Build Community
Looking up from her BSF lesson, 9-year-old Ruthie quietly asked, “What if all of this stuff in the Bible is wrong?”
Earlier that week, Ruthie read the words, “God said and God told” again and again in her Bible. But for Ruthie, God never told her anything. She had never heard His voice or seen Him in a dream. And she began to wonder whether God loved her, if He cared about her and if He was even real.
In that moment, Ruthie was vulnerable. She shared her doubt, fear, and insecurity.
When Ruthie asked the question, “what if this is all wrong?” she was really asking, “why doesn’t God talk to me?”
Intentional Time
Uncovering the root of Ruthie’s doubt took time and discussion. But before the Bible Lesson even began, Ruthie’s leader helped her find the courage to voice her questions.
Her leader was intentional. Like so many of you, he used every minute, from the class opener to the final prayer, to build confidence and trust within the group. They laughed, they talked about their week at school, and they explored God’s Word together.
Through BSF, Ruthie was able to ask a faith-forming question. When her leader listened, she discovered that God is deeply personal. During her group discussion, she found that she wasn’t alone.
Through in-depth study, God draws out in-depth questions. But as leaders, we know that your time is limited. We want to help. In the school program redesign, coming in August 2022, we want to help you maximize every moment to Build Community. God is using you in powerful ways and we believe the new redesign will expand your opportunity to share His Word with the next generation during class.
The structure will be familiar, with designated time for an opener, study and application. But we are introducing new student-centered components, designed to meet the needs of Generation Z.
The first component is Build Community. This will be a planned opening to your class time.
About Build Community
The Build Community portion of next year’s curriculum is simply an extension of the existing opener. By making this time more relational, we hope students will be prepared to share their doubts and questions during the group discussion…and find life-changing answers.
For Ruthie, that honest discussion during her BSF class ignited a passion for God’s Word.
“After that conversation in her BSF group, Ruthie began exploring her relationship with God. Six months later she was baptized!” Ruthie’s Mom shared.
As you begin to explore ways to Build Community in your group, we are praying for God’s direction in your class. Together, we will continue to seek God’s guidance and cling to His Word as we impact that next generation for Christ.
What will stay the same?
Learn More
- Every lesson remains God-focused, Gospel-centered, and age appropriate.
- Classes still begin with an Opener, now called Build Community, to connect students with their leaders and one another.
- Children’s Leaders can still choose an option that best fits their class personality, interests, and dynamic.
- The curriculum still provides structured time and offers training and focused flexibility for leaders.
What’s new?
Learn More
- The current Student Arrival (in-person) and Class Opener (online) will now be called Build Community.
- This extended time (10-20 minutes) will be intentionally planned to welcome students and transition them to teaching/discussion time.
What’s our goal?
Learn More
- New students will connect with the group more quickly.
- Returning students will build bonds with one another.
- All students will get to know their leader, building trust and preparing the way for deeper discussion.
Try It in Your Group
Using the following three skills during your current class time will help prepare your group to Build Community next year.
Start with Connection
When planning your opening activity, consider how it will build relationships within the group. Keep your opener conversational, drawing the group together. This is a time to laugh and learn about one another. By building friendships and connecting through the opener, students will feel comfortable sharing deeper insight during your later discussion.
Ask yourself: Is it connecting? Is it fun? Does it foster relationships? Does it give us flexibility?
Listen with Curiosity
Consider preparing a question to get the conversation started. Two great options are “What is the best thing that has happened to you since last week?” and “What is something you saw or read this week that made you smile?” Look for ways to ask follow-up questions to keep the conversation going. When a leader engages in an opening conversation, students feel connected and understood. This lays the foundation for a deeper group discussion during your study time.
Ask yourself: What questions can I ask to start a conversation with this student? How can I answer honestly to build trust in the group?
Follow Up
If a student shares something with you, follow up with them the next week during your class opener. Draw the group together by catching up after a week apart. Remembering specific details from a casual conversation is a powerful way to remind students that they are important to you.
Ask yourself: How can I build on last week’s opener or discussion this week?
Class Opener Resource
Want to see what the new Build Community component looks like?
Get a sneak peek and use it as the Opener in your next class if you choose!
How can you build Christ-centered community in your class this week?
