On this episode of Group Answers, Chris and Brian talk to Ken Braddy about developing consistent and effective training for group leaders. Other than serving as the manager for Lifeway’s ongoing adult Bible studies, Ken is an 18-year church education staff leader and blogs regularly about Sunday School and groups ministry at kenbraddy.com. His new book is Breathing Life into Sunday School.

Outline for Leader Training

* Right Timing

Frequency

Georgia Bapt. Convention’s Research Findings

No training: -2%

Weekly: +6%

Monthly: +13.4%

Quarterly: +13.8%

Annually: +4%

Day of week

Friday night

Saturday AM

Sunday afternoon

Noon-2:00PM

3-5PM

Midweek (Wed.)

Sunday AM (“time shift”)

Overall length

1 hour

90 minutes

2 hours

Ongoing training: shorter

Infrequent training:  longer

* Right Topic

4 general categories

Teaching/Leading

Reaching/evangelism

Relationships/fellowship

Service/inside and outside the church

Sunday School Matters topics (good, easy to use resource)

Teaching matters

New groups matter

Evangelism matters

Souls matter

Ministry matters

Growth matters

Etc…

* Right Touch

Arrive early

Set up room

Check a/v equipment, temperature, supplies

Set up the room for collaborative learning

Sit in a circle or in a “U” so people can see faces (increases conversation)

Start/end on time!

Quality counts

Excellence is an attention to the detail

Handouts, candies, extra pens, nametags, etc.

Don’t ask people to come and then make announcements that you could have emailed them!

Teach/train with variety (engage your group leaders)

Demonstrate a variety of effective teaching techniques

Make the training active! No “sit and soak”

Attendees should talk and participate at least as much as you do

Tie the training to your church’s mission/values

Win five copies of Leading Small Groups by Chris Surratt by Tweeting or Facebooking a suggested show topic and tagging @LifeWayGroups!

This Episode’s Sponsor: The Overcomer movie has inspired the creation of several resources. For small groups, there is the Overcomer Bible study. For individuals, there is a book called Defined. Both are based upon powerful insights from the Book of Ephesians. Learn more about all the resources at Lifeway.com/Overcomer.

The Group Answers Podcast is a weekly show designed to resource, train, and encourage small group leaders. Each episode considers current trends and resources as well as timeless truths and methods of discipleship. It is hosted by Brian Daniel, a Bible study and discipleship expert in Lifeway’s Groups Ministry, and Chris Surratt, the small group and discipleship specialist at Lifeway and author of Leading Small Groups.