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Press Release: So What? New Youth Bible Studies from Great Commission Publications

April 12, 2011 by Editor

So What? New Youth Bible Studies from Great Commission Publications

Engaging teens in Bible study doesn’t mean watering it down. GCP’s new youth Bible studies equip teens to take ownership of their faith in Jesus Christ.

So What does the Bible say?

Teenagers have questions. God’s Word has answers. That’s why Scripture is the heart of each session. Students will examine what the Bible says, learn what it means, and see how it relates to their lives.

So What questions does the Bible answer?

A good question has remarkable power to stimulate and engage critical thinking skills. Each session zeros in on one question and one answer, allowing students to focus on the truth in Scripture.

So What difference does it make?

Students are asking, ‘How does the Bible apply to my life? How can I live out what I believe? So what difference does faith in Christ make?’

The question “So What?” captures in a nutshell this series’ primary purpose: that God the Holy Spirit will work through the study of his Word to bring about students’ ownership of their faith in Jesus Christ.

So What? Features

Targeting Comprehensive Christian Education

March 1, 2011 by Dennis

It never ceases to amaze me that anywhere in the world you say “Christian Education” people automatically think Sunday school. Is this the only Christian education the church does? If it is, then we are in big trouble. Let me explain.

In teaching the Christian Education (CE) courses in South Africa for eight years, the student’s first exercise was to list every church activity, i.e., worship, soup kitchens, Bible study, missions, etc. The challenge was for them to tell me which one was not CE! As you read further, that is my challenge to you, because the way you understand the educational ministry of your church will determine its spiritual depth. You disagree? Then my challenge is to prove my point.

Let’s start with missions. My contention is that missions is a sub-set of CE! What do missionaries do? They share the Gospel. To share the Gospel means to teach the meaning of the Gospel – this is CE! When there is a group of converts a church is started and training leaders is a number one priority. Training is CE! How about worship? Worship is leading people in worship to understand the importance of what they are doing. It is not only the sermon (which in itself is CE), but it is instructing the people to understand what they are singing and why. A well planned worship service is led by one who understands what it means to keep the people focused and aware of what they are doing. This too is CE!

View and download the complete Equip to Disciple Issue 1, 2011 (Acrobat Reader required).

Think about every ministry in your Church. Is there one thing that isn’t in actuality Christian education in some way?

So what is the point? In any good education program there must be good planning and coordination. This is where it appears that many churches fall short in seeing the big picture of what is really taking place.

If you had asked your child’s teacher what she was going to cover that year, how would you react if told she will figure that out as they go along? Imagine 12 years of this? Would anyone ever get an education? Then why do we think that we can do this in the church? This leads to a further challenge.

I will use several examples:

Youth: What are they being taught? Why? What is the plan? What should they know, be, and do after 4 years? Or is your group like most, simply teaching one topic this week and another the next; somehow hoping they will eventually develop a healthy Christian worldview by themselves. Is this what you want for your young people who will be going on to university where they will be confronted with philosophies that are not only not Christian, but in many cases anti-Christian? Have you really prepared them? This is like that teacher with no plan.

Bible studies: What is being studied? Why this study? What are you trying to accomplish in this group and study? At the end of this study what will they know, be, and do? Think about this – if you have no objectives then your objective is to accomplish nothing. But you say, “Our objective is to study the book of Romans.” Great! But what does that mean? If you ask the group at the end what they have learned about Romans you might be shocked that little was learned or remembered. Worse yet, little has happened to change anyone’s life. The goal for CE (discipleship) must be transformed lives! If our only goal is to cover a book, or to know a doctrine, then true discipleship has not taken place. Discipleship is moving people ever closer (by the work of the Holy Spirit) to being like Jesus (Rom. 8.29). So I ask you again, in your teaching, what are your goals for your group becoming more like Jesus? Will they see Jesus in every verse? Will they grow in their relationship with Jesus as a result of interacting with Romans?

