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Notes on Spiritual Health & Growth

Rev. Alan R. Wolcott

• Basic Group Bible Study Essentials:
  1. Format:
     1. 15 minutes for everyone to have opportunity to share needs, concerns, answers to prayer, etc.
     2. 15 minutes for actual “sentence” praying
     3. 60 minutes for interaction over God’s Word. Usually a chapter or section chosen by the leader.
  2. Expectations:
     1. Everyone will have read the passage at least 3 times before coming.
     2. Passage will be read aloud 1 further time at the study.
     3. Each participant will have the opportunity to answer 5 questions.
     4. Leader will summarize discussion/learning at the end.
     5. Participants will be encouraged to invite someone (they don’t have to read in advance).
     6. When group size reaches 16 it must split into 2 groups.
     7. Meet not less than 2/month
  3. Discussion questions:
     1. What didn’t you understand or wasn’t clear?
     2. What did you learn about God/Christ or his ways?
     3. What did you learn about people in relation to God and/or one another?
     4. What would you like more information about?
     5. What are you going to do about it?
• Specialized Bible Studies:
  1. Specific course material
  2. Select group
  3. Set amount of time
• Recognizing Where God is at Work:
  1. Someone opens her/his life to Christ—to listen, learn, believe, show spiritual interest, recommit, etc.
  2. Severe opposition to Gospel/Church rises.
  3. A previously closed door is found open, or opens.
  4. Several Christians independently have the same conviction after waiting upon God.
• Church Leadership Meetings:
  1. Tasks:
     1. Principal activity—together to seek God’s face and direction as leaders. We must pray! We must seek His vision.
     2. Secondarily—our meeting provides opportunity to share the load, encourage one another, and be equipped for ministry.
     3. Tertiary duty—resolve, address difficulties, manage business.
  2. Preparation:
     1. Come asking:
        1. “Lord, what are you saying to us?
        2. “Lord, what would you have us to do?”
        3. “Lord, how can we join you in ministry?”
     2. Come looking forward
        1. Celebrate and learn from the past
        2. Plan for the future asking/expecting God to act
        3. Sit loose to plans, budgets, failures, etc.