Quote - Corrie Ten Boom

"Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible." Corrie Ten Boom

Bible Fellowship ( Sunday School ) - Teacher Tips #1 - Preparing

Bible Fellowship (Sunday School) Teacher Tips - #1 - Preparing from Jonathan Carl on Vimeo.

2 Timothy 4:2 “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season”

Quote - Charles S. Robinson

"Success is the world's criterion of merit; fidelity is God's." Charles S. Robinson

Studying Millenials - Spiritual Beliefs & Practices

Lifeway Research has published data from it's study of millennial (born 1980 thru 1991: currently 19-30 years old) that show their spiritual beliefs. Summary: "Two-thirds of American 'Millennials' – those born between 1980 and 1991 – call themselves Christian, but far fewer pray or read the Bible daily, attend weekly worship services, or hold to historical positions on the Bible and its teachings" Practices:

• 31% pray by themselves at least once a day
• 20% never pray
• 8% pray with others on a daily basis
• 65% rarely or never pray with other people.
• 67% say they rarely or never do read "sacred texts"
• 8% read the Bible or other sacred texts on a daily basis
• 21% percent do so at least once a week
• 25% attend religious worship services once a week or more
• 66% rarely or never visit a church, synagogue, mosque or temple
• 20% meet with others at least monthly in a small group to study the Bible or other sacred texts, but 80 percent rarely or never do so

Beliefs:

• 65% identify themselves as Christian
• 14% say they are atheist or agnostic
• 14% list no religious preference
• 8% claim other religions
• 53% disagree (strongly or somewhat) that the Bible is the written Word of God and is totally accurate in all it teaches
• 46% agree strongly & 26% agree somewhat that God is a real being, not just a concept. 28% disagree somewhat or strongly
• 40% agree strongly or somewhat that the devil, or Satan, is not a real being but is just a symbol of evil
• 50% agree strongly or somewhat that "when he lived on earth, Jesus Christ was human and committed sins, like other people." Only 30% strongly disagree.
• 31% agree strongly that Jesus is the only path to heaven.
• 70% believe heaven in a real place; 60% believe hell is a real place.
• 25% believe they will go to heaven after they die, because they have accepted Jesus Christ as their savior
• 16% believe they will go to heaven after they die because they have tried their best to be a good person and live a good life
• 4% believe they will go to heaven after they die because "God loves all people and will not let any of them perish."

James 5:19-20 "My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins." May we be a people used by God to turn many to worshipping Him in Spirit and in Truth.

Quote - William Booth

"God loves with a great love the man whose heart is bursting with a passion for the impossible." William Booth

Studying Millenials - Priorities of Life

Lifeway Research just summarized a study of Millenials (those born between 1980 & 1991: currently 19 to 30 years old) that shows what is most important in their lives. The findings... (permitted to list more than one priority)

• 61% place family at the top of their priority lists
• 25 % Friends
• 17% Education
• 16% Careers/jobs
• 13% Spouses/partners
• 13% Spirituality/religion
• 12% Finances
• 12% Happiness
• 11% Raising kids
• 10% Health
• 9% Activities
• 9% Well-being
• 5% The future
• 5% Nature/pets
• 4% Use of time

Some concerning aspects of this study:

• "two-thirds of those who indicate they trust Christ as Savior mention nothing about faith, religion or spirituality when asked to name what’s really important in their lives"
• “For many Millennials, Christianity is a family heirloom rather than a faith commitment. The Christian faith in America is being passed to a generation that is slow to embrace a relationship with Jesus Christ and even slower to treasure it.” - Thom Rainer

Family, friends, education, jobs, health, marriage, children, etc. are all good things to value. Unfortunately, when those areas of our life take priority over Jesus, they become god-things: idols.

Exodus 20:3 "You shall have no other gods before me."

May we be a generation that treasures Christ above all else.

Weekly Video Idea - To Be or Not To Be

Got an idea today while talking to some Ministers of Education/Discipleship Pastors from across Kentucky about how we train and encourage our teachers and leaders. Since we can't meet weekly together, I thought maybe I could send out a short (1-2 minute) video via email and my blog. In these videos I'd share some short Scripture, ideas, resources, and encouragement as you prepare for your Sunday lesson. Please let me know if this is something you'd actually use and appreciate!

Bible Fellowship ( Sunday School ) Teacher Tips - Intro from Jonathan Carl on Vimeo.

"remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins" James 5:20

Quote - Charles Spurgeon

"I believe in the doctrine of election, because I am quite certain that, if God had not chosen me, I should never had chosen Him; and I am sure He chose me before I was born, or else He never would have chosen me afterwards; and he must have elected me for reasons unknown to me, for I never could find any reason in myself why He should have looked upon me with special love." -Charles Spurgeon