The Discipline of Sharing Life

This list is modified from The Checklist for Life. Here are some simple guidelines for allowing others to build into your life to form you into the image of Christ who is the perfect representation of the Father:

Listen for God's direction in the encouraging words of a friend.
Trust that God can use my friends to help me grow.
Understand that a good friend is a gift from God.
Listen to a friend's words as intently as I would want my friend to listen to me.
Know that a friend's words are usually spoken out of concern.
Learn to embrace a friend's words.
Attempt to encourage my friends as often as possible.
Simple Actions:

Pray for wisdom to know how to encourage others
Write a thank you note today to one friend who has encouraged you
Be prepared to offer a few words of encouragement to a friend
Invite a friend to consult you on an upcoming decision
Call a friend to say how much you appreciate his or her friendship
Read about David and Jonathan's friendship in 1 Samuel, chapters 19 and 20.
Offer your friendship to someone with whom you'd like to have a closer relationship.

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Discussion Questions for Easter

Have several people ask the question, “What’s the most important thing you’ve ever done?” Ask other people, “What do you hope to accomplish in the next several years of your life?” Tell your class that today you’ll be talking about “life mission” or the one most important thing you do that drives everything else. Tell them that Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is the defining moment in history, so it should be the defining moment in our lives. Read 1 Corinthians 15:12-19. How does the resurrection impact some of the crucial beliefs of Christianity? How would Christianity be different if there was no resurrection? How would you be different without the resurrection? Read 1 Corinthians 15:50-58. What are some specific ways that the resurrection gives us hope? If you had been a friend of Jesus when he was on earth, how would the resurrection have impacted your life? How do you think his followers then were effected by the resurrection? Read 1 Corinthians 15:58.

FIGHT CLUB! (iron sharpening iron)

Our youth pastor, Keith Sandison, has implemented "Fight Clubs" with the young men of our church. While these teenagers and young adults aren't actually pummeling each other physically, they are using the opportunity to aggressively challenge one another to be more attentive to their spiritual formation. Right now my son is participating in a fight club focusing on Proverbs. I love it. Keith has created a handout he uses for the fight clubs which lists seven different methods of "generic Bible study". I think the idea started with this post a few years ago, but as he often does; Keith took my thoughts and made them immensely more substantive and beneficial. Check out his system below:

SOAPY Bible Study

In the past, I've written about and talked about the SOAP method of Bible study. This is a simple Bible study method which can be utilized by an individual or a small group. All you need is a passage of Scripture and 15-30 minutes (a journal is helpful). Many churches use this method of Bible study for their groups. Some have modified the SOAP method by adding a Y. Read more about it below: This Bible study is an intentional focused effort of growing in the understanding of the scriptures. This form of study will assist in the transformation of our inner lives as we mature in understanding and in faith. Set aside 15 minutes every day for the study. You might want to take more time after you have gotten started. Don’t overload yourself in the beginning. Keep a “soapy” journal because there will be the need to write everyday. As you develop your routine, share what you are learning with your Discipleship Group, Sunday school class, Circle, other groups in which y

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