Leader Quote of the Week - March 28, 2005

"The world becomes a strange, mad, painful place and life in it a disappointing and unpleasant business, for those who do not know God. Disregard the study of God and you sentence yourself to stumble through life blind-folded, as it were, with no sense of direction and no understanding of what surrounds you. This way you can waste your life and lose your soul."

--J. I. Packer

We leaders sometimes fall into the habit of studying the Scriptures for theological knowledge or doctrinal know-how. When we do, we can become modern Pharisees: people with lots of knowledge but with hearts far from God.

This week, as we study God's word, let's remember to study not to know more about God, but to encounter Him through our interaction with His word.

Our prayer might be: Father, as I study Your Word this week, reveal more of Yourself to me that I might love You more, honor You more effectively, and become a bit more like Jesus.

That's it for now!
Joan

Bible Study Zone - Another Resource

Sometimes it's difficult for Bible study teachers and leaders to come up with fresh activity ideas or new, dynamic curricula. Staying on top of current resources is a must if we want our classes and groups to stay fresh and creative. But how?

One bi-monthly resource I've found helpful, put out by NavPress, is Bible Study Zone. This is an on-line small group leader resource that can be perused on-line or received as an e-mail subscription newsletter, completely free. It comes out six times per year (every other month) and, if you don't want to bother checking the web site, it can be e-mailed directly to your e-mail address. It's loaded with the following:

Tips for ministry leaders
Tips for leading small groups
Group discussion tips
Group activity tips
Community-building tips
Bible study tips
Outreach ideas
Additional resources
New resource releases

It also keeps you up-to-date on NavPress's newest small group study guides and leader resources, and offers them to you at discounted rates.

To subscribe to Bible Study Zone, just click here, then check the appropriate box, fill in the subscriber information boxes at the bottom of the page, and click "submit." You'll be added to the Bible Study Zone e-mail list.

The authors and leaders at NavPress has proven themselves to be consistently on-target when it comes to equipping Bible study teachers and leaders. I think you'll find loads of solid, helpful information in this NavPress subscription.

Enjoy!

'Til next time,
Joan

Featured Site: ChristiansUnite.com

If your looking for a one-stop-shopping site for Christian resources of all shapes and sizes, try ChristiansUnite.com. Loaded with links, this site offers Christian clip art, jokes, cartoons, puzzles, desktop wallpapers, shopping, news, e-cards...you name it; it's probably there.

I recommend this site, not because you'll find so many links or so much Christian "stuff" (something that usual bugs me), but because of it's Bible Study resources page. In addition to several translations (though fewer than other sites offer), this page offers access to writings from Christian history (e.g.: Josephus), classic works from figures like John Bunyun and Augustine, biographies and autobiographies, topical Bibles, Bible dictionaries, commentaries, and thousands of sermons and articles in which you can find ideas or illustrations for your lessons.

I'm not one who likes banners and blinking ads, but don't let the heavy Christian advertising on this site's opening page fool you; it's loaded with helpful resources (and almost no advertisements on the resource pages).

I hope you find something useful there!

That's it for now,
Joan

Tuesday Challenge: Ask a Great Question

Because Tuesdays are my teaching days, I don't have much time to create blog entries. So, I thought Tuesdays might be a good day to issue a weekly challenge designed to foster growth in us as leaders and teachers.

Here's this week's challenge (look for more in the weeks to come): Ask a great question!

Come up with one question you can ask yourself, your students, or your group members that requires thought and personal interaction with the topic.

Here are your guidelines:

1. The question cannot be answerable with just a yes or no.

2. The question cannot look for a right-or-wrong, test-like answer (facts, people, places, etc.).

3. The question should prompt thought and discussion.

4. The question should be open-ended. Here are some standard openers for open-ended questions:

• In what ways...
• How do you feel when...
• What do you think it means when...
• Why do you think...
• With what or whom do you most identify...?

