Celebrating Recovery as a sunday school cirriccilum

If people have a "sense of insecurity" around other believers, isn't is exarcebating that to exclude them from the body in such a way? It would be better to disciple them in the context of the body itself, rather than segregating them. If other believers don't accept them, then address the other believers in their sinfulness.

 

The problem I have with that suggestion is that the vast majority warming the pews today have never discipled anyone and are a poor example of what a real Christian should look like. If the new Christians were kept away for about two years they would not be so enticed to follow the crowd but rather focus on what the Bible teaches about Christ. Also, they would not also be exposed to church politics and see selfish religious zealots in action.

 

Your intentions may be good, but would you really get anybody to come to a class like that? It seems to involve more "letting down the guard" then I think most people would want to do in a S.S. setting.

 

I see a purpose for it for a season. I do think that eventually, every one needs to be mainstreamed -- life is mainstream.

 

I want to add that part of the reason I see a purpose is because we (we as in Baptists/Christians/old time religion types) can be awfully hard line -- hard-hearted -- forgetting what life was ever like outside of the church.

We see it here on the BB sometimes . . .

 

From former addicts that I've talked to, addicts tend to go to church as a break from their usual daily lifestyle, where they can be with others outside of their usual circle of friends, or as a reminder of something they may have grown up with but fallen away from. They will usually come just to observe at first, to see if this is something they may be apart of ( sadly, many do not feel they are worthy of being there). Those who choose to continue to attend services feel more comfortable telling people about their problems when and if they are ready.
I'd like to add, too, that many addicts may have also been involved in horrific crimes, which will make them even more reluctant to disclose anything about their past.

Sopranette

Are you an archery fan, too?

 

That's cool.

Is this similar to RU then?

 

The church I have attended has a Celebrate Recovery. We meet on Friday Nights for dinner, worship, small group time, then fellowship. I usually cook the meal every other week. It is a fantastic ministry, and if you feel like this is what God is calling you to do, do it. We don't separate out a Sunday school class since we meet on Friday nights (who wants to get up early on Sunday anyway!!) We have a small group time on Wednesday nights that would account for "Sunday School time" anyway, where they do step studies.

 

This lacks only obedience. Christ did not call us to separate people from the church but to incorporate them into the church.

I completely disagree. When we admonish the congregation with the Spirit's power from the Word of God, it does have effect. The problem is that too few are using the Word and even less are using the Spirit's power.

I don't think that is the problem at all.

I am not convinced that we need a separate program. I don't think it is necessarily wrong though it is too often man centered. But the early church didn't have this and they seemed to do much better than we. I think we are at a place where we have lost confidence in teh plain word of God.

I think I can. Understanding something doesn't require participation in it. But that's beside the point. WE are to call people to obedience. And I don't have to come from somewhere to call someone to obedience from there.

Sometimes gradual sometimes not. But the place that they can make the transition is the church body.

 

That would depend on if the church pulls them down or lifts them up. In Rev. 2 and 3 various churches are described. I would not want a new believer to adopt bad practicesd and then have to regularly deal with them in an effort to disciple them. We already have churches full of indoctrinated Christians who do nothing except to fight and pastoirs who are trying to solve the problem. Solving problems among the dead is much harder than dealing with new believers who are willing to grow.

 

posted in error

 

Answering questions with more questions may not seem helpful, but I personally would need some more information before possibly offering a meaningful response, so here goes (in no particular order):

1. Can you tell us how you and your wife were "led" to this sort of work?

2. Have you discussed the matter with the church of which you are members, and do you have that church's agreement and support to start this ministry?

3. You mention Sunday School - does that mean that your ministry would be among children, or is it what tends to be called on this side of the Atlantic an "All-Age Sunday School"?

4. Would this ministry be taking place at the same time as a church service or other church activity?

I hope you won't take offence at any of the questions, as certainly none is intended.

 

I think many have failed to see the churches response to people who have "issues" in many many cases. What happens is while the average church member who has been filling a pew for 30 years wants more pew fillers and fuller offering plates they want to consign people who come out of serious mistakes in their lives to a lesser type of fellowship in effect making them a second class citizen within the church body. In way to amny churches people who have come out of or are coming out of drug and alcohol problems, legal problems etc. will never be accepted by churches to minister in any way other than folding chairs and cleaning the restrooms.

I have seen such sunday school classes in a number of churches. The members seem to enjoy that kind of specific fellowship and and those church members that are uncomfortable around divorced people, former drug addicts and alcoholics etc. Are glad to consign them to their own class. People who have such histories may very well need to have such a fellowship.

But having the need for one is a result of an unhealthy church. There should be no such divisions in the church. And a Pastor who is not addressing such an issue is not fulfilling the ministry God has called him into. The doctrine of Unity is very rarely taught in churches today.

 

Thanks for that clarification. It is good to know that your Pastor is supporting you in this proposed outreach. The only advice I feel able to give is something you are probably aware of already, that is, that in starting any new "activity" (for want of a better word), it is important that the other church members are supporting you, especially by their prayers. I am involved in our church's midweek bible club for children, none of whom are children of church members, and many of whom come from dysfunctional families. Attendance is sporadic, and behaviour sometimes "challenging", to say the least, which could cause great discouragement to myself and the other leaders, but we know that the other members are bearing the work up before the Throne of Grace.

May God bless your ministry.