Don't Waste Your Summer #3
(Note to those doing the James Bible study with me: Next Tuesday I will post our first discussion on James 1:1-8. I look forward to hearing your comments!)
Let’s face it. Summer leaves most of us with at least a little extra time. And in some cases it leaves us with gaps in our social schedules if certain activities (Bible studies, school, networking groups, etc…) that we usually participate in are on a seasonal break. While the first two posts in this series focused on two ways we can personally focus on not wasting our summer, today I want to talk about an interpersonal effort we can make that will help us insure that our summer will be good for more than just great family photos and fun and happy memories. The extra time summer provides in our schedules could be put to good use is we decide to disciple or be discipled by someone in our local church.
In 2 Timothy 2:2 Paul encourages young Timothy to entrust the things he’s been taught to faithful men who will be able to teach others. Those of us who have been Christians for any length of time have the great privilege and responsibility of teaching others the things we have learned about Christ so that they can grow, be encouraged and eventually go out and teach those same things to others as well.
My church has a great program called “Partners” for both new and old believers alike. It’s a ten-week curriculum that walks you through some of the foundational principles of the Christian faith and spurs you on in certain spiritual disciplines like prayer. Once you complete the program you are officially qualified to take someone else through it. My friend Kelly has been encouraging me to go through it with her for months now, but I’ve never had the time. Starting in July, I’ve committed to “partnering” with Kelly and completing the course. I’m looking forward to being refreshed in some of the basics of my faith, learning some new and challenging things and also growing in my friendship with Kelly along the way. Going into the fall I will also be equipped to take others through the program in the future.
Summer is a great time to take advantage of programs like this that your own church might offer. Or, if your church doesn’t offer anything like this, it would be a great time to study a book of the Bible with a friend once a week. Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”
Don’t waste your summer, and look for a way to sharpen or be sharpened by someone else.
Stay tuned for posts 4-5 on the “Don’t Waste Your Summer” series...
Let’s face it. Summer leaves most of us with at least a little extra time. And in some cases it leaves us with gaps in our social schedules if certain activities (Bible studies, school, networking groups, etc…) that we usually participate in are on a seasonal break. While the first two posts in this series focused on two ways we can personally focus on not wasting our summer, today I want to talk about an interpersonal effort we can make that will help us insure that our summer will be good for more than just great family photos and fun and happy memories. The extra time summer provides in our schedules could be put to good use is we decide to disciple or be discipled by someone in our local church.
In 2 Timothy 2:2 Paul encourages young Timothy to entrust the things he’s been taught to faithful men who will be able to teach others. Those of us who have been Christians for any length of time have the great privilege and responsibility of teaching others the things we have learned about Christ so that they can grow, be encouraged and eventually go out and teach those same things to others as well.
My church has a great program called “Partners” for both new and old believers alike. It’s a ten-week curriculum that walks you through some of the foundational principles of the Christian faith and spurs you on in certain spiritual disciplines like prayer. Once you complete the program you are officially qualified to take someone else through it. My friend Kelly has been encouraging me to go through it with her for months now, but I’ve never had the time. Starting in July, I’ve committed to “partnering” with Kelly and completing the course. I’m looking forward to being refreshed in some of the basics of my faith, learning some new and challenging things and also growing in my friendship with Kelly along the way. Going into the fall I will also be equipped to take others through the program in the future.
Summer is a great time to take advantage of programs like this that your own church might offer. Or, if your church doesn’t offer anything like this, it would be a great time to study a book of the Bible with a friend once a week. Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”
Don’t waste your summer, and look for a way to sharpen or be sharpened by someone else.
Stay tuned for posts 4-5 on the “Don’t Waste Your Summer” series...
posted by Shannon at 1:33 PM
4 Comments:
Shannon you are going to LOVE going through the Partner's program! I attribute my spiritual growth to this program & my partner who took me through it! It was an amazing experience and for me, a life enhancing one. I finished the program in April, and I am preparing to take someone through it beginning next week! We are so blessed to be a part of such a wonderful church =) A church & church family that fosters spiritual growth. Praise God!
Partners is GREAT! Everytime I take someone through, it is like going through it myself again. I learn something new each time. You'll love it!
Yeah! I am doing it this summer with Jen Gray. I am really looking forward to it.
I agree with Chiara that when I've taken someone through it I grow so much myself. I've told everyone I know about this program and I truly can't figure out why more people aren't taking advantage of it. It truly, honestly revolutionized my prayer life, quiet time/bible study, my perspectives on holiness in my life, sharing the gospel, I could go on and on!
Thanks for posting this Shannon!
Jen
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