Please note that comments are monitored and approved by BSF staff. If you don’t see your comment immediately, please visit this page again to view your comment along with responses from staff and other BSF members.
Looking through the materials displayed I have not seen discussion pages, Basic Truth, or Bible Lesson outlines. Will these continue to be a part of the evening? We consider items as the meat and potatoes of the evening. Our current classes have incorporated the discussion time within the framework of the Bible Lesson, and this keeps the students very engaged.
I have reached out to all CL’s for commitments to return for next year’s study. I have asked them to commit to support the changes without knowing the full extent of the changes.
We’re introducing the new components a section at a time here on this blog, so stay tuned! Each part of class night is designed around the BSF SP goals of being God-focused, gospel-centered, and age appropriate.
So far we’ve covered Build Differently (this page) and Discover Truth (https://bsf-leadsub-app-prod2023.azurewebsites.net/schoolprogram-discover-truth/). Next month we will share on the new component of Live Differently. As we introduce each element, we plan to also share a sample from that part of the lesson. A complete lesson will be released this summer at the Launch.
You’ll still enjoy meat and potatoes in the new School Program—in fact, your students will too! That is the primary reason behind many of the changes. We’re excited to join you and your CLs as we serve this next generation with the truth of God’s Word together. Thank you for being a part of this adventure, Art!
I am a CS and i appreciate the intent behind all of the retooling that BSF is attempting. However I have to express my disappointment in the complete lack of connection with our area team and because of this we have literally had no training or discussion about these well intended initiatives. Please note this has been ongoing for years and there has been no change at all.
Eric, thank you for your feedback. We’re deeply grateful that you are here and that you have stuck with BSF even when it’s challenging. We join you in wanting connection and communication, which is why this blog exists.
Between now and the redesign launch, we are very excited to share training directly here, along with Global Zoom calls for you and your fellow CSs. Keep an eye on your e-mail for the next CS Zoom call in February!
On the “Matthew Resources for BSF CS and Asst. CS” showcase link, you will find a collection of past training under the header “School Program Redesign.” That is the place to get up-to-date about these initiatives. Thank you for engaging here, and for all that you are doing to serve Jesus in your BSF class and beyond!
Trying again to comment, last comments were not able to go thru
Hi, Mike! BSF staff monitors and approves all comments, so there is some times a lag between your brilliant thoughts and when they show up on the site. Despite that, we are grateful that you are here and sharing. Thank you for investing in the young lives of your BSF senior class!
As a SP CS in a DW class, my CLs had similar reactions as did Sarah when I presented the Build Community training. It was particularly marked in those who are currently, or recently completed, homeschooling their children. They come to BSF (and lead) because they want tools to help students become biblically literate and to have discussions about how the Bible applies to all of life. If we, as a culture, have become unable to make good connections in person, I wonder if it is a good idea to imply spending time on social media is a good thing. While I appreciate the thought that we may be able to help students use a phone for the cause of Christ, does it put unwelcome pressure on parents who wish to delay their children’s access to a phone and all the pitfalls? The short book, “Ten Ways Your Phone is Changing You” might give all Christians pause. Are we accepting a cultural “standard” that we may be called to resist or deemphasize for the sake of the Gospel? We continue to cover you in prayer as the redesign progresses and trust that the Holy Spirit will grant wisdom to us all.
Thank you for your feedback on how your training went, Cindy! We are unspeakably grateful for your prayers for the redesign process and for this next generation of Christ followers.
I have chosen BSF for it’s indepth study of God’s Word. I have been a GL in the past and a CL for 3yrs. My grandchildren attend as well.
It saddens me to see the shift of watering down the questions and secularism allowed to dominate the upcoming SP changes.
I will not be able to support the new agenda and will prayerfully seek another venue.
I wonder if anyone in HQ has looked how at the trends of question quality has changed over the years? It appears to myself and others I study with they have deteriorated. God centered and Bible focused has changed in BSF and not for good.
I also wonder if any of our comments will cause change.
Thank you for reading, sharing, and for serving as a CL, Lanett. On behalf of the many lives you have touched over those three years, we are grateful. HQ is indeed listening to you and other CLs and CSs, and this entire project is covered in prayer. Please join us in prayer for this project, and for the young hearts we are working to reach!
20-25 minutes? I guess I could see that much time for maybe the 1st 3-4 lesson nights and maybe coming back from break, but every week? Where are you taking the time from?
