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FALL 2018 | LEADER GUIDE

WELCOME HOME

HOW TO PRAY

© 2018 LifeWay Christian Resources

One of the great joys of leading a group in Bible study is seeing group members deepen their walk with Christ. Everyone’s walk with Christ begins with an initial decision to follow Him in repentance and faith. People may be in your group who have not made that decision yet. Take advantage of your time with them to talk about becoming a Christian.

As you tell your own story about coming to Christ, share these key truths:

1. We are all sinners, and each of us needs to acknowledge that truth before God. That acknowledgement involves repentance, which is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Refer to Romans 3:23, 6:23, and Acts 3:19.

2. The only way a person can receive the gift of forgiveness is by faith in Jesus as God’s Son. Use verses like Acts 4:12, Ephesians 2:8-9, and John 14:6 when talking about faith in Christ.

3. Confessing your faith in Jesus Christ means both believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth that He is Savior and Lord. Share Romans 10:9-10,13.

Invite the person to pray a prayer similar to this:

“ Dear God, I know I am a sinner and have rebelled against You in many ways. I believe Jesus died for my sin and only through faith in His death and resurrection can I be forgiven. I now turn from my sin and ask Jesus to forgive me and to come into my life as my Savior and Lord. From this day forward, I will choose to follow Jesus. Thank You, Lord, for loving me and for forgiving me. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

LEADING SOMEONE TO THE GREATEST DECISION OF ALL

A Special Note about “Authentic Joy” (Session 5).

As your group studies and discusses 1 Thessalonians 1, use it as an opportunity to lead unsaved group members to faith in Christ. Use “Looking for Joy in Your Life?” on the inside front cover of the Personal Study Guide to connect “Authentic Joy” with each member’s own need to trust Christ and receive His gift of salvation. The inside cover is a guide for understanding how Jesus is the source of joy and eternal life.


Don’t Miss This . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

A Word from Our Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Using Bible Studies for Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

It’s All About Discipleship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Article: Becoming A Welcoming Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Article: How to Frustrate a Guest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Welcome Home: Connecting and Engaging People in Your Church SUGGESTED FOR THE WEEK OF

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

September 2 Session 1 Reality Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

September 9 Session 2 Open Arms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

September 16 Session 3 Gracious Hospitality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

September 23 Session 4 Intentional Love . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

September 30 Session 5 Authentic Joy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

October 7 Session 6 Going Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Article: Friendship for Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

How to Pray Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

October 14 Session 1 The Object of Our Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

October 21 Session 2 A Prayer of Praise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

October 28 Session 3 A Prayer of Surrender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

November 4 Session 4 Praying for Ourselves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

November 11 Session 5 Praying for Others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127

November 18 Session 6 A Prayer of Confession . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

November 25 Session 7 A Prayer of Thanksgiving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

Article: When We Say Father . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157

Join the Conversation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161

Coming Next Quarter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162

CONTENTS


4 B I B L E S T U D I E S F O R L I F E

Commentary Writers:

Rick Ezell, Coye Still, Bryan Beyer, and Tan Flippin contributed to the commentary for the Welcome Home study.

Argile Smith wrote the commentary for the How to Pray study. For fourteen years he served as professor of preaching at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He received degrees from William Carey College (B.A.) and from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div., Ph.D.). Argile and his wife Connie have three sons. Argile enjoys traveling, writing, and fishing.

Social Media

Connect with a community of Bible Studies for Life users. Post responses to questions, share teaching ideas, and link to great blog content. www.facebook.com/BibleStudiesForLife

Get instant updates about new articles, giveaways, and more. @BibleMeetsLife

The App

Simple and straightforward, this elegantly designed app gives you all the content of the Personal Study Guide—plus a whole lot more—right at your fingertips. Available in the iTunes App Store and for Android devices; search “Bible Studies for Life.”

EXTRA!

Every week, you’ll find helpful add-ons and additional suggestions in our “Leader Extra” posts. You’ll also find teaching tips, links to magazine articles, insights from our editorial team, and sermon outlines to complement every session. BibleStudiesForLife.com/AdultExtra.

Don’t miss this!Bible Studies for Life: Adult Leader Guide

Volume 6, Number 1

Fall 2018

Eric Geiger Senior Vice President, LifeWay Resources

Lynn H. Pryor Team Leader

R. Brian Gass Content Editor

Ken Braddy Manager, Adult Ongoing Bible Studies

Michael Kelley Director, Groups Ministry

Send questions/comments to: Content Editor by email at [email protected]; mail to Content Editor, Bible Studies for Life: Adults, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234; or make comments on the Web at BibleStudiesforLife .com .

Printed in the United States of America.

Bible Studies for Life: Adult Leader Guide (ISSN: 2331-7264; Item 005573483) is published quarterly by LifeWay, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President. © 2018 LifeWay.

