Hey, Everybody!
It’s almost May and, around here, that means it’s time to announce our Siesta Summer Bible Study for those who are itching to take a journey together. In all these years of doing summer Bible study together here on the blog, we’ve never gone through one I’ve authored. The biggest reason is that I really love to go through other authors’ courses with our blog community. That’s a refreshing blast of Holy Spirit-breath to me and you can count on us doing that again next summer. The other reason is that the launch date of one of mine never coincided well with the beginning of summer. With Children of the Day (an in-depth study of 1st and 2nd Thessalonians) coming out in May, the timing works out perfectly. I ask you to trust my heart on this and know that we’re not doing the study this summer so that I can drive up sales. I can’t prove my motives to you but I give you my word. That’s all I know to do. Any of you who still find it uncomfortable can, by all means, choose another Bible study by a different author and feel completely welcome to formulate your group right here in the comment section to this post. Just start your comment with the words in all caps “ANOTHER OPTION” and get together on line and choose which Bible study you’d like to do. There are so many fabulous ones available. You have my complete and joyful blessing to use this community to put your group together. Any way we can serve you is a tremendous honor to us.
For those of you who would like to do Children of the Day with our community this summer, here are a few important facts:
* We’ll start Tuesday, June 3, 2014. Around here at Living Proof, we formed the habit of Tuesday Bible study over the years so that’s why we choose it as our gathering day but you are welcome to commit to any day of the week that works for you. Simply adapt the instructions to that particular day.
* Children of the Day is an 8-week study so we will wrap it up on Tuesday, July 29, 2014.
* As we’ve done in past summers, we’re only asking you to commit to “gather” with us and/or with your group every other week since summers are so busy. We will still stay on schedule for each week’s homework but you’ll only need to check in once every 2 weeks.
* I will put up a short video greeting here on the blog by 8:00 AM every other week on our gathering days, starting with Tuesday, June 3rd. The greeting will include instructions for discussion in your small groups or with the blog community at large. Your “discussion” with the blog community will take place through your response-comment to that post.
* We strongly recommend forming small groups for the pure camaraderie and accountability of it but you are also very welcome to go solo. The best small groups of all meet face-to-face but, if that’s not possible, try to formulate one on line. You might even Skype. Do whatever would benefit you the most and offer you the fellowship we all need so desperately.
* You only need the Children of the Day workbook to participate in the summer study. You don’t need to download the video sessions. All discussion questions will be based on the written work alone, as we’ve done in past summers, so that no one is forced into the extra expense. Each week we will put up a link to that week’s COTD video session for those who also want to include those but I will leave that option entirely to you. There will be no pressure whatsoever. People often ask if the video sessions and homework portions are the same lessons. They are not. They are designed to complement one another for a comprehensive approach to 1st and 2nd Thessalonians but they are not redundant. They are on different segments and concepts found in the 2 letters.
Does that answer many of your questions? OK, now for the schedule:
Between release date (first week of May) and June 3rd, acquire a workbook of Children of the Day but don’t start it yet! No homework needs to be done before our first gathering. The workbook looks like this:
You can find it at your local LifeWay Christian bookstore by the first week of May, or click here to order online at any time: COTD workbook
GATHERING ONE: June 3, 2014 – Our summer Bible study launches! By 8:00 AM that morning, God willing, you will find a brief video greeting from me and instructions for that day’s participation/discussion. Again, you can do it any day that week. We’re just choosing Tuesday as our official gathering day. You will “register” for summer Bible study by leaving a comment on the June 3rd post with your name and city and whether or not you are participating in a group or going solo. I will give you the specific instructions at that time. At the bottom of the post will be a link for that weeks’ full-hour Session 1 video if you choose to add on that option.
Do Weeks 1 and 2 of homework for Gathering Two.
(June 10th – link will go up for COTD Session 2 video for anyone going for that option.)
GATHERING TWO: Tuesday June 17, 2014. Brief video greeting from me and instructions for that day’s gathering or discussion. (Link for COTD Session 3 video for anyone taking that option.)
Do Weeks 3 and 4 of homework for Gathering 3.
(June 24th – Link will go up for COTD Session 4 video for anyone taking that option.)
