The Sabbath School Handbook



Sabbath School Training Workshop Manual

Seventh-day Adventist Church

Sierra Leone

November 2011

The Sabbath School Handbook

J. Alfred Johnson II, Director of Adult Ministries

North American Division

Forward

Hello Fellow disciple!

What and honor it is to unite with you and the Holy Spirit in the fulfilling journey called Sabbath School!

(This manual) is designed to assist you with find in your role in processing the Four Objectives of Sabbath School:

• Study of the Word

• Fellowship

• Community Outreach

• World Mission

I am speaking of a Sabbath School process that majors in Class Interaction, in which each class becomes a strong Bible Study-Prayer-Nurture-Reclamation-Fellowship-Community Outreach Cell of the Local church, with caring, listening leaders!

Ask the Holy Spirit for His anointing WITH YOU (Galatians 5:22, 23), for proper attitude in service, and UPON YOU (Acts 1:8) for appropriate POWER to function effectively on His errands.”

Forward 2

Mission and objectives of the Sabbath School 2

Sabbath School Personnel 2

Sabbath School Committee appoints: 2

Screening 2

Sabbath School Committee 2

Sabbath School Committee Responsibilities 2

Sabbath School Committee Agenda Items 2

Sabbath School Records 3

Master Record File 3

Offering Records 3

Reporting to the Sabbath School 3

Divisions and Classes 3

Planning Class Leader’s Meeting 3

Sabbath School Personnel Responsibilities 3

Sabbath School Coordinators 3

Sabbath School Coordinator- 25 Hours/month 4

Asst. Coordinators for Evangelism 8 hours/month 4

Asst. Coordinator for Membership-8 hours/month 4

Asst. Coordinator For Hospitality- 8 hours/month 4

Asst. Coordinator For World Mission-8 hours/month 4

The Sabbath School Secretary-10 hours/month 4

Receptionists -3 hours/month 5

Who Walks in your Church Door? 5

Visitor’s Packet 5

Class Leaders-25 hours per month 6

Care Coordinators 8 hours per month 6

Traditional Sabbath School Program 6

Full Time Learning Program 6

Five Adult Sabbath School Audiences 7

Action Units 7

Special Days 7

Special Days Program 7

Community Guest Day 7

Branch Sabbath School Leader 7

Branch Sabbath School Program 7

Adult Sabbath School Teacher 8

Sabbath School Offerings (chart) 8

Sabbath School Report Forms 8

Mission and objectives of the Sabbath School

The primary mission of Sabbath School is to teach members how to work for the Lord, reach people successfully and share God’s grace truth. p.1

Objectives:

|Study |Sabbath School Mission Offering |

|Fellowship |Sabbath School Expense |

|Community Outreach |Thirteenth Sabbath Offering |

|World Mission Emphasis |Birthday and Thank Offerings |

|Sabbath School Offerings p.10 |Investment Fund |

|Sabbath School Personnel |Sabbath School Committee appoints: |

|Must be members in regular standing |Adult Class leaders |

|Elected by church, or appt. by Church Board or Selected by Sabbath School |Division Secretaries |

|committee |Music Directors |

|Sabbath School Officers include: |Pianists/Organists |

|General Coordinator (Sabbath School Superintendent) |Greeters |

|Asst Coor. (As needed) |Ushers |

|Children’s Ministry Coordinator | |

|Sabbath School Secretary |Screening |

|Asst. Secretaries | |

|Division Leaders |No adult should be considered for a leadership role in a church sponsored ministry |

|Investment Secretary |or activity until he/she has been a member of the congregation or known by the |

| |organization for a minimum of six (6) months. |

|Sabbath School Committee |Sabbath School Committee Agenda Items |

|Members include: |Appt. of officers not elected by the Church |

|General Coordinator (chairperson) |Appt. of adult class leaders |

|Asst. adult coordinators |Adjustment in class membership |

|Children’s Ministries coordinator |Development or scheduling of training programs |

|Sabbath School Secretary |Materials, equipment, and facilities for the various divisions |

|Asst. Secretary |Scheduling Community Guest Days, Promotion Days, and other Special Occasions |

|Division Leaders |Setting goals for offerings, membership, and attendance |

|Investment secretary |Expediting allotment of Sabbath School expense funds |

|Personal Ministries Director |Evaluation of overall Program |

|An Elder Appt by the Church Board or Board of Elders |Development of new adult Sabbath School classes |

|The Church Pastor |Planning for community Outreach |

| |Other Sabbath School items that division leaders or the children’s coordinator may |

