For our Fall 2008 d-group curriculum, we'll be using Chuck Colson's book "The Faith". For details on the book itself, please go here. Here's the format, each week, the students will be assigned a chapter of the book, and then they'll answer questions from the companion study guide, available here. Each student will be responsible to purchase their own copy of the book. I'll buy them in bulk from Lemstone, where we can get them for just $13/each-regular price is $19/each. Students can give their $13 to me-I PREFER checks...no cash please!
I was asked last night if there was a particular Bible translation that was recommended for use in our ministry. My preference is the NIV Study Bible. The paperback from Amazon.com is only $16.49 and the hardcover is just $23.09.
This year for d-group, we as a group decided that we needed to have a "group covenant". The purpose of the group covenant is to lay the ground rules and expectations for our group. This past Sunday night, we spoke extensively to our students about this, and asked them what they thought our values as a group should be. What follows is the covenant that THEY came up with. We'll be meeting this Sunday night to confirm it, and then sign it. Once signed, these will be the expectations that our students will be under in order to attend d-group.
D-Group Covenant
Fall/Winter 2008
1. We’ll meet each Sunday night from 6-8pm.
2. We’ll meet at Eastview Christian Church.
3. Our Bible study will focus on basic Christian theology.
4. We will agree on the following primary values for our group…
Priority- While we are in the group, we will give the group meetings priority, and if we are unable to attend or are running late, we’ll call ahead. If we miss 3 group meetings, we expect to be confronted about our absence, and continued absenteeism will lead to my not being involved in the group.
Confidentiality- Confidentiality is expected. Gossiping about our group will not be tolerated. Anyone caught gossiping will be confronted and asked to leave the group, for good.
Preparation- All members are expected to come to our group time prepared. Prepared means:
• You have read a minimum of 4 days from your Bible per week.
• You have all required homework completed (notes taken, questions answered, reading, assignments, etc).
• You have your Bible, journal, pen/pencil and all assignments with you.
• A consistent lack of preparedness (3 times) will lead to confrontation, and if it continues, will lead to my not being involved in the group.
Respect- All members of the group are expected to respect one another. We need to be quiet and attentive when people are speaking, show maturity during disagreement, and love one another in thought, word and deed. Disrespect will not be tolerated, and could lead to my not being involved in the group.
An “in” for new people- The group stays open to new people as long as they understand the ground rules. The guidelines for filling the open chair are: Students wishing to come to d-group may come up to 3 times. After the third time, they will be asked to sign the covenant. Should they not desire to sign, they will not be able to participate.
Scripture memorization- Group members will be expected to memorize at least one passage/month. The text will be relevant to the current study.
I understand that the purpose of D-group is to deepen my relationship with Christ. I know D-Group is a commitment and will keep it a top priority. I understand that failure to follow our group covenant will lead to my not being involved with the group. In understanding all of these things, I commit to being a part of d-group for the September-December 2008 session.
Showing posts with label d-group. Show all posts
Showing posts with label d-group. Show all posts
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Today is the day!
All of the planning and preparations are done. Expectations are set. This is my 13th time going to Mexico and 9th time going to San Luis Potosi. This group of 15 is the largest that I have taken, and I am excited to see and participate in God's good work with them. My 2 oldest children, Katie and Nathan are a part of this group, and I can't wait to experience this with members of my family. I am proud of all of those going. They have worked hard and earned it. The months of d-group, LIFE group, the hard work they put in, is all about to pay off.
I'll post later in the day from Kansas City.
I'll post later in the day from Kansas City.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Weekly Info
Starting now, I'll begin to post weekly communication here, since I do not have an email address for all parents.
Fundraising
No word yet from Younkers on when we’ll be getting the coupon books to pre-sell. I’ll contact them this week to get more information and wil let you know as soon as we have them.
Upcoming Senior High Trip to St Louis
Permission slips for our senior high trip for CIY’s Discipleship in St Louis are due back to me by January 27. Registration goes up $10/person after this date, so get them in early! The slips are available on the parents website.
D-Group
Last night, we began our “Pursuit” study and had lot’s of good conversation and questions asked. We’ll be starting a new study at the end of February, so please be on the lookout for more information!
Youth Group
We started our year-long study of Jesus last week. For the year, we have committed to the “Student Life” Bible study. The LORD blessed us with 28 students! We also had the students participate in a survey asking them why they attend as well as some other things. The results will be compiled and discussed at our culture event on March 15th. I hope you’ll all attend.
Sunday School
We continue to combine the middle school/high school and adult classes. We do have a coffee/donut time beginning at 8:15. If you come at that time, you get to hang out with our youth, get a seat on one of our couches or chairs, and you’ll be on time for class to start at 8:45. Remember, your example as parents is larger than anything we do or anyone else in their lives!
Yesterday, we discussed the purpose of the baptism of Jesus, from Matthew 3:13-17. Also discussed was “Who do I say Jesus is?”
Your follow-up:
Read John14:6-7 with your family and discuss the following:
Do some people in your acquaintance believe that there are other ways to God besides Jesus? If so, what are those ways?
Why do you think God established only one way to himself through Jesus Christ? Why not through all religions or through other great men?
What is your reaction to the truth that there is one way to God and that is through Jesus Christ?
Close in prayer, thanking God for providing a way for people to have a personal relationship with him.
Fundraising
No word yet from Younkers on when we’ll be getting the coupon books to pre-sell. I’ll contact them this week to get more information and wil let you know as soon as we have them.
Upcoming Senior High Trip to St Louis
Permission slips for our senior high trip for CIY’s Discipleship in St Louis are due back to me by January 27. Registration goes up $10/person after this date, so get them in early! The slips are available on the parents website.