Here's an example. I'm currently teaching on simplifying the spiritual disciplines. One question I might ask that meets the above criteria is this: Why do you think we tend to complicate spiritual disciplines so much? Another might be: In what ways have you (or I) unnecessarily complicated the spiritual life? A third might be: In what ways do you think Jesus modeled simplicity in His spiritual disciplines? You get the idea.

That's your challenge! Go for it! If you have the time, leave a comment to let me know how your challenge worked out (now that Blogger's comment capabilities are back)!

That's it for now,

Joan

Leader Quote of the Week - March 14, 2005

This week's quote comes from A.W. Tozer:

"...[biblical] exposition may be carried on in such a way as to leave the hearers devoid of any true spiritual nourishment whatever. For it is not mere words that nourish the soul, but God Himself, and unless and until the hearers find God in personal experience they are not the better for having heard the truth."

As teachers and leaders we're often tempted to impart knowledge to our students. We've done our research, we've studied the passages, we have a wealth of information we'd like to pass on. But information doesn't change lives. Encountering God does.

If our goal as leaders is to foster life change through learning (remembering that only God changes hearts), then we need to be willing to take the information we've prepared and tie it to experience. What difference does this information make? What does it tell me about God's character? What does it tell me about God's way of interacting with mankind? What does it reveal about the work God desires to accomplish in this world? What does it reveal about what He desires to do in or through me? In what ways has God revealed this truth in my experience? How might He apply this truth in the lives of my students or group members?

Intellectual ascent isn't the same phenomenon as intimacy with God. To move my students beyond intellectual ascent I need to ask and answer these questions as I prepare: how can this truth foster deeper intimacy with God in my students? How can I offer this truth in a way that will foster life change? What illustrations can I use to help my student identify this truth with real life situations? What one thing from this biblcal exposition can my students apply? What practical steps can I give them this week to help them apply it?

Teaching isn't about impressing others with our knowledge; it's about being faithful stewards of God's word and being vessels for life change.

It's good to perform a self-check now and then: what kind of vessels are we: the kind that leads to intellectual ascent or the kind that fosters life change?

'Til next time,
Joan

The Heart of a Leader

I've been reading Henri Nouwen's In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership, a small, heart-warming, wisdom-packed book on the meaning of Christian leadership. In it, I found this quote:

"It is not enough for priests and ministers of the future to be moral people, well trained, eager to help their fellow humans, and able to respond creatively to the burning issues of their time. All of that is very valuable and important, but it is not the heart of Christian leadership. The central question is, Are the leaders of the future truly men and women of God, people with an ardent desire to dwell in God's presence, to listen to God's voice, to look at God's beauty, to touch God's incarnate Word, and to taste fully God's infinite goodness?" (emphasis added)

He then explains that the original use of the word "theology" (we often view theological grounding as an important qualification in contemporary leaders ) meant "union with God through prayer." Wow! How differently we view our academic version of theology today!

His point is this: Christian leaders, first and foremost, must be lovers of God; they must be men and women who know God intimately (not just know about Him).

I have to ask myself: do I desire to dwell in God's presence, to hear and listen to God's voice, to gaze upon His beauty, to touch and taste His character and Word? If I can't answer "yes" to these questions, then out of what motives am I truly leading: Self-sufficiency? A desire to please or impress other? A desire to prove myself? A deluded works-based effort to earn God's favor?

Authentic Christian leadership, true biblical leadership, flows from intimacy with and love for the Source of all life, strength, wisdom, and power. It finds its origins in grace and gratitude. If it doesn't, then that leadership differs little from the world's.

Let's do a heart check this weekend. How's our love for God? How well do we fit Nouwen's description of a leader in the second paragraph above? Just how rooted in grace and gratitude are we?

May God give us grace to love Him and to serve Him out of that love. May He equip us to do so.

That's it for now,
Joan

Bible Study Methods

As leaders and teachers it's easy for us to use the same methods of Bible study over and over again. Usually it's because we've found whatever methods we use to be reliable, comfortable, and user-friendly.