|Sabbath School Committee Responsibilities |bring |

|Facilitates the smooth running of the Sabbath School. Anything that | |

|concerns the entire Sabbath School may be considered in this committee. | |

|Meets to plan for the coming year and schedule regular meetings throughout| |

|the term. | |

|Divisions and Classes |Planning Class Leader’s Meeting |

|Children |Every Sabbath School should have a class leaders’ meeting. The best |

|Beginner (0-2) |results are obtained when the meeting is held prior to the Sabbath, so |

|Kindergarten (3-5) |the leaders have time to assimilate the material and place it in their |

|Primary (6-9) |lesson plans. |

|Junior (10-12) |Agenda |

|Earliteens (13-14) |Study the next week’s lesson |

|Youth (15-18) |Continuing education on teaching technology, the study of a book or a |

|Young Adult (19-35) |course on teaching methodology. |

|Adult (35+) |Discussion of any general problems that may need consideration |

|Divisions and Classes | |

|Extension Division | |

Sabbath School Personnel Responsibilities

Sabbath School Coordinators

1. No. 1 –General Coordinator, special days, rally day, etc. -1st Sabbath

2. No. 2 – World Mission – 2nd Sabbath

3. No. 3 – Music and Special Features -3rd Sabbath

Each church will plan appropriate system for their needs.

Sabbath School Coordinator- 25 Hours/month

|To encourage implementation of Sabbath School goals and objectives |Call a yearly planning session soon after the election of officers and before |

|To administer the adult Sabbath School by developing leadership, chairing the|the new year begins |

|Sabbath School Committee, building an evangelistic Sabbath School, and |Prepare the agenda of all meetings of the Sabbath School Committee |

|recruiting volunteers |Represent adult Sabbath School interests on the church Board |

|Supervise all class leaders |Implement the four Sabbath School objectives |

|Arrange training support and resources for Adult Sabbath School |Plan with the Asst. Coordinator for evangelism in promoting Branch Sabbath |

|Check with the Sabbath School secretary on the adequacy of records and the |Schools, Community Guest days, Friendship Evangelism initiatives and class |

|accuracy and promptness of quarterly reports on the (mission) |outreach opportunities. |

|Foster the development of an adequate collection of Sabbath School books, |Plan with the reclaiming of inactive members |

|cassettes, and videos in the church library. |Plan for mission education program |

|Be on hand early Sabbath morning to coordinate activities and answer |Plan for care of visitor |

|questions. |Plan for Sabbath School Growth |

|Work closely with the pastor particularly in the planning of training events,|Encourage activities outside of Sabbath School time such as potlucks, picnics, |

|community outreach, and special programs. |nature walks, and other social activities. |

|Call monthly meetings of the Sabbath School Committee. |Make sure the extension division is functioning properly |

|Call quarterly planning sessions where future plans and calendars for the |ID potential Sabbath School personnel |

|division can be coordinated. |Be on hand early Sabbath morning |

| |Plan training events |

| |Arrange for frequent appreciation and affirmation to given to Sabbath School |

| |volunteers |

|Asst. Coordinators for Evangelism 8 hours/month |Asst. Coordinator for Membership-8 hours/month |

|Direct Sabbath School outreach in the community |Analyze the local membership situation by the checking the Sabbath School |

|Plan Community guest Day |member with Church membership |

|Sponsor Friendship Evangelism |Maintain Up-to-date list of contact info |

|Follow-up Vacation Bible School |Assign visitation of inactive members. |

|Plan for Branch Sabbath School |Help integrate newly baptized members |

|Dev. Follow-up of Visitors |Plan for Branch Sabbath School |

| |Dev. Follow-up of Visitors |

|Asst. Coordinator For Hospitality- 8 hours/month |Asst. Coordinator For World Mission-8 hours/month |

|Recruit, train, and supervise greeters |Make mission emphasis interesting |

|Arrive early and supervise greeting process |Promote Mission giving |

|Assign visitation of inactive members. |Coordinate 13th Sabbath Program |

|Devise a plan for welcoming visitors and recording their names, addresses and | |

|phone numbers | |

The Sabbath School Secretary-10 hours/month

• The Sabbath School Secretary cares for the records, supplies, offerings, and clerical details of the Sabbath School and all its division.

• Class secretaries are responsible to the general Sabbath School secretary for information on membership, attendance and daily lesson study, and offerings

• Distribute and collect the class report cards, offering envelops, and personal ministries reports

• Check cards, count and record offerings

• Enter all weekly statistics in the Sabbath school Record and Registry

• Keep receipt from church treasures of all offerings

• Transfer names of all class members to the new Sabbath school class records each quarter.

