Threads

They’re just words, right?

Chad Jordan — 2009-11-20T19:13:07-06:00

If you’re like me, you don’t pay too much attention to everything you say. I tend to speak first and think second which gets me into trouble from time to time. It’s amazing how words can be used for good or destruction. Words can lift us up or shut us down. James 3 has alot to say about the words we choose and how we choose to use them. If you’ve followed the blog very long, you may have noticed I like Tyler Perry movies, especially his character Madea. In the following clips you can find on wingclips.com, it shows the powerful effect her words had on a young girl living in her house. A girl that thought she wasn’t smart began to believe in herself after being encouraged, Madea style. Search for Madea’s Family Reunion and watch the “Prove Them Wrong” and the “Where You’re Going,” clips.

If you have some additional time this weekend, listen to a Francis Chan sermon from this same passage dealing with Choosing Your Words Wisely. The first 8 minutes are about church business, but then he gets into the sermon. Definitely good words to go along with this week’s lesson. You can find the sermon on iTunes under the Cornerstone Simi Valley podcast. This particular sermon was given on 12/10/2006.

Here Comes the End of the World!

Michael Kelley — 2009-11-20T17:00:53-06:00

It seems like I remember the world ending once before. Yep, pretty sure I do, and I’m pretty sure I was in college. That was when, within a span of a few months, Armageddon and Deep Impact both hit the big screen. Now how in good conscience Hollywood released two multi-million dollar blockbusters—each one about a giant asteroid heading toward the earth, each one with a tragic space mission, and each space mission with the ludicrously stupid idea of blowing up the asteroid at the same time—is beyond me.

But I saw them both, so who am I to judge?

Well, move aside Bruce Willis and Morgan Freeman, because the world is ending all over again. Here comes 2012, a movie with a plotline that seems to be simply: “Everything everywhere crumbles into oblivion. Get some popcorn.”

You’ve got an aircraft carrier riding a giant wave into the White House. You’ve got the Hollywood sign crumbling in an earthquake. You’ve got St. Peter’s Basilica rolling over hordes of people. And you’ve got John Cusack driving a limousine out of the back of a plane onto an ice shelf.

That is no misprint.

On the other hand, you’ve got another apocalyptic film with a slightly deeper and more reflective bent to it. The Road, the film adaptation of the Cormac McCarthy novel, is opening this week. It seems to be about a father and son trying to make their way to warmer temperatures while everything bad imaginable happens around and to them.

But here’s the interesting thing about these two films that sets them apart from how the world ended a few years ago with Willis and Morgan. In the previous films, there was a threat to end the world that had to be diverted—namely, the giant asteroid that only a deep-sea oil drilling team could handle. But in these films, at least from what I’ve read so far, it doesn’t seem like there is as much of a threat as there is the assumption that the world will end.

And what comes next? Fathers and sons on lonely roads? John Cusack holding up a boom box to no one in particular? What comes next? That’s what people are asking, and maybe that’s what people are wondering, too.

Interestingly enough, the film makers for The Road have even targeted evangelical groups with the movie, producing sermon outlines and Bible study curriculum of a sort to go along with it.

Really?

Really.

There seems to be a general fascination about the end of the world, maybe now more than ever before. It’s certainly an interesting time to go to the movies. Maybe an even more interesting time to go to church.

Week of Gratitude

staff — 2009-11-20T09:00:01-06:00

Well, we asked and you answered. Many of you submitted great blogs in response to our Thanksgiving writing contest question: What are you most thankful for about your church and/or its ministry leaders? In fact, we received so many great responses that we couldn’t pick just one winner—we picked five! We’ll post a winning entry to the Threads blog each day next week, so check in Monday morning for the first winner.

As we enter this week of gratitude, we hope you all know how grateful we are for the chance to partner with you as you minister to your churches, communities, and friends, and as you grow in your walks with Christ each day. Happy Thanksgiving!

Away from Home for the Holidays?

Amanda K. Fowler — 2009-11-19T07:00:50-06:00

Sure, there’s no place like home. But you can make new memories with your family of friends. The first time we spent Thanksgiving away from home, my brother and I started planning the menu weeks before. We needed to buy a turkey, obviously, but how big? What brand was best? How do you make gravy that isn’t lumpy? There were many serious and overwhelming questions that only one person could answer: our mother.

Several phone calls later we had gravy and stuffing recipes, turkey buying and preparation tips (at least a pound per person, and don’t forget to thaw it!), and pie recommendations. There was a lot of work involved, but we did it all with the steely-eyed determination of people with a singular (and delicious) goal: This meal was going to be a good one. Not just for us, but for the friends who would be our guests—our surrogate family.

It could have been a movie-worthy holiday catastrophe—a slapstick tale of smoke alarms, forgotten ingredients, and uncontrollable weeping. But somehow we pulled it all off with barely a hitch. We sat around a table full of food we’d made for our friends, prayed together, and spent the next hour laughing and telling stories as we feasted. This true celebration made it easy to feel the gratitude the holiday is supposed to inspire.