GATHERING THREE: July 1, 2014. Brief video greeting from me and instructions for that day’s gathering or discussion. (Link for COTD Session 5 video for anyone taking that option.)
Do Weeks 5 and 6 of homework for Gathering Four.
(July 8th – Link will go up for COTD Session 6 video for anyone taking that option.)
GATHERING FOUR: July 15, 2014. Brief video greeting from me and instructions for that day’s gathering or discussion. (Link for COTD Session 7 video for anyone taking that option.)
Do Weeks 7 and 8 of homework for Gathering Five.
(July 22 – Link will go up for COTD Session 8 video for anyone taking that option.)
GATHERING FIVE CONCLUSION: July 29, 2014. Brief video greeting from me and instructions for that day’s gathering and closing. (Link for COTD Session 9 video conclusion for anyone taking that option.)
Here is the above schedule in diagram form thanks to my beloved assistant, K-Mac. You can enlarge it to see it better or copy and paste it to a document and print it out if you’re that kind of weird person…because I am, too:
Sound fun??!? Yep, it also sounds like a bit of work but not a single word of Scripture will drop to the ground. We can have confidence in advance that the pursuit of Christ through His Word will completely alter the summer of 2014. I’m ecstatic to have the privilege of spending these 8 weeks with you in Bible study. You are a tremendous joy to me. Our God-given emphasis right now at Living Proof is on stirring up women who are less-discipled in Scripture to come to love Christ through His powerful, living, relevant Word. We would be thrilled for you to help us by inviting some women along who have never before done this kind of thing. Take the chance and ask them! So many women have a hunger for God. They just don’t know exactly how to identify it. Bring them along if God opens that door!
Can’t wait to get started! Dearest love to you all!
Beth
Group of about 7 siestas in Roscoe, Illinois! Very excited!! we don’t do a Bible studies during the summer so this will be great!
Nicole
Loganville, GA
Group 4+
Name: Tink Leonard
City: Crawfordville, FL
Solo or small group if I can get one going.
I MISS the presence of God that I find during these studies.
Quirks: Love cats. My husband won’t go on walks with me any more because every time we go out, a kitten or two will find me. I can’t turn them away.
small group 3-4
Central Ohio….we NEED this study Beth..one of us lost a son home on leave from the AirForce in a car accident, one has several prodical kids she loves with all her heart, one has a family member in ministry that has fallen into sin and denial, one is our pastors wife with all her responsibilities..nuff said 🙂
Going Solo, but soooo excited about the study! Gods word just transforms you! Thank you lifeway!
Solo – Michigan
Solo
1. Belinda Ortiz
2. Kissimmee, Florida
3. Solo
4. you inspire me, want to get deeper in the word and closer to God
5. My son says I’m obsessed with cleaning the counter top, but I tell him because he always leaves it dirty.
Solo- am looking for a study to do with my teachers this next fall, and I need the discipline of a good study to keep me digging deeper in God’s Word! Have a friend who is also going through this study in preparation to lead it in her Fall ladies Bible Study. That encouraged me to do the same!
Solo- am looking forward to another Beth Moore Study! Need the discipline of studying the Word deeper, and this will help me do it! Winterset, IA
Jody
Evansville
Solo
I haven’t done a Beth Moore bible study for years. Going through a dry season and need to be refreshed and renewed.
Athens, GA
Partnering with my BFF in VA
This will be my first Beth Moore bible study
Solo.
Cogan Station, PA
Need some discipline to stay in study and love Beth Moore and what God does through her.
I am meeting with several ladies to do this study together on Wednesday afternoons in Merritt Island, FL.
Kim Kizzia
Jenks, Oklahoma
Online small group
I’ve just been very lazy when it comes to seeking God. I’m hoping to be renewed through this study.
Bonus: I count stairs as I climb them…every time, even of I’ve climbed the same set over and over, I still count them.
I’m joining, from Alaska, with some long distance BFFs! I hope I ordered the correct workbook…
🙂
1. Willetta Jackson
2. Birmingham Al
3. Solo
4. Unable to attend 12 noon Bible Study at my Church.
5. I devein my chicken before I eat it!
Looking forward to a summer of getting back in to the Word. I am in Northglenn CO (just moved in) and partnered with my daughter who also just moved out to the prairie of Colorado in Flagler.
