ten a class topic goes longer than it should.  Some classes might need to be longer than a quarter but put a limit on it.  Even if you are covering the same subject vary what you are doing[‡] new teacher, different title, new room, new format, something. Don’t get in ruts. If you just did a book of the Bible then next time do character study. Don’t use the same materials all the time either.

           4. Make people want to come back

   Every class should be building up.  Don’t spend half of your time reviewing.  If you can miss three weeks and not have missed anything, the teacher is not moving the class forward.  Create a tease for next week’s class.  Once a person comes to class make them feel like they are missing out if they don’t come back.  Give homework, I.E. questions to consider, passages to read, tasks to do.  If class ends when the class ends, it will end your class.

    Have you ever seen a sign in the window that declares “Help Wanted”?  What if the church had one but rather than help wanted it said “Help NOT Wanted”.   It might look like this:

Help Not Wanted

Manager: A person that will not do any work themselves but will tell everyone else how to do it and keep them in line.

Critic: They will make sure and point out everything that is not up to their personal standards.

Score Keeper: They will keep a detailed list of every slight someone in the church may have given them.

Reporter: This job is to make sure that everyone knows everyone else’s business 

Judge: This person will make sure to look down on everyone else

Historian:  They will help everyone remember how much better thing were “back in the day”.

    While these jobs make be good and vital in the business world, they are not very productive in The Lord’s Kingdom. Before we sign up for these or any other job let’s ask ourselves, “How will this benefit the church” and never choose to do anything that be any real help.

    Finally, Two hunters are out in the woods when one of them collapses. He doesn't seem to be breathing and his eyes are glazed. The other guy whips out his phone and calls 911. He gasps, "My friend is dead! What can I do?" The operator says "Calm down. I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead." There is a silence, then a gunshot is heard. Back on the phone, the guy says "OK, now what?"

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[*] Kids classes are very important but who are the ones that get the kids there? If they are not coming, the kids won’t either.

[†] I once heard of a congregation that spent 3 quarters on the book of Malachi. C'mon Son

[‡]  I know a class that has been on the same subject for at least 5 years, it goes away but comes back with the same topic. C'mon Son