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Discipleship Ministries of the PCA

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Help! I Need a Speaker

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plan women

Karen Hodge

April 4, 2016

 

On a weekly basis, I receive phone calls from women across our denomination looking for help. Some have been tasked with pulling off the annual Spring luncheon. They have someone covering table decorations but now they need a speaker ASAP. I hear the anxiety in their voice and I am not sure if they always appreciate me slowing down the conversation to ask questions I think are far more important than meeting what they perceive as their most pressing need.

Here are at least three questions I always ask that get to the heart of why Women’s Ministry is more important than just events:

1.   What is your purpose?
Why in the world are you planning this event? Is it because you have always done it and now there is an expectation that it will always continue? How does the purpose of this event align with your women’s ministry purpose? Have you even developed a purpose statement? More importantly, how does this event help you accomplish your church’s overarching mission and purpose? For instance, here at Naperville Presbyterian, our purpose is that “Our lives, communities, and world be made new by Jesus Christ for the glory of God”. So the question must be answered, how do I see evidence that women’s lives, Naperville, and the world are being made new through our annual Women’s Holiday dinner?

2.   Where are the equipping gaps?

As You consider the women God has called you to minister to, where have you observed equipping gaps? Often times women just want a speaker and ask for the topics they generally speak on. I always ask, are there areas where you believe there could be spiritual growth? What are your women currently studying in women’s bible study? What are they hearing taught from the pulpit? Instead of a “one and done” event or retreat, how about considering how investing in content with a speaker will move your women towards real and lasting spiritual growth. How can you structure women’s bible studies after the event to complement and unpack the content from your event?

3.   What are you willing to invest?

There is only so much time, energy and funds that can be invested in an event. Where are your time, energies, and money currently being employed not only in Women’s Ministry but also across your church? Will investing these resources hinder or help your church? Do you have a realistic budget to pull this off? Are you seeking to accomplish this event alone or is there a way to spread out the investment of energies by building a team? How could building a team have a lasting impact in Women’s Ministry? Is it an opportunity to create an environment that is ripe for gospel friendship between older and younger women?

You see, Women’s Ministry events should always serve your overall purpose, long-term spiritual growth goals, and the realistic amount of resources you want to invest, not the other way around. Too many times I have seen women weary because they are serving the expectations of the event instead. So take a moment in the planning process, step back, ask the bigger questions, and pray about what God might do with an event that starts by referencing His purposes, His plan to transform us, and the faithful investment of His resources first.

Youth Culture Moment: Afraid to Listen

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being13

DANNY MITCHELL

October 21, 2015

 

One of the challenges of being an adult who works with mid-adolescents (13-18 years old) is age. Each year you grow one year older and become one year further removed from the world which teenagers inhabit.  I continue to believe the best way to enter into this world is to ask good questions and listen well when the answers are given.

Listening well to teenagers is a skill that takes some practice.  Our default when we listen to someone who is younger than us is to rush to give answers, solutions, or instructions before we have actually listened to and absorbed what they are saying.  Believe it or not, teenagers hate when adults do this.  In fact, adults hate when it happens to them, but for some reason we find ourselves doing it constantly to teens.

Why is this dynamic so prevalent? I have been playing around with a theory for a couple of years (this is a scientifically unproven theory yet it seems to have some merit).  I believe one reason adults talk so much at teens instead of listening first is that we are afraid.  We are afraid because we don’t understand the world in which they live.  We are afraid because we don’t think the young person likes us.  We are afraid because we don’t know the right answers.  As result, we start dispensing advice before we have listened, giving answers before we know the issue, or talking about ourselves to show how well we relate in order to cover our own fear.

I mentioned earlier that learning to listen well is a skill that takes practice.  Part of that “practice” involves working to become becoming bi-lingual: an adult who is willing to spend time learning about, and interpreting, youth culture.  It has been helpful for me to think in terms of becoming a generational missionary.  Just as a missionary must understand the cultural context in which they are called to serve, a generational missionary who is called to cross-generational ministry needs to learn the many nuances of the rising generation.  That is not to say that we have to do it perfectly.  The rapidly evolving youth culture landscape makes it impossible for not only adults, but teens as well, to keep up.  However, I am suggesting that we need to be intentional and earnest in our efforts to learn the world of teenagers—not to judge, not to fix, but to learn, so that we can become better listeners. It is only after we have listened well that we should speak.

Case in point: I learned a new work last night. According to an Anderson Cooper special on CNN called #BeingThirteen: Inside the Secret World of Teens, “lurking” is a verb that means being present on social media without posting.  I learned several things last night as I watched Cooper’s special, which I believe will help me be a better listener to the teenagers with whom I speak.  Because I am about to recommend that you track down the show and watch it, let me give a word of caution.  At times, it is hard to watch because it is scary to think about social media’s potential (especially potential for harm) among middle school students.  But I was reminded last night that when Jesus looked over the city and saw those who were harassed and helpless, he had compassion.  He also saw a field that was white unto the harvest, i.e. an opportunity for the gospel to work.  The other thing of which I was painfully aware last night, was that even though I am adult, social media eats up more of my time that it should.  Something about a plank in my own eye kept bouncing around in my head.

Let me end with your youth culture homework:  Make a point to watch it.  If you can’t, check out the short promo video:

 
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Teach Me to Worship

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[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1439921616264{padding-top: 40px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;}”][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_tta_tabs][vc_tta_section title=”About” tab_id=”1439921359219-0a51a139-df54″][vc_single_image image=”6612″ img_size=”large” link=”http://teachmetoworship.com/” css=”.vc_custom_1439920434291{padding-top: 40px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 35px !important;padding-left: 25px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1440101717393{padding-left: 10px !important;}”]

The Teach Me to Worship curriculum presents and explains common elements of worship that the universal church has used throughout the ages. It is available in PDF format in a rolling release beginning August 1, 2015. In place of a hard-copy delivery, the online rolling release allows ministry leaders and parents download and print material according to their schedule and need.

