cohort cells

Cohort cells could last a life-time. A cohort cell could consist of people of the same age give or take a year or two. A committed couple could mentor them on a weekly basis. Activitites could include bible study, prayer, games, outings. This cohort cell need never disband and as they grow into young adulthood and even parenthood, they would remain a constant source of strength and encouragement to each other thru the seasons of their life.
The benefits are:
* most cohorts grew up together so they are already fairly comfortable with each other, they just need a reason to meet on a regular basis
* less likelihood of losing people within the cohorts as their peers will be looking out for each other
* small groups are easier to manage

basic life principles

*six day video seminar that comes into singapore once a year usually on 2nd or 3rd week of june

*topics covered include: self-image, responsiblity, conscience, rights, freedom, success, purpose, friends

*useful for those involved in youth ministry, originally entitled basic youth conflicts seminar

*useful for those studying psychology, provides a biblical perspective and basis

*helps to distinguish between surface and root problems and causes

*you pay once and are entitled to attend same seminar every subsequent year for free when it comes in

*video seminar where you watch video and fill out work book. slightly old-fashioned but worth money and time invested

*runned by institute of basic life principles

*have applied some concepts to my life and it works!

*i also use these principles to counsel the youth and adapted some material for use at youth group

firm foundations

*just as a jeweller places a diamond on a black velvet background to reveal its beauty, the Gospel can only be clearly seen and appreciated when displayed against the background of the Old Testament. these carefully written bible studies lay a solid foundation for the Gospel from the Old Testament. the Gospel is then presented in all its logic and beauty.

*these bible have been used with great success in evangelistic outreach among people from vastly different educational and cultural backgrounds

*as you teach chronologically through the bible. your students will come to know God as He revealed Himself progressively through Scripture in His interaction with mankind. These studies beginning in Genesis and end with the life of Christ.

*the Bible will come alive and be seen as one story - HIS story. (all 4 blurbs above from back of the book)

*ideal gift for your missionary on the field

*start a class for churched kids so they can see and study the bible chronologically rather than topically.

*you can visit the website at www.ntm.org for more info

*watch "ee-tauw" video to see how material is used

*other recommended videos include: "ee-tauw - the next chapter", "the taliabo story", "delivered from the power of darkness"

commands of Christ

"Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20 NIV

*Christ commanded us to teach others to obey everything He has commanded us.

*what are these commands?

*49 commands are identified in book of matthew

resource: commands of Christ - series 1-7 by institute of basic life principles

pass it on...

*birthed out of necessity, no $$$

*stick bright sticker on front cover of book and book spine with the words "pass it on" so that people can disctinguish it from other books they have in their collection.

*pass books to people to read, ask them to pass it on to someone else or return to you when they are done.

*they will read because they have to return the book.

*invite them to write their comments on first page of book when they are done.

*same idea can be used with cds, magazines.

*prevents stuff from collecting dust on your shelves.

resources: christian heroes then and now series by janet and geoff benge. the series is about missionaries. easy to read.

praying no enough....

*how much time is spent in prayer in youth group? i discovered to my horror, approximately 1 minute for opening and closing prayer.

*learn God's names, titles, attributes, character. it helps us when we pray to go beyond what we normally pray.

*select a hymn or bible verses and ask, what do you learn about God? His nature? His character? what is our response?

*close each meeting with testimonies and prayer. the youth can lead. they will need to lead their families in prayer in the future.

*after every testimony, ask God is...... the focus ends on God.

resources: "in God's presence" - youth edition by t.w. hunt & claude v. king (lifeway press)

write it down!

*this idea is courtesy of my dad.

*use any old notebook to write all the ideas that come to you.

*headings help to organise things a little.

*go through the notebook once in a while, you will be surprised that the LORD has brought some of these ideas to past. write implementation date beside idea if you like.

*this idea was birthed in a notebook. :]

bible study

*ideal size - 6-8 people
if more, divide the group for discussion

*time, day and location can be adjusted to suit schedules of those attending

*short-term commitment, keeps them coming back for more

vwap

vacations with a purpose

*objective - going on vacation with the purpose of helping and learning from the missionary host family

*self-funded with parental blessing

*keep a journal to share experiences with others

*ideas for journal:

Destination:

Dates:

Fellow Travellers:

My Purpose: (what I accomplish by going)

What God has done for me:

God gave me this verse

God showed me ….

