Bible Studies for Life: From Sunday to Everyday

While September is still some months away, many of you are already are busy preparing to provide the best Bible study curriculum for your adults, students, and kids for 2019-2020.  Bible Studies for Life is also busy preparing to provide for you everything you already know and love about their approach to Bible study, but they are also adding some improvements and new resources to enhance your experience.

As you evaluate your group discipleship needs, we invite you to be the first to get a sneak peek at what's new from Bible Studies for Life beginning in fall 2019.

FOR PRESCHOOL AND KIDS

·         New Study Plan for 2019–2022: An intentional three‑year strategy to grow kids in the direction of Jesus Christ, based on the 10 concept areas of the Levels of Biblical Learning®.

·         Levels of Biblical Learning: Freshly reviewed and updated by a team of experts in kids ministry to ensure you meet kids where they are!  Much like the pencil marks that you put on the doorposts to measure the growth of your kids, Levels of Biblical Learning helps you measure the spiritual growth of children are at each age in these ten areas:

God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Bible, Salvation, Creation, Church, People, Family, Community & World

·         Life Action Videos: An all-new series of videos will introduce your preschoolers to Miss Lindy's Library each week where they will learn to apply God's Word in exciting new ways. Kids will meet the students of Mooseberry, a school for smart and unusually gifted kids, who will teach your kids to apply the Bible in creative and unique ways.

FOR STUDENTS

·         Levels of Biblical Learning: Newly expanded to include middle school and high school students. Ensure your teens can understand and apply the 10 essential concept areas of Scripture in a way that is relatable, applicable, and actionable. For more details.

·         Continued Development from Kids through High School: Bible Studies for Life is now designed to help your teens build upon what they learned as kids to continually move them in the direction of Jesus Christ.

·         Perforated Daily Discipleship Guide: Our Daily Discipleship Guide has been updated with perforated pages to make it easier to share content with students.

FOR ADULTS

·         Research-backed Discipleship Pathway: Inspired by the largest research study of its kind (published in the book, Transformational Discipleship), this helps intentionally develop disciples around the eight signposts of discipleship. The eight units of Bible study each year will be built upon these areas of growth.

·         Updated Design: Visually enhanced to make your study experience more clear and engaging.

·         New KJV Options: Get KJV versions of our Daily Discipleship Guide, as well as for Bible Studies for Life: Senior Adults.

·         Bilingual study in Spanish and English: Bible Studies for Life now follows the same study plan in both English and Spanish, a perfect way to align bilingual churches and ministries (available for adults and kids with a free online supplement for students).

  

THINGS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….

FOR CHURCH LEADERS: Five tips on increasing generosity in your church. https://buff.ly/2EEoHO7

FOR CHURCH LEADERS:  Reconnect - Use this simple but effective way to reconnect with those members who have dropped out or are not connected to a Bible study group. https://buff.ly/2LMD0AD

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: The Balanced Discipleship Pathway: A Catalog of Studies to Develop Disciples - https://buff.ly/2Gv3CY6

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Gospel Foundations - https://buff.ly/2MXGCow

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Unanswered by Jeremiah Johnson - https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/unanswered-bible-study-kit-P005717984

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way by Lysa TerKeurst  - https://buff.ly/2GqxtkQ

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Ministry to Women Handbook - https://buff.ly/2q5Grd3

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY:  What Matters Most by Karen Ehman - https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/what-matters-most-leader-kit-P005802633

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: Sign up for the LifeWay Men’s Newsletter - https://www.lifeway.com/en/shop/ministries/men

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: Twelve Ordinary Men by John MacArthur - https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/twelve-ordinary-men-P001294909

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: Kingdom Disciples by Tony Evans - https://buff.ly/2GlN9SW

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Moments til Midnight by Brent Crowe - https://buff.ly/2IcY5rh

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Gospel Foundations for Students - https://buff.ly/2MXGCow

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Student Life Summer Camps - Try one of the family of Student Life Camps (Rec camp/Mission camp/Beach camp/Smokies Mtn.) for your students next summer. https://buff.ly/2zUxnw8

