Compiled by Geoff Waugh
Published by the Joint Board of Christian Education, Melbourne.
Contents
Introduction
How to use this book
Group procedure
Love one another
Ideas for building relationships
Deep ideas and attitudes
Deeper ideals and values
Deepest ideologies and commitments
Ideas for Bible studies and prayers
Bible passages
Bible study methods
Bible reading and relationship building
Bible readings and prayers
Ideas for church activities
Program emphases
Devotional
Educational
Creative
Serving
Social
Sporting
Witness and Sharing Weekend
Commitment Indicator
Interests Indicator
Gifts Check List
Ideas for all ages together
Activities involving young children and others
Activities involving older children and others
Family and church family questionnaires
Useful teaching activities
ABC of resource ideas
Simulation activities
Simulation Game: Build my Church
Ideas for integrated studies on themes
The Great Experiment
Prayer
Relationship
Good News
The Church
Mission
Finding New Life
Living New Life
Faith Alive
Great Chapters Old Testament
Great Chapters New Testament
Jesus
Resources List
Introduction
Relationships with other people and with God form the heart of life and the Christian faith. This book can help you experience the openness and love that creates deep relationships. The activities in this book enable you to relate in depth.
Grateful acknowledgement is made to Serendipity Resources for permission to use any material based on or adapted from Serendipity Resources.
The author and compiler expresses his thanks for ideas and support given by groups and students he has worked with in developing this material.
How to use this book
The Leader's Goldmine gives you hundreds of ideas to use in any group. They aim to build relationship.
Choose the activities which interest you most. There is no set order, so use what appeals to you.
Ideas for building relationships are grouped in three categories called Deep, Deeper, and Deepest. The Deepest category needs a caring group willing to support and encourage one another.
Ideas for Bible studies and prayers encourage relational Bible study. They vary from specific comments on particular verses or topics to general suggestions on relational Bible study methods. Practical ideas about readings and prayers are included.
Ideas for church activities provide many suggestions for different groups in the church. Use the ones most suitable for your particular group.
Ideas for all ages together offer a wide range of activities you can use in various situations. They give you choices for family worship, intergenerational services, family camps, church family evenings, day camps and other times when all ages get together.
Ideas for integrated studies on themes give you a theme for a month. Each theme covers activities for personal, group, family and church use.
Group Procedure
1. Relate in small groups of 4 to 5 people. More than 10 is difficult because large numbers mean less sharing for each person. Divide large groups into small subgroups of 4 to 5. then everyone can speak and listen in relaxed comfort.
2. Allow up to half an hour for most of the acitivites. For example you may want to use one sharing activity and one Bible activity in an hour's session.
3. Meeting in homes, informally, is ideal but anywhere will do. Home groups provide an excellent setting for relating together. Many of these activities can also be used with congregations such as in creative worship, family services, youth meetings or an informal evening service.
4. Be positive and encouraging. Avoid unkind comment. These activities can create an atmosphere of openness and acceptance. Then lives are changed. Fellowship and faith grow stronger.
5. Key words for vital group life are:
OPENNESS as you open your lives to one another, love grows;
AFFIRMATION as you support one another, faith grows;
ENCOURAGEMENT as you enable growth in one another, hope grows.
Love One Another
The Biblical basis for all these activities is the strong command to love one another. Many Bible passages emphasise that. Here are some:
love one another John 13:34; 15:12, 17; Romans 12:10; 13:8; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:11, 23; 4:7, 11, 12; 2 John 5
serve one another Galatians 5:21; 1 Peter 5:5
accept one another Romans 15:7
strengthen one another Romans 14:19
help one another Hebrews 3:13; 10:24
encourage one another Hebrews 10:25
forgive one another Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13
submit to one another Ephesians 5:21
carry one another's burdens Galatians 6:2
be tolerant with one another Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:13
be concerned for one another Hebrews 10:24
be kind and tenderhearted to one another Ephesians 4:32
These activities give you plenty of scope to do all of that in your relationships with one another.
May God guide and bless your work. Successful mining!
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(c) Geoff Waugh, 1992, The Joint Board of Christian Education.
http://www.renewaljournal.com
Reproduction is allowed as long as the copyright remains intact with the text.