{"id":438,"date":"2016-05-30T22:15:17","date_gmt":"2016-05-30T21:15:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pbthomas.com\/blog\/?p=438"},"modified":"2016-05-30T22:15:17","modified_gmt":"2016-05-30T21:15:17","slug":"to-everything-there-is-a-season-leaders-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/pbthomas.com\/blog\/?p=438","title":{"rendered":"To Everything there is a Season LEADERS’ GUIDE"},"content":{"rendered":"

AIM: To explore the ways as Christians we use our time and our talents<\/p>\n

SESSION OUTLINE:
\n\tIntroduction and Bible Base (see passages below)\t\t\t\t5 min
\n\tDiscussion of Time analysis (page 5)\t\t\t\t\t\t15 – 25 min
\n\tPriorities – Leader\/discussion (page 5) \t\t\t\t\t10 min
\n\tPracticalities – discussion (page 5) AND\/OR\t\t\t\t\t10 min
\n\tALTERNATIVE – Using our talents\t\t\t\t\t\t10 min
\n\tConclusion: Introduce unit 4 (HAND OUT page 6 THIS week!)\t\t5 min<\/p>\n

KEY ISSUES:
\nWe are redeemed people (1 Cor 6:19-20). “Our” time belongs to God and we are accountable for how we use it. God our Father wants us to enjoy our lives and to be fulfilled, but this can only happen when our relationship with Him is as it could be. God does have a master-plan in which His church are His co-workers, and each of us must play his\/her part.<\/p>\n

QUOTE: “Christians today are too busy. Nobody doubts their sincerity, but everybody doubts their love.” (Paul Tournier)<\/p>\n

POSSIBLE ANSWERS TO SUGGESTED QUESTIONS:
\nConsider practical answers to some of the issues below, even if they demand changes in our church programmes or family lifestyles.
\n*\tMany Christians’ diaries are overcrowded with “Church” events – while others give too little time to growing in their faith and serving the Lord.
\n*\tMost recognise the priority of family life in theory, but too often “family time” is squeezed out in practice.
\n*\tComparisons of the time spent watching TV or reading a daily newspaper (or even doing the crossword) with time spent in Bible Reading and personal prayer are very challenging.
\n*\tMany choose to pursue careers or hobbies which make great demands on time and energy – sometimes at the expense of Christian and family life. Others sacrifice \u201csecular\u201d career to devote themselves to Christian service either full or part time. Is either option preferable?
\n*\tMany Christians are prepared to give large blocks of their time to the Lord – whether learning at Spring Harvest or retreats, or serving Christ at missions, BB or YPF camps, etc. Should EVERY Christian expect to give a significant portion of their “holiday” each year to a Christian activity of some kind?<\/p>\n

ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES:
\nLead on to a consideration of our talents\/abilities\/spiritual gifts. How can we be sure that we identify, develop and use our gifts to the full? How can we escape “the tyranny of the immediate and urgent”?<\/p>\n

BIBLE PASSAGES: Ecclesiastes 3:1-13; Ephesians 5:15-17.<\/p>\n

WORK TO DO BETWEEN SESSIONS:
\n1.\tFind “extra” time this week for prayer, Bible Study, reading a Christian book.
\n2.\tPrepare for unit 4 (page 6 \u2013 hand out this week!)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

AIM: To explore the ways as Christians we use our time and our talents SESSION OUTLINE: Introduction and Bible Base (see passages below) 5…<\/span><\/p>\n

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