WIXLIB

JoyChurch-Sponsored Bible Study (continued)passage. Spiritual maturity is a natural fruit ofthis process.Some of the things a church-sponsored Bible studygroup can accomplish are the following:ɶStrongɶChristian fellowship forms in the smalldiscussion groups. This is necessary in largechurches, where many activities are gearedtoward the "spectator."ɶChurchɶmembers are challenged to be livingwitnesses for Christ in their own neighborhoodand places of work.ɶUnsavedɶindividuals are invited to these groupmeetings and as a result many have come to faithin Jesus Christ.ɶDeeperɶknowledge of the Word of God developsas participants follow the daily study plan andthen meet once a week to discuss and share theInterdenominational Bible Studyɶtoɶ help believers discover the fulfillment and joythat comes from daily, disciplined Bible studyand personal devotional time with the Lord.Joy of Living study materials are interdenominational and evangelical, meaning they contain thebasic fundamental truths of the Bible and avoid thecontroversial issues that tend to divide evangelicals(i.e., speaking in tongues and methods of baptism).For this reason they are ideal for use in an interdenominational Bible study group.ɶtoɶ help believers apply the teachings of Scriptureto their own lives, in order to live a life thatpleases and honors God.ɶtoɶ build confidence and enthusiasm in believersfor sharing with others the Christian faith andthe abundant life in Christ.Some of the things an interdenominational Biblestudy group can accomplish are ɶtoɶ help people enter into a joyous relationshipwith God as they come to know His Son JesusChrist as Lord and Savior.ɶtoɶ build unity and fellowship among believers inthe community.8

How to Organize a Joy of Living StudyThe following are the basic steps for beginning and organizing a Joy of Living Bible study. These varioussteps may be accomplished by any number of individuals. For purposes of clarity we have detailed themunder “Responsibilities of an Administrator,” beginning on page 12. The Administrator may delegateresponsibilities to others and may also hold other positions of leadership (i.e. teacher, discussion leader).ɶɶ Meet for prayer with those who have shown an interest in starting a Joy of Living class (page 12).ɶɶ Recruit teachers and substitute teachers (page 12).ɶɶ Contact the church (page 12).ɶɶ Select leaders (page 13).ɶɶ Schedule leaders’ meetings (page 13).ɶɶ Organize finances (page 14).ɶɶ Decide what course to study (page 14).ɶɶ Order study materials (page 14).ɶɶ Schedule the class calendar (page 15).ɶɶ Plan class time schedule (page 16).ɶɶ Arrange for childcare (page 16).ɶɶ Publicize the class (page 16).ɶɶ Prepare for first day of class (page 17).9

JoyLeadershipAccording to God’s Word there are certaincharacteristics that should be manifest in the life ofa Christian before they are appointed to or accept aposition of leadership.The Spiritual Walk of a LeaderɶTheyɶshould be respected and have integrity. spend time with God daily.ɶTheyɶshould not be greedy or envious. seek to know Him better through the study ofHis Word.ɶTheyɶmust “keep hold of the deep truths of the[Christian] faith” as revealed in God’s Word.ɶTheyɶshould live with a clear conscience.ɶTheyɶshould not speak evil of others.ɶTheyɶshould be self-controlled and faithful in allthey do.You can lead no one further spiritually than youhave gone yourself. Make certain that you yield yourself to Him for His use. ask Him to show you the areas of your life that arenot pleasing to Him and to change you. You mightask yourself: “Does my life reveal the joy of theLord, the peace of His presence and the victory ofmy faith? Does my life overflow with His love?” pray for those within your care. Pray for thesalvation of those who have not yet come tosaving faith in Him and for the spiritual growthɶTheyɶshould not be quarrelsome, but kind andof those who have. Pray for their personal needspatient, even with difficult people.and for their loved ones. (See Ephesians 1:18-19;3:16-19; 1 Timothy 2:1-8).(See 1 Timothy 3:8-11; 2 Timothy 2:24-25.)ɶTheyɶshould be able to express the basic truthsof the Christian faith.This does not imply sinless perfection, but theoverall focus of a life and heart devoted to the Lord. ask God to use you to touch those in your carewith His love.The Calling of a LeaderThere may be times when you feel inadequate.Remember what He has said in His Word:The Lord Jesus Christ called all who follow Himto share the gospel and lead others to faith in Him(see Mark 16:15, Luke 5:10, 1 Peter 3:15). He hasspecifically called some of us to feed His sheep, thatis, to help believers study and understand His Word(see John 21:17, Ephesians 4:11-15).ɶ“Myɶgrace is sufficient for you, for my power ismade perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).A Joy of Living leader is called to do both of these,to care for unbelievers and believers. Joy of LivingBible studies are designed to ɶ“Therefore,ɶmy dear brothers, stand firm. Letnothing move you. Always give yourselves fullyto the work of the Lord, because you knowthat your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1Corinthians 15:58). lead people to faith in Jesus Christ, help them develop a relationship with Him, and help them study and apply His Word to theirlives in order to grow into strong, matureChristians.ɶɶ ɶ“Butɶyou will receive power when the HolySpirit comes on you; and you will be mywitnesses to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).ɶ“Eachɶone should use whatever gift he hasreceived to serve others, faithfully administeringGod’s grace in its various forms. If anyonespeaks, he should do it as one speaking the verywords of God. If anyone serves, he should do itwith the strength God provides, so that in allthings God may be praised through Jesus Christ.10