You are totally correct; Stuart; there is flexibility in the timing. Because we believe that CLs know their class the best, they will be empowered to make timing adjustments alongside their co-leader and CS. So for the first 3-4 lesson nights, you may choose to spend more time on Build Community. And other nights may be shorter in light of what else you plan to cover in class. In the lessons, time will predominantly range from 10 minutes to 20 minutes, depending on how it coincides with the rest of the lesson.
As a parent as well as a CL, I’ve chosen BSF for many years because it’s an in-depth Bible study. I’m afraid that seems to be changing. My son’s lessons have gone from appropriately challenging to laughably easy in the past 6 years. At age 12 he’s already doing the Senior Lesson, which includes fill-in-the-blanks and questions involving social media, which he’s not allowed to use. If I were looking for him to build community, I would take him to more Sunday school, Awana, or another social club. I’ve chosen BSF because I want him to learn to take notes on a sermon and study Scripture on his own using the skills he learns in Homiletics. If our goal is to be Gospel-centered, how can we be student-centered or human-centered? If our goal is to teach and lead in order to magnify God and mature these students, why are students to be directing the learning without direct instruction? How can my son be matured with increasingly watered down lessons and less time in the Word? Why are the lessons asking us to draw Christ and act out His role now? Those are second commandment violations to me.
Thank you for sharing with us, Sarah. Be assured that we are listening to you and other CLs and CSs, and this entire project is covered in prayer. Please join us in prayer for this project, and for the young hearts we are working to reach!
Thanks for your reply! I am definitely joining you in prayer and have no doubt that God’s plans are good. BSF seems to be going in a different direction than when we joined 11 years ago, which might not allow us to continue, but I know it will still be for God’s glory.
We are doing this in our SP class with 6 12-15 year olds. It is working well. My co-leader and I find that 8-10 minutes is plenty of time. The conversation diminishes after this amount of time especially with Jr Hi and HS guys. Please make provision and options for smaller classes with regard to the time frame.
Also the primary focus of the class should be the Bible. We have found that we cannot assume that these students know the basic facts about the Bible. Many churches do not have Bible classes for these age groups. We find that the students need to become familiar with the content and facts of the Bible before we can focus on application.
Dianne, this is so helpful! Thank you for sharing
many of our teen and preteen kids are not yet allowed on social media so please reflect that in your suggestions. thx!
Elaine, thank you for sharing! Great feedback
I love to sing praise to God my all in all. I pray these songs will get me tuned to God my Lord and King
Thank you for sharing, Kate! I love to sing too!
This is very much like the curriculum we use in our church for SS classes. They are called Bible Study Communities. I love it -relaxes everyone and sparks conversation, thought and laughter while letting us be different or similar to others. For a while we changed curriculum-so I had to think of my own openers. I have always felt cut off from the kids by the formality of our schedule. God has given me great co-leaders who are flexible and go where the kids are most engaged. Different each week but God is sovereign over time and what He is teaching! It is so exciting to
watch Him work each week! Praise for this new component to the Master Teacher!
Thank you for sharing your experience on building community, Carol! Helping students feel relaxed, sparking conversation, thought, and laughter—this is exactly what we’re working toward!
First, BSF has an excellent history of providing solid materials and studies for children. From my years of experience as a children’s leader, I see no gap in the encouragement or efforts to get the students to relate to each other and view themselves as part of the body of Christ. With the above in mind, I have two issues with the proposed changes. First, the term “Building Community” will sound secular, not spiritual, to many ears, since “community” is used so frequently by politicians and political activists on the left in their motivational communications. Other, more politically-neutral, and more historically Christian, terms are available, such as family, kingdom, church, body, etc. Second, the above materials suggest asking students what they read on social media the last week; many students do not participate in social media, and I applaud them. (I also don’t participate.) Several, widely-accepted studies have shown (including Facebook’s internal studies) that participation in social media often has a very significant effect in creating and exacerbating depression in users, especially among young girls. Further, the most prominent social media applications are notoriously invasive of private information, and they are openly anti-God and expressly opposed to Judeo-Christian values. Why would BSF want to encourage participation in such activities? Why make those students who don’t participate feel left out?
I whole heartedly agree with Steve. Our kids need to be immersed in the Word of God and they need to be building a relationship with Jesus!
