The title of this article may seem a little awkward but bear with me. Many churches have some type of small group Bible study classes for members and others interested in attending such a class. For many this is called Sunday School. Other names and variations are known as Small Groups, Life Groups, Home groups, etc. Since you are reading this, in all probability, you are a leader in one of these or at least you are an attending member of a small group Bible study.

Healthy, growing churches utilize the smaller group Bible study approach, but not only for Bible study. Small group Bible study classes or units in my opinion can and should be the lifeline of the church. Small group Bible study classes are ideal for fostering relationships, carrying out ministry to one another, doing ministry/mission work together (locally and abroad) to the community outside the church, as well as growing spiritually together.

One of my firm beliefs and recurring statements to church leaders around the nation is, “Anything a church wants to do, it can and should do through the Sunday School” (or small group). I say this not only because I believe it, I say it because I have lived it. Whether your church is embarking on a stewardship campaign, desiring to recruit more choir members, or anything in between, it can and should be done through the Sunday School.

To do this effectively you need a well organized, functioning Small Group Bible study. Not only a general organization for the size of your church, each unit (class) needs to be organized for effectiveness.

What should the organization look like? The organization of classes will look somewhat different for various age groups. However, I believe all classes for all ages should have a teacher and an associate teacher. The teacher is the primary leader in the class and has the responsibility of preparing and delivering an age appropriate (for class members) lesson each week.

I use the term associate teacher because I believe every leader should be mentoring, apprenticing someone for his/her leadership role. And the class teacher should be apprenticing the associate teacher to become the primary teacher of a similar class. Some churches use substitute teachers in their classes. How often does a substitute teach? Only when the teacher is out – maybe once or twice a year. On the other hand an associate teacher is expected to teach at least once a month or one in four sessions. How else will he/she and the teacher know the associate is ready to take on a class as the primary teacher?

Churches should have two adults in every class with participants 18 and under. Why not recruit associate teachers for the second person in each class? Adult classes have their entire ministry list (class roll) from which to find an associate teacher.

I also believe every class needs a recording secretary. This person is responsible for taking attendance, but this is only a small portion of his/her work. The class secretary holds the key to effective ministry for the class. The class organization should be established so that the secretary informs the class inreach leader and/or care leaders of absentees so contacts can be made and possible ministry needs can be explored. If the class does not have an inreach leader or care groups, time should be set aside in class each week to allow the secretary to share this information with the class at large.

In preschool classes and younger children’s classes, the teacher or associate teacher would, in most cases, take on the role of secretary. In older children’s classes, youth classes and all adult classes I encourage teachers to recruit class members to fill this and other organizational roles to improve the effectiveness of the class. Giving ownership of the class to members is one approach in building organization and desire for building the class.

This is only the beginning for structuring classes for effectiveness. And if every one of your classes established even this much organization, what a difference you would see in your Small Group Bible study effectively carrying out the Great Commission. 