Are you leading Growing in Christ’s Church? Here are some extras to enhance each session. What other ideas do you have? Post them below!
FREE PowerPoint slides and digital Journal come with a Leader Kit purchase!Log in to your account at www.gcp.org and click on the Digital Downloads tab in My Account. Downloads expire 120 days after ordering and items may be downloaded 5 times. Questions? Call 800-695-3387, email, or contact us.
Session 4
This session deals with the tough topic of sin in the church and discipline. Your students will explore the steps given by Jesus in Matthew 18:15–17. If you would like to delve further, show them the steps outlined by your particular church or denomination (check with your pastor).
Click below to download a PDF from these denominations:
Presbyterian Church in America Book of Church Order (Part II, Chapters 27–46)
Orthodox Presbyterian Church Book of Church Order (pp. 91–120)
The power which Christ has given the Church is for building up, and not for destruction. It is to be exercised as under a dispensation of mercy and not of wrath. As in the preaching of the Word the wicked are doctrinally separated from the good, so by discipline the Church authoritatively separates between the holy and the profane. In this it acts the part of a tender mother, correcting her children for their good, that every one of them may be presented faultless in the day of the Lord Jesus. —PCA Book of Church Order, Chapter 27, “The Rules of Discipline”
Session 7
This week students discovered the various “one another” passages in Scripture and were encouraged to put them into practice in the church. One practical way of being aware of others’ needs is to make a list and update it as prayers are answered or additional needs arise. Some ideas:
• List the prayers and praises on your group’s website.
• Use your Facebook page.
• Create a shared document (like a Google doc) and encourage everyone to update it as needed.
• Use one of the variety of tools online or on your phone/tablet. Your church may even have its own online/mobile prayer list. (We don’t endorse these below; they are just listed for you to check out.)
Session 8
To spark a discussion of unity (Ephesians 4:1–6), consider showing this video of a “flash mob” performing Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. (Always screen videos yourself before playing for your group.)
Session 10
In this session, students are challenged and comforted by Christ’s claim, comfort, and command in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18–20). Consider playing the video for Brandon Heath’s song “Give Me Your Eyes,” which expresses a desire for having a vision like Christ. A few of the lyrics:
Give me your arms for the brokenhearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
(Always screen videos yourself before playing for your group.)
Session 13
In this session your students look at the question, How do our stories fit into God’s bigger story and plan? Challenge your students to look at the story in Acts 9 from the perspectives of the different people involved by doing a writing activity. Other ideas:
• Have them work together to write and perform a skit.
• Write and illustrate a comic book or strip.
• Write a script for a short film. Have them think of a soundtrack song.
• Search the Internet for historical images to make a video slide show.
Send us your group’s creative results to post here!
Looking for sample church membership/public profession questions? Click here.