C.L.A.S.S. 201: Four habits that will transform
your congregation
By Tobin Perry
The C.L.A.S.S. Journey
C.L.A.S.S. 201 is part of a four-part journey designed to take the people of your congregation from pew-sitters to purpose driven believers who are “sold out” to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You can purchase C.L.A.S.S. 201 individually or as part of the entire package of classes. |
“There are no shortcuts to spiritual growth,” Rick Warren wrote in the 28th chapter of The Purpose Driven© Life.
That’s why the second of the four-part C.L.A.S.S. series focuses on helping Christians develop spiritual habits that will enable them to grow spiritually. Written by Warren, C.L.A.S.S. 201 was a foundation of his plan to make Saddleback Church the most spiritually mature church in the country. This class represents a crucial link in any church’s roadmap to becoming a healthy congregation that ministers effectively locally and globally.
The class centers on the practical application of four key spiritual disciplines. Because it was designed to be a great refresher for seasoned believers along with being an introduction to spiritual disciplines for a new believer, this class is an effective second step on the Purpose Driven C.L.A.S.S. journey.
The four spiritual growth habits discussed in this class are:
1. Habit of spending time with God’s Word: The discipleship process begins with biblical truth. When you are reaching the unchurched with the Gospel, your new believers will need to know how to get the most out of their Bible study. C.L.A.S.S. 201 starts by helping your church members assimilate God’s Word into their life.
In the class, attendees will learn to read, hear, study, and memorize the Bible. Besides teaching why believers need to develop these disciplines, the class offers practical help in each of these areas as well. For example, attendees are introduced to the time-tested S.P.A.C.E. P.E.T.S. Bible study method, which leads believers through a series of nine questions to help them reflect on any biblical passage.
2. Habit of spending time with God: We were created to have fellowship with God. That fellowship doesn’t just happen on Sunday morning or in the middle of rush hour traffic. God wants an open dialogue with his people on a daily basis.
In C.L.A.S.S. 201, church members will learn how to set up their own regular quiet time. There are no guilt trips. No impossible goals. Just easy steps to help attendees establish a consistent and meaningful time with God. The class even includes some ideas to help believers overcome typical obstacles to a daily quiet time, such as a lack of diligence, distractions, and spiritual dryness.
The class will also help your members pray. Prayer can be daunting for a new believer, so the tools included in C.L.A.S.S. 201 are designed to make getting started in a life of prayer easier. Turning their attention to the Lord’s Prayer, the class will give them a model for a balanced prayer life. As they learn to praise God, commit to his purposes, petition him with requests, ask for forgiveness, pray for others, and request protection for themselves, your church members will establish solid prayer patterns that will help them throughout their life.
3. Habit of tithing: Few commitments show as much about spiritual maturity as tithing. Where your members choose to invest their money is what they truly care about (Matt. 6:21). Not only will those in attendance learn why they need to make tithing a regular habit, but they will hear biblical answers to some of the most common questions concerning tithing, such as:
• How much should I tithe?
• Where should I give my tithes?
• When should I tithe?
4. Habit of fellowship: We can’t do the purposes of God on our own. It’s simply not possible. Discipleship is no exception. C.L.A.S.S. 201 gives an overview of why small groups are important in the life of the believer. Backed up by biblical truth, the class will motivate your people to deepen the relationships within the church – a crucial part of your church’s roadmap to becoming a purpose driven community of believers.
Habits are not easy to develop. As a pastor, Warren understood that when he wrote this curriculum. Staying on the practical theme of the course, Warren ends the class with seven steps to help start and maintain these habits.
By being challenged to commit their time, treasures, and talents to God and their church family, attendees of this class can then begin to see how God can use them in ministry through C.LA.S.S. 301 and then on mission in the world through C.LA.S.S. 401.