Keeping the Main Point the Main Point

Many times I've heard the analogy of not being able to see the forest for the trees.  As we have been going through 1 and 2 Kings I am again reminded of this idea.  There are so many good tidbits of information that it can be easy to dive in way so deep that we lose track of the point of the lesson.  I admit it, I'm guilty of it.  After a week or more of study of a particular passage I could write a 10 page paper expounding on what we have learned.

One of the things I like about our curriculum is the Biblical Truth and the Lesson Goal.  Continually keeping these two in mind as I study the passage of Scripture,has helped me to keep the main point of the lesson, the main point of my teaching.  My goal as a teacher is not to fill my students heads with Biblical knowledge or to share all the details of my 10 page paper.  My overall goal as a teacher is to teach my students to love the Word of God and to see it transform their lives in real life application.  My goal for a particular week's lesson is to teach the Biblical Truth and to help instill the Lesson Goal into my students lives.

How do I satisfy my own desire and need for depth of study, yet not get trapped so far in the details that I'm missing my goal as a teacher?  A very practical way is something that Pastor Albert shared with me a few weeks ago.  Using a mind mapping tool helps me to flesh out my thoughts and add as much detail as I need so that I can fully understand the Scripture.  Then I can collapse the details and focus on the main point of the lesson.

I happen to be using xMind and they have a very helpful training video to get started.  Below is an example of the mind map I drew up for a recent lesson with the details expanded..

Then as the latter part of the week approached, I narrowed my focus on the main points.

Heading to Texas for Training!

The Northwest Baptist Convention and the Interstate Baptist Association (both of which we are part of) are sending Adult Ministry Leaders from around the Northwest to Rockwall, Texas this weekend for training from Pastor Carter Shotwell of Lake Pointe Church.

You may remember Pastor Shotwell from the time he spent at our church helping us to learn about the Life Group model.  In fact, you can see video clips of the training on the right hand side of this blog or check them out on YouTube.  :)

It should be a great time of learning about how we can best continue the process of implementing Life Groups here at New Life!  Please pray for us (Pastor Albert, Pastor Keith, Dee and myself) as we travel.

40 Days of New Life

Well Pastor Albert and Pastor Keith laid down the gauntlet last Sunday.  Will we as Teachers and Coordinators take up the challenge and encourage our students to do the same?

I am eager to see what God will do with a body of believers fully committed to Him.  I am personally praying that God would increase my love for His Word and my love for His people.  Combining the two I want to see my students grow in their love for His Word.  I'm sending an email out to my students with the link to the 40 Days of New Life challenge.

Hey even our Pastors (Albert and Keith) are blogging about it!

February Quarterly Team Huddle

Come One, Come All, to our February Quarterly Team Huddle!  This is a particularly important time of Fellowship and Planning for your Life Group.  Be sure to invite your entire Life Group!  Potluck Dinner at 5pm.

Saturday, February 5th, 4-7pm.

For future planning here are the dates for the rest of 2011 (all 4-7pm):

    April 9th, July 16th, October 15th

New Classrooms Are Ready For Use!

The elevator passed inspection this week!  This means that the new classrooms are available.  Please, plan to setup your rooms prior to class time and communicate the change to your students.

Thanks for your patience in the room changes.  WooHoo!  We can move forward and work alongside the Lord as He builds our classes!

Question: The Tribe of Simeon in the Divided Kingdom

So I am a bit confused, and I suspect that between all of us we'll be able to straighten out my confusion!

In the map below, I see that the tribe of Simeon is surrounded by the tribe of Judah.

 

We know that the nation of Judah (the Southern Kingdom) is only made up of the tribe of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin (based on 1 Kings 12:21).

So the question is: What is Simeon's place in the Divided Kingdom?

(The goal of this blog is that will be a place where we can post our questions and thoughts freely and have discussion as each of us grow deeper in our walk with the Lord!)