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
I’M IN!!!!!
Sounds wonderful! Hope to get a group together!!
Due to my work schedule I am unable to attend Wed PM services and would enjoy sharing this Bible study with you. I already have my book.
Excited for summer to get here. Looking forward to this study greatly.
I CANNOT WAIT!! Exactly a month from TODAY, I will be leaving for Turkey and Greece and when you start this study on June 3rd, I will be in Greece. We stay in Thessaloniki for 2 nights on the 5th and the 6th. How CRAZY COOL is THAT!!?? :)I’ve already pre-ordered a few workbooks and the DVD’s and will be taking my workbook with me on the trip. A dear friend from my Bible study group will be joining me on this journey of the 7 Churches and Paul’s Journeys and she’ll have a workbook with her too. 🙂 From January – March I’ve finished leading 3 groups through Revelation and 1 through To Live is Christ. Right now I’m leading another group through Revelation in my home…25 ladies! ♥ …and I will be gone on this trip while they’re still studying Revelation. It will be so wonderful to return back to them before they’re done the series so that I can share about the trip with them…AND tell them all about Thessaloniki! This is totally a GOD-THING that you’re starting this study while I’m there! How amazing is that! God IS AMAZING with how He times things! Oh How I LOVE Him!! I can’t wait for this study!
There will be a few of us here from Saskatoon/Warman, Saskatchewan CANADA that will be joining y’all on this journey! Whoohoo!! 🙂
Completely Game for it!!
Yes, Yes! I love being a Siesta, especially a Summer Siesta!
Thank you, Beth, for this study and for offering it to us for our Summer Siesta Study!
Thank you! I am so excited. Cannot wait.
I am getting ready to start the revised version of A Woman’s Heart: God’s Dwelling Place by myself and should be finished about the time this new study starts. It was a toss up at Lifeway on Monday which to choose as they were putting the new study on the shelves!!! I’m glad I chose the revised study first 🙂 Thanks for choosing to allow us to study COTD “personally” with you!!!!
I cannot wait for this new study! Ordering my workbook soon and am really looking forward to it! Yay!
Thank you for this opportunity to join in this wonderful bible study. I’m so grateful for all the time and energy it takes Beth and her staff to bring this all together. I will be getting my workbook and I will be joining this study. I can hardly wait! I’m very excited to see what God has for me.
God is so good.
Count me in.
I’m in…can’t wait!! 🙂
YES!The long wait is over. Count me in!
Excited to do this and will be doing it with my church, Dallas Bible Church in the fall!
Praying the Lord will provide the money for the workbook. Sounds like it will be a great study.
Brenda, please email me at [email protected] if you cannot come up with the money to purchase one. It would be our joy to get you one! Blessings!
That is awesome, Lindsee. I’m sure Brenda will be very grateful.
Thank you for doing these summer Bible studies. Last year when you did Gideon, I prayed for revival to start with me. I share with you that I have been in a season of dryness for several years. I had pulled away from God and lacked trust in Him. I discovered that i followed God because He was blessing me more than following Him because He is God. Singing and meaning the lyrics “You give and take away, my heart will choose to say, Blessed be the name of the Lord,” has been challenging. Since the beginning of the year, your writings have been a source to the Living Water. (Believing God book-still wearing the blue cord around my wrist and saying pledge of faith, James Bible study, and now I just finished Week 5-Day 5 in Stepping Up). So thank you for your obedience, time invested and perseverance in completing these studies and for challenging & encouraging this blog community to fall in love with Him through His Word. Thank you to the whole team who serves with you. Praying to God for the ones I should invite to be a part of this study this summer. Thank you again.
Looking forward to this! planned to offer in the Fall for our Church Bible Study Group. This will give me a great preview.
It’s going to be a busy summer (daughter’s wedding) but I’m in!!! Can’t wait!!
I’m in! I want to get a small group together for this bible study. I pray some will be receptive and join. I always learn more from others during discussion time! Thank you
LPM girls!
I’m in!
I am new to the blog and online studies. Could you please tell me if we get a group together here in WI how long are the video sessions available for? We are a small church and had a tough winter so in order to make this available to the teachers in our midst. We will need to start later than June 3.
Hi Cheryl! The video sessions are available forever once the study releases, well, that would be the teaching videos I’m talking about. The videos we record and put on the blog to help you facilitate your small group will also be up for good once posted on the blog. That helps groups go at their own pace if need be! You can pull your own group together there in WI and do the study together. That should give you the richest summer experience! I hope that helps. We will have more blogs soon with more information!
Is there a charge for the teaching portion of the videos?
Just trying to plan ahead.
Thank you!