To him be the glory and the power for ever andever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:10-11).It is not by your power, might, wisdom, abilityor talents that you will accomplish what God hascalled you to do. It is by His grace and for His praiseand glory that you will succeed (see Zechariah 4:6).The Priorities of a LeaderYour first priority must be your own relationshipwith the Lord. As you take on the responsibilitiesof leadership, never let service to others supersedeyour own fellowship with Him. Don’t merely fittime with the Lord into your schedule, but planyour schedule around Him—plan to spend timealone with Him.God does not want you to neglect your family,either. Ask God to help you organize your timeso that you’ll fulfill family obligations. If you areemployed, stay committed to serving faithfully inyour workplace as well.Next comes your commitment to be a leader.The following pages contain the duties andresponsibilities for various areas of leadership.Please carefully review the section for yourparticular area(s) of leadership. Ask God to help youfulfill these responsibilities.The Appearance of a LeaderLet your appearance glorify the Lord. Dressmodestly and appropriately for the community’sculture. Take care with your personal hygiene—body odor, bad breath, even too strong a perfumecan be distracting. Some classes may choose toask leaders to avoid wearing perfume at all, sinceindividuals may be allergic to it.Above all, be enthusiastic as you greet classmembers and as you carry out your particularleadership duties. Remember that you represent theLord!Suggestions for Leadership PositionsJoy of Living materials are flexible and may beused in a variety of settings. Because of this, thevarious positions of leadership and responsibilitymay be fulfilled by a number of individuals or oneperson may accept several positions. For clarity,responsibilities of several positions have beendefined, but keep in mind that several positionsmay be held by one person.Areas of Leadership and ResponsibilityAdministratorThe administrator is the central contact person.Church representatives, teachers, discussion leadersand children’s workers are all contacted by theadministrator. If there are questions to be answered,meetings to be scheduled, or any problem to behandled, the administrator is the person to contact.The administrator also orders the Bible studymaterials and handles all paper work. If a treasureris not selected, the administrator also handlesthe finances. The administrator may delegateresponsibilities to others.TreasurerThe treasurer handles all finances, includingcollection of money, paying bills and distributingfinancial love gifts.Teacher(s)The teacher is responsible for giving the weeklylectures covering the lessons to the entire class.Discussion LeadersThe discussion leaders are responsible forcontacting the members of their discussion groupsand facilitating the weekly discussion time.Children’s LeadersChildren’s leaders are responsible for safely caringfor the children in a godly environment. Biblelessons may be taught.11

