Tired of teaching endless Bible studies and Sunday School classes and seeing no change in the lives of your students? Teaching for Transformation can help you learn how to use small groups as an effective setting for making disciples.

The purpose of this course is to enhance your skills in leading small groups so that transformation and discipleship become more consistent outcomes of your teaching. This course is in two parts. Part 1 focuses on the essentials of small group teaching. It will be presented in three tutorials. Part 2 deals with assessing instruction – why it matters and how to do it – and is presented in three tutorials. For each tutorial you will complete some exercises in reflection in advance, which we will use as part of our discussion at the tutorial. You will also be asked to read a brief article that points toward the subject of the next tutorial (for each article, go to ColsonCenter.org and enter the title in the Search Colson Library search box). At the tutorial you’ll be asked to discuss the article, using the questions provided. During the tutorial you will need to have the participant’s guide available to follow along with the presentation and take notes. You will be asked to recruit a prayer partner to uphold you in prayer and to hear what you are learning as you make progress through the course.

This course also includes a brief practical assignment which will give you an opportunity to put into practice the lessons you are learning.

Course Outline:

• Preparation for Leading.
• Goals for Learning
• Direct our teaching within a small group setting
• Assessing instruction
• Practicum - Teaching a Small Group
• Observing Progress in the Kingdom of God

The overall objective of this training is to investigate the skills of small group leadership and assessment in order to work for specific kinds of transformation in and through our learners. Christian education is not simply an activity of information-sharing. Jesus commissioned us to make disciples (Matt. 28:18-20). The lessons in this course will present a concise overview of the life of discipleship and equip you to make effective use of small groups in this high calling.

This course runs for six months starting April 28th on the fourth Thursday of every month. The cost is $75. Students participate in monthly teleconference tutorials to discuss homework assignments with one another and instructors. A study guide is provided.

This course will require significant preparation and practicum time. We have structured this course as a monthly course to give you time to meet with your prayer partner, formulate your class, go through your practicum, and meet your final assessments.

Students who successfully complete the course will receive a CD containing a leader guide and presentations to teach the material to others.