If you’re going to be away from your family this year and are considering your Thanksgiving options, here are three ways you can make the most of spending the holiday with your family of friends.

Talkin’ Turkey

All jokes about elastic-waist pants aside, a big part of this holiday celebration is about eating very specific, cherished foods—and lots of them. Turkey and mashed potatoes are basically universal, but many people have vastly different ideas of what fills up the rest of the table. Start a conversation about traditional holiday foods and you’re guaranteed to utter, “You put what in the stuffing?”—especially if you have friends who come from different regions of the country. Which is why a potluck is a fantastic idea for the day.

Susan Smythe has cooked and hosted several Thanksgiving dinners for her group of friends in Los Angeles and offers this advice on feeding a crowd: “I make all the traditional food I grew up with and have my non-cooking guests bring ice cream for pie, fancy jellies, or beverages. If anyone wants to cook something, I ask them to bring appetizers or desserts.”

So if you’re planning to host the meal, make the bird and your Aunt Tilly’s Fancy Marshmallow Yams or some other secret family recipe, and then delegate the rest to your guests. If you’re not hosting, ask the person who is what you can bring or how you can help. The burden (and cost) of food preparation shouldn’t fall on the shoulders of one person.

The More the Merrier

This is a day not only for gratitude but also for sharing the blessings we’ve been given, particularly with people who may especially need to be blessed. If you’ve got space at your table (or even if you don’t), expand the guest list beyond your close circle of friends. Make an announcement to your church’s young adults ministry, or post something on the bulletin board of your apartment building. Ask your friends if they know of a coworker or other acquaintance who might like to come. Invite anyone without a place to celebrate to your house for the holiday meal. Your invitation could mean more than you know.

Will Ziegenhorn, a frequent away-from-home holiday participant, says, “Back in Tennessee, Thanksgiving is one of the biggest times of the year. No matter what, all the family gets together. Thankfully, my roommates and some of their family cook a big meal, and it makes being away from home a little bit easier.”

An Extra Helping

Why not postpone dinner and serve together? There are many opportunities to help those in need, especially on a holiday such as Thanksgiving. Here are some ideas of places you can serve. Just call ahead to make arrangements.

The Ronald McDonald House provides a “home away from home” for families of seriously ill children receiving treatment at nearby hospitals. These families are under a great deal of stress and are most certainly missing the sense of normalcy that a holiday can bring. Visit rmhc.com to find a House near you.
Serve Thanksgiving dinner at a local homeless shelter or rescue mission. Look for opportunities to minister beyond the serving line. Sit down with the people and listen to their stories.
Visit a nursing home in your area. Find out which residents don’t have family to share the holiday with and take time to talk with them. Let them share their stories of holidays past as a blessing to you both.
Are you an animal lover? Visit a local shelter. Call ahead to see if it is OK to bring the animals special treats. Spend some time loving on these neglected ones.

Making Discipleship a Way of Life, Not a Program

Jim Johnston — 2009-11-19T07:00:39-06:00

Craig Mintz experienced first-hand what an intensive discipleship experience can do in a person’s life while at the University of North Carolina. So, he took what he learned on the college campus and put it into practice at First Baptist Church, Sevierville, Tennessee.

“What’s missing so many times is the relational part of Christianity,” said Mintz, the pastor of discipleship and singles at the church. “Growing in your faith alongside a friend who is doing the same thing really makes a difference.”

That’s the genesis of Disciple3, a movement—not a program—that Mintz has seen more than 270 people walk through in the past three years. Its genius is in its simplicity.

A Disciple3 participant asks two people of the same gender to meet together for an hour each week for six months. The group commits to reading through one chapter of the Bible each day. The first five months cover Luke through Romans and Proverbs. The sixth month is spent in a book of the Bible of the trio’s choosing. Everyone in the group is encouraged to write down what they learn through the readings.

Each time they meet, the group discusses a short list of questions, prays for each other, and hangs out together.

The questions are basic:

What is one thing you learned from reading God’s Word this week that can make a real difference in your life?
How has your life this week demonstrated that Christ lives in you?
Is there any temptation or sin you’ve battled this week that you’d like us to pray about?
Is there a lost person in your sphere of influence we can pray for this week? How can you be salt and light to that person?

“I didn’t want it to be sin management,” said Mintz, who was an International Mission Board missionary in Western Europe and a newspaper reporter before coming to FBC Sevierville. “We just wanted to give people a way to grow in their faith with some of the basics that Jesus taught.”

After the group completes six months or so together, each of the three is asked to start a new group where they walk through a similar plan. The discipleship plan starts anew every six months.

The biggest obstacle to making Disciple3 work is time. “It’s just hard for people to carve out an hour every week,” Mintz said. “You put it off for a week, then it becomes two, and then a group falls apart. You have to work hard to set a time everyone can live with up front and make sure you stick to it.”

The most enthusiastic group to get involved with Disciple3 has been 20-somethings. It satisfies a need that’s not easily met for them in larger discipleship groups and Sunday morning Bible study fellowships. “So many of them have never had this kind of relationship with another believer,” Mintz said. “I never had this until I went to college. I didn’t know what it meant to be discipled. I think they’re finding it’s a great experience to draw near to other Christians, and they want to share it with others.”