God taught me……

Praise God for:

Thank God for:

What advice and cautions I have for friends who go for future:

What I experienced during my ‘Vacation with a Purpose’:

Who I met:

What I did:

General and summarized Comments/Thoughts:

What I learned about:

The country

The Christians –

The Non-Christians

The customs/culture

The people.

The missionaries

love languages

there are 5 love languages

* touch
* spoken words
* gifts
* quality time
* acts of service

*everyone speaks two of these languages more fluently than the rest.

*the love language we use to express love to others is also the love language we like to receive.

*share this concept with parents so they can identify their children's love language and speak it to them.

*use this in your ministry to reach those who appear unreachable. prayerfully identify the young person's love language and express it to them in culturally appropriate ways.

resource: five love languages of teenagers by gary smalley

i would be true...

i would be true,
for there are those who trust me;
i would be pure,
for there are those who care.
i would be strong,
for there is much to suffer;
i would be brave,
for there is much to dare.
i would be brave,
for there is much to dare.

i would be friend
of all the foe, the friendless;
i would be giving,
and forget the gift.
i would be humble,
for i know my weakness.
i would look up,
and laugh, and love and lift.
i would look up,
and laugh, and love and lift.

i would be prayerful
thru each busy moment;
i would be constantly
in touch with God.
i would be tuned
to hear His slightest whisper;
i would have faith
to keep the path Christ trod.
i would have faith
to keep the path Christ trod.

howard a. walter 1883-1918
joseph yates peek 1843-1911

*a song that God used to remind me of what He has called me to do.

*a song that pricked my guilty conscience when i had sinned against God. i repented. i am reminded every time i hear this hymn of how i ought to live.

*can be your life's theme song especially for those in ministry.

heart-turners and bridge-builders

*turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers. fathers are the rightful spiritual authority that God has placed over children - the youth we work with.

*turn the hearts of the youth to their Heavenly Father.

*build bridges between parents and their children.

*build bridges between youth and God.

parents

"Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children." Deuteronomy 4:10 NIV

"These are the commands , decrees and laws the LORD, your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. Deuteronomy 6:1-2 NIV

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy 6:4-7 NIV

*God has given the mandate to parents to impart spiritual truth to their children. What a privilege and honour!

*parents are God's representative to the children.

blessings

"The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." Proverbs 18:21 NIV

"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." Proverbs 16:24 NIV

*a blessing is a prayer based on God's word.

*a blessing is asking God Who is Able to fulfill His word in people's lives.

*anytime is a good time to give a blessing eg. a birthday, before exams, during a crisis, when someone is ill, when you have a meal with someone, car rides.

*blessings can be written out on cards and given to someone so that they can bless others too.

*numbers 6:24-26 can be used as a template to craft a blessing.

*plan an activity which ends with participants writing out a blessing and blessing each other.

*parents can be encouraged to bless their children. it is a privilege given to them.

*a blessing can also be telling people what they are doing right.
resources: the power of spoken blessings by bill gothard.

car rides

i learnt this from my dad. he drove us anywhere and everywhere we needed to be. this was how he showed his love to us. this was also how he connected with us. sure, there were seasons of silence but he never gave up.

*car rides are ministry. its an opportunity to build bridges, share ideas, tell stories, pray together.

*people open up, people listen, people remember, people learn on car rides

*be an example, one day those who took rides will give rides....

questions, questions, questions.....

as I venture to share ideas, i find it necessary to give some qualifications so that i will not be guilty of passing off man's ideas as God's ideas - so help me God. :]

three useful questions to ask of every idea that is shared are:
is it biblical? is it cultural? is it personal?

some useful questions we could ask ourselves as we invest our time and energy in what we believe God has called us to do are:

*does it glorify God?
*do I glorify God?
*will this last into eternity?
*what does Jesus expect?
*what will Jesus reward?
*is it worth doing?
*does it get the job done?

for those of us who teach...
*is what i am teaching, what they are learning?
*what am I teaching?
*what are they learning?

iron sharpens iron

"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another" Proverbs 27:17 (NIV)

this blog is dedicated to those who heed the wisdom in this proverb. i have had the privilege of being sharpened by my mentors through my growing years. my mentors being my father, my mother, my brother, my sister, my youth advisors, my supervisor at work, believers God has placed in my life. God has also given me the privilege of sharpening others for His kingdom's sake and glory.
the purpose of this blog is to share what others have taught me so that these lessons can benefit others beyond me.