Sometimes, however, the same-old-same-old routine leaves us feeling flat and lifeless after we've encountered the Word of God. The same could be said for our students. Try spicing up your personal Bible study time (or that of your students) by trying new study methods.

Where can you find new and different methods of study? Try these resources:

• Discipleship Journal's on-line archives. Here's one of DJs, entitled the Bible Background Study (you may have to provde your e-mail address to access this article).
• Each New Day's Bible Study Methods page. This site offers twelve standard Bible study methods (step-by-step instructions, including tools required and hints) in PDF and HTML format.
• Crosswalk.com's Methods of Bible Study page, the contents of which are quoted from R. A. Torrey's How to Study the Bible for Greatest Profit.
• Bible.org's Bible Study Methods page (offers several articles describing various methods).

These sites alone provide dozens of methods of Bible study. But if you'd like more options, trying these book resources (links take you to Amazon's book store). I own them and use them regularly for finding Bible study options to offer my students.

Personal Bible Study Methods: 12 Ways to Study the Bible on Your Own by Rick Warren

Discipleship Journal's Best Bible Study Methods compiled from past issues of DJ

The Navigator Bible Studies Handbook compiled from methods the Navigators have used for over 60 years

How to Study Your Bible by Kay Arthur (a summary of the inductive study method)

Between these book resources (some of whose contents you can view in part at amazon.com) and these web site offerings, you should be able to find a new way to approach the Scriptures or a old way with a new twist. Either way, trying something new may bring new life to your encounters with the Word of God.

That's it for now,
Joan

Map and Bible Land Image Resources

Atlases come in handy for our lesson preparations, but sometimes it's difficult to adapt what we find in a book for use as an overhead transparency or PowerPoint slide. I've stumbled upon two helpful on-line resources that solve the problem of creating map and Bible land images for us.

The first is Heartlight's searchgodsword.org. Here are just a few of the tools this web site offers for free to any user:

• a searchable Bible (by key word or reference; searches in over twenty translations)
• daily Bible reading plans
• daily devotionals
• "Today in Christian History"
• commentaries
• Bible dictionaries
• Bible encyclopedias
• concordances
• lexicons
• historical literature
• "Sermon Jazzers" (anecdotes and humorous illustrations)
• over forty FREE PowerPoint Bible maps!

The PowerPoint Bible maps alone are worth the visit to this site. They're well done and ready for teaching use. If you don't have PowerPoint you can print the on-line images directly onto transparency film for use as overheads.

The second site where you can find free maps and photos of Bible lands and other Bible images (e.g.: an Olive tree; a cubit; Mount of Olives, etc.) is ebibleteacher.com. This site boast all kinds of additional resources as well.

When you have a chance, investigate these sites. I think you'll find that both provide useful and practical helps for teachers.

Every little bit helps!

That's it for now,

Joan

Leader's Quote of the Week - March 7th, 2005

To encourage and motivate my readers, I've decided to add another feature to this blog: the Leader's Quote of the Week. Some weeks I'll comment; other weeks the quote will stand alone. In any case, I hope you fine these gems of wisdom helpful and stimulating.

This week's quote comes from Theodore Roosevelt:

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."

Are you?

That's it for now,
Joan

Christianity's FAQs

Sometimes people in our studies have basic questions about the Christian faith, the Bible, the Christian life, theological or doctrinal issues, or other questions we can't address within the limits of our classes or study groups.

While we might discuss these questions with inquiring individuals one-on-one, sometimes it helps to direct them to other resources that might answer their questions.

Evangelical pastor, Bible teacher, and best-selling author Johh MacArthur of Grace to You Ministries provides answers to dozens of Christianity's FAQs at the Grace to You web site. Click here to access this web resource.

You'll find answers to questions like these:

Is my Bible really free from errors?

Which Bible translation is best?

How can I be sure of my salvation?

What is God's will for my life?

If God is sovereign is He responsible for evil?

Using careful biblical exegesis, John MacArthur answers these and dozens more questions covering everything from suicide to sanctification.

Take a peek at this web page; I think you'll find it helpful (or perhaps your students and disciples will).