Classes and Bible studies aren’t enough. Community by itself isn’t either. It’s the pairing of community, depth, connection, and responsibility that helps young adults move from new followers of Christ into vibrant growing disciples who can reach out to others and make a difference in the world through the power of Jesus.

Receiving Grace

Juliana Duncan — 2009-11-17T18:38:02-06:00

God’s been teaching me a lot about grace in the past few weeks. Like many of you, I’ve been tricked into setting impossibly high standards for myself, resulting in an overwhelming and ongoing sense of failure. In this mind-set, I never allowed myself to receive God’s grace because, of course, I wasn’t good enough for it yet. It sounds like a personal problem, I know. However, God has shown me clearly that if I don’t receive His grace for myself, I lose the ability to give grace to others. Ouch. I was OK hurting myself, but I never meant to hurt anyone else …

So, to stand up against the lie of worthlessness, I have to learn to receive God’s grace. This includes more than just accepting the facts that He died for me and He allows me to talk to Him. This means I have to accept the facts that He designed me just how I am, He chooses me every single day, and He has given me a crown in place of the rags I once wore. That’s right. I have to see myself as a daughter of the Most High King. And for me, that’s substantially more difficult than it sounds.

But He’s helping me adjust to my role as His much-loved and honored daughter, and He’s proving to me the importance of being able to give grace. For instance, this morning, He spoke to me by way of a daily e-mail devotional. Here’s what He said: “Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many” (Hebrews 12:14). Bitterness grows in the places that aren’t occupied by grace.

And here’s what He said to me last night before bed in a devotional book a friend gave to me just the other day: “You may fall because you are not perfect, but your mistakes can be the tutors that make you wiser. Don’t put pressure on yourself to be perfect. I’m the only One who can perfect you, My princess” (Sheri Rose Shepherd, His Princess: Love Letters from Your King, p. 140).

In my mind I don’t want to abandon the pursuit of perfection. I want straight A’s; I want to sing perfectly every time I step up to the mic; I want to be the perfect wife and daughter and employee; I want to be skinny and beautiful and flawless. Can you relate? Giving up the pursuit of these things in itself feels like a failure. But in my heart, I want desperately to grasp the very real promise that I am a princess because of what my King did for me on the cross. He paid a huge ransom for me, and I don’t want to reject His gift any longer.

I don’t know what your feelings toward the words “princess” or “prince” are—it feels extremely uncomfortable to me after convincing myself all these years that I’m unworthy to know God—but maybe my transformation into the “p” word will help you embrace your privilege and your right to consider yourself a chosen, much-loved daughter or son of the King. Remember, you were never designed to be perfect; you were only designed to accept the cloak of perfection Jesus bought for you with His life. Go ahead, wrap yourself up in it.

New Issue

Lindsey Bush — 2009-11-17T16:53:58-06:00

Hey Collegiate fans,

You should’ve received the Winter 2009-10 edition of Collegiate in your mailbox by now. If you haven’t placed your order, go to threadsmedia.com/collegiate to start your subscription for as little as $3.10 an issue.

In this issue you’ll discover how Jesus can answer your questions, meet your needs, and help you in your day-to-day life. You’ll read about discovering where true joy lies and how we were created and called to impact those around us. Plus you’ll learn a lot of practical stuff—like great Christmas gift ideas under $15, how to get on your professor’s good side, tips on surviving a J-Term, ways you can help defeat global hunger, and much more. And don’t miss information about signing up for BeachReach 2010 in Panama City. I can’t think of a better way to spend Spring Break than serving pancakes and giving van rides at 2 a.m. to share the love of Christ.

If you’re new to the Collegiate family—or if you’ve been around for years—drop us a line at collegiate@threadsmedia.com and tell us what you think. What would you like to see more of in future issues? Or let us know how you’re making a difference on your campus.

Leaders: The free Teaching Plans, Commentary, and new Promotional Poster for the Winter quarter are now posted. We’ve even created an iMix on iTunes for all your song suggestions. Download them today!

New Release: Winter 2010 Issue

Chad Jordan — 2009-11-16T20:27:01-06:00

Winter Postcard

This past weekend we put up our Christmas tree, well actually trees, we have three this year. A bit early you say? Well, we’re hosting an Operation Christmas Child packing party Tuesday night and wanted the house looking festive … so early or not, the house is decorated. Are you ready for Christmas? I know Thanksgiving isn’t here yet, but it’s never too early to focus on Christmas is it?

There are only two more Sundays until December begins, and with it comes the latest issue of LifeMatters. This issue will cover three months of weekly studies. December’s focus is on God’s Christmas Songs. We’re going to look at some old familiar carols and the truths that are contained within them. In January we address some of life’s big questions as we explore the book of Ecclesiastes for five weeks. The issue wraps up with February and our study regarding our new life in Christ. As followers of Christ we don’t simply change a few things in our lives, we’re actually rewired. We’ll unpack all that that means over four lessons.