Grapevine, TX
Doing this Bible study solo
I need to be in the Word! I desire to grow closer to The Lord and honor Him.
Quirk – I only like cold ketchup on my hot French fries.
Hi I am doing it solo and joining the online small group and I live in Rolling Meadows Illinois glad to be here am so excited ….
Willamina, Oregon
going solo
Charlottesville, VA. Planning a small group with my church. The Lord lead me to this blog, waking me up early to search and find it. Praise God!
1. Michelle
2. Albuquerque, NM
3. I will be working as part of a group.
4. I can stand to be in a Bible study this summer because of mmy busyness I want to keep my focus on the Lord and this study will help me do that.
5. I have to be up and going before everyone in my family awakens.
Spartanburg, SC
With a group
Can’t get enough of God’s Word
1. Wendy
2. Coeur d’Alene, ID
3. Solo
4. I’ve never studied Thessalonians and enjoy Beth Moore studies
5. I count stairs whenever I go up or down them.
Group. Las Colinas, TX
-Tori Settles
-New Carlisle, Ohio
-Partnered with my Mom
I cannot wait to really hear from God and have such an amazing encounter. I am especially excited for my mother and I to get to do this study together each week 🙂
Hi! I’m doing this study solo from Knoxville, TN
Will be participating with my online study group at WBC. I enjoy my time in God’s word and the discussion with this wonderful group of ladies
Seattle, WA
Excited to do this study with a group of beautiful ladies!
1. Naomi Masters
2. Salem Oregon
3. Solo
4. I can’t get enough of God’s word :)He is my high tower
5. I can’t stand walking across kitchen floors that have crumbs. I can even feel it through my socks and it drives me nuts.
Going solo. I am facilitating this study in the a fall and thought the more familiar I am with the material will help. Also, love to hear the spiritual insights of other women and definitely need some semblance of accountability in the summer.
I live in suburbs of Atlanta, Ga- Powder Springs, Ga
Quirk: When I wake up in the middle of the night and realize I forgot something I needed to do, instead of getting up and writing it down, I move my wedding ring from my left finger to my right as a prompt to remember whatever it is in the morning . Weird, I know!
For this Bible study, I am going solo here in the big ‘ol city of Dry Prong Louisiana!
Looking for a summer study to keep in His light
Barb
Etters PA
Solo
Recently retired & excited for this time to dig into this study.
Going Solo. I am a facilitator for Children of the Day at our church starting this week. I thought it was a great opportunity to receive even more feedback and immerse myself fully into the study.
Quirk….Hmmm… yes Beth I have printed the schedule and added a copy into my planner and I also have my spices alphabetized in my spice drawer.
I am going solo for this study this summer!
Paducah, KY
Willow Springs, MO
Going solo
I am going solo for this study this summer.
Paducah, KY
Going solo in Oregon. I’m attending a Christian Camp by myself next week so this will be a great time filler for me. 🙂
I’m in with ladies from church and very excited!
Going solo! (or maybe a friend 😉
Going solo in Greenville, SC! I have attended several of your bible studies in the past and miss them so much!
I’m going solo from Broken arrow, ok
I’m doing the study with 20 other God loving women in Altadena, California. Thank you Beth!!
Fort Worth, TX
With our small group of girls
Small Group
Apex, NC
Really looking forward to this study.
1. Tami Crossland
2. Aurora, MO
3. Solo
4. I take care of my mom who has ALS and is getting worse quick. I don’t have time to go to Bible studies and the studies I’ve been going to have died out. I need something to keep me going and help me stay in the Word.
Wake Forest, NC
Ashley
Doing this with a friend
spring Hill FL
I am wanting to grow in my spiritual walk
I always carry a snack with me because if I get hungry I tend to get a little fancy. 🙂
Going solo from Nashville, TN. I need a summer Bible study to stay in the Word. My daughter just had a baby girl named Elizabeth Louise (last name Moore) so I am officially Beth Moore’s Nana!!!