Use a pie for a tasty way to show appreciation for people in your life.
Sue Skalicky
Group Outreach
Last fall, at the school where I teach, the student council set up a booth in the lunchroom where students could pay a dollar to throw a whipped cream pie in someone's face. Those selected to be attacked were favorite teachers, the editor of the newspaper, popular football players, and a few other students. The fundraiser was a success because students wanted a chance to be connected ...
Practical principles for an ongoing, transformational walk with God.
Wayne Jacobsen
Prayer helps us discover what God is doing and trace his hand in the circumstances of our lives. In the process, God transforms us. Prayer is not a means of manipulating the master plan, but of being shaped by the master's hand.
Unfortunately, not all prayer groups are conducive to that kind of prayer. Not all requests follow that understanding. Consider these guidelines so that your prayer times will ...
Practical advice for a sometimes sensitive subject
Randall Neighbour
Each week, I have the opportunity to pray for other members of my small group. When it comes time to pray, I always take a deep breath and ask myself the following question: "Am I about to pray a nice, rehearsed prayer, or do I know without a doubt that I'm about to pray something God has given me that will be powerful?"
This stops me cold most of the time. My head is often filled with trite thoughts ...
Common problems and practical solutions for praying together
by Andrew Wheeler
Our small group met monthly to pray for the persecuted church around the world and for missionaries from our church. We were all committed to God, to prayer, and to each other, and several of us were experienced pray-ers. Yet some of our prayer times—well, most of them, really—seemed to drag by.
Often my mind wandered during prayer; seldom did I feel we were connecting as a group. Although ...
This five-session course will show us how to pray, work, battle injustice, and worship a great and mighty God.
...
Session One
Pray as a Way of Life Nehemiah demonstrated how to have a life of prayer. Nehemiah 1:1–2:8 When Nehemiah heard the devastating news that his Jerusalem home was burned and crumbling, he immediately began to fast and pray. This study will look at how we can adopt a prayer life like Nehemiah's.
Session Two
Work DiligentlyLearn how to tackle a difficult task. Nehemiah 2:11–18; ...
Participate in an intercessory prayer activity based on Psalm 23.
Tami Rudkin
1. Have someone read Psalm 23.
2. Have these short prayers cut apart and give one to each of your group members.
3. Have each person write his/her name in the blanks.
4. Then have them pass their prayer to the person on their right.
5. Have each person pray the praise/prayer they received; they will be praying for each other.
6. Make sure everyone gets one but you do not have to ...
I had traveled this same road countless times. This stretch of pavement lead to the elementary school my children attended, and I shudder to think of the times I traced this same path. I had driven this course in the rain, snow, and sunshine. I had been laughing, and I had been crying, as I passed the same landmarks. I had gazed at the beautiful mountain view from this section of road and marveled ...
Inspire your congregation to focus on individual evangelism opportunities in creative ways.
Esther M. Bailey
To prepare for an outreach event in the life of the church, why not promote a Creative Evangelism Month within your small group? Designate any month preceding a special event such as Easter, Christmas, Vacation Bible School or other function designed to bring new people into the church.
Creative evangelism is simply ordinary evangelism with a twist—a new method or even an old method that an ...
Scripture is full of stories about sin and its destructive power, but we find victory as we camp on God's goodness.
Session One
Welcome to the War
All Christians are involved in a supernatural struggle against the forces of evil and are called to stand in God's power.
Ephesians 6:10-20
Session Two
Preparing for the Battle, Part 1
All believers should prepare for spiritual war fare by putting on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, and the shoes of peace.
Ephesians 6:13-15