Since Christmas is the time for gifts, I’d like to offer you a gift from our team. We’ve designed a postcard that you can download and use to send out to young adults in your church or community inviting them to join your weekly discussions. Click here to download. Also don’t forget to check back here each week as we discuss the lessons further and find ways to communicate God’s truths in life changing ways.

The Biblical Model of Mentoring

staff — 2009-11-12T15:02:26-06:00

We are living in an interesting time in history. For what is likely the first time in the history of the Christian church, generations aren’t worshiping together. It now appears normal to see older generations meeting together wearing suits and singing hymns, boomers wearing Hawaiian shirts and singing peppy songs about how Jesus changed their lives, and emerging generations meeting in dark rooms singing in minor keys. But, from an historical perspective, this is not normal. Beyond that, it is ultimately harmful to the church.

Interestingly enough, it’s not what young adults actually want, either. Far from a “leave us alone” mentality, today’s young adults are very interested in learning from, interacting with, and forming bonds with previous generations. This desire for connection with people outside of their age demographic can be seen as a subset of the overall desire for relationships and community, but because of the specific and unique nature of these particular relationships, the characteristic of “connection” stands on its own. According to our research:

45 percent of unchurched young adults identified the opportunity to receive advice from people with similar life experiences as very important.
68 percent of churched young adults identified the opportunity to receive advice from people with similar life experiences as very important.

After seeing the statistics above and hearing the overwhelming voice of young adults regarding this matter, a couple of conclusions can be drawn, one very broad and one very specific:

Both churched and unchurched young adults desire a maximum number of small group activities that promote relationship and belonging.
Both churched and unchurched young adults desire a maximum number of opportunities to connect with a mentor.

Young adults place heavy value on connecting with people who have more life experience than they do. Some would call this mentoring or cross-generational ministry; the bottom line is that they want to learn from someone else’s experiences.

Mentoring is a biblical idea. Although the word “mentor” itself is never used in Scripture, the principles applied when using that terminology are found throughout the biblical text. We see numerous examples of mentoring relationships taking place throughout the Bible. In some cases, individuals were involved in multiple mentoring relationships. Sometimes mentoring happened on a one-to-one basis, and in other cases, mentoring took place in a group setting. However, the group was always small enough to listen to, and interact with, each individual. Jesus mentored 12, sometimes three and, on rare occasions, one.

Jethro mentored Moses. Moses mentored Joshua and the elders of Israel. And Joshua mentored the other remaining leaders of his army.
Eli mentored Samuel. Samuel mentored Saul and David. Ahithophel and Nathan the prophet also mentored David. David became Israel’s greatest king. David mentored his army commanders and government officials to establish the united nation of Israel. David also mentored Solomon. Solomon mentored the Queen of Sheba, who returned to her people with his wisdom in the form of Proverbs that applied God’s laws.
Elijah mentored Elisha. Elisha mentored king Jehoash and others.
Daniel mentored Nebuchadnezzar, who humbled himself before God.
Mordecai mentored Esther. Esther mentored King Artaxerxes, which led to the liberation of God’s people.
Priscilla and Aquila mentored Apollos, and this resulted in a much-improved ministry for Apollos.
And finally, Jesus mentored the twelve apostles who established the Christian church. The apostles mentored hundreds of other leaders, including Paul. Paul mentored Titus, Timothy, and many others. Timothy mentored “faithful men” such as Epaphras. Epaphras and the other faithful men mentored others also, which led to a chain reaction that resulted in dozens of new churches in Asia. Ultimately, this specific mentoring chain is the beginning point of our churches today.

These scriptural references aren’t necessarily meant to show that young adults desire relationships of this nature because they want to follow the biblical model. However, emerging generations recognize almost naturally that they have a lot to learn, and the Bible affirms a relationship model that can be used to meet that need. Moreover, because they live with such an experiential interest in life, that learning process is most effective walking side-by-side with someone, rather than just sitting in a classroom.

Excerpted from the young adult ministry handbook, Context. For practical tips on how to make connection, responsibility, depth, and community integral parts of your young adult ministry, order a copy of Context today.

Global Perspective on a Historical Election--One Year Later

JoAnn Bradberry — 2009-11-11T17:48:50-06:00

As we mark the one year anniversary of the election of the first African American president of the United States, here is a brief report of what happened during President Obama’s trip to Africa in July. Regardless of political leanings, the election and trip remain significant historical moments for our nation.

ACCRA, Ghana (BP)—In the hours leading up to President Barack Obama’s 24-hour visit to Ghana, life went on as usual in at least one community in the capital of the West African nation.

Yes, there were Obama T-shirts and Obama flip-flops, but in Labadi, an Accra slum, people were engaged in daily routines. Women cooked over open fires and bathed children. Men sat in shops or worked on taxicabs.

Less than a mile away, hundreds lined the street across from La General Hospital where the president was to tour a prenatal unit.

Behind police barricades, proud Africans waved American flags with Obama’s face imprinted on them. They chanted as helicopters flew overhead. When the president’s motorcade passed by, the screams were deafening. Young men climbed on roadside rubbish, hoping to get a glimpse of him.

