Training - this area includes: life management skills, leadership, church, ministry

• Biblical Life Management skills in dealing with Stress
• Capturing the Heart of God for a Lost World
• Effective Leadership Principles
• Embracing God’s Purpose for Your Life
• Good News to Share (Guest chat with Doris Beck)
• Making a Maximum Impact for God
• Ministering to Those in Ministry 
• Overcoming Bumps and Bruises of Ministry
• Recognizing God’s Call on Your Life
• Sharing Our Faith In Today’s World
• Tell It Often, Tell It Well: Learning How to Share Your Faith 
• The Myth of the Perfect Church

Note: For additional chats about sharing your faith, see the Spiritual Growth curriculum.

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Biblical Life Management skills in dealing with Stress

Stress has become a “buzz word” for this generation. Everyone encounters stress and struggles with feeling overwhelmed by their world. Though one would hope and desire that it would be different for Christians it seems to be that believers struggle with stress just as much as non-believers. There must a way that we can overcome the difficulties we encounter.

We will be discussing a few tools as to how we can be overcomers and cope with the struggles in our lives. How do we take the difficulties and make the most of them before they take the most from us?

• How does one learn to say “No”?
• How can unresolved relationship problems increase stress?
• What are some coping mechanisms that work?
• What amplifies stress in our life? How do we avoid this?
• How can a relationship with Jesus decrease stress?

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Capturing the Heart of God for a Lost World

As Christians we are invited into a cause much bigger than ourselves! One that supernaturally changes lives, brings life to parched souls and hope to a hurting world. God loves lost souls and we have the privilege of being ushers for the Kingdom of Heaven, taking on the adventure of ushering others into Heaven. Join us tonight as we chat about ways to make ourselves more available to do God’s work.

• What does Matthew 28:19 command us to do?
• As God’s people we are commissioned to become participants in spreading the Gospel. What hinders us from doing this important job?
• How is God’s power released when we share His message of grace?
• “Witnessing is not about selling, it is about being a living example of Christ’s love in us.” Discuss this statement.
• Share effective ways to tell others about Jesus.
• How can we begin to take our eyes off ourselves and look into more eternal adventures?

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Effective Leadership Principles

What kind of an influence are you on your family and friends? What about your influence on those you rub shoulders with at church or during your week? For some, that circle of influence seems small, while for others it seems the ripples of influence are seen at some distance. Our influence, whether intentional or unconscious, impacts the lives of those around us. Are we leading them in ways of wisdom and grace? Are we growing in our ability to lead? Will we be accountable to God for our leadership (influence)? Join us as we discuss principles of effective leadership tonight.

• In your opinion, what woman was/is one of the greatest leader in your lifetime?
• What important principles must a leader demonstrate?
• Can we trust God to develop leadership qualities in our lives?

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Embracing God’s Purpose for Your life

Related Article: Finding Purpose

http://www.christianwomentoday.com/growth/purpose.html

Have you ever watched a group of children try to hit a piñata while blindfolded….or play Pin the Tail on the Donkey? Good-natured teasing and laughter accompany repeated attempts as we laugh at the absurdity of trying to reach a goal while blindfolded.

How often do we live our lives “blind-folded,” having a vague idea of which direction we want to go, but really lacking the certainty of knowing our purpose? Without knowing that purpose, we soon tire of the “game” and become frustrated. Is there a way to remove that blindfold that limits our effectiveness? Can we move with clearer vision into the life that God has prepared for us? We’d love for you to join us as we explore “Embracing God’s Purpose for Your Life.”

• What are some steps to trusting God to shape our lives?
• What is involved in surrendering our lives to God?
• How do we know what God is saying to us about our life purpose?
• What are some things that keep us from doing what God has called us to do?
• How do we deal with fears or barriers to trusting God with our life
  purpose?

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Good News to Share (Guest author chat with Doris Beck)

Recently I heard a pastor from South Africa share that he had visited a remote village with no radio, no TV, no newspapers or internet. Messages to the village had to be given person to person, for they had no media connection to the rest of the world. Yet within 3 days after 9/11, they had heard of the attack on the World Trade Center in New York. To our shame as believers, there are people who have not yet heard of the greatest news ever, that of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ 2000 years ago. Let’s consider together the privilege of sharing this wonderful good news with those we meet in our communities and online.

• Tonight’s topic is ‘Good News to Share’….what is that referring to? What is that “good news”?
• How can we effectively share this good news with someone we’ve never seen before and may never see again? (i.e., chat environment)
• What are some common fears that keep us from sharing our faith?·
• What are some of the unique challenges faced when sharing this good news in a chat room?
• What role does the Holy Spirit play in sharing this good news with others?
• Are there resources available to us to help us learn how to share our faith?
• Can you share a story of how God has used this chatroom to bring someone to faith in Christ?
• How can we help a new believer to grow in their faith?
• When someone does not make a decision for Christ, we may feel like we’ve failed. How can we deal with this? (or, How can we share, and still leave the results to God?)
• Are there good ways to make a transition from a problem someone faces to how to find God’s help for those problems?

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Making a Maximum Impact for God

Jesus called us to be fishers of men in Mark 1: 17, 18. What does this mean and how do we go about it in our daily life? Join our chat tonight as we encourage one another to make a maximum impact for God.