Another area focuses on – preaching. Are your sermons planned for the next year? Why not? What are you trying to accomplish? What really “scares” me about wellmeaning preachers is when they say they believe they are discipling their people through their sermons. That is scary because you have already told me that you do not have a plan for what you hope your sermons will accomplish. How does your sermon connect with other teaching going on in the church? You have one ‘goal’ for this sermon and another for the next. If your people don’t know your objective, how can you expect them to figure it out when you haven’t? This is not discipleship; this is a hit-and-miss approach to giving disconnected information, with no thread to help the people tie it all together! This again is like the teacher you would not allow to teach your children.

Continued…

Last Chance for the 2020Vision Conferences

February 22, 2011 by Sue

LAST CHANCE TO BE PART OF THE 2020VISION CONFERENCE EXPERIENCE!

Register now for the two-day Orlando conference at www.pcacep.org/2020Vison. This conference will feature a great selection of resources for youth and children’s ministry that were not available at the first two conferences. You will be able to purchase these on site. Also, all conference participants will receive a cd containing the keynote addresses by Brian Chapell/St. Louis conference and Al Baker/Philadelphia conference. Come enjoy March in Orlando and catch the 2020Vision!

2020 Vision: Growing the Church through Ministry to Youth and Children

St. Louis Conference – January 18-20, 2011

“If your goal is to inspire, then you reached your goal. I feel like I have something to take back to my church. And this was just the first day!” Dana Williams

The Church grows when its members are equipped for ministry through the teaching of the word, prayer and fellowship with the saints. The Church grew during this 2020Vision conference at Covenant Seminary. Despite the snow storm which brought about the cancellation of the last day of the conference, the 100+ attendees received two days of training and encouragement that they could take back home to their local churches.

The first evening’s worship service was a great gathering which led us all to the throne of grace. Stephen Estock, chair of the CEP committee and Dan Myers, worship leader from Kirk of the Hills PCA directed out hearts toward thanksgiving, confession, repentance and readiness for the preached Word. Bryan Chappell opened the Scriptures from the book of Judges and we saw the Gospel in a new and fresh way through the life of Gideon.

The second day was filled with teaching on the family, worship, church leadership and understanding ministry to youth and children. Danny Mitchell, Eric Larsen, Mark Dalby, and Donald Guthrie were just a few of the workshop leaders who brought us great teaching. Great Commission Publications, Covenant Seminary and Christian Education and Publications of the PCA held a morning plenary featuring the resources available through their agencies. We were all challenged to ask the following questions:

Does my church have a vision to see disciples grow up from our children and youth by the year 2020?
How well prepared are the parents to disciple their children?
Is the gospel transforming lives in our leadership so that we may be models for the next generation to follow?
What steps must I (we) begin to take to develop a 2020 Vision?

Answering these questions together, we must become very intentional about the kind of ministry we will pursue in the next decade to realize our vision for the year 2020 – His church filled with strong Jesus men and Jesus women!

Thursday evening became the closing session as snow covered the ground while we worshipped together. Singing, “Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy on us. Grant us peace”, we were being given a visual picture of the work of Christ who makes us whiter than snow. Dan Doriani gave instruction from the book of Hebrews and we gained a new perspective on the “cloud of witnesses” as they encourage us to not grow weary in doing good. We went out into the snow, knowing that the same Spirit of Faith who called the saints before us to endure would continue to work within us.

After the first two workshops on the opening day, one Covenant Seminary student remarked, “This is very bold teaching on the church and our call to make disciples from the children and youth. Where are all the people who need to hear and learn these things?” If you were not there, you have another opportunity to be a participant in the 2020Vision conferences. On March 11^th -12^th at Orangewood PCA in Orlando, FL we will hold our final 2020Vision conference. You can register now online at www.pcacep.org/2020Vison. Some of the keynote speakers from the Philadelphia and St. Louis sites are featured on this site, also. CEP hopes that your church will benefit from 2020Vision and the call to grow Jesus’ church through ministry to youth and children.