JoyResponsibilities of an AdministratorInformation pertaining only to an Interdenominational Study is italicized.The administrator is the central contact personand coordinator. Church representatives, teachers,discussion leaders, children’s workers and thetreasurer are all contacted by the administrator.If there are questions to be answered, meetings tobe scheduled or any problems to be handled, theadministrator is the person to contact.Recruit Teacher(s) and Substitute Teacher(s)The details of these responsibilities may be fulfilledby any number of individuals, but one centralperson should be designated to coordinate them.The administrator may delegate responsibilitiesto others and may also hold other positions ofleadership.Consider the requirements for a leader (see“Leadership,” page 10).Meet for Prayerɶaɶ person who can easily relate to people and theirproblems;One of the first steps to take, as administrator of aJoy of Living Bible study, is to meet for prayer withthose who have shown an interest in starting a Joyof Living class.ɶAskɶthe Lord to guide you and those inleadership.ɶIfɶ this will be a church-sponsored class, pray forpastoral permission and the availability of thefacility.ɶAskɶGod to guide you as you determine the dayand time of the class meeting.ɶIfɶ this will be an interdenominational class, prayfor a host church that will welcome you.ɶPrayɶfor a teacher(s) for the class.In selecting teachers:You may recruit one person as the teacher, or youmay recruit several people to share the teachingposition in rotation.Pray and ask God to lead you to the right people.Look for the following characteristics:ɶaɶ person who can communicate spiritual truths ineveryday language;ɶaɶ person who can invest the time and energyneeded to be a teacher.Ask the potential teacher to pray and seek God’swill concerning this task.In selecting substitute teachers:Substitute teachers are needed to take the teacher’splace and lecture if he or she must be absent. Theymay also prepare themselves to take over the classif the current teacher retires, or to teach a new classif the present class grows too large and needs to bedivided.After a person agrees to become a substitute teacher,the current teacher will oversee their training.ɶPrayɶfor discussion leaders.Contact the ChurchɶPrayɶfor children’s leaders who can teach Bibletruths to the children.ɶPrayɶfor God’s guidance in your selection of paidworkers to help with childcare.If you are an interdenominational group you will needto find a place to meet. Depending on the size of yourcommunity and the number of people you think willattend the class, look for a church with the followingfeatures:ɶPrayɶfor praise team leaders if you want groupsinging. a lecture room that will seat the anticipated numberof attendees,ɶɶ enough classrooms of the appropriate size to seat upto 15 members per room for discussion groups,12

and adequate nursery and preschool facilities ifneeded.Share with the pastor(s) your vision or desire fora Joy of Living Bible study. Let them know whatyou hope to accomplish and how it will benefit thechurch and the community. Show them the Joy ofLiving Introductory Video DVD , Catalog (whichcontains the Doctrinal Statement and Statement ofPurpose), and a sample lesson or a complete study.If permission is granted to hold the Joy of LivingBible study at the church, find out if there is a fee for facility use or a suggestedamount for a love offering to cover the cost ofutilities, janitorial service, etc.; if the availability of the facility is limited tocertain days and times, so that you can determineif that will work with what you have planned; if the church has handicapped access, restrooms,and parking; if the class will be allowed to use an area of thefacility for luncheons.Select LeadersRead “Leadership,” pages 10-11.ɶScheduleɶan introductory meeting for thosewho are interested in starting a Joy of Livingstudy. Share your vision and goals for the classwith those who attend. If possible, show theIntroductory Video DVD, and hand out copies ofa sample lesson.After briefly explaining the opportunities andresponsibilities of the types of leaders your classwill need (discussion leaders, children’s leaders,and/or praise team leaders) ask if anyone mightbe interested in learning more and possiblybecoming a leader. You could have prospectiveleaders fill out a form or use a sign-up sheet.ɶFollowingɶthe meeting, personally speak witheach prospective leader. Make certain eachcandidate knows Jesus Christ personally as Lordand Savior. Share with them in greater depth theopportunities of a leader and review with them“Responsibilities of a Discussion Leader,” page24, or “Responsibilities of the Children’s Leader,”page 31. Pray with them and instruct them notto make a decision immediately, but to pray andseek God’s will.About a week after your initial personalconversations with the prospective leaders,follow up to see who believes they have beencalled into leadership.ɶAfterɶthe class is in session, encourage all leadersto continue to pray for additional leaders.Instruct them to watch for potential leadershipand give names of candidates to you. You or theteacher should sit in on the prospective leader’sdiscussion group several times to observe theirinteraction with the group. If you decide toinvite them into leadership, proceed as outlinedabove.ɶAtɶ the end of the Bible study course or classyear, encourage leaders to pray about returningto leadership for the next session. Leadership isvery rewarding, and most leaders spend manyyears in leadership.Schedule Leaders’ Meetings Schedule at least one or two leaders’ meetings tobe held prior to the first day of class. Scheduleregular leaders’ meetings throughout the yearas well. You may choose to meet weekly, onalternate weeks, or even once a month, whateverworks best for your class.Many have found it convenient to meet onthe day of the class, prior to, or immediatelyfollowing, the class. You may also wish toschedule a leaders’ prayer time before each classsession, if a leaders’ meeting is not being held atthat time.Give each leader the dates, times, and place ofthe meetings. (See “Meet with Leaders” and“Suggested Agenda for Leaders’ Meeting,” page19.) During a portion of the initial leaders’ meetings,if you have several teachers, discussion leaders,children’s leaders, and/or praise team leaders,you may choose to break into separate groupsto make plans for the coming year. Teachers cansign up for the dates they will speak and reviewteaching goals; discussion leaders can review13

