Sabbath School Succession Planning

For healthy Sabbath School classes, having a succession plan ensures continuity of spiritual growth, effective ministry, and the empowerment of new leaders.

Succession planning is not merely a strategy for replacing leaders; it’s a means to ensure that God’s work continues to flourish. When Moses was nearing the end of his life, God instructed him to appoint Joshua as his successor (see Numbers 27:18-23). Moses laid hands on Joshua, commissioning him to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land.

Here are some key principles of succession planning.

Identify Potential Leaders

“Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him.” (Mark 3:13, NIV)

Effective succession planning starts with identifying individuals within your group who demonstrate leadership qualities. These qualities can include spiritual maturity, a passion for serving, and the ability to guide and support others. Jesus identified His twelve disciples, investing in their lives and preparing them to lead after His departure. He also chose three key leaders - Peter, James and John - whom he welcomed in his highest and lowest points of ministry.

To identify potential Sabbath School leaders, observe group members in various settings. Who naturally steps up during discussions? Who is consistently supporting others? Look for individuals who show commitment and a willingness to learn and grow.

Invest in Their Development

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19, ESV)

Once potential leaders are identified, invest time and resources into their development. Jesus spent three years teaching and mentoring His disciples. He engaged them in ministry activities, provided them with practical experiences, and allowed them to learn through trial and error.

Sabbath School leaders should encourage their potential successors to take on small responsibilities within the group, such as leading discussions or organizing events. This hands-on approach helps build confidence and competence.

Provide Spiritual Guidance

“Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.” (1 Timothy 4:14, NIV)

A foundational aspect of succession planning is ensuring that new Sabbath School leaders are spiritually grounded. Biblical leadership is rooted in a deep relationship with God. Regular prayer, Bible study, and accountability are vital in nurturing their faith.

Create a Supportive Environment

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11, NIV)

A successful transition of leadership requires a supportive environment. It’s essential to foster a Sabbath School culture where new leaders feel encouraged and appreciated. Encouragement can take many forms, such as praise for their efforts, constructive feedback, and prayer support. Establish regular check-ins to discuss progress, challenges, and victories. This fosters a sense of community and belonging.

Kingdom Growth

“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2, NIV).

Succession planning for Sabbath School class leaders ensures the continuity of ministry and the growth of future leaders. Through diligent planning and prayer, we can equip and empower generation after generation of leaders for the glory of God.

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Sabbath School Starters - Meme Texting

As Christians, we are often told to avoid postmodern approaches to life and thinking. In truth, most of us are postmoderns. We were born here in the middle of it. We love a good proof-text (or should I say ‘meme’?) to start our day, a conversation or just for a personal pick-me-up.

A proof text is a lot like a meme. It speaks to us in our context using a simplification of something larger. Memes include pictures for context and a few pithy words for meaning. Proof-texting, likewise, uses just a few words. But, the picture is painted by the reader - and this is where things get messy. The accompanying picture should be drawn from the scripture surrounding the cherry-picked verse. This would be adding proper context. Unfortunately, the picture often presented with proof texts is from our world, our thoughts, and our theology - giving it ‘our meaning’ and separating it from the context of its true meaning.

Take, for example, Jeremiah 29:11, where God says, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Often, this verse is quoted to claim that God guarantees personal success and prosperity to all. However, in context, this verse was a specific message to the Israelites in Babylonian exile, assuring them of national restoration after a period of discipline—not a promise of individual prosperity.

In our Sabbath School Bible studies, it can be difficult to avoid the common mistake of proof-texting, which involves using isolated Bible verses to support a preconceived idea. But we must! We must always consider the surrounding Biblical context and the broader teachings of Scripture. Proof-texting can lead to misinterpretation and a shallow understanding of God's Word.

A great (although shocking!) illustration of this is the way Matthew 7:1 is frequently applied. “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” is used to teach that we should avoid all judgment or discernment. But in the broader context of verses 1–5, Jesus warns against hypocritical judgment, not against discernment altogether. The message emphasizes humility and self-reflection when forming judgments.

To help you lead a discerning and context-centered Bible study, check out my Single Sheet Study Guide. I developed it to lead from context-oriented reading into engaging group discussion.