For ordering or inquiries, visit lifeway .com, or write LifeWay Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234. For subscriptions or subscription address changes, e-mail subscribe@lifeway .com, fax (615) 251-5818, or write to the above address. For bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address, email orderentry@lifeway .com, fax (615) 251-5933, or write to the above address.

We believe that the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. To review LifeWay’s doctrinal guideline, please visit lifeway .com/doctrinalguideline.

ESV—All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the English Standard Version® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Bible Studies for Life: Adults sometimes lists websites that may be helpful to our readers. Our staff verifies each site’s usefulness and appropriateness prior to publication. However, website content changes quickly, so we encourage you to approach all websites with caution. Make sure sites are still appropriate before sharing them with participants, friends, and family.


B I B L E S T U D I E S F O R L I F E 5

Aging parents. Cancer. Dementia. Children’s marriages. The births of children and grandchildren. These are just some of the life issues that our Bible Studies for Life team has faced recently. With the Lord’s help, we do our best to handle life’s circumstances—both favorable and difficult—in ways that honor Christ. I can only imagine some of the things that you and others in your group have faced recently. I’m thankful that we all have Bible study groups that love us, support us, pray for us, and encourage us as we journey through life together.

I’m excited that you’re joining us for the study Welcome Home: Connecting and Engaging People in Your Church. Welcome Home is a six-session Bible study that complements the book, Becoming a Welcoming Church, by Dr. Thom S. Rainer. We‘ll learn biblical principles for welcoming people into the church who are seeking Christ and seeking a home among other believers. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to say, “Welcome home!” as you help them belong to your church family?

May the Lord bless you and your group members as you help others find a church home right where you are.

Ken Braddy—Manager

@kenbraddy | kenbraddy.com

A Word from Our Team

The Bible Studies for Life Team



Leader PackThe optional Leader Pack is designed to enhance the group experience, especially for visual learners. Pull in the Leader

Pack items as referenced in the group plan.

The Leader Pack also includes a DVD-ROM with:

> JPEG files of the two main study images that you can use with any presentation software (i.e., PowerPoint).

Promote the study by placing these images into an announcement slideshow or display the images during

the sessions to reinforce the study topic.

> PDF file of each pack item, so you can create multiple posters. During your session, display the image on a

screen using any presentation software, or post the image on social media to promote the study.

> Sample Twitter® and email messages to post prior to your Bible study time in order to raise awareness and

promote the session topic.

> A short video presentation (approximately 5 minutes) for each session from the study author to

help you prepare.

> An electronic version of the group plans that you can customize and print.

> Leader articles to assist you as you lead your group.

> Biblical Illustrator articles that allow you to go deeper in your study.

Invite the Holy Spirit’s GuidanceBecause God is the guide for your study, invite Him to show you how to be the

best facilitator for your group. Read the Bible passage several times with the

Holy Spirit showing you its meaning and application.

Personal Study GuideThen read the Personal Study Guide. Its content provides the foundation and

direction for the Bible discussion and study by your group.

Leader GuideFollow the simple directives in the group plan, which will guide you in

engaging your group in discussion around the Bible passage. Read the

commentary to help you understand the passage. Share insights from the

commentary as needed during the group discussion.

USING BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE



Additional IdeasAdditional discussion questions and teaching suggestions for leaders are

available online at BibleStudiesforLife .com/AdultExtra. You’ll also find all the

magazine articles we mention in this study guide.

Prepare Your Group MembersEncourage your group members to read the Personal Study Guide prior to the

group meeting. (Some group members will prefer to read it after the meeting

as a way to follow up and reflect.)

Encourage them to join the conversation with others on our Facebook page

(Facebook .com/BibleStudiesforLife), our blog (BibleStudiesforLife .com), or on

Twitter (@BibleMeetsLife).

For Those Who Want to Go DeeperThe Advanced Bible Study is written for group members who desire more

extensive commentary. It includes exposition of each session’s Scripture

passage, an examination of key words, an introduction to the setting of

the passage and biblical life and times, questions to guide the study, and

interactive responses to help readers apply God’s truths to their lives today.

The Herschel Hobbs Commentary is designed specifically for leaders and

provides a comprehensive exposition of each session’s Scripture passage.

Specific attention is called to items in the biblical text that readers would miss

without a commentary. This commentary is based on the King James Version

but interacts with all major English translations.

Each quarter, Biblical Illustrator offers in-depth background information on Bible customs, history, culture, archaeology, and word studies through vivid photography, engaging maps and graphics, and lesson-targeted articles. You can subscribe to Biblical Illustrator by going to lifeway .com/biblicalillustrator or by calling 1-800-458-2772. Forty additional articles (in PDF form) that support this quarter’s Bible studies are available at lifeway .com/biblicalillustrator .



