Let's get personal
Published: Fri, 03/25/16
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Contact: josh@joshhhunt.com You Can Double Your Class in Two Years or Less, now half offYou Can Double Your Class in Two Years or Less has been in print with Group nearly twenty-five years. it is the book that created a carrier for me in speaking and writing. I have logged over two million miles on American Airlines alone doing conferences--most of them on this one book. The book has been retired from Group, which means the copyright goes back to me. The good news for you in this is that can offer the book to you much less expensively. It is currently on Amazon for $9.99--half of its former retail. Kindle version is also half off--$4.99.
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A Personal ElementIf you want to make your teaching interesting and effective, make it personal. Teaching that doesn’t apply personally doesn’t apply at all. Good teaching is not about vague, distant abstractions. God is personal, and the process of discipleship is personal. So ask yourself two questions: l Did I touch them where they live? l Was I open about myself? You need to make the application personal to your group, and you need to be open enough to show how the truth works in your life. Do not use exclusively personal illustrations, but do use some. This is a small group. There is something inherently personal about small-group ministry. But you must set the tone for the rest of the group. They will generally be as transparent and open as you are. One reason we have small groups is so the universal message of the gospel can be personalized to the individual. Your job is to take the cloth and tailor it to fit the individual. Being personal is also one of the best ways to create interest. People are interested in others—especially their personal lives. That is why the tabloids sell so well. A personal element is interesting. If you ever sense that people’s interest is slipping, remember that one of the best ways to grab the group’s attention is to tell how the truth applies personally to you. Of course, you don’t want to take this too far. This is Sunday school, not therapy. Once I attended a group in which a member confessed to a previous life of prostitution. The group members were on the edge of their seats, holding their breath. Unfortunately, although her story held the interest of the group, she never came back. She felt too exposed and embarrassed to show herself again. She got caught up in the moment and became too transparent. This is not what I am advocating. I am talking about being as open, as transparent, and as honest as you can be within the bounds of good sense and discretion. Unfortunately, my experience has been that most groups are not personal enough. How well do you teach in a way that is personal and touches people where they live? Honestly rate yourself on a scale of one to ten.
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