By Aaron Wilson
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — “How do we know if what we’re doing is working?”
This is the question Ken Braddy, director of Sunday School for Lifeway Christian Resources, hears repeatedly from church leaders as they evaluate their discipleship strategy. But the answer, he says, isn’t as simple as gauging attendance.
“A big misconception is that bigger is better, but there’s more to what groups can and should be doing than just meeting for an hour,” said Braddy. In his latest book with B&H Publishing Group, “Breakthrough: Creating a New Scorecard for Group Ministry Success,” Braddy presents the case that successful discipleship strategy is built upon four pillars of ministry:
- Learning and applying God’s Word
- Inviting others to become Christ followers
- Forming authentic relationships and biblical community
- Engaging in service to others
Using a “L.I.F.E.” acronym to represent these goals, “Breakthrough” presents church leaders a new target to shoot for that will raise the level and quality of their group ministries.
“We should be evaluating whether we’re truly making disciples, whether group members are sharing their faith and whether deep relationships are being formed inside and outside the group,” said Braddy. “These are the true measurements of success.”
In his new book, Braddy shares lessons he gleaned from serving on three church staffs as a discipleship pastor. The first church began their Sunday School program with 44 people. A decade later, the program had grown to more than 2,400 members. At another church, Braddy saw similar success, boasting the fastest growing Sunday School in Tennessee by percentage increase. But more important than the numbers, he said, was the spiritual growth taking place among group members and the way a fresh emphasis on discipleship impacted the entire church body.
“Groups provide relational glue that connects people to one another. Programs don’t connect people; people connect people,” said Braddy. “People who are in groups serve more, give more, pray more and tend to ‘stick’ with the church. It’s in groups that people experience care, fellowship, interactive teaching and opportunities to serve they won’t experience unless they’re in community with other believers.”
“Breakthrough” provides diagnostic questions in each section to help group leaders and members evaluate their group and how they’re tracking in key areas. By the end of the book, a group’s scorecard evaluation will reveal where the group is strong and where it needs improvement. The latter spots are where church leaders can help their groups become stronger and more balanced as they move forward.
“My prayer for ‘Breakthrough’ is that readers will discover balance is needed in Bible study groups—that there’s more to Bible study than just gathering from different zip codes and then scattering back to them, never fully living life as growing disciples between Sundays,” said Braddy. “I hope this resource helps groups become healthier—because healthy things grow.”
More information about “Breakthrough” can be found at Lifeway.com.
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Aaron Wilson is a writer for Lifeway Christian Resources.
About Lifeway Christian Resources
In operation since 1891, Lifeway Christian Resources is one of the leading providers of Christian resources, including Bibles, books, Bible studies, Christian music and movies, Vacation Bible School and church supplies, as well as camps and events for all ages. Lifeway is the world’s largest provider of Spanish Bibles. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Lifeway operates as a self-supporting nonprofit. For more information, visit Lifeway.com.