My group's prayer requests


FALL 2018 WINTER 2018-19 SPRING 2019 SUMMER 2019

It’s all about discipleship.

How can we measure discipleship? LifeWay’s research reveals eight factors consistently present in

the lives of believers who are growing spiritually. Since it’s all about discipleship, Bible Studies for Life

engages in all eight of these areas throughout the year.We follow an intentional plan for your group’s

discipleship, so you can be sure you are fully nurturing their growth in Christ.

BIBLE ENGAGEMENT

OBEYING GOD AND DENYING SELF

SERVING GOD AND OTHERS

SHARING CHRIST

EXERCISING FAITH

SEEKING GOD

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

UNASHAMED AND TRANSPARENT

Welcome Home: Connecting and Engaging

People in Your Church

More than the Mundane: Finding Meaning

on the Journey

The Full Picture of Christmas

Risk: The Reality of Following God

Pressure: Reacting Well in the Face of Pressure

He Said What? Hard Sayings of Jesus

Engaging Culture in an Ever-Changing World

How to Pray

12 B I B L E S T U D I E S F O R L I F E© 2018 LifeWay Christian Resources


B Y D R . T H O M S . R A I N E R

Many churches need wake-up calls. I know. I have worked with hundreds of them on site, and thousands via phone, email, and videoconferences. Many church leaders and members think their churches are healthier and have better ministries than they really do. And many leaders think their churches are friendlier than they really are.

The Bible has many verses on hospitality. To the church at Rome, Paul simply said, “… show hospitality” (Rom. 12:13). And Paul told Timothy that leaders in the church must be hospitable: “An overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money” (1 Tim. 3:2-3, emphasis added).

A Tale of Two Guests

The stories are true. Only the names have been changed. Here are two doses of reality, and the first one is positive.

Jane is a stylist. As Jane was cutting my hairs, I began a conversation about her life and her world. Once I found out where she lived, I was able to shift the conversation to Jesus and church. Indeed, I found out she lived near my church where my son pastors. So I talked to Jane about her life, I talked a bit about Jesus, and I invited her to church. Little did I know that the Holy Spirit had already been working in her life. I will spare you the details, but she soon found the website of our church and “bravely” (her word, not mine) decided to visit.

She “fell in love with the church” (her words again). The website gave her all the information she needed. She found the guest parking spot with ease. The people were genuinely friendly. The preacher preached the Bible with conviction and love. Jane decided to follow Christ. She was baptized. And now she is smiling, enthused, and an active member of the welcome team ministry of our church. Great story, huh? Well, let me share another story, one that is not so great.

BECOMING A WELCOMING CHURCH



His name is Ryan. I met Ryan in a consultation for a church where we focused on the guest experience. Ryan had almost no church background, but I could tell he was really searching. So he did something bold, if not audacious, from his perspective. He asked his wife, Bethany, if she and their two young daughters would go to church with him.

Bethany had a nominal church background, but she was not really interested in going back to a church. She found the world outside the church more pleasant than church life. She nevertheless agreed to go with Ryan “just one time.” And there won’t be a second time at the church they visited.

To begin, the church website was terrible. It had not been updated with the new time of the worship service. So the family of four was late, even though they thought they would arrive on time. Because they arrived late, church members occupied all of the closer parking spots. Supposedly, there were guest parking spots, but Ryan could not find any directional signs to them. When they arrived late, a couple of front door greeters spoke to them for at least two seconds. The two greeters then resumed their private conversation, oblivious to the world and people around them. And when they went to the children’s area to check in their two young daughters, disaster struck. The place was dirty. Security was weak. And the person that met them complained because they were late! Bethany gave Ryan “the look.” It was not a happy moment. I’m surprised they even went into the worship service at this point. They both realized they made a bad decision.

By the way, when we interviewed members of this church, they consistently proclaimed a similar message: Our church is very friendly! And their church is friendly—as long as you know people. As long as you are on the inside. As long as you are not a guest. Ryan told us he would never return to that church. In fact, he told us he would never go to church again. Sadly, I believe him.

The Myth of the Welcoming Church

Therein lies the problem with most churches. Churches perceive they are a friendly church because the members are friendly to one another. But they don’t think about walking in the shoes of first-time guests. They don’t look at their facilities, their parking, their website, or their friendliness from a guest perspective.

Most church members have forgotten what it’s like to be a first-time guest. They now have established relationships in the church. They love their church. Their biases tell them their church is great.



When we asked hundreds of guests about their experiences visiting churches, it was not a pretty picture. We asked specifically why they did not return to a particular church. Here were their top ten responses:

1. The stand-and-greet time in the worship service was unfriendly and awkward. I discovered there were two issues with the stand-and-greet time. First, some guests just felt awkward with the exercise. It seemed to be a ritual more for the members than the guests. Second, a number of guests felt left out during the welcome. Either they were totally ignored, or they were inundated with what they perceived were superficial greetings.