That's it for now,
Joan

Christian Research Institute: Another Great Resource

Well, I'm back. :o) And since I've returned I'm more convinced than ever of our need to be solidly grounded in an intelligent faith: Bible knowledge, theology, doctrine, and application.

While I was away I encountered mature believers who, though they knew much Truth, struggled to apply it. Sometimes the difficulty was individual will (they didn't have the will to apply what they knew). Sometimes the difficulty was forgetfulness (they forgot to apply what they knew). But sometimes the difficulty was ignorance (they didn't know the Truth well enough to apply it).

One of the organizations I've encountered that best pursues the goal of equipping Christians with an intelligent, Bible-based, appliable faith is the Christian Research Institute (CRI), headed by Hank Hannegraff, the voice behind the Bible Answer Man radio program.

CRI offers a number of excellent resources on countless topics, including difficult-to-answer questions about our faith. One resource, the Christian Research Journal, tackles today's controversial issues head-one. Though non-subscribers cannot access the current issue's articles, past issues of The Journal are available on-line to anyone and are organized by topic. CRI also provides a solid summary of Christianity's essential doctrines and more detailed explanations of specifics of the faith.

The CRI Resource Center offers resources (for sale) in several media types (hardcover books, softcover books, audio tapes, CDs, DVDs, etc.) searchable by over twenty-five categories (e.g.: apologetics, Christian doctrines, Christian classics, cults, evangelism, eschatology, ethics, science and the Bible, world religions, etc.). These resources are well-researched, historically accurate, biblically grounded treatments of various topics. They make great references for teaching on everything from the Resurrection to Spiritual Warfare.

CRI is dedicated to equipping believers (hence their web address: equip.org). I think you'll find their resources quite helpful.

'Til next time,
Joan

Quick Note: I'm Away

I'll be away for the next three days speaking at a women's retreat. Just thought I'd let you know. You can look for more helpful posts next week after my return.

Blessings to you all!
Joan

Another Great On-Line Tool!

I've been checking out several blogs and web sites lately, and I found another great "one-stop-shoppping" Bible study resource. Just about everything you need for lesson preparation (resources, references, and Bible study tools) is available at this site.

Called The Smart Christian, it encourages a thinking approach to Christianity. Good stuff!

You'll find the SmartChristian.com page devoted to Bible study tools here. You'll find the site's theological resources here. You'll find other general reference sources here.

Don't forget to check out the history reference link and other resource links offered at this site. You'll find a ton of neat study aids.

That's it for now,
Joan

ANNOUNCING: "Featured Site"

I've added a new feature to this blog: a sidebar offering called "Featured Site."

The "Featured Site" section on the right will contain a link to a new, excellent on-line resource I've stumbled upon and highly recommend. I'll try to highlight a new featured site at least twice a month.

This week's "Featured Site" is John Piper's site Desiring God. This outstanding resource offers all kinds of helps for Bible study teachers or leaders:

• An On-line Library (on-line line book references)
• An On-line Study Desk (a ton of Bible study aids and tools)
• Weekly audio sermons (you can listen on-line)
• Daily radio broadcasts (you can listen on-line)
• The "Fighter Verses" Bible memorization system
• The complete English Standard Version of the Bible (ESV) and 25 other versions on-line
• Daily devotionals
• Today's News and Links sections
• Easy-to-use search features that allow you to search the site by topic.

Just the On-line Study Desk feature is worth the visit to this site.

If you've never read John Piper's works, I'd encourage you to do so; his is a unique and penetrating voice that drives us out of complacency into deepening relationship with God--the true God of the Scriptures who if far greater and more wonderful than we know. You'll find no superficiality, quick fixes, or "cheap grace" here.

Please note that when I visited this site, the "store" feature (where you can purchase products) was not operational. This, however, did not affect my ability to search the databases or to use the on-line resources.

So, check out DesiringGod.org. I hope you like it. Let me know what you think.

