Learning to Love My Friend(s) 1

We had our first home Bible study at our house tonight with all the elders, deacons, and wives present. I appreciate the presence, interest, and participation of everyone.
Below is the outline of the lesson we studied.

* * *

Opening Lesson
Lesson 1

A. Define opening: “to enter upon: begin; to move from closed position; to make discerning or responsive.”
B. In this class, we want to have an opening of our:
1. Bible. Psalm 119:105,130
2. Mind. Acts 17:11,28
3. Eyes. Matthew 13:15
4. Ears. Matthew 11:15; Revelation 2:7,11,17,29;
Revelation 3:6,13,22; Revelation 13:9
5. Heart. Matthew 13:15

I. LISTEN TO GOD.
A. God is the supreme authority. Ecclesiastes 5:1,2
B. God speaks through His word. 1 Corinthians 2:9-13
C. His thoughts are great! Romans 11:33-36

II. LISTEN TO MYSELF. 2 Timothy 2:7
A. How do we listen to ourselves?
B. Am I weak enough to help others?
1. At this time, do I need to help or do I need to be helped? Some people are not ready to help others. They have so many problems on a particular day, which they have not worked through, that when they supposedly minister, they are actually looking for someone to help them. They unload their problems on others.
2. How can I get strong enough to minister to others?
a. By being weak. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
b. By being weak enough to ask for help. Matthew 7:7,8;
Galatians 6:2
c. By being weak enough to know I am helpless. 1 Kings 3:7-10
d. I won’t always know what to say. Matthew 5:3
e. I won’t always be able to cheer people up. Proverbs 13:12
C. Am I strong enough to help others?
1. Am I aware of the wisdom I have now and have available by learning from myself? Psalm 51:6
2. When I was in a similar situation, how did I feel; what did I need? Galatians 6:1
3. Do I believe (understand) what I sing?
Amazing grace! how sweet the sound!
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
a. Do I believe what the Bible says? Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23;
1 John 1:8
4. Could I ever be in a similar situation in the future?
1 Corinthians 10:12
5. How would I feel; what would I need; how would I want to be treated? Matthew 7:12
D. To treat strangers right, I need the heart of a stranger.
Exodus 23:9
E. I need to learn from my experience.
1. I read what the Bible says. Romans 10:17; Matthew 6:33
2. I observe that what the Bible says corresponds to reality.
Psalm 37:25
3.
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more.

III. LISTEN TO OTHERS.
A. To understand from their understanding, comments, and insights.
Acts 8:30,31
B. To learn from their good examples.
1. Jesus. John 1:14
2. Others. Hebrews 11: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, others.
C. To learn from other’s bad examples.
1. Lot’s wife. Luke 17:32
2. Disobedient Israelites. 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
D. To learn from things, places, and events.
1. A fallen fence covered with weeds. Proverbs 24:30-34
2. Matthew 6.
a. Birds. Matthew 6:26
b. Grass. Matthew 6:28-34
3. Matthew 13.
a. A farmer. Matthew 13:3-9,18-23
b. One small seed. Matthew 13:31,32
c. Yeast. Matthew 13:33
d. Hidden treasure. Matthew 13:44
e. A valuable pearl. Matthew 13:45,46
f. Fishing. Matthew 13:47-50

A. What have you learned from this opening lesson?
B. What might you be able to learn, using the principles we have discussed in your family, on your job, driving down the highway, during leisure time, serving others, being a leader?

Transistion

April 1 was the biggest and longest party I have attended. The brothers and sisters at Berry's Chapel went the second and third mile to make our last day a memorable one. More than 500 people were present for the morning services. It was good that my entire immediate family was able to be present. The food for the noon meal was plentiful and delicious. The 4ever Brothers did a great job singing. The afternoon service with Jermey Houck and Chad Hedgepath speaking was encouraging. I appreciated the preachers from the Third Monday Workshop coming with their gifts. They gave me enough motel soap to last at least through my first interim. The elders were kind in their remarks. The gifts were generous and appreciated. We have hung the picture of downtown Franklin in our foyer. The Cracker Barrel rockers are already being used. The more than $5,000.00 that members at Berry's Chapel gave in our honor to Childhaven was a surprise and will be used to help children. I was at a board meeting there April 12. That contribution is appreciated by the board, staff, and children at Childhaven.
I'm glad we read the book, Managing Transitions, by William Bridges in our staff meetings during the last few months. He discussed the steps in a transition: ending, new beginning, and the neutral zone. I remember that confusion and disorientation are normal in the neutral zone. The first week after "retirement" was spent in work, service, and cleaning out my "upper room" study. Copying files to flash drives and deleting data and programs on the church computer ran into the next week.
One of the projects we are enjoying is visiting congregations where we have worked over the last forty years. Sunday, April 8, we went to Yorkville, Tennessee. Forty years previously, the second Sunday in April, 1967, I preached my first sermon as the full-time preacher for that congregation. They asked me to preach. It was encouraging to hear Bobby McKnight repeat my favorite memory verse that developed during that ministry four decades earlier.
That Sunday night, we went to West Nashville Heights in Nashville, Tennessee, where I preached before coming to Berry's Chapel. We look forward to other visits before starting at Eddyville, Kentucky, May 6. That will be "Friends and Family Day." We moved some boxes there Monday night. They are preparing the house for us in a beautiful way.
I am writing this at 5:45 a.m. I have spent the night setting up a new printer, transfering files to my laptop, which will be my "interim computer," and learning a new program for graphics. I usually stay up a night or two with a new computer.
We are packing and collecting duplicates of things we will need both at home and at our other home.
I have bought a new book on blogging. I hope to learn what it is and how to do it better.
Thanks to Jill Parker, I now have a web site that tells something about me and interim ministry. Please check it out at: www.barberclippings.com.

Introduction

I have been planning to do interim work for several years. John Parker, Gail, and I trained with the Interim Ministry Network in 1998, 1999. There were five days in the classroom, six months field work, then five more days in the classroom.John Parker and I started a monthly e-mail newsletter, When Your Preacher Leaves: Interim Services for Churches Between Ministers. We are including helpful and enjoyable information of interest to leaders in the church. To subscribe, go to this page: http://www.ridmail.com/sites/jerrie/sub.php or you may e-mail me at barberclippings@comcast.net .I look forward to sharing thoughts with you and hearing from you.