2. Unfriendly church members. Most church members do not view themselves as unfriendly. But they do not see themselves from the perspective of church guests. They don’t usually speak to guests because they don’t know them. And the church members usually retreat to the comfort of the holy huddles of the people they do know.

3. Unsafe and unclean children’s areas. If your church does not have clear safety and security procedures, and if the children’s area does not appear clean and sanitary to the guests, do not expect young families to return. Indeed, as word about your children’s area grows, do not expect young families to visit the first time.

4. No place to get information on the church. Guests are trained by their experiences to look for a central welcome and information center. But some churches did not have any such information center. Some churches did have them, but you couldn’t find them. And some churches had no one manning the welcome center.

5. Bad church website. Nearly all the church guests checked the church website before they attended a worship service. Even if they decided to visit the church after looking at a bad website, they visited the church with a negative disposition. The two critical items guests want to see on a church website are the physical address of the church and times of the services. The website is now the front door of the church.

6. Poor signage. If you have been attending your church a few weeks, you don’t need signage. But guests do. And they get frustrated when they don’t have clear directional signage for parking, for the entrance to the worship center, for the children’s area, and others.

7. Insider church language. Listen to the words in the worship service of your church. Listen to the announcements. Listen to the sermon. Listen to the casual conversations. Are members saying things that a first-time guest would not understand? Church guests said they left some churches thinking that much of the language was foreign and filled with acronyms.

8. Boring or bad church services. In the past, church leaders of small churches would tell me they didn’t have the resources for quality services. In the digital age, with so many affordable resources, no church is allowed that excuse.

9. Members telling guests they were in the wrong pew or chair. I thought this rude and insensitive behavior disappeared years ago. The church guests told us otherwise. In fact the most common comment was, “You are sitting in my pew.”

10. Dirty facilities. Some of the comments were brutal: “Didn’t look like it had been cleaned in a week.” “No trash cans anywhere.” “Restrooms were worse than a bad truck stop.” “Pews had more stains than a Tide® commercial.” You get the picture. A dirty church communicates to the guest, “We really don’t care.”



The Happy Guests

To be fair, in our study of first-time church guests, we heard from a number of them who had really pleasant experiences, and decided to return. Let’s look at the top ten responses from the perspective of the happy guest. I have included in this list direct quotes from the happy guests.

1. Someone asked the guest to sit with her. “You know, as a single person, I can feel pretty lonely sitting by myself. I am so glad Joanie asked me to sit with her. We plan to get together for coffee.”

2. People introduced themselves to the guests. “Several people introduced themselves to me. I did not get the impression it was either contrived or routine.”

3. There was clear signage. “From the parking lot to the children’s area to the worship center, everything was clearly marked. It was easy to navigate.”

4. There was a clearly marked welcome center. “It made it really easy for me to ask questions and to get some information on the church.”

5. The kids loved the children’s area. “My kids were so happy with their experiences. We will be back for sure.”

6. The children’s area was secure and sanitary. “That is one of the first things I check when I go to a church. This church gets an A+!”

7. Guest parking was clearly visible. “From the moment we drove into the parking lot, I could find the guest parking. It was marked very well.”

8. The church did not have a stand-and-greet time. “My wife and I just moved to the area and are visiting churches. If we visit one with that fake stand-and-greet time, we don’t return.”

9. The members were not pushy. “They seemed to really care about us rather than just making us another number on the membership roll.”

10. The guest card was simple to complete. “Some of the cards in other churches ask for too much information. This one was perfect and simple.”

Which list more accurately describes your church?

So the first step in becoming a welcoming church may be the admission that your church may not really be a welcoming church.

Adapted from Becoming a Welcoming Church by Dr. Thom S. Rainer. The study that follows, “Welcome Home,” complements the principles presented in this book. To learn more about how to welcome guests, read the book, Becoming a Welcome Church, by Dr. Thom S. Rainer (B&H, 2018).

Churches perceive they are a

friendly church because the

members are friendly to one

another. But they don’t think

about walking in the shoes of

first-time guests.



B Y D W A Y N E M C C R A R Y

We want new people to visit and join our Bible study groups, right? The life of open ongoing Bible study groups depends on guest attendance. When traveling, I will sometimes attend a Bible study group as a guest. In doing so, I have gathered a list of things that can make a guest scream with frustration.

1. Make them walk across the room to find a chair. You enter the room (usually late because you had to find where the group met) and the only empty chair is on the other side of the room. In some cases, the group leader is positioned in such a way that makes it impossible to simply slip in unnoticed. Please be sure at least one or two chairs are available near the door.

2. Provide them a nametag that is different from everyone else’s. Everyone wearing a printed nametag lets me know I am not “in the club.” Handing me a red marker when everyone else has nametags in black also raises my suspicions. Let me be a part of your club!

