I wait for the alarm to go off and for the coffee to brew. I wait in grocery lines and at stoplights. I wait for dinner to cook and wait for bedtime. But lord, I hate to wait. What is a gal to do? (First published in Fall 2012 Lutheran Woman’s Quarterly.)
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Everyone has had times when she had to ask, “Why, God?” Something negative, disappointing or bitter happened and you really wanted to know why.
“Why, God?” Trusting in God’s Goodness in Times of Disappointment and Anger with Leader Guide
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Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2). This is the theme verse for this Bible study. In this study, we will look in-depth at how we as “women in the pew” can fulfill the law of Christ by helping to bear the burdens of those mothers who have lost a child through miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death. We will also examine Bible accounts that are wonderful examples of Christ which teach us how to bear one another’s burdens and how to deal with grief.
The Loss of a Child with Leader Guide
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Do you ever ask yourself these questions: “What on earth am I here for?” “Am I doing what God wants me to do?” “Why do I have to work?” “Why am I sometimes overwhelmed?” In the business of our earthly lives, we often find ourselves with these questions and others related to our day-to-day responsibilities.
Sharing Our Gifts as We Work for the Lord with Leader Guide
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This Bible study is about confirmation and sharing the Gospel with the next generation. Those who have not been blessed with children will also be able to participate in this study.
Raising Christian Children with Leader Guide
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Do you look out the window to the world through TV, internet, or social media and wonder what has happened to the world? Change the channel from a riot and you find a search for a criminal or a natural disaster. There is nowhere to turn that does not seem to reflect a fallen world.
We can be assured that the sinfulness of the world grieves God even more than it grieves us. What is a Christian to do when surrounded by a fallen sinful world? How do we fight evil and discover the joy God meant for us?
Living in the Days of Noah — Today with Leader Guide
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In this Bible study we will focus on Jesus’ resurrection and on the importance of living and sharing Jesus’ Easter victory based on the theme verse 1 Corinthians 15:57: But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
From Good to Better to Best with Leader Guide
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It can be said that God’s true desire for us, His children, is more in our recognition of Whose we are rather than in what we do. As His servants here on earth, God desires that through love [we] serve one another (Galatians 5:13b). In this study, we will focus on Whose we are and on what God desires for us, so that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we may serve others with the love of God in Christ Jesus.
God’s True Desire For His Children with Leader Guide
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We daily witness the power of God’s compassion in our lives through His forgiveness. When Jesus walked the earth, He personally showed compassion to those with various physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. How can you show Christ's compassion and share the hope of Jesus?
How to Show Christ’s Compassion To Those Who Face Chronic Conditions with Leader Guide
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There are many things which can cause us to be afraid while we live in this sin-filled world. When Jesus taught His disciples to recognize the signs of the end, He counseled them, And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars (Matthew 24:6). That signpost is as large as ever today. But there are many other causes of fear in our lives which may loom as large or perhaps larger because of their proximity. Criticism, conflict, divorce, growing old, poverty, as well as a diagnosis of cancer or other serious disease can all introduce fear.
Faith Over Fear with Leader Guide
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Although our lives are marked by the passage of time, most of what we understand has more to do with the moments we deem important in our lives. We see events within time as essential to how our lives are fitted together, and we even note the plan of God in the ways that we grow and in the things that we experience.
Let’s explore what the Bible says concerning God’s sense of timing and His accuracy in His purpose.
The Right Time with Leader Guide
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Have you recently heard about short-term mission teams going to many parts of the world? Have the sharing and the stories concerning these trips intrigued you? Do you feel as if God is tapping you on the shoulder to participate in such an adventure? In this Bible study, let’s examine what God says about mission trip opportunities.
Note: You might wish to use this Bible study as part of program that includes a speaker who has recently completed a short-term mission trip.
A Life-Long Mission Trip with Leader Guide
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In every life, there are always “what ifs.” Your personal “what ifs” might include such lifechanging events as a move to a new community due to a job change, a change in marital status due to divorce or the death of a spouse, or a retirement after many years of hard work. Then there are the daily “what ifs” as you care for your family, go to work, shop for groceries, take the car in for repairs, mow the lawn, plant a garden, shovel snow, visit your doctor, as well as medical diagnoses and procedures which frighten us. These are just the tip of the iceberg of our busy lives and the “what ifs” that affect us.
When “what ifs” on the expressway of life overwhelm us, we may become worried and anxious. As our sinful natures cause us to turn inward to look for answers, we may wonder if we will have time to accomplish everything ahead of us in our daily lives. We may wonder if a relationship will develop or dissolve. We may wonder if the medical advice and procedures will grant us a cure. Worry and anxiety over “what ifs” and over actual problems we face can consume our time and energy. These emotions may become so overwhelming that they cause us to take our eyes off of God and forget His love and care for us as well as His control over all things. To help us face life’s “what ifs,” let’s turn to God’s Word for guidance.
Encountering “What Ifs” on the Expressway of Life with Leader Guide
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When people talk about stress in everyday life, they usually are describing “bad” stress, distress. Commonly, “stress” refers to problems like sick kids, overwhelming credit card debt, or arguments with co-workers.
Experts, though, remind us that not all stress is distress. Good stress, or “eustress,” gets us out of bed in the morning. It keeps us motivated and moving forward. That rapid heartbeat you experience at the surprise birthday party your friends planned for you is eustress. So is the rush that floods your being when your team wins. So is the feeling when that golden oldie starts to play and happy memories flood your heart, sending a smile across your face.
Lord, I Can’t Handle This! with Leader Guide
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From the beginning, God did not want people to be alone or isolated. The Lord made each one of us and placed us in a family, community, and congregation. But because we are sinners, working and living with others can be challenging. In this Bible study, we will see God’s framework for accepting others and how, with God’s help, different personalities can work together toward a common goal.
Working Together with Leader Guide
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