What is my Second Life? ^Featured

A great Bible Talk takes a good deal of work. It's an investment that must be made in order to be fun, attractive, and interesting to draw people in. Here's the things we have learned to do in order to maximize the experience:

Tasks before BT series begins:

1. I send the BT lesson out to every disciple via email beforehand so it can be read and they can think about comments or stories to share in advance.
2. Every Christian is assigned a responsibility like organizing food, child's lesson, pre-activity, etc. because everyone must take responsibility and use their gifts to make it successful and to keep anyone from becoming overwhelmed with too much work.
3. All responsibilities are assigned in advance of the series and a schedule is distributed before the series begins.
4. Post BT mementos - we send some sort of reminder craft home with every family of the lesson. In this case, we had coasters printed with the theme of the BT on them and we distributed them at the end of the lesson every week.
5. Almost every BT was written and edited at least two weeks before it was presented-this makes it easier for the leader and clearer because of editing.
6. Select videos to show that enhance the discussion or topic.
7. Pre-lesson activity - before the BT, we gather all the families and do a pre-BT activity that involves the kids. It's always fun and loosens everyone up.
8. Children's activity -children 10 and under will do an activity in another room while the adults have BT.

Day of Bible Talk:

1. Pre-Talk checklist - I created a checklist of items to go through before BT. These task include things like adjusting the home temperature, lighting scented candles, silencing phones, tuning on music, computer setup, preparing the coat room, turning on the outside driveway lights, and other things to enhance the experience and reduce distractions.
2. Food - Open with a prayer-we do our food at the beginning rather than after for a couple reasons: First, everyone is distracted by it so we eat at the beginning. Secondly, any food that winds up the kids will have some time to digest and they will burn off that energy rather than being "amped up" right before they go home. We also avoid caffeine as well for this very reason.
3. Pre-lesson activity -after we eat, we gather families around and have a group activity. The more riotous, the better and more fun. We aim ours to last 5 to 10 minutes but no more than 10.
4. The Bible Talk intro - I do three things: First, welcome everyone and introduce the topic, secondly, ask everyone to silence their cell phones and electronic devices, and thirdly, coach everyone to make comments, tell stories, and stay away from one word responses to questions.
5. The Bible Talk - Here's where you conduct the lesson and discussion. I try to include good videos that expand or expound on the topic-I use a projector and play the youtube videos I select above the mantle of our fireplace.
6. Conclusion - go over the BT points, issues the bible study invitation, hand out the post BT memento, thank everyone for coming and close with a prayer.
7. Fellowship - talk to as many visitors and ask them about the lesson and set up any studies.

We gave this lesson, "What is my Second Life ?

Dan LaFever