That's it for now,
Joan

On-Line Resources and Software

Okay. I'll admit it. I'm a book person. And a paper person. There's just something about the feel of pages beneath my fingertips that brings out the creativity in me. That's why my office is loaded with books, many of which I use in my Bible study lesson preparations.

But I'm a computer person, too. And I've found some nifty computer resources (on-line and in software form) that have made my life as a Bible study teacher easier.

The best of the on-line Bible study resources I've found are listed as links on the right side of this web page in the sidebar entitled Bible Study Tools. These sites contain just about anything you could want or need by way of Bible study references. Take some time to familiarize yourself with what's available. Though there may be a small learning curve to begin with, you'll find that these resources save time in the long run. To check out these sites, all you have to do is click on the links I've provided, then explore!

I've found software tools to be helpful, too. Though there are many excellent Bible software manufacturers and tools out there, the one I prefer is NavPress Software's WORDSearch with LESSONMaker, STEP compatability, and Zip Script features (co-published with IExalt). I have the package entitled the WORDSearch Discipleship Library with a bunch of add-ons, but Navpress and IExalt offer many different combinations covering many different price ranges. You can check them out at the WORDsearch home page or Christian Book Distributors.

An additional piece of software I've enjoyed (an add-on to the above that can be used on its own) is the Discipleship Journal Anthology, again a Navpress product. This CD-ROM contains nearly all the content from past issues of Discipleship Journal dating from 1981 to 2000 (issues #1 through #120). The searchable anthology comes in WORDsearch compatible or Logos editions, and has been a springoard for ideas and lesson preparations on a host of subjects for me.

I should admit that I'm partial to DJ. I've read the publication since they started in the early 80s and have written for them quite a bit over the last six years. I value their commitment to biblical integrity, their passion to equip believers, their heart for missions, and their willingness to take on challenging topics. It's a great publication--one I still receive in magazine hard copy form. And being able to search (via computer) back issues for topics on which I'm teaching and speaking is a dream-come-true for me. Before, I plodded page-by-page through old hard copies; now I can search with the touch of a button.

Logos makes some good software, too. I just happen to prefer WORDsearch. Others use Logos and highly recommend it. My suggestion would be to investigate both product lines and decide what suits your need best. For me, WORDsearch fits the bill.

In the meantime, don't forget to check out the on-line resources I've listed in the sidebar on the right. You'll find plenty to keep you busy there.

That's it for now,
Joan

Good Books, List #1

The following list is a compilation of books I've used and recommended for Christian leaders in past issues of Teachers' Tips, Tools, and Topics. Future lists will include new material I'm reading and recommending, but I wanted to provide this list for your perusal in case you missed or didn't have access to previous reviews. Here's the short list:


Title: I Exalt You, O God: Encountering His Greatness in Your Private Worship
By Jerry Bridges

Review: “As the world becomes ever more impersonal, hectic, and stressful, our hunger grows for the reality of God’s Greatness in our lives.”—from the book jacket.

If you’re looking to stimulate greater worship in your personal devotional life, then this offering by Jerry Bridges is the book for you. I Exalt You, O God moves readers to consider the wonder and awesomeness of God. Arranged into 31 daily readings, this brief devotional helps you to focus on four aspects of God’s nature (His Greatness, Holiness, Wisdom, and Love) through biblical teaching, interaction with Scripture, and guided prayers (penned by the author). It motivates and equips you to offer richer, truer praise and thanksgiving as you consider the very person and nature of God.

Title: How to Live Right When YourLife Goes Wrong
by Leslie Vernick

Review: “Despite the abundant availability of both self-help books and Bible-study materials, many of us find it difficult to apply what we learn and make that long head-to-heart journey of change. Is it possible to achieve a deeper, more permanent change of heart? Yes….” —Leslie Vernick

If you are looking for a practical, simple-to-use, and easy-to-understand model for spiritual growth to pass on to your students, Leslie Vernick’s How To Live Right is the book for you. Using the acronym TRUTH, Leslie provides specific steps for walking in truth and for practicing Christ’s presence. It is an easy-to-remember method for applying God’s truth to everyday life and circumstances.

