NASHVILLE (BP) — This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, LifeWay publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.
This week’s Bible study is adapted from the Explore the Bible curriculum.
Lesson Title: Care For Others
Bible Passage: 1 Timothy 5:1-6:2
Discussion Question: What can I do to help meet others’ needs in my church?
Food for Thought by Ken Braddy/LifeWay Christian Resources:
Josh and Amanda recently joined a church in their community. Because Josh had been unemployed after graduating from college for a number of months, he and his new wife struggled financially. There were times when there wasn’t a lot of food in the house, and times were really tough for them. It took a lot of courage for him to approach his church and ask for help. Thankfully, the church had a food pantry ministry that provided boxes of food, and other benevolent help was available to temporarily meet the financial needs he and his new wife had.
Now Josh is employed at a financial services company and is making good money. He and Amanda have committed to serve in their church’s food pantry ministry and to give above their tithe to help support the benevolence ministry of their church, having once been the recipients of help from their church family. He and Amanda have both wondered what might have happened to them had the church not committed to care for people who suddenly find themselves in need of financial assistance. It made a world of difference to him and Amanda and changed their perspective about their role as church members to help meet the needs of others in their congregation who might also be struggling.
Some questions that will be explored in the March 24 lesson include:
— What does your church do to support those who have little to no means of support?
— What kind of criteria, if any, should a church establish for those receiving benevolent help?
— What kind of financial responsibility does a church have to its pastor and staff?
Explore the Bible
Explore the Bible is an ongoing Bible study curriculum that helps groups dig into the key truths of each Bible book while keeping the group on pace to study through the entire Bible in eight years. The eight-year plan and more information can be found online at LifeWay.com/ExploreTheBible
Other ongoing Bible study options for all ages offered by LifeWay can be found at LifeWay.com/SundaySchool.
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Ken Braddy, manager of LifeWay’s adult ongoing curriculum, regularly blogs about Sunday School and small groups at http://sundayschoolguy.wordpress.com.
