Perry’s Scope: Christian sermons, lessons, and resources for teachers

I remember watching the movie, Hoosiers. One of the characters called, “Shooter” relived the glory of his High School days. He wound up being the town drunk and embarrassment to his family because he could not get over the long-passed disappointment of High School.

Shooter is not the only one to live in the past. How many people do you know who had their best years in the yesterdays of their mind? How many do you know who dwell in the past either in its regrets or in its glory?

Christians have the privilege of letting go of the past, both the good and bad. The best days for the Jesus followers are ahead, not behind. Faith and hope keep us going.

The following small group study is based on the sermon Richard May will present this Sunday, May 15, 2008. He has in mind encouraging the 2008 graduates to go forward and not live in the past. I hope this lesson is useful to you.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

  

  One of my passions is small group ministry. I am writing material for our groups and have decided to post some lessons from time to time. Perhaps they can be adapted and useful to others.

As I was doing my daily Bible reading, I ran across an idea that made me think. In light of the “Purpose-Driven” ideas it occurs to me that God acts in different ways to different people. Some people (as in Jeremiah 1:5) are given specific tasks. Other people, like Baruch in Jeremiah 45 are given the lee way to do a number of things. Each has the promise of the presence of God. Each has the potential for God’s glory.

I hope the following can be useful to you.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

Baruch, De-Scribed

Jeremiah 45

Open

Please share your response to one of the following:

1. If you had to choose one of the following to be with 24/7 for a month, who would it be and why?

• journalist
• TV personality
• missionary
• park ranger
• Olympic Gold Medalist
• salesman
• policeman
• therapist

2. If you could go anywhere and do anything, where would you go, what would you do?

Study

Please read Jeremiah 45 and discuss the following:

1. Jeremiah prophesied and saw the destruction of Jerusalem and Judah by the Babylonians. Baruch was his “secretary” or “scribe.” He wrote only what Jeremiah spoke. What do you think this says about the character of Baruch, especially in light of the coming devastation?

2. What do you think caused Baruch to be so discouraged?

3. In your opinion, what caused God to “uproot” his people?

4. Jeremiah had a God-given mission (see Jeremiah 1.5). It appears that Baruch does not, but God assures him of his presence and protection.

• What are the advantages of each situation?
• What are the disadvantages?
• Do you think God has a specific mission for each and every one of us (like Jeremiah) or do you think he allows some of us to make our own way as Baruch?

5. Why do you think Baruch is told not to seek “great things for himself”?

6. When do you think we need to seek “great things” and when do we need not to?

7. What do you think God means by his promise to Baruch in v. 5C?

Apply

Please share your responses to the following:

1. What things wear you out? How does this affect your relationship to God?

2. When you feel fatigue, what promises of God do you hold to? How have these made a difference for you?

3. Are you ambitious to seek great things or content to walk with God without the limelight? (See Philippians 4.11-13). Why?

Teaching the Bible is an integral part of Sunday School Classes and HOME Groups. However, the work of these programs does not end with teaching. People need instruction and relationships. God never intended for us to live the Christian life - alone.The Jerusalem church modeled community for us in Acts 2. They met together publicly and in homes. They continued in fellowship. If they needed it, we do, too.

As a class leader; teacher; or small group leader you know that your task is bigger than the Book. Your task involves the encouragement of your class or group members as well as Bible knowledge. People primarily attend a groups or a class because of who is in it. We either have friends in the group or think we can make friends there. So, how can we create a sense of community within our group or class?

• Communicate the Need for Community. Tell your members that in addition to Bible study, your Class/Group is going to help in building Christian relationships. Isn’t it exciting to know that the relationships we build in our church will last forever?
• Change up your Style of Teaching. The worst teaching style is the one we use all of the time. Lecture has its place and so does discussion. In developing relationships, open-ended questions help us express ourselves.
• Use Effective Ice-Breakers. I like to have groups answer one or two questions at the beginning of each lesson which help the group to get to know one another as well as set the stage for the lesson. As people reveal themselves to the group, we are more able to understand “where we are coming from.”
• Pray Together. Be sure to take prayer requests in your Group/Class. A good way to end the formal time together is prayer. Again, our prayer requests show our needs.
• Have a Party. Josh Hunt (joshhunt.com) encourages Groups to have monthly fellowship activities. In fact, he says to “invite every member and every prospect to every fellowship every month.” Fellowship builds relationships and becomes a tool for outreach at the same time.
• Be Open. As a leader, find opportunities to tell your story and encourage others to tell theirs. There is something very powerful about sharing the innermost parts of our lives.
• Minister. A huge way of building community is to serve together. Service can take any form and much good can be done for the served. The servers, however, always benefit more. One of the benefits is the unique tie that comes as a result of serving together.

These are a few ways to build community within adult groups. As community is built, people become more and more aware of one another. They learn to trust and be trustworthy. The unity that Jesus describes (John 17) is formed.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

 I am convinced that Small Group Ministry is key to the spiritual, emotional, and numerical growth of the church. Not everyone wants to be in a small group (for a plethora of reasons) but building Christian relationships is essential to our spiritual well being. Whether that occurs formally or informally, it is essential. I ran across this story by K. Edward Skidmore at www.sermoncentral.com (it may be just a “Preacher story”), but it makes a great point.