Title: Speaking with Bold Assurance
By Bert Decker and Hershael W. York

Review: “This book is for everyone who hungers to be a more effective communicator of God’s truth, whether you are sharing yourself, your life, your story, or you insight into the Scriptures. Whether speaking to a large group or to just one person, the powerful principles of communication [described in this book] will make your more competent and comfortable speaking” (from the Introduction, page 3).

This book addresses the essentials of public speaking (and teaching), and provides an easy-to-implement means for simplifying lesson preparation (called the Decker Grid System). It's a great resource for improving your up-front skills and your lesson preparation.

Title: Tozer on Christian Leadership: A 366-Day Devotional
Compiled by Ron Eggert

Review: “‘Your calling,’ said Meister Eckhart to the clergy of his day, ‘cannot make you holy; but you can make it holy.’ No matter how humble that calling may be, a holy man can make it a holy calling…,” and so begins Tozer’s devotional meditation on the call of God.

We all need encouragement in our callings, not just as teachers, but as leaders in general. This collection of A.W. Tozer’s writings provides encouragement for the leader’s soul. Tozer once stated, “The rewards of godly leadership are so great and the responsibilities of the leader so heavy that no one can afford to take the matter lightly.” This book helps us to take our callings seriously and to develop Christ-centered, Spirit-led ministries flowing from our personal union with Christ. Using daily Scripture readings, brief reflections, and guided prayer, this devotional is designed to help leaders shoulder the responsibility of the call to lead in a God-honoring way.

Title: Prayer
by Ole Hallesby

Review: This is probably the best book on prayer I've read (and I've read dozens of books on prayer). A brief, easy-to-read, immensely deep and practical gem, I return to this classic every other year or so, just because I find it so refreshing and motivating.


That's enough for this first list. I hope you find something helpful among these titles. I certainly have.

That's it for now,
Joan

Essential Bible Study Resources

Leading and teaching Bible studies requires us to have sound resources. Here's a list of essential minimum resources I suggest for every Bible student’s library:

1. A STUDY BIBLE with cross-references, book outlines/analyses, and basic concordance. Recommended translations include the NASB (New American Standard-updated edition); NIV (New International Version); ESV-English Standard Version (2001), NKJV (New King James Version): or NLT (New Living Translation). Prices range from $20 to $40 for a basic hardcover Bible.

2. An EXHAUSTIVE CONCORDANCE for the translation you use most. These run from about $25 to $50 each depending on sales.

3. A BIBLE DICTIONARY –recommended titles include:
The Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Three Volumes edited by J. D. Douglas, (based on the former New Bible Dictionary); Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary (R. Youngblood, editor with F.F. Bruce and R.K. Harrison); The New International Bible Dictionary (J.D. Douglas & Merrill C. Tenney, editors); Zondervan’s Pictorial Bible Dictionary (M.C. Tenney, editor); Holman Bible Dictionary edited by Trent C. Butler; Eerdman’s Dictionary of the Bible edited by David Noel Freedman; and Richards’ Complete Bible Dictionary by Larry Richards.

4. AN ENGLISH DICTIONARY—current collegiate editions will be most helpful.

5. BIBLE HANDBOOK—recommended titles include:
Zondervan’s Handbook to the Bible (formerly entitled Eerdman’s Handbook to the Bible) edited by Pat and David Alexander; The Illustrated Concise Bible Handbook by Lawrence O. Richards; and Halley’s Bible Handbook with the New International Version by Dr. Henry Halley (Zondervan) (this is an update of the original Halley’s)

6. A TOPICAL BIBLE—recommended titles include:
Zondervan NIV Nave’s Topical Bible (Kohlenberger, editor); Nave’s Topical Bible, Revised and Enlarged by Orville Nave (Zondervan publishers); Baker Topical Guide to the Bible (Walter A. Elwell, editor); NKJV Macarthur Topical Bible by John Macarthur, Jr. (Thomas Nelson/Word publishers); and Where To Find It in the Bible: The Ultimate A-Z Resource by Ken Andeson (Thomas Nelson/ Word Publishers).