3. Put them on the spot. One way to put someone on the spot is asking them to introduce themselves. Didn’t anyone in the group catch my name earlier? If I didn’t share during the group time, why would I want to share now? Guests also can be put on the spot in so many more ways: the leader directs a specific question toward the guest or puts the guest in charge of an activity, or the leader asks a guest to read or pray aloud.

4. Make it hard to participate. Be sure to have extra resources on hand. Give the guest a Bible and a personal study guide, if needed, to make it easy for that person to participate. If they want to keep the Bible or resource provided, let that individual do so.

5. Tell inside jokes, stories, or terms. Every group has a “code,” and the order of doing things and the way you reference things make up part of that code. Experiences within the group also make up that code. “You remember how that worked out when we were building that playground for the community” means nothing to the person who didn’t even know the community had a playground. Don’t be so exclusive. Guests need you to clue them in to what happened with that playground—and explain jokes or unspoken rules.

6. Forget their names. Most of us like it when people remember our names. If your group has so many guests that you can’t remember their names ten minutes after you met them, then maybe it’s time to start a new group!

7. Ignore them. It’s one thing to not put guests on the spot, but it’s another thing to ignore them altogether. If a guest wants to contribute to the discussion, let her do so. If he volunteers to read aloud, by all means, encourage him to do so. After the group time is over, make the effort to talk to guests or contact them. We want to know that someone noticed we were there!

HOW TO FRUSTRATE A GUEST

G. Dwayne McCrary is a project team leader for ongoing Adult Bible study resources at LifeWay Christian Resources, including the Adult Explore the Bible resources. He also teaches an adult group and preschool group every Sunday in the church he attends.

This article originally appeared on the Groups Ministry blog. For more articles on leading your group, visit: lifeway.com/groupministry.


18

WELCOME HOME



There’s no place like home.

The most powerful communication tools we have at our disposal are often not our words. Experts in communication consistently tell us that much of our communication is presented in a non-verbal way.

The teenager who says, ”Yes, Sir,” yet rolls her eyes.

The teacher who says he values interaction but lectures in a monotone voice without ever pausing for questions.

The job candidate who claims confidence in her ability to do the job but fidgets in her seat with the only break being nervous laughter.

These people are all saying something, but what they are communicating is quite different from what they are saying.

What are we communicating to those who come to our church or Bible study group for the very first time? What are we really saying? We might be verbalizing words of welcome, but we might also be presenting a message that says just the opposite.

In this study, we will examine what we are really saying. We will look deeply into the posture and attitude that exemplifies the right kind of invitation. We will look at what we need to do so that, when we encounter those who are just beginning to come around to the truth of God and His church, they don’t just hear, but also feel the same welcome God has given us in Christ.

“You are welcome. We’re glad you are here.”

MICHAEL KELLEY

Michael is a husband, dad, author, and speaker. He serves as the Director of Groups Ministry at LifeWay Christian Resources, and in all those arenas is trying to help people have a holistic view of what it means to be formed in Jesus.

Michael is also the author of Boring, Wednesdays Were Pretty Normal, which tells the story of his ten-year-old son’s battle with leukemia, and recently released a new book, Growing Down.

The “Welcome Home” study complements the book, Becoming a Welcoming Church, by Dr. Thom S. Rainer.



Find additional tools and resources to support this study, all available online at BibleStudiesForLife.com/AdultExtra.

Welcome Home

Session 1 Reality Check Titus 3:3-11

Session 2 Open Arms James 2:1-10

Session 3 Gracious Hospitality 1 Peter 4:7-11

Session 4 Intentional Love Luke 10:25-37

Session 5 Authentic Joy 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Session 6 Going Out Acts 16:6-15


B I B L E S T U D I E S F O R L I F E 21B I B L E S T U D I E S F O R L I F E 21

The PointOur lives should serve as a welcome mat into the church.

The PassageTitus 3:3-11

The Bible Meets Life If you’re like me, you could practically get home with your eyes closed. You’ve made the trip so

many times you know it by heart: the bumps in the road, the places to turn, and even the way the

sun shines through the trees. So imagine one day you take this same road. You come to your house

but when you get inside everything is different. The pictures on the wall have been replaced. The

furniture is arranged the wrong way. Even the smell is different. The address is right, the house is

correct, yet everything is off. Many people feel the same way when they enter the church building.

They’ve heard Jesus is a friend of sinners and God loves the world. They’ve been led to believe the people

in church are friendly, and yet when they enter the building, they find something entirely inconsistent

with those things they’ve heard. We might think we’re welcoming, but the reality can be entirely

different. To ensure we’re a welcoming church, let’s go back to the beginning. We welcome others

because of the gospel.