In Him,
Cheryl
Hi Cheryl! Just a small charge for the teaching videos. They should each be no more than a Starbucks drink and we’ll link to them each week. But those are completely optional! I hope that helps!
Hi Cheryl! Just a small charge for the teaching videos. They should each be no more than a Starbucks drink and we’ll link to them each week. But those are completely optional! I hope that helps!
I have never heard of this blog Bible study & I can’t wait! My husband & I recently moved with our newborn & I’m desperate for community. I asked 6 other ladies to join me & so far 1 said yes! Thank you God! I’m thrilled!
I’m in! And excited about it – this will give me time to finish up “A Woman’s Heart,” which I’m doing solo, and absolutely loving it – it’s a great study.
And looking so forward to July with ya’ll in Denver –
I’m excited! I’ve been here for Ruth, Nehemiah, and Gideon. I didn’t always get checked in and comment or answer questions every time, but I finished each study and loved them all. Looking forward to this one.
Praise God!
Yeah!! No Sunday school scheduled in the summer at my church, so looking forward to this study! Love summer Bible study!
I’m in, too! Can’t wait to get started…
I am excited to participate!!
Maria – Macomb, MI SOLO
I think this will be great! And, Beth will be a huge bonus to lead this since she authored it.
Can’t wait. Sounds great!
I will be solo.
So I’m going to do this. Even though I don’t have a ton of time. I can’t not do it – God won’t let me. But I’m scared because end times stuff scares the snot out of me. I’m secure in my faith in many ways, but this is not one of them. Here’s to hoping, God willing, I will be secure after this study! If anyone reads this and thinks about praying for me, I’d appreciate it.
Praying for you sweet one. I understand your insecurity in this.
So excited to hear what the Lord has given you to teach us from Thessalonians. And thanks for the chart, yup, I’m just that kinda girl!
Can anyone get their minds around the fact that someday we’ll all be together in one place and He will teach us in person? Talk about some can’t wait!!!
I’m in! Workbook is ordered!
Thanks for being such servants for The Lord!
Love from upstate NY
I have never participated in a study online. I was considering it last summer. I so wished I had as the summer passed. This summer I so want to seize the time necessary for me to participate. My crazy life is going to have to take a step back and allow me time for me to pursue my hearts desire. So excited for what God has to say through His word via my favorite author and speaker. LAURA
I have already got my workbook…….cannot wait !!
Count me in! Can’t wait!
Count me in I’ve been waiting to actually do a actually study with you Beth, I live in Virginia so this will be great!!
Thank you so much, the studies you have done have helped so many of us!! God Bless You
Absolutely, I turn 65 June 6th and my life is in the biggest mess ever!!!
Count me in and thank you.
So excited about this bible study! I think I’m going to try to get a group of girls together this time. I participated in Gideon and it was awesome!!!!
Hi y’all! I am planning to do COTD with my small group of women this summer. We love summer bible study. I would love to join you on line on Tuesdays. My group will meet each week on Wed. morning. Lindsee, does the video link mean I do not have to buy the full leaders kit which includes the DVDs? We will want to watch the video teaching every week. I am just a bit confused as I have never done this before. Thanks! Kristi
Kristi, you are welcome to buy the leader kit, but you are right, not required at all. We will post a link each week to the teaching videos for those who choose to do them! Completely optional. Hope that helps!
exciting stuff!!! our bible study usually breaks for the summer but i talked to my co-coordinator today and we decided to participate in this along with you ladies. Schedule-wise, it looks like we’re only gonna be able to meet once in the beginning, once in the middle, and once at the end – but we’re still gonna do it anyway. a lot of ladies have been requesting that we continue through the summer so this seems like a great way to meet that need 🙂 thanks for organizing this beth/lindsay! looking forward to it.
Please let me know if there will be any online groups for this study.
I would love too. I will be leaving my home church/community and moving to a new community. Thank you for the opportunity to study in a group.
Can’t wait! Praying right now about who to invite. So excited!!
I’m in. SOLO though. How much are the books? I’ve been unemployed since January 2nd and still am without a job. I do however have a job interview on the 29th of April. If I am one of the selected new employees, I may not start until July. Can you help me?
I have been through 4-5 Beth Moore Bible Studies. With help and the Holy Spirit working in my life, I can say, that I’m better for going through the studies. May God Richly Bless You My Beloved! 🙂
Yes, yes, yes! My small group is starting the study on May 7th but I am going to do both!! Also, just so so so excited to see you in Hershey! Anxious to hear the theme God had already given you! Praying for Jesus to be glorified!!!
Looking forward to all God will share with me in this study..
Beth, thank you for your faithfulness
Count this Siesta in!!!!