Sabbath School Hijackers

We’ve all had Sabbath School hijackers! You know the situation - no matter how much you tried to guide things back on track, one individual kept steering the discussion their way, and soon the group lost its focus. These kinds of "discussion hijackers" can really disrupt the flow of your class. Here’s a great article about four types of hijackers you might encounter and how to handle them effectively.

Here’s a great video that teaches the positives of running a great small-group Bible study.

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Sabbath School Starters - Friendship

I highly encourage you to take 24 minutes and watch this awesome discussion about friendship. Trevor Noah and Simon Sinek are two of today's most engaging thinkers on social issues. Once you've watched it, I think you will want to share and discuss it with your Sabbath School class. It's that good!

Some thoughts on friendship in Sabbath School

We are designed to be in relationships with others. Friendship is a gift from God, and Sabbath School provides a great place to build friendships! In our class groups, we encounter shared challenges, joys, and opportunities to grow in faith together.

Sabbath School friends will be there for each other when times are tough. "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labour: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up" ( Ecclesiastes 4:9-10). Once we are in a Sabbath School group, things we would have faced alone will be faced with faith-filled friends - the best kind of friends there are!

Sabbath School classes are discipleship groups. Jesus told His disciples, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends" (John 15:13). Jesus calls His followers not just servants, but friends. In your Sabbath School groups, you are following Jesus together. You are modern-day disciples!

The Early Church in Acts 2:42-47 is a powerful example of Sabbath School Groups in action. Believers devoted themselves to group worship, breaking bread, group prayer, and sharing everything. Their unity and love for one another were so profound that they changed the world around them.

The apostle Paul gives us some principles for forming healthy friendships in Sabbath School. "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." (Philippians 2:3-4). Prioritising others is essential in maintaining a healthy, Christ-centered Sabbath School.

When tough conversations or battles of will happen in Sabbath School, Ephesians 4:2-3 provides valuable counsel: "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." Unity requires effort, patience, and a willingness to overlook offences. In group settings, this often means valuing the opinions and experiences of others even when they differ from our own.

True Christian friendships point us and others to Jesus. Disciples reflect Christ’s love to the world. Let us seek to be friends who love as Jesus loved.

Asking like Jesus

Luke 10:25-37 (CSB)

25 Then an expert in the law stood up to test him, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 

26 “What is written in the law?” he asked him. “How do you read it?” 

27 He answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,” and “your neighbor as yourself.”, 

28 “You’ve answered correctly,” he told him. “Do this and you will live.” 

29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?” 

30 Jesus took up the question and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him up, and fled, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down that road. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 In the same way, a Levite, when he arrived at the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan on his journey came up to him, and when he saw the man, he had compassion. 34 He went over to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him. When I come back I’ll reimburse you for whatever extra you spend.’ 

36 “Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 

37 “The one who showed mercy to him,” he said. 

Then Jesus told him, “Go and do the same.” 

Asking God Questions

Do you see what Jesus did there? He reversed the direction of the Law Expert's question.
Law Expert: "Who is my neighbour?"
Jesus: "What kind of neighbour are you?" 

Much like the Cain and Abel story, right at the beginning of the Bible. Cain asked God, "Am I my brother's keeper?" and God's answer forced Cain to face the question: "What kind of brother are you?" 

Likewise, while the Gospel says, "You are forgiven" it also poses the question: "Who will you forgive?" Paul says we are reconcilers because we have been reconciled. 

When Jesus gets in your life, you start acting like Him, forgiving like Him and answering questions like Him. 

I love it! 

Three Greats of Discipleship

Mark 4:35-41 (ESV - The ESV nails it!)

35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Even today, when Jesus' disciples face "great storms" He is already in their boat awaiting their call for help. Once called, He brings a "great calm" to their troubles stilling their storms and stress. Next follows the "great fear" of the Lord which overwhelms every disciple's heart when they realise Who is truly in their boat, on their side and at their call.

Covenant and Community

"Covenant and Community" is a deep exploration of God's unwavering commitment to humanity, showing that His covenant is a promise of love, provision, and protection. It calls for humans to respond by living in love and worship, fostering healthy communities, and remembering the ultimate sacrifice made in the New Covenant through Jesus Christ.