Get the newest Children’s Books here at www.cepbookstore.com !

GOD’S NAMES
by Sally Michael

This new book from P&R is a great tool for parents and teachers who want to have interactive dialogue with children as you discover God’s character together. I say “together” because the parent and teacher will probably learn more than the child in these short, yet rich, messages focused on the names of God and their meanings. The learning is interactive because each chapter is filled with questions. The questions are answered as you study and discuss the nature of God.

Jehovah-Rohi – The Lord My Shepherd

Do lions need people to take care of them? How about monkeys, whales, snake, or eagles? They don’t, do they? God has made these animals so that they can take care of themselves. But sheep are different. Most sheep need someone – a shepherd – to take care of them.

This is just part of one lesson as the parent/teacher leads children through this mini-primer on the character of God as revealed by his names.

THE TEN GIRLS/BOYS WHO USED THEIR TALENTS

THE TEN GIRLS/BOYS WHO DIDN’T GIVE IN

THE TEN GIRLS/BOY WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE

THE TEN GIRLS/BOYS WHO CHANGED THE WORLD

If you want to interest your children in Christian biographies, these books published by Christian focus are the place to start. Each book has ten short stories with an added “Fact File”, “Keynote”, “Think”, and “Prayer” addendum to encourage children to ponder on what they have learned through this person’s life. Have you ever read about Betty Stam, Bethan Lloyd-Jones, Isobel Kuhn? These more obscure biographies are included along with Ruth Bell Graham, Amy Carmichael and Corrie Ten Boom. Children will want to learn more after reading these short stories, thus beginning a journey into following the lives of the saints who have gone before us. For me, reading these books has been a wonderful introduction into the lives of those who have not made the history books but should have. Order today at www.cepbookstore.com

How We Teach and How They Learn, Part 8 – Teaching All Four Learning Styles at the Same Time?!?

January 5, 2011 by Dennis

We have looked at four ways people process information. Now, how in the world will you teach four different groups in one lesson? This is not as hard as you think. Look at this diagram.

Learning Styeles Every week your lesson will contain four parts. (If you need more details on each of these, re-read the previous Equip Tips.)

1. The Imaginative learner is drawn into the lesson by the introduction. This is used to motivate them into wanting to know more.

2. You can probably guess what the Analytic learner wants. This is where we as Presbyterians thrive. We love facts. This is where we give them the depths of our teaching. However, that does not mean it has to be all by lecture. Remember, the more you draw out of the learners, the more they will remember.

3. The how-to Common Sense learner wants to know what he can do with these facts. This can be taken in many different directions as we teach the learners to move from facts to concrete ways of how to apply the facts to all parts of life.

4. The last part of the lesson will satisfy all the learners, but especially the Dynamic learners. Here you will give them some real-life way they can put into practice this week what you have taught them today.

You don’t think you have enough time to do what seems like four separate lessons? Actually, if you look at almost any curriculum, they are divided into these four parts, even though they might call them by a different name. The easiest way to do all this is by a careful division of your time. If you have an hour, then you only need to spend about 5-10 minutes on your introduction; 20 minutes on the main part of the lesson; 20 minutes on the how-tos; and 5 minutes on the final application. If you have less than an hour, use these proportions to plan your lesson.

I am going to post a sample lesson planning sheet on the website. If you follow this plan, you will be able to teach any lesson, even if you don’t have a curriculum to follow.

Next time we will look at how much people remember, as we use different teaching methods.

A Warm Welcome to the Women’s Leadership Training Conference First-Time Attendees

November 29, 2010 by Editor

Adapted from an LT welcome speech given by Susan Phillis, who served as WASC Chairman from 2005-2007.

When was the last time you planned an event? Do you remember starting with the basic questions?

Who should come?
When should we have it?
Where will we meet?
What will we serve?
How will we spend our time?

