A Bible study group led a young woman to Christ through their love and acceptance.
by Life Together
Jane was miserable. She'd never really wanted to start having sex with David. Even though she cared deeply for him, she was only a freshman in college, and it seemed like a big step to take.
"But it will make us so much closer, Jane," David would say. After a while, Jane gave in. At first, it did make her feel closer to David. But two months later, he broke up with her, and she was left feeling used ...
A small group works through their past hurts together.
by Life Together
"Can you love God if you don't love your neighbor?" Jenny asked her small group.
It seemed like a simple question, but the lengthy pause suggested otherwise. Martha, a new believer, broke the silence. "I suppose the 'right' answer is we can't love God; but right now I feel like I love God, but I can't love my dad. He's hurt me too deeply."
Martha was daddy's little girl growing up. She could do no wrong ...
How can you help Willy correct his thinking without embarassing him?
Pat J. Sikora
Willy Wrong seldom has the right answer—even if the question has several possible answers. Sometimes it's as if he answers a different question than you ask. Maybe he's just slow. Maybe he doesn't listen well. He's not trying to be funny, but sometimes it ends up that way. After all, how could anyone come up with the answers he does? You hate to embarrass the guy, but what can you do?
The front door of the church is the front door of every person's home.
Michael C. Mack
At the church where I minister we call our small groups "Community Groups" for two important reasons:
First, they are a place where authentic Christian community takes place. They are a place to know and be known, love and be loved, serve and be served, celebrate and be celebrated. They are an environment where intimacy and trust and accountability grow. They are the body of Christ in action.
One of the more uncomfortable aspects of discipling another believer is admonishment. A proper understanding of biblical admonishment, however, can raise our comfort level and benefit both discipler and disciple.
Admonishment isn't a license to boss someone around or confront angrily. Godly admonishment is gentle and motivated by a desire to prevent sin. It keeps the other person's interests uppermost. ...
Difficult people can be confusing and overwhelming to lead, having a framework in place can make the situation easier for you both.
Dr. Jim Jackson
You don't have to be a psychologist, a labor negotiator, a judge, or a marriage counselor to lead a small group but it probably wouldn't hurt. During the last 5 years, in my role as both a small group leader and a participant, I have seen sparks fly, problems fester, and tears flow. And on a few memorable occasions, I have encountered challenging, difficult people who have threatened to bring out ...
This five-session course looks at all the aspects involved in fully devoting your life to follow Christ.
Following Christ involves a wholehearted commitment. We cannot see a relationship with Christ as simply a ticket into heaven. When we answer the call to follow him, it's going to turn our lives in a different direction. We can't follow unless we go where he leads. This five-session course looks at centering our lives on Christ, weathering the storms of life, going where Jesus goes, caring for others, ...
This three-session course points out that true fulfillment lies not in individualism but in sharing life with others.
Nothing is more important than the relationships in our lives. This three-session course points out that true fulfillment lies not in individualism but in sharing life with others. Being part of the community called "church" is not about being more religious; it's about being fully relational and helping others find the love they're longing for.
God is trustworthy and can be counted on to treat people right.
"This 6-session course is by Marshall Shelley, written within a year after the deaths of two of his children. During Marshall and his wife's desperate turning to Scripture, they discovered that God is trustworthy and can be counted on to treat people right. These six studies focus on six sections of the Bible that offered them fresh glimpses of how God works.
We are called to encourage each other towards righteousness, but confrontation is never an easy situation.
Steven Reames
Nobody likes to confront bad behavior. Most employers wait until the last possible minute before calling their subordinates on the carpet. Temper tantrums in grocery stores can be embarrassing for parents, but spanking your child in public brings "child abuse charge" fears to mind. Even worse, when confrontation is handled poorly in a church setting, legal retribution is only one thing leaders have ...
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