• Maintain a Sabbath School membership file including baptized, unbaptized, inactive and prospective members.

• Maintain the weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly records required.

• Keep minutes of Sabbath School Committee meetings

• Preserve all records and pass them on to a successor

• Order and distribute all supplies and publications for the Sabbath school.

• Send out notices of meetings and take minutes of the meetings.

• Count the money, and record the amount and turn the funds over to the church treasurer

• Ask the treasurer for regular monthly financial statements.

Sabbath School Records

The Sabbath School secretary is responsible for keeping accurate records of Sabbath School activities and reporting to the Sabbath School Committee and the local conference (Mission)

|Master Record File |Offering Records |

|The Sabbath School should keep a master record file. |The class record keeping system will include a record of the class mission|

|Items recorded in the registry relate to membership, attendance, offerings, |offering goal, and the weekly amount received in the class. A weekly |

|officers, daily lesson study, teacher meetings, Sabbath School Committees, |record of all Sabbath School offerings should be kept by the Sabbath |

|baptisms, Branch Sabbath Schools and Community Guest Days. |School secretary and reported to the class. |

| |As soon as possible after the offering is counted and recorded, the |

|It also contains monthly, quarterly, and yearly summaries of Sabbath School |secretary should turn the money over to the church treasurer and receive a|

|activities. The weekly records are useful in preparing monthly statistical |receipt. These receipts should be filed as a permanent record of the |

|summaries of Sabbath School activities for the Sabbath School Committee, and |Sabbath School |

|yearly reports for the church business meeting. | |

|Sabbath School Class Records |Reporting to the Sabbath School |

|Each adult Sabbath School class should have a class record listing the names of |The Sabbath School members should receive (periodic) updates on how the |

|the members. All officers and class leaders should be listed. As well as member |Sabbath school is doing. |

|of the baptismal classes, specialized ministries, and the extension division. |Some of the statistics that may be shown are: membership, attendance goal,|

| |actual attendance, offering goal, actual offering, daily study goal, |

|Anyone who wishes may be a member of the Sabbath School class, and should be |actual number following daily study plan, Investment goal, and Investment |

|recorded in the class record. The Sabbath School teacher is authorized to add the|returns to date. |

|names of people who indicate their desire to join. |The information could be displayed on a chalk board, white board, overhead|

| |projector, or in the church bulletin and/or newsletter. Many Sabbath |

| |Schools have register board in the front of the sanctuary, used to inform |

| |Sabbath School members about the progress of the Sabbath School. |

Receptionists -3 hours/month

• To make the atmosphere of the church warm and inviting.

• Make others feel comfortable, welcomed, and loved.

• Make friends of strangers.

• Become acquainted with the regular members so they can recognized visitors when they arrive

• Introduce themselves first, extend a welcome, and then ask for the visitor’s names.

• Introduce the person to someone who will show them a seat or help them find Sabbath School classes

• Introduce newcomers to one or two other people in the church with whom they might feel comfortable because of shared interests.

• Show parents how to meet children’s needs

• Show visitors where to put wet umbrellas and how to find the restrooms.

• What to do with cell phones

• What people look for:

• Warm, friendly place

• Human contact

• Courteous treatment and to be recognized

• Verbal and body language that says “you are welcome and accepted”

• An attitude that says “We want you here”

|Who Walks in your Church Door? |Strategies |Visitor’s Packet |

|Unchurched people |Take-Don’t send |“What’s an Adventist” Brochure |

|Irregular attending Adventists |Show- Don’t “hand-out” |History of the Church (SL) |

|Guests of Members |Connect with others-Don’t just seat them |Weekly activities |

|Visiting Adventist | |Contact Number for church personnel |

Why do Missing Members Miss?

• Conflict- unresolved conflict with pastor, members, theological issues, church standards and policies

• Unmet Expectations-not helped during time of stress in their lives or burn out from church work not appreciated, not able to make friends.