In the crowd a Ghanaian boy piped up, “I like Obama.”

Someone asked, “Why do you like Obama?”

“He is my brother!” the boy beamed.

His answer summed up the sentiment of the continent. Ask anyone on the streets of sub-Saharan Africa: Obama has come home.

After the visit, Obama was rushed to the Parliament building for his first major speech in the region. He praised Ghana for its commitment to democracy but maintained that African nations must determine their own destinies, fight corruption and pursue strong institutions to become strong nations.

“We must start from the simple premise that Africa’s future is up to Africans,” Obama said in the televised speech.

“The world will be what you make of it,” he continued. “You have the power to hold your leaders accountable and to build institutions that serve the people.

“You can serve in your communities and harness your energy and education to create new wealth and build new connections to the world. You can conquer disease and end conflicts and make change from the bottom up. You can do that. Yes, you can — because in this moment, history is on the move.”

It would be easy to expect some degree of disappointment, perhaps even anger, in response to the speech. He did not promise new aid and spoke little of what America or the West could do for Africa.

But Ghanaians expressed enthusiastic agreement with Obama. They said they are not looking for someone to solve their problems — that they are not looking for a handout; they just want to work hard and have opportunity to be a part of the “interconnected world” that Obama encouraged.

“I think what he did was to remind us that there is no reason why Africa should not progress,” said Fred Deegbe, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Accra and general secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana. “God has given us everything that we need.”

Perhaps the most significant contribution Obama offered was inspiration and encouragement.

“I see Obama as a mirror to our future,” said Samuel Wonnie, a resident of Accra. “We can aspire to be great in our own country seeing what he has overcome in his country — we can do it in our country.”

Deegbe said Obama’s speech presented an important charge to the church, noting, “The Lord desires holiness from His church.”

The pastor added that the church’s role is to fight corruption from the bottom up — refusing bribes, protecting women and children, and fighting injustice, even when circumstances are difficult.

“When the foundations are rotten, what should the righteous do?” Deegbe asked. “We are many,” he continued, “we must hold to our standards and declare our faith and trust in God as we do the right thing.”

Copyright (c) 2009 Southern Baptist Convention, Baptist Press
901 Commerce Street
Nashville, TN 37203
Tel: 615.244.2355
Fax: 615.782.8736
email: bpress@sbc.net

Share Your “Interrupted” Story

staff — 2009-11-10T13:53:45-06:00

In the Threads short-term Bible study, Interrupted, author Jen Hatmaker describes how she was comfortable in her very “churched” life until God interrupted it and led her on a journey of finding adventure, love, meaning … and Jesus. God reminded Jen that He cares deeply about issues of justice and mercy, and that she is called to as well.

This video is from Scott, a guy who experienced God’s interruptive nature while He was on a 9-month prayer journey regarding his job. Listen to Scott as he describes what that interruption looked like in his life.

What about you? If you have a story of how God’s interruption has transformed your life, tell us about it in the comments.

Leader Tip of the Month--November

Jason Hayes — 2009-11-05T09:00:52-06:00

Ministry leaders, this month’s leader tip by Jason Hayes deals with our responsibility as Christ-followers to share a complete gospel with the world. Participating in social action without sharing the message of the gospel just isn’t sufficient in terms of bringing people to Jesus. Take a minute to watch this month’s leader tip video blog.

The Power of Gratitude (Part 2)

Marlene Baer — 2009-11-05T07:00:20-06:00

Part 2 of The Power of Gratitude continues. Read Part 1 here.

Now that you’re thinking of all those people you wish to thank, here are additional ways to show appreciation. And anytime you say “thanks,” be sure to tell that person specifically what it is you appreciate about him or her.

Practically Grateful

Take a surprise dinner to a friend who helped you through a tough time.
Give an after-the-party survival kit (stain remover, paper towels, and a gift certificate for a pedicure) to a party-hosting friend.
Do something unexpected for your roommate, like washing his or her car.
Write a letter of appreciation to a former teacher who influenced your life.
Place an unexpected phone call to your grandparents, parents, or a mentor and thank them for how they’ve impacted you.
In a friend’s name, sponsor a well where clean water is scarce, or donate to his or her favorite charity.
Volunteer to serve a meal at a homeless shelter, or provide a Thanksgiving grocery gift bag with all the traditional eats for a family in need. Consider making this a church community outreach effort by coordinating with your local Salvation Army or transition house.

Originally Appreciative

Arrange a bouquet of flowers, attach a note of thanks, and leave it on a friend’s doorstep to greet him or her after work.
Inscribe a favorite or meaningful book for a mentor or helpful coworker.
Host an appreciation party and invite all the significant people in your life to one special event. Write a note of appreciation to each friend, or honor each guest with public words of thanks.
Create a book of thankfulness for your parents, pastor, or friend. Have different people write notes of personal thanks for how that person impacted their lives.
Frame a collage of verses that remind you of the person you want to thank.
Get to work early and leave a piece of candy, some fruit, or a flower at every desk with personal notes of appreciation.
Send a hand-written thank-you note on your own hand-crafted card.

