WATCHING AND WONDERING…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FACILITATING FAITH, wk 6

Reviewing this weekend’s Saturday devotion from the UPPER ROOM, Janet Kerns of Virginia shared one of her favorite pastimes:  riding her bicycle on an old, abandoned, two-lane highway.  Most of her trail is smooth yet she related there have been times when she hit potholes and had to try harder to focus on the road.

For anyone who is facilitating a Bible study, hitting potholes on a trail could also be correlated to hitting roadblocks in Scriptures; those moments when understanding escapes us and we are left wondering if there is a meaning. 

One’s first thought might be to look at the bottom of the Bible’s page for other book/chapter references.  In addition, we should remind ourselves to look/read other Bible versions, such as:  21st Century King James, American Standard, Amplified, Common English, The Message, New International(NIV), Today's New International Version.

Study paths that have become too winding, too old-world wordy, etc., can be further understood by reading in one of the other versions. 
In fact, THE MESSAGE version of the Bible came about:

• to capture tone of the text and original conversational feel (of the Greek) in contemporary English.
• to hear the Scripture in different words/updated expressions to increase understanding.
• to relay the spirit of original manuscripts/expressions

Did you know:  THE MESSAGE is NOT a study Bible, but rather "a reading Bible" ?

• verse numbers, which were not in the original documents, are left out of the print version, facilitating easy and enjoyable reading.
• original books of the Bible were not written in formal language...The Message tries to recapture the Word in the words used today.

Praying focus for each week’s curriculum and His Spirit guiding us through any roadblocks we encounter during our study time.

Skoots1Mom

FACILITATING FAITH, wk 4 & a Giveaway Link

Cindy over at Letters from Midlife is having a greeting card giveaway...go check it out...

(apologies for not being able to provide a devotion for week 3)

LEADING WHILE LEARNING

While presenting the Bible in a study environment, sometimes participants remember time spent in previous learning situations, such as college, high school or Sunday School.  It is not uncommon for someone to ask, “Do you want my ‘Sunday School answer’ or my feelings? 

Bible studies may have times when feelings outnumber certain facts that should have been gleaned during home study.   Yes, it is important to understand the context of particular passages.  But many times there are nudgings of individuals’ consciences by the Holy Spirit that should be shared. 
 
Sharing these ‘glistenings of understanding’ or ‘redirections of conscience’ help build the relationships between the class members and the facilitator.  Each facilitator works to make the learning easier for their classmates, and should remind self and their class of their being a ‘learner among learners’.

Listen for God’s Counselor…

He will sharpen your ear to hear and teach you when to share during your class as well as help manage your time.

Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

AMOS...Have You Been There Recently?

Our Disciple class this week is reading and exhorting the Book of Amos, now if you've read this book in the Bible, you know this prophet doesn't hold back when it comes to sharing what God told him. Many allusions voiced, screamed, foretold to the people of his day yet somehow I feel Amos is here with us.

What do you think?

Amos

3:2

"Out of all the families on earth, I picked you. Therefore, because of your special calling, I'm holding you responsible for all your sins."

5:6

"So seek God and live! You don't want to end up with nothing to show for your life But a pile of ashes, a house burned to the ground. For God will send just such a fire, and the firefighters will show up too late. Raw Truth Is Never Popular."

5:14

Seek good and not evil - and live! You talk about God, the God-of-the-Angel-Armies, being your best friend. Well, live like it, and maybe it will happen.

9:8

But you can be sure that I, God, the Master, have my eye on the Kingdom of Sin. I'm going to wipe it off the face of the earth. Still, I won't totally destroy the family of Jacob." God's Decree.

AM I CARRYIN'?

Jesus calls us His vessels.

Each witness an embodiment of Christ...called to carry His love, encouragement, and mercy to EVERYONE we encounter.

What do those around me (family, friends, strangers) need? Not want, need.

After reading in Relative Truths... seeing how God covered him in such a creative and special way through the Disciple participants reaching out...loving Him...for what He will be doing for Christ's World. Where have you seen someone carry someone else's concerns or meet a real need recently?

1 Peter 4:11

Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God's words; if help, let it be God's hearty help. That way, God's bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he'll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!