Counselor Tips

 
 
   

Program Ideas
Ships-A-Sail

John 6:16-21

The setting of the scripture reading took place on a ship. Our lesson is about the many ships in the lives of the disciples and how these same ships affect our own lives.

The Main ship in our life represents Salvation.
To get passage on this ship one must believe in Jesus Christ. In Acts 16:30-31 it says, “Sirs, What Must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”

After salvation, one has become eligible for membership in God’s family. Without the ship of salvation the other ships would drift aimlessly and soon shipwreck.

Let’s discover some of the other ships in our lives:

1. Out first ship is SONSHIP.
In John 3:1, the disciples were called “sons of God.”
What love God bestowed upon us that we be called the sons or daughters of God!

2. Our next ship is DISCIPLESHIP.
The disciples were workers and followers of Christ. In Luke 9:23, Jesus said the them, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me”. After placing trust in the salvationship, obtaining membership and becoming entitled to sonship, we are to take us our cross daily and follow Jesus. Do we?

3. Out third ship is COMPANIONSHIP.
In verse 16 of our scripture reading, the disciples went down together to the sea – they worked together. So much more work could be done if all members of the church would work together in harmony.

4. FRIENDSHIP is our next ship.
In verse 17, the disciples “entered into the ship and went over the sea”. They had formed a friendship with one another. We too need to be friendly. Encourage those that are slack in attending church and extend a friendly invitation to new members of the church.

5. Our fifth ship is RULERSHIP.

In verse 18, the sea arose “by reason.” Jesus was the ruler. He rules the wind and sea. If everyone let Jesus have full rule or reign in their life, what spirit filled meetings we would have. Are we letting Jesus have rulership of our heart and life?


6. SPORTSMANSHIP is our next ship.
Row boating is now a sport – though in the disciples’ days it was a ‘have to’ form of boating. Notice each disciple must have been a good sport and took his turn rowing because verse 19 says, “they had rowed about five and twenty and thirty furlongs.” A good sport is fair, generous and harbors no grudges. He or she doesn’t wear his or her feelings on their sleeve. Be a good Sport! A consecrated Christian has a sportsmanship spirit.

7. Our seventh ship is PARTNERSHIP.
In verse 19 we see the disciples were in partnership with one another because its says, “they” – not one or two but ALL. They were in business together – the business of winning lost souls. We should be in business for Christ, winning lost souls through witnessing, though prayer, visitation and support of the missionaries. All the disciples were needed. The same is true in our church. Do your part and be a good partner to Christ.

8. Our next ship is LEADERSHIP.
In verse 21, Jesus said, “It is I: (your leader) be not afraid.” He wants to be the leader in our lives, our meetings and everywhere. There will be no turmoil as long as we follow the leadership of the perfect leader – Christ.

9. Our last ship is FELLOWSHIP.
Look at verse 21, “Then they willingly received Him.” The disciples were happy to see and to be with Jesus. They had true Christian Fellowship with the savior as well as with one another. Therefore, they had sweet fellowship. What kind of fellowship do you have with your best friend one can have – Jesus? Are you so busy that you don’t have time to fellowship with Him? How about your fellowship with others? Even in services do you dash in and out never fellowshipping with others?

All ships, large or small, have an anchor. A ship without an anchor is asking for trouble because an anchor will hold the ship in place during a storm keeping it from going adrift into the storm, possibly drifting into enemy territory or complete destruction of the vessel. Also, jeopardizing the lives of those aboard. Jesus is the anchor and no ship should be entered or taken a sail without Him abroad. In Luke 8:23-24, it says, but as they sailed He fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to Him, and woke Him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then He arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.” Then Mark 4:35-39, shows that Jesus not only calmed the storm for the disciples’ ship but for the “other little ships” too.

We will sing the song, “We Have an Anchor.”

 

 

Fundraising Ideas

 Spaghetti Lunch

Immediately after your morning service.  Ask your church (or WMA if you have one) to provide the food so that all money received would be pure profit.

 
First you will need to confirm with your Pastoral staff/church office a date.
 
Use a variety of ways to make sure everyone is invited:
     Make use of your church's weekly bulletin.
     Make sure it is placed in the Sunday order of Worship (if you are allowed).
     Make cute invitation and place them inside the attendance book for each adult Sunday school class.  Do this for at least 3 weeks.
     If your church uses a projector to advertise activities of the church, make sure you turn yours in with another notice to get it on "air".
     Ask for a couple of minutes the week before and the day of the event to invite from the pulpit.
 
On the day of the event, make sure you have someone (preferably) one of your girls, out front to take the money.  Have a sign stating, "Donations requested" on the table with a decorated basket.  Have a price in mind for the cost...some people will want to know how much is needed.  Make sure the girl knows what you need.  If everything is donated, generally for adults a cost of $3 and for kids under 12 $1.  Also, have a little something on the table about what you plan to do to the money.  IE:  help pay camp fees, provide for a certain project, purchase gifts for the children's home, etc.
 
Before the event, recruit many moms (also some WMA ladies would be helpful) to help with the decorations, cooking, serving.  Make sure the girls know that they are to help with all of this also.  People don't mind supporting anything if they see the kids in action also. 
 
Also, talk to whomever is in charge of cleaning your building.  Let them know what you will need in the way of tables, chairs, tablecloths, etc.  Also, make sure that you and your girls stick around to help in the clean up.   
 
If you are using plates, cups, etc from the church, at least 2 weeks prior to the event contact your church secretary to make sure they will have enough on the day of the lunch.
 
After the event, make sure you use the above named venues to send a BIG THANK YOU to all and let them know how much you raised.
 
 

 

  Party Ideas