This sermon explores the concept of 'covenant' as it appears in the Bible, highlighting its evolution and its implications for human relationships with God and each other. The word 'covenant' was introduced after sin entered the world as a promise from God to counteract doubt. However, the meaning of 'covenant' in the ancient Near East culture differs from our modern understanding. It was not a contract with responsibilities but a promise from God, the provider and protector, to humanity. The appropriate response to God's covenant was and still is worship.


this sermon explores the various eras of Israel's history, showing how God restated the covenant at each stage, reminding His people of His role as provider and protector, and their role to love Him and each other. These reminders took various forms such as the rainbow after the flood, the circumcision for Abraham's tribe, the Levites and the law for Moses' nation, and the promise to David's Kingdom that the Messiah would come through David's lineage.


However, despite these constant reminders, the people often forgot their covenant with God. This led, ultimately, to God's promise of a New Covenant, as prophesied by Jeremiah, where God would forgive their sins and write His law in their hearts. The New Covenant was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, whose death and resurrection provided the ultimate reminder of God's covenant in the bread and the wine of the communion meal.


The sermon concludes by emphasizing that the covenant between God and humanity has always been one-sided, with God taking on all the responsibility. God provides, protects, creates, recreates, saves, restores, builds, and rebuilds. In response, humans are called to love Him back and love all that He has made. The covenant is God's promise and our purpose: Love.

Sharing the Gospel in Chains

In my Sabbath School class this morning, I'm telling the story of Acts 16:16-34. Then leading a group reading and discussion on Philippians 1:12-20 to discuss the topic of the week:  "Standing for the Truth."

The conclusion:
With eyes fixed on Jesus,
Life is a string of God-given opportunities 
for the sharing of the Gospel.
Don't complain about what God didn't do. 
Instead, rejoice in what God is going to do!

Sabbath: The Way And The Day

Sabbath should inform the way you worship just as much as the day you worship! 

Genesis presents it as a day created for rest with God (Gen 2). Exodus reframes it as a day of rest honouring creation (Ex 20). Deuteronomy reframes it as a day of rest due to freedom (Deut 5). Jesus reframes it as a day of rest to be truly human (Mark 2). He says mankind is the master of Sabbath, not the other way around. 

Worshiping on Sabbath is a form of resting but it's not always restful! Sabbath is a day to remember the God who created us, liberated us, and empowered us to connect to our role as stewards of creation and champions of the freedom of others. 

Sabbath was truly made for man, not man for the Sabbath. It serves to remind us to bring rest to our fellow man and the broken earth. It serves to reclaim us as created in God's image. And it remains both a day and a way of being truly human.

Working on Salvation

Many Christians spend a lot of time and energy calling each other out. Paul had a better idea than working out everyone else's salvation... 

"Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose. Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world, by holding firm to the word of life." Philippians 2:12-16

Focus on your own journey. 

God is working in you and through you.

Fear and tremble if you must.

But do it without bickering. 

Love others blamelessly.

You are children of God.

Shine like stars. 

Hold firm.

Word.

Life!

God's Socks

Yesterday, as I approached a supermarket, I saw a homeless man wrapped in a blanket accepting donations near the door. I stopped in front of him and said, "Hey mate, is there anything I can get you from inside? Do you need anything?" 

He looked up at me and said, "Could I have a pair of socks? Would that be okay to ask for?" 

"Of course!" I said, "I'll see what they have."

While paying for my groceries and his socks, I had an overwhelming thought - I've learned to identify these as the Holy Spirit speaking to me - "Offer to put the socks on for him." 

I thought, "Weird. I'm not doing that!" 

Outside, I went to the man and said, "They had the best socks ever! Warm work socks. And, it's a three pack. You can put them all on!" 

He laughed and thanked me. As he lowered his blanket to reach out and take the socks, I saw one of his arms was in a sling.

"Would you like me to put them on for you," I asked.

"No, I'm alright," he said.

"You sure?" I said, "Can you do it with your arm in a sling? I'm happy to help."

"Yeah," he said. "I can do it. But, hey, thanks for offering."

"You're welcome, have a nice day."

"You too."

As I drove home, I laughed to myself. God just schooled me in humility. God didn't ask me to put the socks on, just to offer. Sometimes God needs to remind me to be willing to serve so I am ready and willing when the need is there and the work is humble. 

There have been lessons before this one: 

Look - See people. See the needs of others. 

Listen - Talk to people. Ask what they need.

Bless - Serve people. Meet felt needs. They are real.