A Preacher decided to experiment with changing some sad statistics in his church. He made a list of 12 people who had recently been baptized in their church, and then he and his wife invited them over. Naturally, these new Christians were thrilled to be invited to their Preacher’s house. They were excited about their new connection with the Lord and with His Church.

After supper the Preacher sat down with this group of enthusiastic new Christians — and he asked them an unexpected question. He asked if they would like for him to predict their futures for the next 2 or 3 years.

They were a little surprised at that offer, but they all said “yes”
— so, the Preacher made this prediction: “As I look at the 12 of you, I must predict, that … statistically speaking — in the next 2 or 3 years —

2 of your marriages will break up — and your feelings of shame will cause you to leave the church
3 of you will have conflict with someone in the church and you, also, will leave the church
1 of you will experience tragedy and lose faith. You, too will leave the church.
2 of you will have some sort of moral failing and will leave the church.
2 of the 4 remaining will simply lose interest and drift away from the church … for no obvious reason.

In two or three years, out of this group of 12 …

• … only 2 of you will still be attending church —
• — and only 1 of you will still be attending THIS church.

There was dead silence in the room. All these wide-eyed new Christians looked around at each other as if to say, “How could that happen to us?”

Finally, one of them spoke up and asked, “What can we do to change those statistics?”

The Preacher was waiting to hear that question. He had his answer ready. He said, “You can get together and as a group decide that you are not going to let anyone go.”

That is exactly what they did.

These strangers — who had never been together until that gathering at the Preacher’s home — formed themselves into a Small Group. Week by week they came to really KNOW each other. They supported each other through the tragedies, divorces, conflicts, and moral failings. In 4 years of meeting together, only 1 person left the church. That small caring group changed the Statistics from losing 10 out of 12 to losing only 1 out of 12.

What are your priorities? Do you want to GROW as a Christian? Do you want to show LOVE to others? Taking time to meet with a Small Group is one of the best ways to make progress in your Christian life.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

American churches are enamored with numbers. More is always better. As long as our count equals or exceeds the previous one, we are “successful.”

It is true that Luke records some numbers in the book of Acts. That seems to be something that a Physician/Historian would do. Certain numbers, like weight and temperature, can tell us things about the health of a patient (or a church body).

Think about the flipside. David took a census in Israel after he was told not to. He was punished for his disobedience. A danger was that the nation could have looked at their own strength in numbers instead of looking to God. It was not the best thing.

What if (I always like to think in terms of what could be) we stopped counting attendance? Would we stop feeling so secure in our numbers? Would we shift our attention to people? Would we check on absentees? Would we be better motivated to fill empty seats with new people? Would our source of security be our God?

How large was the church in Corinth? Ephesus? Philippi? Jesus gave some criticisms regarding the “Seven Churches of Asia” (which, by the way are no longer with us). Not once did he criticize them for low numbers — there are bigger issues.

My challenge is for us to see past the numbers. See the people. Look to our God. This is not just about, “How many?” it is about, “Who?”

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene (greene.perry@gmail.com)

Recently I began a new work at the South Yukon Church of Christ in Yukon, OK (outside of OK City).  It is going to be an exciting work and I am anxious to get out of boxes and to the work.

Before we got there, however, we had to say good-bye to our former church.  I have always hated good-byes.  I grew up as a Navy brat and made frequent moves.  I usually had made a good friend or two about the time we had to move.  As a Minister, I have had a similar experience.  Hopefully I have learned a lesson or two from the last good bye.

One of the things that struck me so hard in our good-bye was the outpouring of affection we received.  You always think there is time to tell people how you feel about them and then suddenly time is up.  We received such warm regards that we could not believe it.  At the same time, we felt the need for reciprocation but were out of time.  This time I want to appreciate people and TELL them.  I may say it face to face, I may write a card or an e-mail but I intend to be sure I give honor to whom honor is due.

A second lesson that I want to learn and do is to invest in PEOPLE.  People are the only lasting parts of creation.  Jesus died for people, not the animals, not the earth, and not even the angels.  It is about people.  He spent at least three years investing himself in the disciples.  Look at the dividends of such an investment — the name of Jesus has been heard all over the world because of the commitment of the twelve, the 120, and then the 3000+. 

I want to follow the example of Jesus and teach the Bible to PEOPLE.  I want to be a Mentor to PEOPLE.  I want to make investments that matter in the eternal long run.

A third lesson that struck me is the value of encouragement.  Scott is one of my friends from my former church.  One of the reasons that I like Scott is because he is a constant source of encouragement.  He is a modern Barnabas.  Whenever I am around him, I feel better about myself.  I want to be that kind of friend to others.  I want to be their cheerleader and source of encouragement.  There is too much to pull us down in the world, I want to pick people up.

The church gave us a going away party the last Sunday we were in town.  The gifts were nice and appreciated.  What I will always remember is the love that was shown to me.  What I have learned is to love others the way Jesus did.

Keep the Light Burning!

Perry