I have been in leadership in the school program for 16 years and when you teach truth and pray for each student every day, God builds the relationship between leader and student. Our main focus is for the students to trust God and His Word.
Steve, I agree with you 100% . Have been in BSF 5 yrs. with the last three in the children’s ministry ( Level I and now senior) I am 73 and my wife has also been in for 5 years. We love BSF and serving God more than I can describe. None of my seniors participate in social media and in fact shun it! How we label concepts is very important! By seeking to be all-encompassing in Christ’s FAMILY, all issues will be appropriately dealt with as they arise in God’s time table through prayer.
This is very informative. As a new CS I feel like I’m being inducted into the next curriculum at a good pace. This provides a greater understanding for the changes being implemented. It is something we can start practicing as we await the new curriculum.
I pray that the other activities will also be introduced in the same way, so as to make us fully prepared for the whole curriculum.
Thank you for sharing, Akinyi, and for your ministry and leadership to the young hearts of BSF!
How do co- leaders make sure both are investing in all students and not the same few??
The tools you have used to accomplish this in the past will continue to serve you well! We’ve seen Children’s Leaders use an online spinner with names, and others use students’ names on popsicle sticks to help decide who goes next. Your class’s CS is a valuable resource for ideas too. What has worked well for you in your class?
The children share requests for prayers each week. Following up on those prayer requests would show we care and would build community.
I love the idea and believe it will help bonding amongst the classes
I look forward to seeing the Community spring up. Will it be like a ‘Bible Club “?
This is fabulous. We have indeed noticed that children really love it when they are engaged in a conversation as they come in. In thr proposed Build the Community section this is extended to get the children to engage among themselves. This is really nice especially as this is now intentional with a good time allocated.
Thank you for sharing, Vinod! We look forward to hearing how God continues to work in your class as you lead and serve!
The idea to build Christ-centered community is great.
We agree! 🙂
I love this adjustment to the school program! Our students enjoy getting to know each other, and look for opportunity to do so. Last year on Zoom we hardly had time to offer this type of development. I can’t wait to see God work next year through these changes!
We join you in being so excited to see how God will work next year through these changes and through *you*. You are an important part of the team, Jessica!
Will the students stay in their tribe indefinitely or only one week? Sounds like a marvelous idea!
I looked at the preview Class Opener provided. This seems to only lend itself to in-person classes. Will you be offering an on-line option as well? Is BSF still going to offer on-line student programs as an option in the future?
What will be deleted if you add more time in the beginning?
I was wondering that exact same thing!
Thanks for your great question! There is flexibility in the timing. Because we believe that CLs know their class the best, they will be empowered to make timing adjustments alongside their co-leader and CS. In the lessons, time for Build Community will predominantly range from 10 minutes to 20 minutes, depending on how it coincides with the rest of the lesson. How have you seen Christ-centered community in your class this week?
I am a new SP CL in a DW class and have been a TL and Area Advisor. We have tried to engage the students with some of these types of questions in the Opening, to make it interesting and for the students to connect with each other and with us. We find that it is a very slow start. The kids are tired, not wanting to engage and some not wanting to even be there.
How do we overcome this slow start at the beginning of class?
I love the ideal of building community with our students in Level 3. My CL partner and I have been discussing questions we could ask to get to know the students better. This is an answer to prayer!
Super excited about the variety of ways to engage and get to know each other and God’s word. Thanks to the team from HQ who has worked so very hard on this.
Waiting to have more Ah Ha moments as a result of freedom to ask and speak out.
Thank you for sharing your excitement, Becky! We are so grateful for your prayers as we work toward next year!
Our class is too small for groups..sometimes…most times..only two, maybe three students. Level3/4. Some family groups within our class have very spotty attendance, so those three may double or halve the number of students in the room. And we never know whether or not they will show up. It makes it difficult to meld them into the group/pair that attends every week. We need some options for chatting with two 10yr old girls. Do we need to make different plans for whatever number shows?
During a transition with Level 1 students this week, my co-leader had them hopping and stretching and then asked them to say something nice to someone. Comments like, “I like your hair!” and “Those are cool shoes” started ringing through the room. Kids smiled as they received and gave compliments and I think it built community.
We love hearing stories like this, Lynn—it makes me want to be in your class, too!