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: The Quest for Kids by Beth Moore - https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/the-quest-for-kids-bible-study-leader-guide-P005802362

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: Settle for Nothing Less Parenting Workshop - https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/settle-for-nothing-less-P005810307

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: 2019 CentriKid Camps - https://buff.ly/2CWQQjG

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: What does it Mean to be a Christian - Here's a brand new resource to help children understand what it means to be a Christian. https://buff.ly/2NVCqBN

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: Kid Event Pro – An online Kids Ministry Event Planning system - https://buff.ly/2PaMurS

Be Confident in Your Contacting

Many Bible study leaders, be they teachers, outreach leaders, or group leaders, struggle to develop a consistent plan of ministry to absentee members and to prospects. They want to reach out, but they really aren't sure how to proceed. On the surface, making regular contacts through calls, cards and e-mail/text messages seems simple. It isn't. In fact, it can be intimidating.

The Obstacles

Most leaders wonder what to say. More than one leader has said, "When I write a card to an absentee, usually I just say, 'We missed you in Sunday School last week.' I don't know what else to say."

Many teachers say they had not been successful in getting care group leaders to call their assigned group members. "After three or four months it seems to fizzle out. The callers become uncomfortable calling and saying the same thing each time they call."

Some Solutions

First of all, a class or department needs to identify a variety of reasons for making contacts. Then they can choose the methods that best fit their group or the situation.

Saying "we missed you in Sunday School" may not always be the best approach for an absentee. "Guilt trips" seldom encourage people to attend; in fact they often drive people further away.

Using a variety of reasons for making contacts helps communicate genuine care and concern. Multiple contacts by the same person become easier when each contact has a specific purpose.

The following ideas can be used for contacts by phone, written notes, or e-mails/text messages. Try using these ideas for contacting chronic absentees, guests, prospects, or even members who regularly attend.

1.    Time Change Reminder—Call on the Saturday before a time change as a reminder to change clocks.

2.    Bible Study Topic—Highlight the topic for an upcoming Bible study unit or lesson and how it will relate to their lives.

3.    Ask for a Prayer Request—Ask how you or your class can pray for them. They pray with them while they are on the phone. Ask whether you may share the request with the class or it should remain confidential. Finally, follow-up with an inquiry about how the situation is going.

4.    Share Prayer Request—Ask the person to pray for a prayer request from someone else in the class.

5.    Special Events—Invite them to a special church event such as a musical or children's program.

6.    "Happy Birthday"—Call to wish them a Happy Birthday.

7.  "Congratulations"—Call to congratulate them on a work, family, or school accomplishment.

8.    Health Concerns—When you are aware that the person or a family member is ill, call to see how they are doing and to express your concern and support.

9.    Offer Help—When appropriate, call to offer a meal, childcare, a ride to the grocery, leaf raking.

10.  Invitation—Offer a personal invitation to a Sunday School party or fellowship event.

11.  Service Project—Ask the person to join the class in a service project. Yes, include prospects! Prospects, guests, and chronic absentees might participate in a project before they would attend class or a party!

12.  Share Good News about the Church—Talk about the excitement in Vacation Bible School, a person baptized, or where you saw God at work in the last week.

13.  Request an E-mail Address—Enlist someone in your class to send periodic e-mails. Then call the care group member to request an e-mail address and permission to add them to the e-mail list.

14.  Give the Person a Job—Ask the person to be responsible for a one-time or short-term task in your class: bring treats, make some reminder calls, or set up chairs.

15.  "Thank you"—Call to say thanks for a thoughtful act or an encouraging word.

16.  "I appreciate you"—Let the person know you appreciate them as well as something they have done.

17.  "You were missed"—Everyone likes to be valued. This is a good reason for making a contact when used tactfully and not too often.

THINGS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….

