Tag Archives: Tony Brooks

You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat.(Isaiah 25:4a NIV) I am writing this blog as a winter storm approaches us. I wish that I had written it last week!

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. (Proverbs 22:6 NIV) I am very thankful for a mom who believed in this proverb. She began teaching me in the cradle about God’s love, God’s word, and living for God. Many Sunday School teachers, pastors, family members, and other church leaders did as well.

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to go to Quantico along with our team to learn more about leadership. On this trip our lessons were from a retired Colonel Joseph Shusko in the United States Marine Corps. He was instrumental in changing the training for US Marines and martial arts at Raider Hall and around the world as he included training in body, mind, and spirit.

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to go to Quantico along with our team to learn more about leadership. On this trip our lessons were from a retired Colonel Joseph Shusko in the United States Marine Corps. He was instrumental in changing the training for US Marines and martial arts at Raider Hall and around the world as he included training in body, mind, and spirit.

My dad was in the Navy. My father-in-law spent his career in the Marine Corps. I have uncles who served in the Air Force and Army. I have relatives who did not return from wars; they died there…literally or figuratively. Many choose to go into battle because of a love for family, friends, and freedom. I take it seriously!

With all the hate crimes, us versus them in politics, and Christians often hurting each other, I think it is time to revisit this blog post I wrote before our last presidential election.

What are some ways Sunday School Classes/small groups can provide inreach and outreach around the Thanksgiving holiday?

Halloween is a pretty big day in the United States. How can we make it a day to share God’s love?

Most classes and small groups are praying for God to keep the saints here longer from going to heaven (and we should pray for healing.) Few pray for ways to help us find people who need to know how to have hope and get to heaven!

We often memorize verbal religious concepts without understanding the experience/application to life. We learn the words (religious vocabulary), doctrines, and biblical passages without understanding the concepts and how they apply to us.

I have been traveling across the Commonwealth leading Sunday School training events over this past summer. I still don’t know of many churches who are intentionally reaching single moms. Here is just a reminder of how to reach them.

My heart has gone out to all of those affected by the storms this past week. I believe that Bible study classes and small groups in our churches and campus ministries should respond in several ways when storms cause hopelessness in our world. We can provide hope!

Starting small groups is essential in this day and age for discipleship to be effective for our churches. There are many people who work on Sunday. Others are involved with their children with traveling teams. Sunday School cannot carry the burden of disciple-making! What is our first step to start small groups?

Sunday School has been a major component of the church’s outreach and evangelism arm since the early 1800s. It has served the church well over these centuries in reaching people, teaching people the Bible, and moving them to being strong followers of Christ through Sunday morning classes at church. Sunday School, in many churches over the years, often had more attendees than those churches’ worship services. We can be thankful for the past.

We grow together and become more effective in sharing God’s love and the kingdom when more people come to study God’s word and participate.