Small Group Ideas for Summer Time

Small Group Ideas for Summer Time

Small Group Ideas for Summer Time

As Summer vacations start and kids are out of school, small group ministry can be challenging. Look for ways to stay connected to every member and reach out to those you have not seen in a while. Please don’t take the Summer “off” as you minister to your group. This can be a great time of ministry and connection with your class. Consider these ideas for Summer time ministry:

1. Pray for your group, calling each member by name before the Father.

2. Plan a summer fellowship for the group. Include kids and make it a fun time. Fellowship is a very important part of a small group ministry.

3. Spend some time every week talking about your member’s Summer plans. Let them know you will miss them while they are on vacation and you intend to see them when they come back.

4. Develop a weekly plan to contact absentees to check on them. Including other group members in the process is a great way to share your leadership responsibility with other members.

5. Plan a Summer mission project for the group and encourage each member to participate in the ministry opportunity.

Make a goal to contact every members on your list during the Summer. Summer is a great time to reconnect.

Follow Sound Doctrine

Follow Sound Doctrine

1-tim

Follow Sound Doctrine

There are many people giving and receiving advice today. In our culture, the idea of “coaching” is popular. People from every industry and station of life pay large amounts of money to their “coaches” to help them go to the next level. Through the study of the Scripture we can receive coaching that will encourage us to keep going, help us make course adjustments along the way, and take our place in God’s Kingdom for His glory.

God used the Apostle Paul to write a large amount of the New Testament. Paul was instrumental in spreading the Gospel about Jesus from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria and ultimately to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8) The books of 1st and 2nd Timothy are personal letters to Timothy from the Apostle Paul. These books contain Paul’s counsel to Timothy concerning issues of church leadership. By reading and studying these books, we will receive “coaching” from the Apostle Paul himself that will inform, encourage and challenge us.

Toward the end of his life, Paul wrote three letters (1 and 2 Timothy, and Titus) to Timothy and Titus to instruct them as they continued in the work of the church. 1 Timothy 1:1-2 identifies the Apostle Paul as the author of this letter and his “son” in the faith, Timothy, as the recipient.

As a young leader, Timothy was prone to discouragement. Paul is writing to encourage him to stay on the job and fight the good fight. The presence of false teachers in the early church was one of the reasons that Paul encourages Timothy to stay strong and fight against error. Little has changed in the church since Paul wrote these words to Timothy. We have the same charge to fight the false teachers of our day.

The motivation of Paul’s command to fight against error is love. Paul writes, “The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” (1 Timothy 1:5) Paul has a genuine concern for those who have been deceived spiritually. A wrong understanding of the Old Testament Law is part of the false teaching. These false teachers were leading people to legalistic religion rather than a relationship with Christ. “The flesh loves religious legalism because rules and regulation enable a person to appear holy without really having to change his heart.” (New Testament Commentary, Warren Weirsbe) The Law is powerless to save. The purpose of the law is to reveal our need for a Savior.

Paul writes his personal testimony, describing the incredible work God has done in his life. It is not enough to fight false teaching, we must also proclaim the truth of the Gospel starting with our own lives. Paul summarizes the Gospel in one verse proclaiming the power of the Gospel, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst.” (1 Timothy 1:15)

1 Timothy, chapter 1 ends with Paul charging Timothy to “fight the good fight” and hold on to his faith and not quit. It is always too soon to quit. The gospel and our spiritual lives are worth fighting for.

While reading and studying 1 Timothy 1 consider these questions:

1. Describe the most important letter or e-mail you every received.

2. How valuable is the content of the Bible in your life? If you did not have access to the Bible, how much would you pay to get it?

3. What are some of the false teachings of our day?

4. How does your testimony help you defend that which is true?

5. What can you do to strengthen your own understanding of the Scripture?

6. What will be the results of better understanding the Scripture?

7. If you could ask Paul any question, what would it be?

Last Words from a Great Leader

Joshua 24:14-25

God worked through Joshua’s life in a powerful way. His life and the journey of Israel to the Promised Land provides great insight into the character and strength of God and how we should respond to Him. In this passage, Joshua gives a farewell address and makes a charge to the people Israel before his death. Joshua 24:14-25

Think about these ideas about final words:

  • Final words are chosen carefully
  • Final words are focused on the needs of the audience
  • Final words from credible sources should be heeded

In the first part of Joshua 24, Joshua reminds the people of Israel about God’s powerful acts and His faithfulness. Then starting in verse 14, he charges Israel to fear God and serve Him with faithfulness. He also charges them to throw away the gods their forefathers worshiped beyond the river and in Egypt. Choosing to serve the Lord becomes the focus of verse 15. Joshua 24:15 is the most famous verse in the book of Joshua. It says,

“But if it doesn’t please you to worship the Lord, choose for yourselves today the one you will worship: the gods your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my family, we will worship the Lord.”

At the end of his life, Joshua challenged the people of God to follow his example by worshiping and serving God alone.

Clear Application for Today

  • Final words are important.
  • Remembering God’s faithfulness in the past helps us follow Him in the present.
  • Who we worship and serve is a choice all must make.
  • Fathers are the leaders of the family who can make this decision to honor God for the whole family.
  • God desires our worship, service, and allegiance.
Joshua Courageous Living

Joshua Courageous Living

In Joshua Chapter 1, God commissions Joshua to take Moses’ place of leadership as the people of God move toward the promise land. God tells Joshua three times to be strong and courageous. (Joshua 1:6,7,9) The basis for this strength and courage is found in verse 5, where God tells Joshua that He will be with him like He was with Moses. God promises, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Again in verse 9 God shows Joshua where his strength and confidence should come from. “Have I not command you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Clear Application for Today

  • God will never call you to something He will not give you strength and courage to do. Joshua 1:5,9
  • The Word of God is essential in your life if you are to fulfill God’s calling. Joshua 1:8
  • God will involve others in the work as you fulfill God’s calling in your life. Joshua 1:16-17
  • Others involved in God’s work will encourage you to be “strong and courageous.” Joshua 1:18