FOR CHURCH LEADERS: Register for Sunday School Director’s Webinar with Allan Taylor, March 9, 10:00 – noon (EST) – live.groupministry.lifeway.com

FOR CHURCH LEADERS: Register for a Blueprint Coaching event to help change the culture in your church - https://buff.ly/2WHIWkM

FOR CHURCH LEADERS: FREE Church Security training on Ministry Grid - https://buff.ly/2RcZm5I

FOR CHURCH LEADERS:  4 Traits of an Effective Small Group Discussion Question - https://factsandtrends.net/2019/02/04/4-traits-of-an-effective-small-group-discussion-question/?ecid=PDM164652&bid=541110654

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: The Balanced Discipleship Plan: A Catalog of Studies to Develop Disciples - https://buff.ly/2Gv3CY6

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Gospel Foundations - https://buff.ly/2MXGCow

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Unanswered by Jeremiah Johnson - https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/unanswered-bible-study-kit-P005717984

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Psalm 23 by Jennifer Rothschild - https://buff.ly/2SrLKAt

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Ministry to Women Handbook - https://buff.ly/2q5Grd3

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY:  What Matters Most by Karen Ehman - https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/what-matters-most-leader-kit-P005802633

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: Sign up for the LifeWay Men’s Newsletter - https://www.lifeway.com/en/shop/ministries/men

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: Pathways by Tony Evans - https://buff.ly/2LTyp11

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Grounded by Clayton & Sharie King - https://buff.ly/2t4z5ba

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Student Life Summer Camps - Try one of the family of Student Life Camps (Rec camp/Mission camp/Beach camp/Smokies Mtn.) for your students next summer. https://buff.ly/2zUxnw8

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: Is VBS Worth it? - https://buff.ly/2ss7rVd

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: Settle for Nothing Less Parenting Workshop - https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/settle-for-nothing-less-P005810307

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: 2019 CentriKid Camps - https://buff.ly/2CWQQjG

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: Kid Event Pro – An online Kids Ministry Event Planning system - https://buff.ly/2PaMurS

WHO'S YOUR ONE?

Last week, SBC President, JD Greear, announced a new initiative that he will present via simulcast on January 31, called “Who’s Your One?”.  His desire is to challenge associations across the Southern Baptist Convention to encourage individuals to build a relationship with a specific person in an attempt to share the gospel with that person within one year.

Sponsored by the North American Mission Board and the Yates Association, the simulcast will begin at 12:30 p.m. Eastern time and feature Greear's introduction of "Who's Your One?" to Yates Association pastors as they gather for a luncheon at Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Durham. Other associations that sign up online will receive login information to broadcast the event live.

Additional information about the simulcast is forthcoming on the SBCAL website (www.sbcassociations.org) and SBCAL social media channels.

For more information about the "Who's Your One?" initiative, see this article from Baptist Press News: http://www.bpnews.net/52199/greear-to-launch-whos-your-one-with-associations

As you begin to make plans to participate in this initiative, there are a variety of resources LifeWay has that can assist you in your quest to equip your members in sharing their faith and then to guide ‘their one’ on the path of discipleship.

EVANGELISTIC RESOURCES

Life on Mission by Dustin Willis & Aaron Coe - https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/life-on-mission-a-simple-way-to-share-the-gospel-leader-kit-P005717346

Tell Someone by Greg Laurie - https://www.lifeway.com/en/product-family/tell-someone

FAITH Evangelism - https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/faith-evangelism-1-leader-kit-P005108885#companion-products

Turning Everyday Conversations into Gospel Conversation by Jimmy Scoggins - https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/turning-everyday-conversations-into-gospel-conversations-P005794310

Conversation Peace by Mary Kassian- https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/conversation-peace-revised-edition-P005706020

The Gospel Goes to Work by Dr. Stephen Graves- https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/the-gospel-goes-to-work-bible-study-book-P005793395

My 8 by Ed Newton(for students) - https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/my-8-embrace-and-engage-the-wonder-of-evangelism-leader-kit-P005737563

DISCIPLESHIP RESOURCES

Disciples Path & Disciples Path: The Journey - https://www.lifeway.com/en/disciples-path?intcmp=SRDR-disciplespath

MasterLife - https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/masterlife-leader-guide-P001116288

Firmly Planted by Robby Gallaty - https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/firmly-planted-P005765912

The Call to Follow Christ (Growing Disciples series) by Claude King - https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/the-call-to-follow-christ-member-book-P001303666

Survival Kit for New Christians by Ralph Neighbor - https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/survival-kit-5-keys-to-effective-spiritual-growth-P001117191

And let me add that one of the best evangelistic and discipleship tools a church has is their small group Bible study organization.  The best way for a person to grow in their understanding of who they are in Christ and the call that He places on each of His people is to be involved in the life of a small group and to stand shoulder to shoulder in serving others.