D-Group
Last night, we began our “Pursuit” study and had lot’s of good conversation and questions asked. We’ll be starting a new study at the end of February, so please be on the lookout for more information!
Youth Group
We started our year-long study of Jesus last week. For the year, we have committed to the “Student Life” Bible study. The LORD blessed us with 28 students! We also had the students participate in a survey asking them why they attend as well as some other things. The results will be compiled and discussed at our culture event on March 15th. I hope you’ll all attend.
Sunday School
We continue to combine the middle school/high school and adult classes. We do have a coffee/donut time beginning at 8:15. If you come at that time, you get to hang out with our youth, get a seat on one of our couches or chairs, and you’ll be on time for class to start at 8:45. Remember, your example as parents is larger than anything we do or anyone else in their lives!
Yesterday, we discussed the purpose of the baptism of Jesus, from Matthew 3:13-17. Also discussed was “Who do I say Jesus is?”
Your follow-up:
Read John14:6-7 with your family and discuss the following:
Do some people in your acquaintance believe that there are other ways to God besides Jesus? If so, what are those ways?
Why do you think God established only one way to himself through Jesus Christ? Why not through all religions or through other great men?
What is your reaction to the truth that there is one way to God and that is through Jesus Christ?
Close in prayer, thanking God for providing a way for people to have a personal relationship with him.
Monday, November 19, 2007
We have had many new families and students coming to both our church and our student ministry weekly gatherings. Because of this, I thought I’d break down the purpose of each of our meeting times. At the end, I’ll give some observations as to the fruit that this is bearing.
We meet on Wednesday nights from 6:30-8pm. This time is designed to introduce students to who Jesus is. Not only do we want our students to come, we want them to bring their friends. We have a hang out/fellowship time from 6:30-7:00, then a relevant message about Jesus followed by small group time. In their small group, they dig deeper into Scripture, discuss the text, and talk about what they learned. Again, this is ground level, foundational stuff; we’re trying to teach who Jesus is and introduce them to the love of Christ.
The next “step” for involvement or growth would be on Sunday mornings. We meet from 8:45-9:45am. Here, we teach right from Scripture, using the Faithweaver material, which takes a student through the main teachings of the Bible in 3 years. Currently, both our high school and middle school groups meet together but this will be changing after the new year. The material here builds on the foundations laid on Wednesday nights. We go deeper into Scripture, and focus on application of spiritual truths. Here, our goal is to introduce them to what it means to be a disciple of Christ. If Wednesday night is the foundation, Sundays are the walls.
The deepest level of growth takes place on Sunday nights from 6:00-8:00pm. This time is a straight Bible study. Many of our studies on this night are multi-week studies and the students are required to purchase their own material and commit to doing the work. We just finished a 9-week session in which we used Henry Blackaby’s “Experiencing God” material. Next up, beginning January 6 is the “Why?” study, which will be 6-weeks long. Continuing the analogy of the building, this time of study would be the roof and finishing touches- how their discipleship affects their lives on a daily basis.
Here’s what we are seeing as a result of how we’re currently “doing” ministry. Many of the kids who only attend our Wednesday night meeting do not know who Jesus is beyond the intellectual; He is simply not real in their lives. For some students who attend on Sunday mornings, but NOT on Wednesday nights, they struggle with the application because they have no idea who Jesus is; there is no foundation.
As a ministry team, we would appreciate your thoughts and prayers as we wait on the LORD on this topic. We also ask that you would evaluate the spiritual needs of you and your family and involve yourselves in the direction(s) that you feel the LORDs leading.
We meet on Wednesday nights from 6:30-8pm. This time is designed to introduce students to who Jesus is. Not only do we want our students to come, we want them to bring their friends. We have a hang out/fellowship time from 6:30-7:00, then a relevant message about Jesus followed by small group time. In their small group, they dig deeper into Scripture, discuss the text, and talk about what they learned. Again, this is ground level, foundational stuff; we’re trying to teach who Jesus is and introduce them to the love of Christ.
The next “step” for involvement or growth would be on Sunday mornings. We meet from 8:45-9:45am. Here, we teach right from Scripture, using the Faithweaver material, which takes a student through the main teachings of the Bible in 3 years. Currently, both our high school and middle school groups meet together but this will be changing after the new year. The material here builds on the foundations laid on Wednesday nights. We go deeper into Scripture, and focus on application of spiritual truths. Here, our goal is to introduce them to what it means to be a disciple of Christ. If Wednesday night is the foundation, Sundays are the walls.
The deepest level of growth takes place on Sunday nights from 6:00-8:00pm. This time is a straight Bible study. Many of our studies on this night are multi-week studies and the students are required to purchase their own material and commit to doing the work. We just finished a 9-week session in which we used Henry Blackaby’s “Experiencing God” material. Next up, beginning January 6 is the “Why?” study, which will be 6-weeks long. Continuing the analogy of the building, this time of study would be the roof and finishing touches- how their discipleship affects their lives on a daily basis.
Here’s what we are seeing as a result of how we’re currently “doing” ministry. Many of the kids who only attend our Wednesday night meeting do not know who Jesus is beyond the intellectual; He is simply not real in their lives. For some students who attend on Sunday mornings, but NOT on Wednesday nights, they struggle with the application because they have no idea who Jesus is; there is no foundation.
As a ministry team, we would appreciate your thoughts and prayers as we wait on the LORD on this topic. We also ask that you would evaluate the spiritual needs of you and your family and involve yourselves in the direction(s) that you feel the LORDs leading.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)