The SettingAfter the apostle Paul was released from his first imprisonment in Rome (AD 60-62), he continued

his missionary work, taking his Gentile co-worker, Titus, along with him. One of the areas they

evangelized was the island of Crete. When the apostle moved on, he left Titus behind to appoint

elders in every town. (See Titus 1:5.) Paul wrote his letter to Titus around AD 63 to remind Titus of the

qualifications necessary for the elders, to describe the aspects of new life in Christ, and to encourage

Titus to teach sound doctrine and to rebuke those in the church who were spreading false doctrine.

SESSION 1

REALITY CHECK


22 S e S S i o n 1

Titus 3:3-113 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,

5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.

9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.

10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him,

11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

Washing of regeneration (v. 5)—A description of the Holy Spirit’s activity in a person who puts his or her faith in Christ, resulting in new birth. It is a synonym for salvation.

What does the Bible say?


Our lives should serve as a welcome mat into the church.THE POINT


Notes

Want to know about biblical culture, people, archaeology, and history? Biblical Illustrator has articles that tie to each session in this study at lifeway .com/BI .

GET INTO THE STUDYACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): In advance,

locate a welcome mat and put it at the

door to your room. Stand at the door

and welcome group members with a

handshake as they arrive. Direct them to

a table where you have arranged pastries,

fruit, juice, and coffee.

LEADER PACK: Display Pack Item 1, the “Welcome Home” poster, to introduce

the major theme of this study, along with

the specific focus of each session.

DISCUSS: Question #1 on page 13 of the Personal Study Guide (PSG): “What

makes a house feel like a home?” Allow time for each person to respond.

GUIDE: Direct group members to “The Bible Meets Life” on page 14 of the PSG. In-

troduce the importance of welcoming others by reading or summarizing the text—or

by encouraging group members to read it on their own.

GUIDE: Call attention to “The Point” on page 14 of the PSG: “Our lives should

serve as a welcome mat into the church.”

LEADER PACK: Display Pack Item 2, the “Welcome Mat” poster, to help group

members discuss “The Point.” Divide into subgroups of three or four people each, and

invite these subgroups to craft a gospel message. Combine ideas into one message

about the gospel you’d like your group to communicate to guests. Write this message

onto the blank “Welcome Mat” poster and hang this in your group’s meeting space.

PRAY: Transition into the study by asking the Lord to help us see our role in welcom-

ing others by living out the gospel.

5 minutes


Notes

24 S e S S i o n 1

10 minutes

Titus 3:3-8a

3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8a The saying is trustworthy,

READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Titus 3:3-8a on page 15 of the PSG.

GUIDE: Use the Commentary for these verses on the next page of this Leader

Guide to help group members understand the significance of ministry grounded

in the gospel.

DISCUSS: Question #2 on page 15 of the PSG: “How have you personally

experienced the kindness and love of God?”

ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): In advance, write each of the words from Titus 3:4-5

on separate index cards, one word per card. Scramble the cards. Challenge group

members to unscramble the order to create a verse (without telling them what

verse they are unscrambling). After they have completed the verse, ask Question

#2.

SUMMARIZE: Highlight the main points from page 16 of the PSG.

1. The gospel keeps us from looking down on others (v. 3).

2. The gospel reminds us what is possible (vv. 4-5).

3. The gospel points us to the future (vv. 6-7).

TRANSITION: The next verses demonstrate that not only is ministry grounded in

the gospel of Christ, but also it is a response to the gospel of Christ.

ALTERNATE QUESTION:What are the different elements of the gospel present in these verses?

STUDY THE BIBLE




Titus 3:3-8a Commentary

[Verse 3] Paul and Titus’s ministry was grounded in the gospel of Christ. Without Christ, human beings are enslaved to sin (see Rom. 6:6) and the devil. (See 2 Tim. 2:26.) Paul recalled what believers, including himself, were like before Christ. All unbelievers are foolish, not believing in God. (See Ps. 14:1.) They are disobedient to God’s will and ways. Such people are blinded by “the god of this world” (Satan) and led astray from God’s truth. (See 2 Cor. 4:4.)

[Verse 4] Against this seemingly hopeless backdrop, the gospel of Christ shines as a brilliant light. God displayed His goodness (compassion, benevolence) and loving kindness for humanity by acting as our Savior (deliverer). God’s goodness and loving kindness appeared when He broke into history through the incarnation, showing His goodness and love for humanity through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

[Verse 5] God saved us by satisfying His holy wrath against mankind’s sin. In Christ, God accomplished for us what we could never do for ourselves. This was done not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy. Our salvation is based only on what Jesus has done for us. It is God’s gift, demonstrating His mercy.