LifeWay has now provided an additional tool in this commandment to evangelize and disciple the world.  Each of the three ongoing Bible study curriculum plans provides the Daily Discipleship Guide approach to Bible study.  Small groups gather together to delve into the scriptures; then there is a five day guide for an individual to dive deeper in the study that they experienced as a group.  In addition, there is a page that encourages a triad or accountability group to meet to share their discoveries at even a deeper level.  That's disciples discipling each other!  

For details, go to: https://www.lifeway.com/en/shop/explore-the-bible/adults/daily-discipleship-guide

THINGS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….

GBACE Conference with Dr. Chuck Lawless, January 24, 2019 at Salem Baptist/McDonough - http://www.gbace.org/annual-conference.html

Resources to help develop your church’s stewardship generosity - https://www.lifeway.com/en/special-emphasis/generosity

FOR BIBLE STUDY LEADERS: Adult Group Box for starting new groups - https://www.lifeway.com/en/bible-studies-for-life/adults/group-box

https://www.lifeway.com/en/shop/explore-the-bible/adults/group-box

https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/the-gospel-project-for-adults-adult-group-box-csb-fall-2018-P005807563-2018-FAL

FOR CHURCH LEADERS:  Reconnect - Use this simple but effective way to reconnect with those members who have dropped out or are not connected to a Bible study group. https://buff.ly/2LMD0AD

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: The Balanced Discipleship Plan: A Catalog of Studies to Develop Disciples - https://buff.ly/2Gv3CY6

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Gospel Foundations - https://buff.ly/2MXGCow

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Unanswered by Jeremiah Johnson - https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/unanswered-bible-study-kit-P005717984

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Psalm 23 by Jennifer Rothschild - https://buff.ly/2SrLKAt

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Ministry to Women Handbook - https://buff.ly/2q5Grd3

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY:  What Matters Most by Karen Ehman - https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/what-matters-most-leader-kit-P005802633

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: Sign up for the LifeWay Men’s Newsletter - https://www.lifeway.com/en/shop/ministries/men

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY:  Johnny Hunt Men’s Conference, January 25 & 26, 2019,Begin making  your plans to host a simulcast at your church or in your home. -   https://buff.ly/2TKHIUF

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: Unstuck by James McDonald - https://buff.ly/2vxsLty

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY: Kingdom Disciples by Tony Evans - https://buff.ly/2GlN9SW

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Gospel Foundations for Students - https://buff.ly/2MXGCow

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Resources for True Love Waits - https://www.lifeway.com/en/product-family/true-love-waits

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Student Life Summer Camps - Try one of the family of Student Life Camps (Rec camp/Mission camp/Beach camp/Smokies Mtn.) for your students next summer. https://buff.ly/2zUxnw8

FOR FAMILY MINISTRY: Reaching the Next Generation - https://buff.ly/2AMJ8se

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: 2019 VBS Jumpstarts,  go to one of the 9 meetings around the state, January 17-24, 2019 - https://gabaptist.org/vbsjumpstarts

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: 2019 Kids Ministry Summit at Jekyll Island, February 7, 8, 2019 - https://gabaptist.org/event/kids-ministry-summit/

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: Settle for Nothing Less Parenting Workshop - https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/settle-for-nothing-less-P005810307

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: 2019 CentriKid Camps - https://buff.ly/2CWQQjG

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: What does it Mean to be a Christian - Here's a brand new resource to help children understand what it means to be a Christian. https://buff.ly/2NVCqBN

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: Kid Event Pro – An online Kids Ministry Event Planning system - https://buff.ly/2PaMurS