Sunday School and other ongoing Bible study group leaders have a great opportunity to help people come to know Christ. They are involved in relationships with people on a routine basis.

ASSUME many believers do not have a strategy for sharing Christ with others.  Find out what strategy your church has in place to help believers share Christ with others. Remember many churches will utilize many tools and resources aimed at involving belivers at all stages of spiritual development in evangelism. For example, mature believers may commit to a long-term strategy such as the FAITH evangelism strategy. Others may begin sharing their faith by using the article published inside the front cover of all dated Lifeway Bible study curriculum. Maybe your Sunday School class focuses on building relationships with lost people and praying for them by name. If your church does not have an evangelism strategy in place, maybe you are the catalyst to answer the question, How will we help believers share their faith with others on a regular basis?

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).

We are always interested in hearing how your ongoing Bible study groups are helping impact lostness in South Carolina and around the world. Consider emailing your effective strategies. In addition, look at the SCBC Personal Evangelism web site for other helpful information.