Connect Class

Connect Class is an important part of our Assimilation Process at The Austin Stone. It is a six-week class designed to place unconnected men and women into new Missional Communities. The content of the class is the importance of biblical community.

Goal

The primary goal of Connect Class is for participants to get connected to a smaller group of believers in our church family.

By the end of Connect Class, our goal is that participants will:

  1. Have formed actual friendships with other participants
  2. Be able to articulate the framework for biblical community
  3. Know what is expected of those who join Missional Communities at The Austin Stone
  4. Know how to overcome barriers to community
  5. Be placed in a new Missional Community

Outline

The six weeks of Connect Class will cover the following topics:

  • Week 1 - Community is God's Gift to His People
  • Week 2 - Becoming Good Friends by Looking to Jesus
At the end of Week 2, participants will fill out a survey to help leaders place them into Missional Communitiess. Starting with Week 3, participants will be directed to sit together with their new groups.
  • Week 3 - Community Helps Us Know Jesus More
  • Week 4 - Community Helps Us Grow in Jesus
  • Week 5 - Community Helps Us Show Jesus to the World
  • Week 6 - Community is Worth the Cost

Leader Guide

The Leader Guide is available at the link below in the blue box. The guide includes information about the goals of the class, leadership roles, the class environment, and more. It also includes teaching scripts for each week of class.

Connect Leader Guide

The teaching scripts have been written to maximize interaction between participants with activities and discussion time. The teaching time should only be about half of the time in the class.

Teachers should spend time each week preparing for class. This preparation should include:
  1. Reading and praying through the scriptures for that week, 
  2. Praying for the students in the class, 
  3. Ensuring everything in the "Class Prep" section has been completed, and 
  4. Reading through the teaching script and personalizing the illustrations provided.

Handouts

Class Handouts are designed to facilitate connection. They do not have much space to take notes, but rather include the questions for discussion and space for writing during group activities.

It is recommended that leaders print and distribute one week of handouts at a time rather than printing and distributing all six weeks at once.

Connect Handouts

If you have questions, comments, or feedback about Connect Class, contact the Managing Director of The Austin Stone Institute, John Murchison (john@austinstone.org).