On the Big Day

Before you start feasting on sweet potato casserole, here are some unique ways to share your gratitude on Thanksgiving day and start new thankful traditions.

Express your thanks through decorations. Make napkin rings or place cards, writing down each guest’s name and why you’re thankful for him or her.
Create a family Thanksgiving album of your favorite pictures throughout the year. Reflecting on your memories from trips or time with friends is a great way to count the blessings of life. Have everyone write something they’re thankful for alongside the pics. Bring out the album each Thanksgiving and continue the tradition.
As a way of saying thanks by paying it forward, organize your own food drive by asking guests coming to Thanksgiving dinner to bring along a canned food item to donate to a local food pantry.
Put everyone’s name into a bowl, and draw names before dinner. Afterwards, share why you’re thankful for the person whose name you drew and what quality in him or her you admire most.
Show thanks for the chef and hosts by taking charge of clean-up duty.
In Joshua 4:2-7, Joshua created a monument of thankfulness for his children to see for ages to come. In the same symbolic way, pass out smooth stones and a sharpie to everyone and have them write down a word, symbol, or phrase on the stone (along with their initials) to signify what they are most thankful for. Place the stones in a basket to bring out each year, adding more to the collection.
Through prayer, thank God for His many attributes—Creator, Healer, Sustainer, Provider, Comforter, Savior, Holy One.

Carole Lewis, author of A Thankful Heart, says, “When we show thankfulness to those we meet each day at the cleaners, grocery store, or at our job, we are extending blessings into their lives. God tells us in Mark 12:30 that the greatest commandment is to love God with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. He says that the second greatest commandment is that we love our neighbor as our self. We show love to God by loving others.”

This simple act of showing love to others by saying “thank you,” no matter how you choose to say those two important words, is a contagious act that will change your heart in the process.

Making the Thanks Fit the Favor

Wonder what the etiquette experts have to say about how to say thanks for specific favors? RealSimple.com has surveyed the experts and gracious gift-givers regarding 20 common and confusing situations that mandate thank-yous. From good deeds such as watching your pet while you’re on vacation to family friends hosting you for a night at their home, the site offers creative suggestions that will strike the right note of showing your appreciation.

At a Loss for Words?

Sometimes it’s hard to get past the first two words in a thank-you card and to put your gratefulness into a meaningful expression. If you’re suffering from writer’s block, my-thank-you-site.com has ready-to-use verses, quotes, and poems to help.

The Power of Gratitude (Part 1)

Marlene Baer — 2009-11-04T13:48:50-06:00

G.K. Chesterton once said, “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” Expressing gratitude by saying “thank you” is a profound and simple act, but has it become a forgotten art?

With Thanksgiving around the corner, it seems appropriate to reflect on all the things we are thankful for. But those thoughts can often be fleeting as we become consumed with holiday travel plans and look forward to a meal of turkey topped off with pumpkin pie, followed by the tryptophan sleepiness that will render us replete before the football game of the day.

So before you start scheduling your trip and making a mental list of all of the things you’re thankful for, let’s first examine the source of our thankfulness. We’re reminded in Scripture again and again about God’s goodness: “Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever” (Psalm 107:1). “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15).

When we are truly grateful for God’s power at work in us and God’s gift of life, we cannot contain this joy. From this thankfulness comes an outpouring of gratitude that is contagious, infectious, and life-giving to those around us.

In an online Christianity Today interview on his book Ruthless Trust, Brennan Manning said, “When somebody is aware of [God’s] love, the same love that the Father has for Jesus, that person is just spontaneously grateful. Cries of thankfulness become the dominant characteristic of the interior life, and the by-product of gratitude is joy. We’re not joyful and then become grateful; we’re grateful and that makes us joyful.”

This joy, an outgrowth of our gratitude, also inspires us to act and to utter, in word or in deed, two very powerful words—thank you. Knowing exactly how to express those two words can be unique to each situation and to each person. Perhaps you’ve wondered how to best give thanks when more than words are necessary. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, express to your friends, family, roommate, coworkers, and mentors just how much they mean to you.

In his book The Five Love Languages, Gary Chapman shares that we express our love and appreciation for others in the way we like to have love shown to us. Different personalities show love in different ways through five specific love languages: quality time, words of affirmation, acts of service, gifts, and physical touch. Learning someone’s love language is a unique lens for conveying gratitude. While giving a wrapped gift or a physical pat on the back are often our default expressions of thanks, move beyond autopilot by considering some of these ideas.

Now That’s Quality

Rather than giving a store-bought present to show gratitude, offer the gift of your time. Quality time can be expressed in a conversation over a cup of coffee, where you really take time to listen and dig beneath the surface. Thankfulness can also be conveyed through time spent enjoying an activity together. “The emphasis is not on what you are doing but on why you are doing it,” Chapman says. And sometimes that means doing things that you don’t necessarily enjoy.

