By Jackie Thomson
Can you remember your first grade teacher or your first day at school? Stop and consider what you remember and what caused that to stick with you. Was it fun, unusual, funny, sad, new, scary, exciting... what? As the years passed, what made an impression on you and which teachers made class something to look forward to and learning easy?
I remember my first teacher and our first day together. Some things just have a way of sticking with you, especially if you are one of “those kids” (and I was). You know the type, you’ve probably had one or two in your class. If not, just wait, you will.
The first day of school Mrs. Menkin put me in a desk toward the back of the class. Guess what. That was not where I wanted to be. So, I picked up my desk and moved it up next to hers. Then I sharpened my crayons in the pencil sharpener. Yes, you’re right — there were some intense moments of fellowship then, and when I got home the grapes of wrath were pressed out. I got the message pretty clear early on and 2nd through 4th grades went by fairly smooth. The fifth grade presented a challenge, especially science. I wonder if Mrs. Smith remembers me and the “discussions” we had. (After all a kid can take just so much, and she pushed the envelope a bit when she started telling us we came from a monkey.) Before the year was up, she was telling the class, “We all come from a monkey, that is except Jackie and her mother.” I can’t imagine why I just barely passed that class.
What kind of memories are we making when we step into the classroom? We’ve learned to use games, gadgets, gizmos, music, drama, and even snacks to make a lesson memorable and that’s good, so what more is there?
Claude Olney, author of Where There’s A Will There’s An A, How To Get Better Grades in College tells us, “Choose instructors over courses” and went on to say that poor instructors can ruin a good course and excellent instructors can make any course interesting and fun. Notice how important you are in the lives of your students. Your making an impression! Press on! Don’t give up, give in or give out.
There’s one tool available that will strengthen you and bring it all together. This tool should be used every time we stand before a class, regardless of the age level. It should be used so much it’s polished and shines from use. This tool is called the Holy Spirit, “the anointing.” We study, prepare games, have fun, serve snacks and transfer information from our head to theirs, but with the anointing there is something else that happens. The anointing does something with that information—it brings transformation into lives… transformed into His image and His likeness.
Live your lesson all week. Meditate on the Word and it will come alive in you. Like a good pot of soup, it takes time to cook and for the flavors to blend to be it’s best. Prepare all of the ingredients, add a little of this, some of that, season it just right, stir, turn on the heat and let it simmer until time to serve.
“Out of your innermost being shall flow rivers of living water,” John 7:38.
Church Growth and You
By Jackie Thomson
As the little boy dropped seeds into the dirt he said,“Be fruitful and multiply little seed.” The sun shown down, night time came, clouds passed over and the sun rose and shined bright overhead. Days passed as he carefully loosened the soil, pulled the weeds, watered each little mound and said,“I have faith in you little seed; I know you can do it. Be fruitful and multiply.”
The seed lay resting in the soft, damp, dark soil warmed by the sun ands omething new began to happen. Fresh energy was experienced; connection with the earth was discovered and life moved inside. In response to the energy of the sun, moisture of the earth and caring of the gardener, two tiny green arms pushed up and broke through the thin covering of soil to feel the welcoming friendship and warmth of the sun. Then the new little plant heard a voice say, “Welcome, I knew you could do it, little seed. I had faith in you.”
Learning how to move people from friendliness to friendship then to genuine spiritual growth, and discovering how to create a culture of connectivity in your church, is much like the little boy and his garden. The goal is to connect people to each other and to God through planting the seeds of friendship and cultivating them so people will develop a genuine friendship with God. This happens best in the soil of the church friendship garden.
Over the past few months, I’ve been stretched with challenges outside of my comfort zone as God opened doors of opportunity for training and speaking to church leaders and lay persons concerning church growth. One of the greatest challenges and experiences has been learning a fresh new way of connecting to people — a tool of evangelism for churches to use that can cause growth not just in numbers but spiritually, in a friendship with God. People want to be known, to belong and become closer to God. But how?
Find a friend and discuss the following questions:
Friendship is a great picture of what a relationship with God is like. What pictures are we painting with the brush strokes of our life?
If you are interested in digging deep into creating a culture of connectivity in your church, contact Messenger Publishing House at 800-444-4674 to order “Friendship First” or “Surprising Questions Jesus Asked”.
As the little boy dropped seeds into the dirt he said,“Be fruitful and multiply little seed.” The sun shown down, night time came, clouds passed over and the sun rose and shined bright overhead. Days passed as he carefully loosened the soil, pulled the weeds, watered each little mound and said,“I have faith in you little seed; I know you can do it. Be fruitful and multiply.”
The seed lay resting in the soft, damp, dark soil warmed by the sun ands omething new began to happen. Fresh energy was experienced; connection with the earth was discovered and life moved inside. In response to the energy of the sun, moisture of the earth and caring of the gardener, two tiny green arms pushed up and broke through the thin covering of soil to feel the welcoming friendship and warmth of the sun. Then the new little plant heard a voice say, “Welcome, I knew you could do it, little seed. I had faith in you.”
Learning how to move people from friendliness to friendship then to genuine spiritual growth, and discovering how to create a culture of connectivity in your church, is much like the little boy and his garden. The goal is to connect people to each other and to God through planting the seeds of friendship and cultivating them so people will develop a genuine friendship with God. This happens best in the soil of the church friendship garden.
Over the past few months, I’ve been stretched with challenges outside of my comfort zone as God opened doors of opportunity for training and speaking to church leaders and lay persons concerning church growth. One of the greatest challenges and experiences has been learning a fresh new way of connecting to people — a tool of evangelism for churches to use that can cause growth not just in numbers but spiritually, in a friendship with God. People want to be known, to belong and become closer to God. But how?
Find a friend and discuss the following questions:
- Are newcomers happy in your church?
- Does someone connect with newcomers on their first visit?
- What is connectivity?
- Have you eaten a meal or shared an activity with a newcomer to your church lately?
- Would people say you love God?
- How much time do you spend intentionally building friendships?
- Do you surround yourself with friends?
Friendship is a great picture of what a relationship with God is like. What pictures are we painting with the brush strokes of our life?
If you are interested in digging deep into creating a culture of connectivity in your church, contact Messenger Publishing House at 800-444-4674 to order “Friendship First” or “Surprising Questions Jesus Asked”.
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