That’s what your Women’s Advisory Sub-Committee (WASC) members have done in regard to this year’s Leadership Training.

The WASC chose, intentionally, to invite you to this event:

PresWIC leadership
Bible study leaders
Local church women’s ministry leaders
Directors of Women’s Ministry
PCA staff members

They made a conscious decision to invite you, because, as you will hear over and over again, we are one body, one church, one team, with one common purpose: to serve God’s church in ministering to people.

Some come as old friends, much like the TV show Cheers, “where everybody knows your name.” Some of you will come for the very first time, wondering why you ever agreed to do this, feeling frightened, isolated, and overwhelmed. Rest assured-everyone in the room has been in your shoes! And the feeling doesn’t last long.

I want you to know: GOD wants you here! You have been prayed for by name and chosen by Him to come and be encouraged and equipped for service.

Our purpose is simple: to train you so you can train others. We’re going to sharpen your skills, challenge your comfort zone, and connect you with other women in ministry. Our hope is as you sit under the teaching of our conference faculty, as you attend various workshops, as you hear testimonies from your sisters, as you gather in regional meetings, and as you meet the coordinators of PCA agencies and committees-through all of this-you will be encouraged and challenged to “fight the good fight of faith.”

Adapted from a welcome speech given by Jane Wiggins who currently serves as WASC chairman.

On behalf of the Women’s Advisory Sub-Committee (or WASC, as you will hear us called), I would like to welcome you to our Women’s Leadership Training Conference. We look forward to our time with you over the three days we will be together during the conference! We usually have many first-time attendees. (Last year the Mid-South, my region, had 20 of our 32 attending for the first time). As the PCA website states, the goal of the annual Leadership Training is to help equip and train you as leaders so that you, in turn, can take back to your women important foundational biblical truths to undergird your ministries as well as resources and ideas to enrich your ministries.

Our challenge each year is to be reminded of our purpose for women’s ministry. The purpose statement for women’s ministry as written by the PCA founding fathers in 1973 is one that you may know by heart: That every woman know Christ personally and be committed to extending His kingdom in her life, home, church, community, and throughout the world. I would ask you to consider these questions as you anticipate coming to the conference:

What IS the goal of your ministry? Is it a calendar filled with events, programs, Bible studies, and retreats…all good, mind you…but simply there because you “think” that this is what ministry is all about? (After all, you were handed a notebook, and this is what has been done year after year). Have you and your ministry team been in prayer as to what the over-all purpose should be? Then, is this purpose reflected in each of your ministry events, studies, and service projects for the year?
Is your ministry based upon biblical foundations and what God’s Word teaches about His design for women? Or has today’s culture painted its own picture of what a modern woman should be and this stamp is slowly being seen upon the lives of your women?
Does your ministry encourage women to love Christ, to love His Word, His people, and those outside the church? The gospel of Jesus Christ is not only the basis for coming to Christ but also must be what drives us in our daily lives. As one WASC member said, “Our discipleship must be gospel-driven or it simply becomes just another program and not the transforming power of Christ in our lives.”
The last question I have is one that is more personal. Does the love of Christ compel us? Is the love of Christ the driving force in our own lives? Do we spend time in His Word each day, a Word that has the power to new our minds? Do we seek His will in our lives and for the ministry to which He has called us? We know because scripture tells us that God’s Word has the power to transform. So I would ask, are our hearts being changed through the power of His Holy Spirit? Is so, and only then, can we as leaders hope to be used by Him in our ministries, in our families, and in our communities.

Lastly I want to encourage each of you to make the most of the three days together. Try to meet and engage in conversation with the many women at the conference that you do not know. I know…it’s hard sometimes to begin a conversation with a total stranger…it calls us to get out of our comfort zone, doesn’t it? Just remember that all of us will be in the same boat! Remember that because Christ has transformed our hearts, we will actually be meeting women who, although at the present may live in a distant state, we will one day live side-by-side in our eternal home!