Krista, 35, of Santa Barbara, Calif., has learned that the gift of time is the perfect way to express thanks to her mom. “When I’ve promised to spend the day with my mom and help her with computer issues, she feels blessed,” Krista shares. “I also have to promise that I’ll be patient, because patience is not one of my gifts!”

Say It With Words

Showing appreciation for someone can also be expressed through words of affirmation and encouragement. Whether written in a card or expressed verbally, the dialect of affirmation has the power to restore and deepen any relationship.

Before John, 31, from Morgan Hill, Calif., was diagnosed with cancer, he would often bring smiles and laughter to his friends. “When I was going through chemotherapy and really struggling, I had ‘fairies’ come by my house and decorate my driveway with Bible verses, drawings, and special quotes that made me smile and laugh. It seems they wanted to return the favor.”

John’s friends articulated their gratitude for his friendship in such a tangible way that John’s neighbors were even able to witness God’s love in action.

Serve It Up

Do you have the gift of hospitality? Do you like to cook or fix things? Are you a lean, mean, cleaning and organizing machine? Rather than mailing a thank-you card, consider expressing your gratitude for others through an act of service, utilizing your own special gifts.

To thank his friends for always opening up their bachelor pad for dinners and social functions, Carl, 36, from Silicon Valley, Calif., decided to surprise his compadres by fixing up their neglected bachelor bathroom. He bought new towels and a shower curtain and scrubbed down the entire lavatory to a “Mr. Clean” shine.

Adah, 40, of Mountain View, Calif., thanked a mentor couple in her church community group by surprising them with breakfast and fresh flowers when they returned from a long vacation, knowing they’d be too exhausted to go to the store after their long flight.

Whether you show your gratitude through a hug, a gift, quality time, encouraging words, or service, learning someone’s primary love language is an incredible way to say “thanks.”

Click here for Part 2: More practical and creative ways to say “thanks,” and not just on Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Writing Contest--Win a spot on our blog!

staff — 2009-11-03T14:27:22-06:00

Do you suffer from blog envy? Are you tired of being mocked by thousands of witty, popular blog posts when all you have to show are a few mildly entertaining Facebook status updates that no one even looks at? Well, Threads would like to give you the opportunity to be seen—er, read.

We’re throwing a question out there just for you to answer as we gear up for the holiday season. Be creative, be honest, be yourself. Threads staff will choose the post we think is most awesome and we’ll publish it right on our site … on Thanksgiving day!

So, here’s the question: What are you most thankful for about your church and/or its ministry leaders?

Write till your heart’s content—and then narrow it down to 200 words or less—and forward it to us at threads@lifeway.com. Happy posting!

Get Uncomfortable: A Problem of Geography

Todd Phillips — 2009-11-02T13:45:10-06:00

Americans live in a cocoon. This cocoon—made from the interwoven silks of economic, political, and ideological freedoms—effectively isolates us from connecting to (or fully understanding) the way in which the vast majority of people on this planet live. Here are some basic figures about life outside that cocoon: One third of the world—that’s about two billion men, women, and children—lives on less than $2 a day. That’s $60 a month, $720 a year. Some of us spend that much on our cars each month (car payment, insurance, gas, and so on). That ought to be enough for us to realize there’s a need.

Our national economy and political freedoms are not the only things that separate us from understanding the way the majority of the world lives. We further separate ourselves as believers by refusing to educate ourselves on the more than 2,000 verses in Scripture that clearly reveal the following perspectives: God’s heart for the poor and oppressed; the true condition of our world; our responsibility and opportunity to spread the gospel by serving others in need; and the promise that God will empower His children to accomplish His goal of justice and mercy for all the world through His Son, Jesus Christ.

As Christ-followers in the United States, we tend to feed ravenously on every passage of Scripture that refers to the blessings we receive from God. While we gorge ourselves on those verses, we by and large give very little time to the many passages that speak of self-denial, service, sacrifice, suffering for the sake of the gospel, and sharing in the misery of others.

As quick as I am to judge our actions as the people of God toward the poor and oppressed (I put myself at the front of the line), I’m equally quick to absolve most believers from blame for our collective inactivity. In fact, I’m surprised that we aren’t even less aware than we currently are of the global crises that plague the majority of humankind. Given how sparingly Scripture regarding God’s desire for our involvement in social action is preached, it is amazing that these issues are acknowledged at all. This is our first and greatest problem.

The cynical side of me thinks that social justice is not preached because people who are poor and oppressed can’t do the two things that most preachers want everyone to do—attend their churches and give to their causes. Additionally, my own experience as a pastor helps me understand that these topics are not addressed from the pulpit because “service” and “sacrifice” in Jesus’ name is difficult to teach in today’s consumer-driven church culture.

In such a culture, the preacher is only as good as his last sermon. He is rated by the straw poll every week as people gather in the lobby to talk about their approval or disapproval of the day’s message. In this environment, many preachers stay away from the controversial subjects out of concern for reprisal in the form of lower attendance.