• Law of affinity-lack of contacts of similar age group and interest

• Inability to relate-lack of ability to build meaningful relationships.

|Class Leaders-25 hours per month |Care Coordinators 8 hours per month |

|The role of the class leader is primarily to assist people in learning that will|Encourage Class members to call, visit missing members |

|lead to faith development. The class leader is also expected to promote |Set class offering goals and take up mission offering. |

|fellowship, community outreach, and world missions. |Class leaders are responsible for all aspects of class management, such as |

|Should devote 3-4 hours in lesson preparation, 2-4 hours for teachers meeting |attendance records, welcoming visitors, distributing materials |

|and attend committee meetings |Encourage members to be active in all activities of the church. |

|Teach the lesson and/or serve as discussion leader |See that member receive their Bible Study guides |

|Encourage daily lesson study |Watch for visitors and invite them to attend the class |

|Attend teacher’s meetings and training sessions |Take attendance |

|Seek to involve students in discussion and active learning |Promote World Missions |

|Be aware of the characteristics of adult learners and their life issues and | |

|strive to meet those needs. | |

|Dynamic Sabbath School Classes | |

|Develop Theme for programs | |

|Set attendance goals | |

|Advertise | |

|Build class identity | |

|Involved in outreach and soul winning | |

|Lessons study at least 40 minutes | |

|Traditional Sabbath School Program |Full Time Learning Program |

|9:15 Song Service |9:00 Family Fellowship-singing, group activity, greeting, share and talk |

|9:30 Opening Remarks, Welcome, Prayer |together |

|9:35 Keeping on Course (choose one) |9:25 Group Activity (children go to div.) |

|Progress Report |9:40 Mission Feature or Person Ministry Training |

|Evangelism |9:50 Training or Nurture Seminar |

|Investment |10:20 Lesson Study |

|Improvement |10:50 Closing |

|Occasional Special Feature | |

|9:40 Musical Selection | |

|9:45 World Mission Report | |

|9:55 Class Time | |

|Class Activities – 10 min | |

|Lesson Study – 30 min | |

|10:35 Closing Remarks. Preview Next Week | |

|Five Adult Sabbath School Audiences |Action Units |

|Traditionalists |9:15 Song Service |

|Fellowship-oriented |9:25 Welcome, Prayer |

|Those who wish to do in-depth Bible Study |9:30 Music/special Feature |

|Social Action Groups |9:35 World Mission Report |

|Multiple interest Groups |9:45 Action Unit Begin |

|Each audience group should have a leadership team made up of a team leader, |Outreach Time 25 minutes |

|teacher, greeter and prayer leader. Each should have corresponding spiritual |Lesson Study 35 minutes |

|gifts. Must meet weekly. Goal to find people like themselves and invite them to|Benediction in Classes |

|Sabbath School. Couples, Young Mothers, Parents, Musical groups, Temne, Mendi, |Class of six to eight |

|etc. |Outreach leader/care coordinator |

| |One hour class time |

| |Time for Missing Class Members |

| |Outreach Time: training for outreach and prayer |

|Special Days |Special Days Program |

|Advertise Day |Stay on time |

|Ask all members to invite friends, relatives, neighbors |Prayer should be offered of friends and guests. |

|Send written invitations of former members |Extend Cordial Welcome to “Community Guest Day” |

|Display poster in foyer |Mission Preparation: TOLD NOT READ |

|Appoint welcoming committee |Lesson Study: Teachers prepared and visitors welcomed and introduced by name to|

|Special bouquet of flowers on the platform. |the class and encouraged to participate |

|Select motivated and effective speakers for platform |Community Guest Day |

|Select special music for the occasion |A Community Guest Day is listed in the church calendar for the fourth quarter |

|Offer awards for anyone bringing a visitor |of each year. The purpose is to introduce the surrounding community to the work|

|Share meal with class members and visitors |of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church |

|Make visitor feel welcome and record information about them for follow-up |Programs are planned one quarter in advance. Church anniversary might be |

|Thank members for bringing visitors |celebrated. Avoid subjects that might offend those invited |

|Contact every visitor thanking them for coming and inviting them back |Community Service Awards to Outstanding Volunteers in the Community given |

|Enroll new member in Sabbath School |Fellowship Meal. Decorations and Choir Music provide. Members mixed seating |

|Keep records and a scrapbook |with guests |

| |Give a Welcome packet to all visitors and a thank you note for coming |

| |Choose familiar Hymns or Choruses to sing. |

|Branch Sabbath School Leader |Members incl. church members, missing members, guest to Sabbath school, |

|Organize and conduct and evangelistic program using Sabbath School materials to |prison min. contacts, hospital visit contacts, evangelistic meeting contacts.|

|be held any day of the week |Etc. |

|Vacation Bible School, The Sabbath School Quarterlies, Health Studies, the 28 |Meet in private home, public buildings, vacant buildings, prisons, nursing |

|Fundamental Doctrines, etc. |homes, out of doors |

|Send out invitations to neighbors | |

|Follow Sabbath School program format | |

|Forms a basis for a new church | |

Branch Sabbath School Program

|Song |Bible study and discussion |

|Welcome |Mission Story (video, verbal presentation) |

|Opening Song |Closing Song |

|Special Feature (music, quiz, health talk, etc.) |Prayer |

| |Branch Sabbath School Plan Sheet |

Adult Sabbath School Teacher

|Three Aims |Skills |

|Facilitate Bible Learning |Teach in a variety of ways leading to active discussion and analysis |

