David Ashcraft
I don’t know about you but weekends like the Lay Ministry weekend we are concluding get me pumped up, enthused and ready to be more effective in completing the calling that God has for me. But, the enthusiasm wears off. Sometimes, I run out of gas. I don’t plan to run out, but I don’t refill the tank as I should. Filling my spiritual gas tank requires Bible study - small group Bible study, prayer and association with fellow Christians on a routine, regular and ongoing basis.
Several times during the Lay Ministry teaching sessions, Don Taft and or Bob Foy encouraged us to continue small group Bible studies and even recommended a couple of studies for us to consider. Don also coupled the being a Christian with doing the work of a Christian and with prayer.
Do you remember the advice Paul gave to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:14-20
"But don't let it faze you. Stick with what you learned and believed, sure of the integrity of your teachers—why, you took in the sacred Scriptures with your mother's milk! There's nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us."
We all learned this passage as, “all scripture is God-breathed and is profitable for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
How do we shape up and put into practice that which we learn so that we do what God has called us to do?
The What’s Coming Up Planning Committee for Lay Ministry Weekend was charged with brainstorming ideas to organize our discipleship activities and link them with on-going programs and activities. What’s available and ahead of us for Bethlehem in small groups and opportunities to apply what we learn in the small groups?
1. Form coordinating committee for Disciple training
a. Plan the small group studies 18-24 months in advance
b. Coordinate with other training and ministry activities such as Sunday School, Church Renewal Weekends, VBS, Mission Trips Repeat courses as needed.
c. Obtain input from congregation and leadership for courses to be offered.
d. Offer courses at times other than Sunday evening to satisfy demand
e. Encourage small number (10) per class
f. Repeat courses as needed
2. Determine the core subject areas that will be offered each semester. For example:
a. Introduction to the Christian Walk
i. Christianity 101
ii. This is Bethlehem
iii. What Baptists Believe
iv. The Four Christian Disciplines
b. Preparation for Service
i. Role of the Deacon
ii. Teaching Sunday School
c. Christian Disciplines
i. Prayer
ii. Evangelism
iii. How to study the Bible
iv. Spiritual Gifts
d. Offer courses that are attractive to all groupings of adults
i. Men
ii. Women
iii. Couples
iv. Marriage
v. Parenting
e. Others
i. Finances
ii. Healthy lifestyle
Several times during the Lay Ministry teaching sessions, Don Taft and or Bob Foy encouraged us to continue small group Bible studies and even recommended a couple of studies for us to consider. Don also coupled the being a Christian with doing the work of a Christian and with prayer.
Do you remember the advice Paul gave to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:14-20
"But don't let it faze you. Stick with what you learned and believed, sure of the integrity of your teachers—why, you took in the sacred Scriptures with your mother's milk! There's nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us."
We all learned this passage as, “all scripture is God-breathed and is profitable for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
How do we shape up and put into practice that which we learn so that we do what God has called us to do?
The What’s Coming Up Planning Committee for Lay Ministry Weekend was charged with brainstorming ideas to organize our discipleship activities and link them with on-going programs and activities. What’s available and ahead of us for Bethlehem in small groups and opportunities to apply what we learn in the small groups?
- Sunday School. Small group studies are available throughout the year - we call them Sunday School - all kinds of classes for every age group, studying a variety of resources. And all based on the Bible as the ultimate resource. If you are not in Sunday School, visit a class next Sunday. If you don’t like the class you are in or want to study another topic, change classes. If there isn’t a class for your age group or status, start one. Get involved in Sunday School.
- Special Purpose. Ad hoc, small group training sessions are schedule for specific purposes throughout the year. Last Sunday afternoon there were several training sessions for VBS workers and our pastor recently completed a small group Bible study for deacons. There was a class for new believers in the children’s area not long ago.
- Bethlehem Small Group Bible Studies. Our small group Bible studies typically follow the traditional school calendar. Once again, they will resume when the fall semester begins. Here is a brief summary of thoughts and input from some of you thus far:
1. Form coordinating committee for Disciple training
a. Plan the small group studies 18-24 months in advance
b. Coordinate with other training and ministry activities such as Sunday School, Church Renewal Weekends, VBS, Mission Trips Repeat courses as needed.
c. Obtain input from congregation and leadership for courses to be offered.
d. Offer courses at times other than Sunday evening to satisfy demand
e. Encourage small number (10) per class
f. Repeat courses as needed
2. Determine the core subject areas that will be offered each semester. For example:
a. Introduction to the Christian Walk
i. Christianity 101
ii. This is Bethlehem
iii. What Baptists Believe
iv. The Four Christian Disciplines
b. Preparation for Service
i. Role of the Deacon
ii. Teaching Sunday School
c. Christian Disciplines
i. Prayer
ii. Evangelism
iii. How to study the Bible
iv. Spiritual Gifts
d. Offer courses that are attractive to all groupings of adults
i. Men
ii. Women
iii. Couples
iv. Marriage
v. Parenting
e. Others
i. Finances
ii. Healthy lifestyle
- Church Renewal. The next weekend in the church renewal series is Workplace Evangelism. It begins where this weekend stopped by identifying the different types of calling for a Christian and examining how our spiritual gifts can be used in each of those callings to build up the church. T
- Application Opportunities. During the summer months, there are opportunities to put into practice things we have learned in the small groups – VBS, mission trips and family vacations.
Small groups of 10 -15 people praying together, studying God’s word together and applying what is learned will accomplish mush for God. For me, the small group Bible studies are an important part of keeping my spiritual saw sharp.
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