Christian Reformed Home Missions | December 2010
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Home Stretch

Christmas busyness is past, and January feels like we hit the ground running. Any rest from routine that we enjoyed over the holidays is quickly consumed as we jump into this new year. Hopefully, at this time things continue like a well-oiled machine. This can be a great time to simply evaluate how things are going, and to consider what might need to take shape as we move forward in ministry. When ministry is in full swing, we still have the energy to focus on some new ideas. Often we wait until the end of the season, when everyone is tired, and needs a break. A better time to make some assessments is when things are going strong

Consider the calendar for the remainder of this season. Do your leaders. . . read more

itoguchi-shik-i

A silk worm spins its cocoon from a single strand of filament that may be as long as a mile. Normally, the useful length of filament that can be harvested and used to spin silk is about a quarter of that. The key to accessing that thread is to find the itoguchi. This is where the worm began to spin. The cocoon is soaked in a solution to kill the worm inside (lest it begin to eat its way out and destroy the filament) and to loosen the cocoon enough so that the itoguchi can be accessed. If you can succeed in gaining that foothold, you can unravel the whole cocoon. Then you are on your way to weaving a lovely neckties or kimono.

The term itoguchi has gained a figurative meaning in Japan. It is the point of contact or entry into a person’s heart. You may ask, what was your itoguchi for developing your love for chess, or golf, etc.? ...read more

Using Discover Your Bible in Your Small Group

Coffee Break uses a type of inductive Bible study, called Discover Your Bible, to introduce people to what the Bible says and means with the ultimate goal of meeting Jesus. It uses questions found in a study guide plus personalized questions from leaders to promote life change and not just intellectual understanding.

Inductive study methods originated with the scientific community several centuries ago, and it is used as a way to study the Scriptures today. The inductive process takes something apart, looks at the pieces in order to understand the whole. This approach assumes that the Bible can be understood simply by careful observation using the tool of ...read more