My friends and colleagues Bruce Raley and David Francis have released a new book for 2013 titled Extreme Sunday School Challenge. The subtitle tells it all: the book is about engaging our world through new groups.

The book’s three chapters (The Potential, The Essentials, and The Opportunities) provide a clear and concise read about the importance of starting new groups in our churches. If you want your church to fulfill the Great Commission, starting new groups may be the best way to live that out in a practical way. New groups typically add 10 people to a church’s teaching/discipleship ministry, and new groups make it much easier for newer members and guests to get connected.

David Francis, Bruce Raley, myself, and other LifeWay leaders have all started new Sunday School groups this past year, and we are living out the truths contained in this book. Bruce and David have written from the overflow of their experiences, and from being in church leadership roles as ministers of education.

I’ll be leading the first of many 2013 workshops on this new book, starting in Boise, Idaho, at the Team West training event that will involve many of the country’s western states. LifeWay has provided a PowerPoint slideshow and conference plan so that church leaders can use the booklet to train their leaders to start new groups and reach more people with the gospel.

Some of the highlights from the book are:

• There is real potential in new groups for evangelism, maturing disciples, engaging people in ministry, and for obtaining more resources for kingdom work (chapter 1)
• Without a catalysts, new groups won’t begin (chapter 2)
• There are many ways to start new groups both in your church and in the community (chapter 3)

To read more about Extreme Sunday School Challenge, click here to follow the link and order your copy.