When a person repents and places his or her faith in Christ, he or she is redeemed by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. This is an internal, spiritual work of the Holy Spirit. “Washing of regeneration” communicates the reality that when sinners repent and place their faith in Christ, their sins are cleansed and they are spiritually reborn. Paul described this rebirth as a “new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17). Renewal is the transforming of the believer’s character into the image of Christ.

[Verses 6-7] God has graciously poured out His Holy Spirit richly on those who place their faith in our Savior Jesus Christ. When a person places his or her faith in Christ, that individual is justified. Justification is a legal term. It occurs at the moment of salvation, when the believer’s sins are placed on Christ (see Col. 2:13-14) and he or she receives the perfect righteousness of Christ. Through justification, the believer has peace with God and is permanently reconciled to God. (See Rom. 5:6-11.) This is accomplished solely by the grace of God. (See Eph. 2:4-9.)

At the moment of salvation, believers are freed from their slavery to sin and Satan. They are adopted as children of God and become His heirs. (See Rom. 8:14-17; Eph. 1:5.) Believers also have the hope of eternal life. The believer’s hope is based on God and the certainty of His promises. The believer’s future (glorification and eternal life with God), while not yet fully experienced, is guaranteed. (See Rom. 8:18-25.)

[Verse 8a] God’s promise concerning the believer’s salvation, both present and future, is a trustworthy statement. The believer’s salvation is secure. It’s not something we work for to win, but instead, it is something offered through God’s grace that we receive.


Notes

26 S e S S i o n 1

10 minutes

ALTERNATE QUESTION:What’s the difference in being saved by good works and devoting oneself to good works?

Titus 3:8b

8b and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.

READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Titus 3:8b on page 16 of the PSG.

GUIDE: Use the Commentary for these verses on the next page of this Leader

Guide to help group members understand how ministry is our personal response

to the gospel’s work in our lives.

RECAP: True, faithful, joy-filled, and sustained ministry to others flows out of the gospel of Jesus. That’s because what God has done in us through Jesus always works itself out in good works. This was exactly Paul’s point to Titus. Because of the gospel of Jesus, Titus should respond with ministry to others:

“These things are excellent and profitable for people.”

DISCUSS: Question #3 on page 17 of the PSG: “What are some ways you’ve

seen good works really make a difference?”

ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): In advance, invite someone in the group to prepare

a testimony of how God used the good works in someone else’s life to influence

him or her to follow Christ. Be sure to point out that the other person’s works could

never have saved him or her, but that the fruit of a redeemed life can often impact

others for Christ.

TRANSITION: The next verses demonstrate that ministry has no room for

personal preferences or self-centeredness.

STUDY THE BIBLE




Titus 3:8b Commentary

[Verse 8b] Ministry is our personal response to the gospel’s work in our lives. What God has done for us compels us to live differently from how we lived before we came to Christ. Whereas in the previous verses Paul had mainly been addressing justification, in the following verses he now turned his attention to the believer’s sanctification. While justification is a one-time event that occurs at the moment the believer places his or her faith in Christ, sanctification is the life-long process through which the believer is gradually transformed more and more into the image of Christ. These things refer to Paul’s description of salvation in the previous verses. Paul had laid out in detail what God has done for humankind. His merciful and gracious acts call for a response. Those who have believed God are those who have come to faith in Christ and become children of God. Their lives are changed both now and for all eternity. Elsewhere, Paul had described those who are believers in Christ as “light in the Lord” and “children of light,” as opposed to unbelievers who live in spiritual darkness. (See Eph. 5:8.) Because of what God has done for them in Christ, believers, in both gratitude and obedience, are to devote themselves to good works.

In the previous verses, Paul had primarily detailed what God had done for believers through Jesus Christ. However, having a correct theological understanding of the process of salvation by itself is not enough. As the apostle James warned in his letter, “faith apart from works is dead” (Jas. 2:26). A person is saved by grace through faith in Christ alone. However, as was briefly mentioned above, the internal transformation that occurs in the believer by the work of the Holy Spirit will be accompanied/demonstrated by an outward change in the person’s behavior (what Paul here calls good works), which is also the work of the Holy Spirit.

The believer in Christ is a new creation in Christ. (See 2 Cor. 5:17.) Elsewhere, Paul described this new creation when he commanded believers, “to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:24). Paul also described the life of the believer as walking by the Spirit (see Gal. 5:16), which yields the fruit of the Spirit. (See vv. 22-25.)

The believer moves from a life of ungodliness to one of godliness as he or she consciously chooses to live by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Paul urged Titus to exhort believers to be careful to devote themselves to such good works. Living as new creations in Christ is not automatic. Believers need to be careful in the sense of being thoughtful and deliberate in choosing how to live. This idea is further emphasized by the term translated devote. One meaning of the Greek word is practicing something diligently. Such works will be both excellent and profitable (useful) for people, meaning “for all people” in the sense of society in general.


