ASSUME many believers do not have a strategy for sharing Christ with others.

• If your church uses the FAITH evangelism strategy, continue to enlist team members for your class or department.  Also think of other ways to involve those persons who are not committed to the FAITH strategy.  For example, someone may use a printed brochure or tract.  Someone may agree to begin making evangelistic visits by accompanying a more experienced visitor while the inexperienced visitor commits to pray during the visit.  If your church uses another evangelism strategy, find ways to involve your Sunday School class/department in that strategy.  As a Bible study leader, be sure you model what you expect from the class—be actively involved in sharing Christ yourself!

• If you use curriculum published by LifeWay, refer learners to the inside front cover of their learner guide.  There is an article each quarter that leads someone through the process of how to become a Christian.  The article may be read later to affirm or discover how to follow Christ, could be used as part of the teaching plan, or referenced as another witnessing tool.

• The FAITH evangelism strategy is organized within the Sunday School structure, but many churches use other evangelism strategies in addition to or instead of FAITH. 

• Click here to go to the Here’s Hope free online evangelism resource. Consider placing the link below your signature on email (Copy and past the URL address from your browser to your email).  You may also email the link by using your browser to send the page as an email (Windows Explorer: Go to File, Send, Send Page by Email).

• Click here to check out the Southern Baptist Convention links to free online evangelism resources. 

ASSUME many adult Bible study participants do not have a basic understanding of the Bible.  Use common, easy-to-understand language that believers AND nonbelievers can understand and apply to their lives.

ASSUME many believers do not know how to verbally share their faith.  Involve believers in sharing their story as it supports the Bible study.  During a Bible study focusing on overcoming trials, enlist persons to share how Christ helped them overcome the specific trial they experienced.  Share your own story as part of the Bible study experience.

ASSUME some persons may not respond during a group setting when they are under conviction of the Holy Spirit.  Be available after the class session for persons who may want to talk or pray privately.  Make follow up visits when you sense someone is under conviction.

ASSUME believers know people who do not know Christ.  Many Christians never provide the names of prospects because they say all of their friends are believers. Provide frequent opportunities for persons to share prayer concerns and praises.  Your class will find many evangelistic prospects as a result of prayer requests for friends, family and co-workers.

ASSUME age and church membership do not necessarily mean someone is a Christian.  For example, most senior adult Bible teachers admit they assume visitors who come to Sunday School are Christians.  In addition, many long-time church members discovered late in life they never made a sincere profession of faith to follow Christ as personal Lord and Savior.  They admitted to joining the church.  Do recognize this is not a plea to promote massive rebaptisms.  It is a plea to never assume the spiritual condition of Sunday School members and prospects.

So what's a Bible study teacher to do?  Avoid the most dangerous assumption anyone can make, and focus on the safe assumptions.  Allow God to use you as you help others come to know and grow in Christ through Bible study.   Strive to use God’s Word for “teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”  2 Tim. 3:16-17 (HCSB).