|Motivate spiritual growth |Ability to help adults unlearn erroneous concepts and learn correct ones |

|Enable class members to develop scripturally-oriented life-styles. |Ask questions that promote study and participation |

|Adult Sabbath School Teacher |Attention getting skills |

|Qualities |Bible knowledge doctrinally and experientially |

|Recognition of God’s call to teach |Adult Sabbath School Teacher |

|Personal Experience with Christ |Methods |

|Knowledge of the Bible |Start with Central Concept-Connect the Learner |

|Knowledge of Human Nature |Share expert information-visually, auditorily, kinesthetically, |

|Personal Qualifications |olfactorially. |

|Consecration |Guide them to Apply to their personal lives. |

|Cheerfulness |Explore ways of Sharing and deepening new knowledge. |

|Patience and tact | |

|Pleasing Speech | |

|Love | |

|Feeling of Responsibility | |

| |Sabbath School Offerings (chart) |

| |13th Sabbath Birthday/Thank Investment Weekly Mission |

| |40% CHRISTIAN EDUCATION |

| |10 % WORLD DIVISION SPECIALS (evangelism, new churches, etc.) |

| |5 % GENERAL CONFERENCE OPERATIONS |

| |10 % INTER-DIVISION EMPLOYEES (Pastors, doctors, teachers, |

| |evangelists.) |

| |35 % World Division Appropriations (General Operations of the |

| |World Church) |

| | |

| |Sabbath School Report Forms |

| | |

| |Statistical Report Quarterly by Church clerk and mailed the 5th |

| |day following last Sabbath in the Quarter |

| |Sabbath School Attendance Report 2nd Sabbath each Quarter by each |

| |class leader |

| |Sabbath School Profile 2nd Sabbath of each quarter by Sabbath |

| |School Sec. |

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Sabbath School Teaching Skills by Level

|Age Level |Teaching Skills |

|Adult/Young Adult |Ability to teach in a variety of ways, all leading to active learning and the involvement of the student sin discussion and |

| |analysis. |

| |The ability to help adult participants unlearn erroneous concepts and learn correct ones. |

| |Ability to formulate and ask question in a way that engenders class participation and study. |

| |Attention-getting skills that engender participation and interest. |

| |Sufficient biblical knowledge to be able to teach what the Bible says both doctrinally and experientially. |

|Youth |Ability to engender active participation, creativity, and innovation. |

| |Impart biblical knowledge through interactive experiences. |

| |Present biblical knowledge in a positive way that indicates that the gospel is always gain. |

| |Engender participation that encourages positive responses from peers. |

|Junior/Earliteen |Ability to manage a group of juniors in a way that encourages learning, but does not stifle creativity and curiosity. |

| |Ability to turn responses, no matter how unique they may be, into positive learning experiences. |

| |Biblical knowledge based on interactive learning and focused on real life experiences as related in the Scriptures. |

| |Present Jesus in an appealing way and lead the class member to a commitment to Him as lord and Saviour. |

|Primary |Ability to impart cognitive information and biblical knowledge at he age level of vocabulary and understanding of primary |

| |children. |

| |Permit an open environment that encourages questions and responses, based on interactive learning principles. |

| |Present Jesus in an appealing way and lead the class members to a commitment to hi as Lord and Saviour. |

| |Knowledge of the teaching materials available and how to use them. |

|Kindergarten |Patience. |

| |Ability to love and understand small children and deal with them in a loving, kind way. |

| |Knowledge of children’s learning abilities and how best to engage them in interactive learning experiences. |

| |Ability to teach in a concrete rather than abstract manner. |

| |Knowledge of the teaching materials available and how to use them. |

|Beginners |Patience. |

| |Ability to love and understand small children. |

| |Awareness of developmental stages in a child’s life. |

| |Awareness of how to gage the developmental stage of each child. |

| |Ability to teacher in a concrete rather than abstract manner. |

| |Knowledge of the teaching materials available and how to use them. |

| |Sabbath School Handbook, page 102 |

-----------------------

Adult Sabbath School Teacher Methods

EXPERIENCING

REFLECTING

DOING

CONCEPTUALIZING

CENTRAL

CONCEPT

1. CONNECT

2. EXAMINE

3. IMAGE

4. DEFINE

3. PERSONALIZE

5. TEST/TRY

8. INTEGRATE

7. VALUE

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