BEYOND BIBLE STUDY: CHURCHES LOOK FOR WAYS TO MAKE BIBLE STUDY RELEVANT IN SMALL-GROUP SETTINGS

Most United States Protestants form a clear, instant mental picture when the term Sunday school is mentioned. While most of the scenarios would probably be positive, they would still tend to stereotypical, predictable images: A class sitting around several aging folding tables that have been pushed together, with tiny foam cups of coffee in hand and reading from books printed by the church's national office. The department secretary takes roll while members hand, toss or flick their offering envelopes to him/her; the class possibly dividing up after an opening program and ending at the ring of a bell -- possibly a few minutes later than intended, causing choir members to scurry for the choir room.

Today more and more churches are forming Bible study groups outside of this traditional Sunday school setting. Often they meet outside of the church facility all together. To paraphrase a 1970s orange juice commercial, Bible study isn't just for Sunday school anymore. Leaders of local churches involved in the out-of-church Bible studies are not putting down traditional Sunday school. The ever-growing small-group Bible studies are merely meeting a different set of needs."Traditional Sunday School class is based more on Bible study and what your theory is on a particular piece of scripture," said Wesley Mease, who attends a college-age Net-Works Ministry group, sponsored by First Assembly of God Church. "It's less personal."We all need that type of study, though. This is not to take away from Sunday School; it's setting apart a time to get to know each other and see how we feel on things."While virtually every denomination in the region has gotten involved in small group Bible studies during various times of the day and week, First Assembly's Net-Works Ministry is probably the largest, with a total of 33 "nets." They range from women's groups, men's groups, groups for couples, groups for business professionals, college-age and senior adults, as well as First Priority groups on several area school campuses."What it is, is small group, family-based Bible study," explained the Rev. Carol Heitman, who came to First Assembly in February for the expressed purpose of launching the program. "Leaders train for six months. A writing team creates the Net-Work lessons, which come from the weekly sermons. It's a real intimate interaction of applying whatever had been in the sermon."It also allows friendships to be forged and helps individuals develop relationship skills."You bond, like a fraternity," said Chap Arnold, who attends a couples' net at the home of Dwight and Kim Tansksley, along with his wife Connie. "You start opening up and sharing and caring.""You open your home and people who come become like a family," Connie Arnold added."We find that everybody is growing with each other and with Christ, simultaneously," Heitman said.

The six-week training course is producing more and more net leaders and hopefully church leaders, as time goes on."It's exciting. God's doing some huge things in this area," Heitman said. "It's neat to see the people are involved in the ministry. People in the pews realize they have a calling and can reach out to others.""I was talking to another group leader recently and we were both saying how many lives have changed," said Kim Tanksley, who leads the couples' group at her home. "It's not that we've done this and changed things; it's just Jesus within us has changed relationships."Reasons for the creation of Net-Works and other nontraditional Bible study groups include more intimacy, a less threatening setting and a better chance to share with others."A lot of people who would be intimidated in a church setting will come here and receive love and words of encouragement," said Mease, who is currently a Teen Challenge trainer at First Assembly's House of Hope. "One of the visions of this is to reach out to those who need love and are hurting.""A month ago we were at about eight; we've doubled in the past couple of months," said Jennifer Brouthers, a Sikeston Junior High science teacher, who leads the college-age Net on Friday nights. "People stayed because they felt comfortable. We understand each other and we want to understand each other.""Some people are intimidated simply by walking into a church," Heitman said. "Someone who would never walk into a church will hear the gospel presented at a friend's house."The size of many of the region's larger churches (First Assembly averages 1,600 worshipers on Sunday mornings) also makes intimate relationships more difficult within the traditional Sunday morning concept."Almost anyone's house is warmer than a corporate building," Chap Arnold said. "You can open up more. You start with the least common denominator and share problems.""It's a lot easier to open up here than in Sunday school class," said Michael Umfleet, a Jackson High School football coach, who attends Tanksleys' couples net with his wife Angie. "Here you're among friends, more than just people you only see at church. You get to know them better and you're willing to tell them more. In Sunday school I just sat there. I've really surprised myself with how much I've said here.""We cross racial and social barriers, as well as having different backgrounds and personalities," Brouthers said. "It's not geared to a certain type of personality."Other than the college-age and First Priority groups, participants are kept in couples' settings or separated by gender. This prevents unnecessary opportunities for temptation.

In the groups that are mixed, the family concept is stressed, rather than being a social mixer."It's not a romantic setting," said Betsy Kennan, a full-time marketing professional who attends the college-age net. "I can be myself and not worry about lipstick or how my hair looks. It's a family; we uplift each other and lean on each other. I like it."Net-Works meetings usually begin with refreshments, followed by an interactive Bible study and a time of sharing personal concerns."Our goals are to evangelize the lost and to exhort the believer," Heitman said. "Our goal is to help them immediately plug into a net where they can be a part of an intimate group of fellow believers in Christ. Net-Works is about relationships. As we build relationships with each other we can help build relationships with Jesus Christ."