Joyfirst-day procedures and discussion techniques;children’s leaders can review first-day proceduresand plans for the class year; and praise teamleaders can schedule practices and praise-timecontent for the class year.Organize FinancesThe administrator, or a treasurer, oversees thefinances. Your church may absorb the cost and payany bills, or a checking account may be opened forthe class. If you are an interdenominational group,the host church may be willing to process deposits andpay bills through its finance department. Sometimesan individual personally takes the responsibility ofpaying for the studies, and is reimbursed from classregistration fees or offerings.If your class wants to open a checking account andthe bank requests a tax exempt number, you mayask the church to allow you to use their number,or incorporate your class legally as a nonprofitorganization. Joy of Living cannot give out its taxexempt number because it acts only as a publisher;individual classes are not legally connected to it.Determine class expenses:ɶStudyɶmaterialsɶWillɶyou pay a rental fee for use of the facility, orwill you give the church a love offering to cover thecost of utilities, janitorial service, etc?ɶAreɶthere paid childcare workers?ɶWillɶthere be costs incurred for refreshments andpaper goods, luncheons, special speakers, etc?Decide when and how these expenses will be met:Some classes charge a registration fee for theentire year or for portions of the year. This feewould be calculated to cover the above expenses.If you choose to do this, you might want to havescholarships available for those who cannot affordthe fee.Some classes take an offering at each meeting to payfor expenses. To receive the offering, baskets maybe placed in each discussion group classroom, orbaskets may be placed by the door(s) of the roomwhere the lecture is given. It is important to stressthat if a person does not have the money, they canstill come to class.Operating on an offering basis may be more difficultfinancially, since Joy of Living requires studymaterials to be paid for within 30 days of shipment(extended payment terms are available for longerspiral-bound studies). If a class operates on anoffering basis, usually a church or an individualpays for the materials in advance, and the classreimburses them from the offering receipts.Some classes combine both methods, charging aregistration fee for the study materials and usingthe offering to pay for other expenses or to helpmembers of the class who could not otherwiseafford to attend.Decide What Course to StudyIn making this decision you may want to consultthe teacher(s), other leaders and previous classmembers. The number of weeks you plan to meetmay be taken into consideration.Order Study MaterialsWe suggest you place your order with Joy of Livingas soon as you have chosen which course the classwill study and have determined how many copiesare needed. This will help ensure that we havesufficient stock available for the course you havechosen.We normally ship orders within one business day;however, at your request we will delay shippingand billing your order until the date you specify. Ifyou make certain we receive your order at least twoweeks in advance, you should receive the materialsin time for your class at the least possible cost(unless the studies are on backorder).If you’re not certain how many will be joining yourclass, but want to keep your shipping costs down,you can order in one of several different ways.ɶOrderɶa few more than you think you will need.The 10% restocking fee for returned unusedmaterials is generally less than expensive “rush”shipments for additional materials.14

ɶOrderɶwhat you know you’ll need in time for usto ship them UPS Ground. If you have to orderadditional materials, it will be less expensiveto send a few studies “rush” than to send yourentire shipment rush.ɶIfɶ you wait until the last moment and you aredoing a loose-leaf format study, you may find itis less expensive to have us ship only the firstlessons

Joy of Living Bible study materials are also an effective tool to communicate the Gospel message to the people of your community. Many people have been richly blessed through this type of Bible study plan, and ultimately whole families have been reached for Christ. Many plans for organizing and leading a class are included in this guide.