Secondly, our churches aren’t structured toward responding effectively to these global issues. Many churches in the U.S. today, especially the larger they get, become like country clubs rather than spiritual hospitals. Over time we become concerned about our needs more than the needs of others. We become so focused on our own personal or corporate growth and maturity in Christ that we miss out on countless opportunities to grow and mature through service and sacrifice.

Church slowly becomes all about us and little else. Reggie McNeal puts it this way: “[Church] members obviously have needs for pastoral care and spiritual growth. It is critical that these issues be addressed. However, I am raising the question of how many church activities for the already-saved are justified where there are people out there who have never been touched with Jesus’ love? The answer is a whole lot less than we’ve got going on now.”¹

Excerpted from the Threads short-term study Get Uncomfortable, by Todd Phillips.

Reggie McNeal, *Present Future* (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2003), 32. ↩

I’d like mine with a nice country club membership included

Chad Jordan — 2009-10-30T16:14:17-06:00

November is going to be a difficult month. Our study, “Casual Christianity,” poses some tough and uncomfortable questions. Are you prepared to honestly examine your habits and attitudes about Christianity? Are you willing to make any necessary changes?

It seems that many who call themselves Christ-followers are fine with limiting their Christianity to showing up on Sunday mornings, singing along with three or four songs, half-listening to a thirty-minute talk, and then heading to lunch. Task completed, check it off the list! But you should know that casual Christianity just won’t do.

Here’s a fun task: let’s make a list of guys in the Bible and ask them if they would consider their faith casual, easy, or fun.

John the Baptist: “Easy? No, I wouldn’t say that. Having your head separated from your body is not easy.”
Jonah: “Fun? You ever been inside a whale? Not fun. Fantastic, yes; incredible, absolutely; but certainly not fun.”
Paul: “Well, I did get to travel the known world telling people about Jesus, but I wouldn’t call it casual. Dodging rocks and getting arrested kept things exciting. I’d never trade what I did, but a church with a country club membership included in their package, now that would have been a lot easier.”
Abraham: “Following God started out pretty easy until He asked me to leave my home and just start walking. You ever leave home without a destination? Kinda crazy. There was also that time where I almost killed my own kid. I’d definitely say following God demands a pretty hefty commitment.”
Moses: “Not too sure about those words. Exciting, adventurous, and remembered forever are more how I’d describe it. I mean, God allowed me to see the Red Sea open up and become like dry ground under my feet, rescue His people, write that song about letting my people go, and then actually see Him. But then there was the whole wilderness snafu, and I can honestly say there was nothing fun about that.”

Where did we ever get the idea that following God would be easy? It NEVER was in the Bible. So is being a Christ-follower worth it? Absolutely. It’s worth anything you’d have to pay, but casual or easy? Definitely not.

Some passages of Scripture are tough to understand and apply to our lives, but this week’s isn’t one of those. We may not like what it has to say, but it’s simple, straightforward and life altering. Read James 1 and 2. Notice how he explains things in very easy-to-understand language: “Rid yourselves of moral filth” (1:21); “Be doers of the word” (1:21); “Show me your faith without works and I’ll show you faith from my works” (2:18). Start this month’s study with a clean slate and examine yourself each week. Does your faith look like the one being described by James as active, or is it one that just hears and is comfortable to live in filth?

I love the closing paragraph on page 80 of the learner guide: “A faith that is void of works is a faith that is void of substance. A faith that is void of substance is a faith that will land someone with the demons in hell. Once we realize that the theology of James matches perfectly with the theology of grace, then we can begin living a life that substantiates a faith we say we possess.”

Does your faith have any substance to it?

Interview with Margaret Feinberg

staff — 2009-10-28T13:18:04-06:00

Michael Kelley sits down with Margaret Feinberg to discuss her new Bible study, Scouting the Divine.

WIN a Free Sacred Roads DVD Leader Kit ($69.95 value)!

Jenny Williams — 2009-10-28T12:37:01-06:00

Sacred Roads: Exploring the Historic Paths of Discipleship, by Heather Zempel, is a new short-term Bible study from Threads. Click HERE for more information about the study. The leader kit includes a member book, a DVD with video clips to jump-start discussion in your small group, and a CD-Rom with leader helps, music, audio files, and more!

Winning is so easy. All you need to do is post on your blog, Facebook, or Twitter feed about the Threads giveaway, linking your readers back to this post on the Threads Blog. Then, come back to this page and post a comment with a link to your social network post. We will randomly choose one winner from those who posted to receive the leader kit.

Congrats to Adrienne Maples, winner of the Interrupted DVD leader kit! Thanks for stopping by the Threads blog.

Official Contest Rules

Update: Congrats to Matt Lee—winner of the FREE Sacred Roads Bible study leader kit, by Heather Zempel! Thank you to everyone who posted about the new Threads study on your social networks. We are hearing great things about Sacred Roads!

Artistic Treat for Collegiate Users

Heather Manning — 2009-10-27T15:54:52-06:00

We have gotten a few requests for a promotional poster for this Fall’s Collegiate Bible Studies and thought everyone might like a copy. This poster is 11 x 17 and ready to print on any standard printer. Happy Bible study promotion to all.

Download the poster (21.7 MB).