Notes

28 S e S S i o n 1

15 minutes

ALTERNATE QUESTION:How can we reject a divisive person while still reflecting God’s grace?

Titus 3:9-11

9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Titus 3:9-11 on page 17 of the PSG.

DISCUSS: Question #4 on page 18 of the PSG: “What steps can we take to

redirect debates toward kingdom-focused conversations?”

SUMMARIZE: Highlight the main points from page 18 of the PSG. By focusing

on our self-centeredness, we reveal certain misunderstandings we have about the

church:

> Our role in the church.

> The composition of the church.

> The nature of the church.

DISCUSS: Question #5 on page 18 of the PSG: “How can the truths of these

verses help our group be more welcoming?”

DO: Direct group members to complete the activity, “My Preferences,” on page 19

of the PSG to help them understand how our preferences can impact the church.

For each of the following sentences (listed in the PSG), describe your preferences.

Then answer the questions.

Review your list of responses. Could any of your responses become a point of

conflict within the church? How does that type of conflict look to people who visit

your church?

GUIDE: Refer back to “The Point” for this session: “Our lives should serve as a

welcome mat into the church.”

STUDY THE BIBLE




Titus 3:9-11 Commentary

[Verse 9] One of the things Paul emphasized to Titus was that in the ministry of the church, there is no place for personal preferences or self-centeredness. In contrast to the good works, Paul listed behaviors which are inappropriate and to be avoided by believers. Foolish controversies were the rituals of the Greek philosophers as they spent their time on unsolvable problems. Paul used the same language when he warned Timothy to avoid foolish disputes because they cause needless arguments. (See 2 Tim. 2:23.) Genealogies were the pastime of Jewish rabbis as they speculated about genealogies from Old Testament characters. Elsewhere, Paul cautioned Timothy to avoid “myths and endless genealogies” (1 Tim. 1:4). Dissensions can take the form of disputes, altercations, or disagreements that are marked by a temporary or permanent break in friendship. Quarrels about the law were the practice of the Jewish scribes as they debated what one could and could not do and what was clean or unclean. The law is a reference to the Mosaic Law.

Why are such issues to be avoided? They are unprofitable and worthless. Often, endless discussions are an evasion of Christian practice. These unprofitable activities stand in contrast to good works, which are profitable. (See Titus 3:8.) Whereas true Christian fellowship is grounded in unity and love for one another, these activities yield only arguments and division, which hinder the spread of the gospel.

[Verse 10] Paul instructed Titus on how to deal with those within the body of Christ who stir up division. The Greek term for stirs up division has the meaning of one who creates and/or promotes factions. Such individuals promote dissensions or false teachings within the church body. The divisive person is to be given two warnings, after which he or she is to be rejected. Jesus prescribed the same strategy in Matthew 18:15-17 when dealing with conflicts between individuals within the church. Such a process demonstrates patience with and care for the individual. However, if such a person is unwilling to repent after being provided multiple opportunities, measures must be taken to preserve the unity of the body of Christ. The divisive individual is to be rejected (shunned; have nothing to do with such a person).

[Verse 11] When the divisive person refuses to reconcile and correct his or her behavior, the church has no other course than to discontinue fellowship with that individual. Paul wrote that Titus could be sure of three things about such a person. First, this person is warped. The Greek term describes someone who has gotten off and remains off track. It also carries the meanings of to turn inside out, pervert, or corrupt. This person is also continuing to willfully sin, in the sense of purposefully causing dissension within the church body. (See Titus 3:10.) Finally, this person is self-condemned. The individual has refused to repent and therefore through his continuing to sin takes part in his own condemnation.

Paul wanted everyone to live in harmony and peace with one another and with humility. (See Rom. 12:16,18.) But, often, the divisive person does not want harmony and does not want peace. When this is the case, expelling such an individual from the church body is the necessary action.


Notes

30 S e S S i o n 1

LIVE IT OUTGUIDE: Direct group members to page 20 of the

PSG. Encourage them to conduct a reality check by

choosing one or more of the follow applications:

Remind yourself. Identify a practical way you can remind yourself of the gospel this week.

List. Create a list of things that, in your opinion, would be the ideal way to “do” church. Identify which of those items are integral to the mission and ministry of the church and which ones are based on your personal preferences.

Befriend. Make an intentional effort to befriend someone who is different than you. Consider what you can do to make that person feel welcome in your church.

Wrap It Up

TRANSITION: Read or restate the final paragraph from page 20 of the PSG:

Our church may not be able to meet every person’s expectations, but if we are

transformed by the gospel, we can be a welcome mat rather than a stumbling

block to others.

PRAY: Conclude by thanking the Lord for the gift of His church. Ask God for His eyes and His encouragement that we would be a more welcoming place for others.

5 minutes

Free additional ideas for your group are available at BibleStudiesforLife.com/AdultExtra


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