PRIORITIES FOR BIBLE SCHOOL OPENING ASSEMBLIES
Ideas and Thoughts by Grady Lee

SUCCESSFUL SUNDAY BIBLE SCHOOL OPENING ASSEMBLIES REQUIRES PLANNING!!!    The same as with the worship services.

SUCCESS COMES THROUGH PREPARATION!!! Time for an opening assembly is limited. Therefore,  Zero into a truth, value, skill, person, place, or thing. Develop the vocabulary of Biblical doctrine or geographical concepts etc.  Stay within the time limits. Keep it short and simple. Keep it moving. Do not lag. Plan at least a month in advance. Know what is happening at the church that month and plan around it. Use a technique for at least one month. Some longer such as learning the books of the Bible.

PLANNING FOR OPENING ASSEMBLIES.
1. Long term Goals. These should be established for a year in advance.
2. Monthly goals might include, Biblical truths to emphasize, spiritual growth, fellowship items and a                techniques to make everyone welcome and feel a part.
3. Weekly priorities. 
4. Develop a calendar for one’s own use.	

TECHNIQUES TO INCLUDE IN OPENING ASSEMBLIES.--- KEEP IT SHORT and SIMPLE, THEN MOVE QUICKLY AND SMOOTHLY.--- This keeps up the interest.
....ORDER OF SERVICE: Prepare a fresh order of service for each assembly. Variety is the spice of Life, yet some things can be done over and over. Use a pattern of things for the month’s theme, like memory verses that corresponds to the monthly emphasis. Missions month–use mission verses, Financial emphasis–use financial verses, Bible Geography, Little known Bible Facts,  etc. 
....BIBLE READING: One person might be assigned to read a certain passage, or Responsive readings.
....DON’T PREACH: That’s the preachers job. Don’t teach, that’s the teachers job. Simply prepare hearts and set a climate for the teaching and preaching.
....TESTIMONIES: Pre arrange a Person  to prepare his testimony concerning one topic. (Finances, helping others, salvation, how God has provided, what a Scripture verse means to them. Etc.) KEEP IT SHORT AND SWEET.
....MEMORY VERSES AND THINGS:
    Permit anyone to quote their favorite.
    Teach one verse per Sunday to the entire group. Read aloud together several times then try memory.
    Assign one person to PREPARE and give an explanation of what a particular verse means to Him/her.
    Teach the books of the Bible by repeating them five or six at a time in unison. After practicing the new         one for the day, start at Genesis or Matthew and say them all up to the one studied that day. Use the             song that teaches the sequence of the books.
....MUSIC:
    Specials
    Song of the month for entire group. Like, “Teach Me Lord.” Sing every Sunday for the month.
    Choruses. 
....WELCOME:
    Ask if anyone brought a visitor. Have them introduce the visitor.
    Introduce any “drop in” visitor.
    Sing, “There’s a welcome here,” while shaking hands.
....PRAYER TIME:
    Make it quick, Special request.
    Sentence prayers across a row. (No one has to participate if they do not wish)  Etc.
....USE PROMOTIONS
    Do quickly what ever is necessary to inform or check on the requirement for the day’s promotion.
....SPECIAL EVENTS: Chalk talk, magic, missionary, etc.
....SPECIAL THINGS: Explanation of a map, distance, size, rivers, mountains, valleys etc., of the holy            land, missionary journeys, church supported missionaries, old testament lands etc. Explanations of the          tabernacle and temple. A little history of the Old Testament saints, who they were, where they lived, and       what they did. Not sermons, but short to the point ‘concept clarification’ to help tie the history,                     geography, social life, plan of God in the Messiah, etc., together.
....SPECIAL DAYS: Something special for each holiday. Special days emphasized by the church. Pastor’s       anniversary, Church anniversary, Missions, etc. 
....SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENTS BY MEMBERS: Member achievement should be recognized. Make sure  over time everyone can be noticed for an achievement. Not the same person over and over.
....MAKE IT VISUAL, USE VARIOUS TECHNIQUES,
....MAKE IT FUN, AT LEAST ENJOYABLE.