Serve at a rescue mission so others can see God's love.
Sue Skalicky
Green grass and colorful flowers are right now only a promise hidden beneath the stark coldness of winter. We make due, persevere and even learn to enjoy these frigid months, knowing that in days to come we will again feel the sun's warmth and marvel at the beauty of the earth in bloom. But for some the chill never vanishes and the dawn seems far from coming. Their storms lie in their souls, their ...
Group members hold a stone while confessing the people they are most likely to judge.
Tami Rudkin
Bring a good-sized rock to your group (about the size of your palm). Have each group member hold the rock as they complete the question, "I tend to be quick to judge…"(i.e. people who drink, people who look poor, people who are overweight.)
(This could be a tough barrier breaker but a very valuable one especially if you were doing a lesson on judgment/condemnation. Obviously, using the "rock" reminds ...
A way to expand God's kingdom by starting with your neighbors.
Sue Skalicky
My husband and I just got back from Orlando where I accompanied him to a conference. During our five-day stay, we spent one day visiting Epcot® at Walt Disney World®. We experienced the beauty of community as we walked through the history, culture, and architecture of eleven different countries. We spoke with people from the country in which we were symbolically standing and enjoyed their ...
Share personal stories with each other as a way to really connect.
Sue Skalicky
Group Outreach
I just finished reading through several personal columns. As the high school journalism adviser, I was on the lookout for anything that might put my job in jeopardy - libelous statements, profanity, references to sex, drugs, or inappropriate rock and roll. Instead, I found feelings explored, once-hidden hurts revealed, and epiphanies explained. These young writers had chosen to leave ...
Do a thorough evaluation of neglected areas of your life.
Sue Skalicky
Spring cleaning can include organizing and cleaning the garage, the basement, and the attic. Spring cleaning is taking the time to clean the corners of the kitchen counter or dust the ceiling fan blades. Although a deep-cleaned home can help produce temporary feelings of well being, it has yet to be credited with positively changing a life. However, taking time to dust off a journal, dial up a neglected ...
Offer a cold beverage to quench someone's thirst so you can meet deeper needs.
Sue Skalicky
Group Outreach
Liquid love
In 1954, humanistic psychologist Abraham Maslow developed a theory of personality that focuses on five basic instinctive needs that every human has. These basic needs are:
Physiological Needs
The need for oxygen, food, water, and a consistent body temperature are the most important, because without them the person cannot think or comprehend anything else.
Use personal testimonies to share God with those around you.
Sue Skalicky
Group Outreach
My family and I recently spent a week in Outer Banks, North Carolina. Each day, we walked two blocks to the beach where we surfed, boogie-boarded, ocean-kayaked, and swam with dolphins. These things were inspiring, but what really took my breath away was seeing the ocean for the first time each morning. In order to get to the beach, we had to walk through the parking lot of a motel, ...
Here are practical ways to minister to those who are ill.
Sue Skalicky
Group Outreach
In the two years that I have had Carolyn as a student, she has grown her hair out "#8211; twice. Each time, when her hair grew to exactly 10 inches beyond the shortest she could bear to wear it, she got it cut and donated it to Locks of Love (a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to children under age 18 struggling with long-term medical hair loss from cancer and ...