From Heather:
As a fairly new Christian, when I started doing Children’s work, I didn’t have a clear picture of the whole Bible story – I gained it quite quickly, but it would have been good to have a clear overall Bible story picture!
From Andrew:
I know it was a long time ago when I started Youth Work but without a doubt the thing I most wish I had experienced/known is a Bible Overview. Such a thing was rare or even unknown in the 1960s. Now they are freely available but I do wonder how many of our Youth and Children's workers have had the opportunity to hear one taught or have studied one. I believe my Crusader and Covenanter work would have been so much more effective had I had that input, and the lads I taught would have had a better grasp of the gospel.
Again, I can echo what Heather and Andrew are saying. I had been a children’s worker for 15 years before being introduced to a simple Bible overview. It made a huge difference to my own understanding, and informed every part of my teaching too. And now, when I teach, I make sure there’s a Bible timeline around so that the group can see where a particular event or character fits in Bible history.
There are various tools around to help us grasp the big picture of the Bible. Here are a few to try:
I asked a bunch of childrenās and youth workers to think back to when they first began. For some that was last year; for others itās 20, 30, even 40 or more years ago. You may think that youthwork has changed a lot in that time but, interestingly, the issues raised were mostly the same.
So this blog series - which will be running this week and next - is taking their answers and using them to help us think through some of the joys and difficulties of childrenās and youth ministry, whether youāre just starting out or have been around a while. And if some of these seem obvious to you, maybe you could forward this blog to someone you know who is just starting out.
From Matt:
āI think one thing would be to not expect instant results from the youth and children's work.ā
I echo this strongly. We care hugely about the children and young people in our care, so we long to see them respond to the gospel message and grow in their own relationship with God. But we need to remember that they are in Godās hands, and that He loves them far more than we ever will. So we can trust Him to be at work through His word, at the time and in the way He knows is best.
If we look for instant results from āour workā we put needless pressure on ourselves, and forget that the Lord is sovereign. We have a responsibility to teach the Bible as well and faithfully as we can, and to model what it means to know God as our heavenly Father. But changing a childās heart is His work, not ours - 2 Corinthians 4 v 4-6; Acts 16 v 14.
Why do you complain, Jacob?
Why do you say, Israel,
āMy way is hidden from the Lord;
my cause is disregarded by my Godā?
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:27-31
After last week's mainly male orientated blog posts from the marketing department of The Good Book Company, I thought I ought to even up the score a little! At least that's what my wife told me to say...
In a world where so much is on offer, what do women actually need? What will satisfy their deepest longings? As a son, brother and husband, I don't think I've fully figured that one out yet.
I'm sure (as I've been told) that women, like men, struggle with unsatisfying relationships, identity, diaries that are overflowing, uncertainty, regrets and guilt. But what's most important? What are the answers? What do women really need?
Lesley Ramsay and Di Warren's book, What Women Really Need is a great place to start to find an answer to that question. It's a book that's written by women for women. In an easy to read style, this collection of personal stories and challenging articles looks at the significance of Jesus in every day life and his lead in finding those things that matter most. It's a wonderful look at the impact Jesus can have in every woman's life.
Read more HERE and get the book for just £2 until midday on Monday. Use code wwrn1113 at the checkout.
US Christian Groups Respond to Super Typhoon Haiyan; Over 10,000 Feared Killed, Millions Affected
Chris Juby shares every Bible chapter on Twitter over 1,189 days
Remembrance Sunday: call for Church of England to ditch Cenotaph role
New Asbo plans are assault on basic freedom, says former DPP Lord Macdonald
Billy Graham turns 95 at star-studded birthday
Christian coronations of future monarchs face legal challenge
Disclaimer: The Good Book Company is not responsible for the content of external sites and does not necessarily agree with the content of articles listed.
A major topic of conversation in our office this week, like in most offices up and down the country and round the world, has been what’s happened in the Philippines.
How do we respond to such horrendous suffering? How do Christians begin to trust a good God in the face of such facts?
In some ways, now is not the time for anything other than sorrow, giving what we can, and, in a Christian’s case, prayer. But still, some people demand answers from us: here, for what it’s worth, is what we think we might try to say.... continue reading
A new baby is a wonderful gift from the Lord, bringing joy and thankfulness. But he or she comes with a lot of extras – sleepless nights, constant nappy changing, feeding routines, oodles of laundry, and suddenly it takes at least half an hour to get ready to leave the house.
In the middle of all of this, normal routines can go out the window. Even a daily shower begins to feel like a luxury.
So how does this affect Christian mums? It can be very difficult to get to church; then when you do, you’re often in a back room trying to feed or change your baby, and then settle them back to sleep. At the end of a service you’re so tired you just want to get home. All of which makes it difficult to get regular teaching or Christian fellowship.... continue reading
1. Just Love E-Book Deal
Until midday on Thursday, the e-book version of Just Love is available for just £1!
2. Five Ways to Refresh the Saints in Your Life
Five ways to refresh the saints from Jon Bloom at Desiring God.
3. 10 Love Challenges
David Murray shares 10 very practical and do-able 'Love Challenges'.
4. Actions for Younger Women and Men
The Resurgence look at 6 actions for younger women and 5 actions for younger men.
5. And finally…
Our video of the week, a new trailer from Timothy Keller, 'Judges for You Trailer':
Found something that you think should make it on to the On to a Good Thing round-up? Send it to: ontoagoodthing@thegoodbook.co.uk
God loves his children very much. Wherever we are he will show us grace and mercy because that's his nature. If we are in him we can be safe in the knowledge that we will be forgiven whatever our transgressions.
But those wonderful truths are intimately related to another aspect of his character. We see many times over in the Bible that our wonderful, merciful God is also a God who punishes sin. As sinners we have, time and again, disobeyed God and ignored his authority. And God cares about justice, sin and wickedness - it's part of his love for us.
The ultimate punishment of our sin, but also God's greatest demonstration of his love, came when he punished Jesus on the cross in our place.
As Christians, God's punishment of sin can sometimes be a difficult area to get our heads around. Non-Christians can struggle even more. Just Love by Ben Cooper is written with non-Christians and Christians with questions in mind and helps us all get to grips with a God who must punish sin.
Read more HERE and get the e-book at the checkout using code jle1113.
This offer is available on the ebook version only. This offer ends at 12 noon GMT on Thursday 14th November.
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the guns finally fell silent after the brutal war tore Europe apart. Today we are all encouraged to spend 2 minute's silence at that time, in order to remember those who died, not just in World War 1 but in every conflict since then.
Remembrance Day continues to be of relevance. Not just for the "old soldiers" who served in the first and second world wars - but for the new soldiers and their families, who remember loss and pain that is much more recent. The death toll of British service personnel in Afghanistan now stands at 446 since Operation Enduring Freedom began.... continue reading