By presenting and explaining common elements of worship that the universal church has used throughout the ages, this curriculum provides ministry leaders and parents with a great tool to equip another generation to bow down in worship.

[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dt78ictncfg”][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Pricing and Ordering” tab_id=”1439921359471-b0f4d0f8-cb3e”][vc_single_image image=”6612″ img_size=”full” link=”http://teachmetoworship.com/pricing-2/”][vc_column_text]

The Teach Me to Worship curriculum is available for download as of August 1, 2015 in a rolling quarterly release.

Click to order online.  You will receive your login credentials (by email) to access the curriculum the following business day.

Or, call the PCA Bookstore at 1-800-283-1357 during business hours to receive your login credentials the same business day.

[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”6655″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” link=”http://teachmetoworship.com/pricing-2/”][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_tabs][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1439922798954{padding-top: 60px !important;padding-left: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_text]Each of the 12 monthly units have four lessons. The monthly units were created to be done in a specific order (see list below). The last three units listed are “Plug-In Units” that should be done according to the appropriate time in your church’s calendar. This outline can be used in planning your use of the curriculum for your upcoming year.

For the complete curriculum outline click here.

 Call to Worship
Prayer
Praise
Tithes & Offerings
Reading of the Word
Confession of Faith
Hearing of the Word
Sacraments
Benediction
Christmas
Easter
Missions
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PCA Children’s Ministry Newsletter

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[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1412695988408{padding-right: 30px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”5225″ img_link_target=”_self” img_size=”full” border_color=”grey” link=”http://archivepcacdm.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/PCA-Childrens-Ministry-Newsletter-Sep-20141.pdf”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]The PCA Children’s Ministry e-Newsletter is sent out bi-monthly and is meant to connect ministry leaders with resources, tips, conference info, and each other.

Previous Editions:

If you’re interested in receiving this e-letter click here to be added to our Children’s Ministry mailing list.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Good News of Great Joy: An Advent Devotional

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As families in your church reflect on the Advent season Good News of Great Joy is made to help them grasp the meaning of Christmas. This devotional includes the following for each day: Scripture Reading, a Lesson, Questions, Memory Verse, and a Hymn. It will also teach about each candle lit for Sundays in Advent as well as providing corresponding ornament templates that children can color and decorate. The devotional is made to be used year after year (this year, Advent begins on November 29).

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Click HERE for the Advent Christmas Ornament Template.

Click HERE for the Advent Christmas Hymns.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Parenting Resources

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Gospel Powered ParentingGospel Powered Parenting
William P. Farley

Not your everyday book on parenting, Gospel-Powered Parenting is a practical guide to parenting that highlights the differences the Gospel makes in the lives of parents as much as it does about parenting techniques. Farley talks about the spiritual basis of parenting, a subject most books ignore.

 

 

Parenting by God's PromisesParenting By God’s Promises
Joel Beeke

Parents are unable to give their children whatthey need most—new hearts that trust in Christ forforgiveness of sins. All belief is a work of Godalone. But parents must not “hinder” their children from coming to Christ, as Jesus’ disciples sought to hinder mothers and fathers from bringing small children to Him (Mark 10:13–16). On the contrary, they must do everything in their power to “bring” their children to the Savior, which means raising their sons and daughters in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4).

In Parenting by God’s Promises: How to Raise Children in the Covenant of Grace, Dr. Joel R. Beeke explores what this nurture and admonition looks like and offers gems of practical wisdom for parents on topics suchas instituting and leading family worship, teaching children, modeling faithful Christian living, and exercising discipline. However, he carefully puts parental responsibilities in their proper perspective and guides mothers and fathers to lean not on their own abilities but to trust more fully in the God who knits children together in the first place. Above all, he affirms, parents must look to the one true God, who promises to provide everything His people need and to bless them and their families.

 

Parenting in the PewParenting in the Pew
Robbie Castleman

There’s a big difference between training your children to be quiet in church and teaching them the joy of worship. Castleman believes kids should be involved-and offers down-to-earth advice (with a touch of humor) on how to inspire them to fully participate, from toddlerhood through the teen years. Revised and expanded with a study guide.

Your Home: A Place of GraceYour Home: A Place of Grace
Susan Hunt

Although, brimming with practical application for all stages of life-married or widowed, parent or single-it is not a how-to-book. It is more about who God is than what we do; more about His grace than our game plans. It is about God working in and through you to make your home a sanctuary of His design. Separate leader’s guide available.

 

 

 

 

You Are MinistersYou Are Ministers
John W. Neal

In the daily grind of life, heart-work is the hard work and the continual work. But it is also the necessary work and the effectual work. Yet when churches focus merely on activities and programs, it is usually at the cost of genuine, heart-level relationships. In such environments, ministry efforts actually add to the hectic pace of overtaxed households in disconnected communities, while church members languish in terminally casual relationships-figuratively “dying on the vine.”

John Neal examines the Bible’s instruction on these life-and-death matters in You Are Ministers. Discover how, rather than being the domain of “professionals,” true life-changing ministry flows from Christ through lay church members and households walking in covenant community with one another. When we apply the gospel through heart-level relationships, speaking the truth in love, we build up one another in Christ to the glory of God the Father.

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