We are so excited to BLAST OFF with you into loving God and loving others!

Get ready for some cool ways that we can blast closer to God – that’s our mission training – and serve others – that’s our mini-missions!

There will be time to explore with your church, your family and on your own.  All the while, God will be at the center!

This month we will be focusing on study.  This practice helps us to

November Mission Training and Mini Missions

Each week throughout November on Instagram and on this Facebook Page we will post a Mission Training (on Mondays) and a Mini Mission (on Thursdays) Follow us for these posts and more family faith forming posts. Share with the families in your community and invite them to follow us too! Want to see the posts we will be sharing? Or are you or the families in your community not on Instagram of Facebook? You can see all of November’s posts here.

Family time capsule

During this exceptional year, wouldn’t it be interesting to create a record of what God is doing in your family as you grow together?

This is easy – with a few prompts, you can create a cool time capsule. You can do it in a journal or notebook.  (If your really keen, check out some ideas we have gathered on crafty time capsule ideas that we have compiled on this Pinterest board)

November Questions:

PRO-TIP: Date your pages!

Name 3 things that are going on in your family right now.

What is church like now? How has covid changed your church time? What do you miss about being back at church in person?

Take a picture of the whole family outside in the leaves.

What do you like about studying the bible? What do you find challenging?

What has God been saying to you as you have been studying the bible?

What is one way you can share God’s love this month?

What is one thing you would like to pray for your family members this month?

Learning Space

Ministry leaders, are you looking for more resources and ideas for incorporating this month’s discipline into your ministry? Here are a few to consider:

For your own learning:

Understanding Study is a helpful article from Renovare.

Check out the Bible Project. There are lots of free resources available on the webpage and there are lots of free videos available on the youtube channel.

Study the Bible through Lectio Divina is a helpful article about another approach to Bible study.

Ideas for Families:

8 Ways to Help Kids Fall in Love with God’s Word is has some great tips for parents.

How to Study the Bible for kids is a free resource that parents can give to their kids to help them grow in study of Scripture.

Teaching the Bible can be simple is a brief post with helpful tips for parents.

Spiritual Disciplines for Real Families: Fun Ways to Study God’s Word is full of resources and free printables. You could share this article with families or choose specific ideas to share.

Ideas for teaching kids:

What’s In the Bible is a video series that uses puppets and songs to teach kids the Bible from Genesis through Revelation. There is a church version that contains a sunday school curriculum. Subscribe to the youtube channel for free videos.

This post has some free resources for teaching kids Lectio Divina.

Building Faith has helpful tips for leading Lectio Divina with kids.

Intergenerational Worship Experience

Pastors – Blast off with your whole congregation with this intergenerational exercise.  It’s something everyone can do, regardless of age.  This is a practical option if your services are online, too.

Pastors, try teaching a bible story during your church time modelling the SOAP approach –

Scripture: What did I read?

Observation: What did God say?

Application: What does this have to do with me?

Prayer: Dear God…

Model this simple approach that kids and adults can use at home to approach any scripture. Include these questions in your bulletin or in your chat feature to make it accessible to everyone.