This month marks the one-year anniversary of the launch of my book, Enduring Faith: An 8-Week Devotional Study of the Book of Hebrews published by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. The theme of the study is Christ alone. We don’t please God by being religious. Instead, we can enjoy freedom in Christ through a more intimate relationship with Jesus. The song by Keith and Kristyn Getty, In Christ Alone, captures the Biblical concepts in Hebrews beautifully.
Sometimes others express a thought so well, the best we can do is quote them. Used sparingly, quotes can inspire your small group and give your members something to ponder.
As you prepare for your next small group meeting, here are some best practices to keep in mind as you gather the inspirational words of others.
Music can inspire your small group meeting and be a way to lead your group to prayer. Sometimes, a simple acapella hymn led by one of our group members is enough to set the tone. Other times, ending our session with a music video by one of the many talented Christian worship leaders allows us to have a moment of quiet, individual worship and prayer.
Before the internet, Bible research meant combing through commentaries by Matthew Henry and Albert Barnes or looking up Hebrew and Greek words in Strong’s Concordance. Having a parallel Bible with multiple translations side by side was great luxury, but it was only ever available in a few Bible translations.
Today, these resources and many more available for free on the internet. This list includes some of my favorites. If you have others you’d like to share, please leave a comment. (Read more…)
We had just moved to Bloomsburg, PA that summer and I was looking for a ladies’ Bible study to join. I missed my small group in Florida, and I knew I’d feel more at home once I got connected in our new community. Problem was that most ministries were on hold until fall.
That summer, I reconnected with a friend from college, and she too was looking for a small group. She called me one day and said, “If you’ll lead a study, a friend and I would like to come.” (Read more…)
Unfolding His Word