7. A PARALLEL BIBLE (or two or three additional Bible translations that differ from what you normally use)—recommended titles include:
Today’s Parallel Bible (includes the KJV, NIV, NASB, and NLT listed in side-by-side columns) (Zondervan publishers); Comparative Study Bible, Revised (includes the NIV, KJV, the updated 1995 NASB, and the Amplified Bible in side-by-side columns) (Zondervan); the
CBD Parallel Bible (KJV, NKJV, NIV, NLT); and The Essential Evangelical Parallel Bible (NKJV, ESV,NLT, The Message).

8. A GOOD BIBLE ATLAS. My personal favorite is the Holman Bible Atlas.

These are the tools I use regularly and find the most helpful. These are also the resources I'd recommend every Bible study teacher and small group leader have at their disposal. Many are available at Christian Book Distributors and at Amazon for used or reduced prices.

Happy resource hunting!

That's it for now,

Joan

Our First Love

I was cleaning out a closet recently when I stumbled upon a box of old letters. Among past birthday cards, faded valentines, and many dogged-eared Christmas greetings was a stack of envelopes rubber-banded together. These were the letters that my husband and I had exchanged in the summer of 1981.

At that time, I was a single college senior working with teens in a Christian summer resident camp, while Don was interning at the Ligonier Valley Study Center (a Christian studies institute headed by R.C. Sproul). We wrote regularly, sometimes daily, for the entire summer, and as a result of that correspondence, moved from being best friends to becoming engaged on Sept. 1st, to being married four months later in January 1982.

What was it about those letters that moved us from friendship to intimacy? How did we grow from being ministry partners to becoming life partners, without the benefit of dating ? (no, we never dated). God used our written words to move us from “knowing about” each other to truly “knowing” each other. He used our written dialogue to deepen our love in ways that activity together could never have accomplished. Writing, reading, talking and listening (on paper), worked together to make us one of heart, mind, and purpose, all through written words.

The same might be said of our relationships with God. Doesn’t God use His written Word to make us of one heart, mind, and purpose with Him? Isn’t it through His Word, that God reveals Himself to us? Isn’t it there that we prayerfully move from knowing about Him, to truly knowing and loving Him? Isn’t it there that we develop our passion for Him?

As I read through our old letters, I remember how I longed for the camp mail to arrive, and how I eagerly leafed through piles of correspondence looking for the handwriting I’d grown to love. I savored each letter, reading it again and again to catch a glimpse of the man I was beginning to love in ways I hadn’t before. I read his letters to learn from him and about him, and to discover what I could from content that was there. I read with a heart that was eager to listen and learn, and that deeply longed to know, love, and be loved by the author.

Oh, that I had one tenth of the same passion for God’s Word that I had for those letters!

The last three months have been incredibly busy for me. Despite my activity “for God,” my intimacy with Him suffered. Oh, to be sure, I regularly studied the Bible for my lesson preparation, and I prayed regularly for needs. But I rarely drank of His Word simply to delight in the Author. I rarely prayed purely to grow in love for, and intimacy with, the lover of my soul.

During this teaching season, may we recapture the delight of our First Love. May we hungrily search the pages of His letter to us (God’s Word) for glimpses of His grace and glory, and may we know a joy and intimacy with Him like we’ve never known before.

That's all for now,
Joan

(This entry is adapted from an entry in the November, 2000, hard copy of Teachers' Tips, Tools, and Topics, c. 2000 by Joan Esherick.)

Welcome!

Welcome to Teachers' Tips, Tools, and Topics on-line!

For those of you who used to receive our hard copy version of Teachers' Tips, Tools, and Topics, you'll remember how valuable our newsletter turned out to be. Now we're starting an on-line version!

I'll try to update this blog weekly to give you additional resources for your teaching. And I'll post information from past hard copy entries here for those of you who are new to our newsletter.

Enjoy!

That's all for now,
Joan