• Read Mark 1:17,18. How are following Jesus and fishing for men related?
• Carefully read through Matthew 9:35, 36 and discuss Jesus’ strategies for fishing for men. (chat host notes: go to the people, share the Gospel, compassion)
• How do we raise our capacity to love lost people?
• When we feel resistant to sharing the Gospel, what should we do? (Matthew 9:37, 38)
• Look up Matthew 10:11, Luke 10:7; how do these verses instruct us? (chat host notes: look for receptive people)
• How does Matthew 10:19, 20 encourage us?
• “You don’t become a missionary by crossing the sea, but by seeing the cross.” Discuss online and off line witnessing opportunities.

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Ministering To Those In Ministry

Related Article: 19 Ways to Encourage Others http://www.christianwomentoday.com/growth/encourage.html

We all have people in our lives who have commited themselves to a life of sacrifice and full time ministry. How can we best come along side them and encourage them? What are some ways that our families can take part in showing appreciation for our pastor’s and their families? Join us tonight as we discuss creative ideas to minister to those in ministry.

• Share some creative ways to show appreciation to those in ministry.
• How can we effectively pray for those in ministry?
• How can we encourage and show support to those in ministry?
• For those in the mission field overseas, how can we best communicate appreciation to them?
• What are some creative ways to involve our families in these ideas?

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Overcoming Bumps and Bruises of Ministry

Have you ever been hurt while doing ministry? Has it made you cynical of serving? If you say yes, unfortunately there are many like you. Satan seeks to devour and disable believers. He seems to have discovered that if he can weaken believers by allowing bitterness and dissention to develop during ministry - he has accomplished a lot. This is not God’s design that we would be hurt like this through ministry, however He does provide the tools we need to be overcomers of these kinds of painful struggles.

It was once said that Satan was having a garage sale of all his tools. While he was getting rid of everything - he did keep back one item - “the wedge”. He said “as long as I have the wedge I can do all the damage I need”. Let’s encourage one another today during our discussion on the power of being an overcomer with Christ’s strength.

• How does one positively recover from a hurtful situation in ministry?
• How can we discover the ministry that God created us for?
• How can we develop (or discover our) passion for ministry?
• How does one discern the difference between serving God and serving people?
• How can we graciously deal with controlling people in ministries that we are involved with?
• What things in ministry can cause us to become weary and feel burdened? How can we avoid these?

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Recognizing God’s Call on Your Life

We are all wired differently, some live on the edge while others thrive on playing it safe. People who are invaded by the Spirit of God are described as passionate and bold in the Bible. Come join our chat as we discover the adventure of God’s call on our lives.

• Read Ephesians 2:10, 1 Corinthians 7:23 and discuss God’s promise.
• Looking ahead what phrases or words would you like your epitaph to read?
• How do our burdens and passions indicate God’s call on our lives?
• Share what your goal post in life is. What things energize you in life?
• What do we do if we don’t sense any burdens? Read Jeremiah 33:3 and share your thoughts.
• How do you face fears and overcome past failures in moving ahead with God’s call?
• How do we begin to put feet to our God given passions and gifts?
• Where does our strength and guidance come from?
• How do we sustain motivation and overcome spiritual battles?
• Close in a time of prayer asking God for passionate hearts to do all He has called us to do.

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Sharing Our Faith In Today’s World

Related Article: A Sip for the Soul http://www.christianwomentoday.com/training/sip.html

We all have that desire to share our faith with those around us, but sometimes we feel inadequate and at a loss for words when the time seems right. How do you put into words the hope and joy that we experience as Christians? When is the best time to share our stories with others? Join us tonight as we discuss exciting ways to witness to those around us.

• What are some common fears that keep us from sharing our faith?
• How can we overcome these fears?
• What are some key factors to consider in sharing our faith effectively?
• Share some creative tools or ways that you have shared your faith.
• How can we use seasonal times of the year in a creative way to share our faith?

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Tell it Often, Tell it Well: Learning How to Share Your Faith

Remember the first speech you ever had to give? You had something you were
supposed to communicate. You probably knew the subject itself, but the “how
to” sure was an obstacle! When it comes to sharing something close to your
heart, you want to communicate it clearly, with no misunderstandings. When
we talk about our faith, those basic beliefs we hold dear, our relationship
with our Savior, we sure want to “Tell It Well.” We invite you to join us
today as women share how they seek to share their faith with others in their
communities and around the world.

• What does God tell us about sharing our faith?
• Discuss Matthew 28: 18-20 and describe the Great Commission.
• What does it mean to make disciples?
• What are some creative ways to share our faith?
• How do we share with resistant people?
• What role does prayer play in sharing our faith?
• How does the Holy Spirit help us?
• How should we pray for non-believers?

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The Myth of the Perfect Church

Have you ever gone shopping for a dress for a special day, or just the right accessory for an outfit or a room in your home? Though it takes hours, even days, we often hunt high and low for that “perfect” item.
Have you ever been on a hunt for the perfect church? Perhaps you had moved into a new community or some family needs caused you to consider a change. Maybe you’d been away from a local church for some time, and then wanted to find a place to worship and to fellowship with others. Some may even be considering a change of churches right now because of changes in the church or some hurt experienced. Come as we share insights together regarding “The Myth of the Perfect Church.”

• Should you move on if your church isn’t meeting your needs?
• Is it possible to have a perfect church with imperfect people?
• What are your expectations as to why you go to church?
• Do you think God could use you in your church?
• Do we get impatient with the time it takes to build relationships?
• Do we allow a person or hurtful situation to change how we see the church? How can we rise above that?
• Does God at times meet our needs in different ways than we expect?
• Are we patient with the change that churches go through?
• Let’s discuss some ways to consider our complaint before we bring them to church leaders.