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Guiding Transformational Small Groups utilizes principles from Facilitating Relational Learning to help small group leaders create an environment that fosters deep, meaningful conversations about the Bible which result in changed lives.

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Rom. 8:18)

When was a time you received a second chance at something? Was it a shot at a big dream, another chance on a test to pass a class, or a conversation with someone you love?

A new year, a new season, a birthday … any of these can be times for thinking about new and exciting things. Perhaps you want to get a new job, graduate college, cook more or read a new book.

The book of Hebrews appeals to Jewish Christians who were becoming apathetic in their approach to the Bible (2:1, 6:11-12) and were tempted to go back to “following God” through the Old Testament without Jesus (2:1, 3:12, 6:4-8).

Most of us probably never even knew about social distancing or flattening the curve. We’ve read about historical pandemics, but most of us have never lived through one. How do we not only rise above the hysteria around us, but be a source of hope and calm for others?

The gospel writer Matthew begins his story with the family tree of Jesus, tracing his ancestors back to Abraham. While it was unusual to include women in the family genealogy, Matthew includes four mothers —Tamar, who fathered twin boys by Judah, after pretending to be a prostitute; Rahab, a Canaanite prostitute who married an Israelite; Ruth, a Moabite woman, from a people group often in conflict with Israel, and Bathsheba, who had an adulterous relationship with King David and later married him after he had her husband killed.

It feels like we live in a world that is uncertain and in chaos. The stock market is falling, grocery shelves are empty, schools and restaurants are closing, churches are meeting virtually and we are isolated in our homes unsure of what will happen next. We find ourselves in a new (ab)normal; stressed, worried, fearful and wondering when it will all end.

Here is a brief summary of Entrust’s flagship training course, Facilitating Relational Learning. This is meant for you as a potential facilitator, to work through on your own ahead of a Bible study. As you do this you will:

The coronavirus COVID-19 has invaded the world and infected us all mentally, if not physically. As the pandemic has dominated our news, it has tended to dominate our minds, a domination that easily breeds fear and even panic.

The whole world seems to be centered on the coronavirus, and that is certainly true for us in Europe. All of our ministry events have been cancelled in Serbia and Slovakia, as well as here in Austria. Right now, we are in a holding pattern, circling like a plane and wondering when we might be able to land and continue on with our normal lives.

There's no denying that the whole world is in trouble. The most imminent danger is the coronavirus, but we all know that there will be serious economic and social effects from this pandemic. So, should we be concerned? Yes, we can be, but we should not be afraid or panicked.

I just made some bread. No, this is not something I do regularly. In fact, I hadn’t made bread for several years. Until a couple of weeks ago. Until COVID-19. Why would I do something that I haven’t done in a LONG time?!?

During this coronavirus pandemic, for every question we answer another ten are left unanswered. Is this from God? What is he doing? How should I pray? If you are like me, you’re reading the Bible with more attentiveness, hoping that in your reading you’ll stumble across something that will give some insight. So, when I noticed “Interpreting the times” as a section heading for these verses, I took notice.

Almost all better. Sounds a bit like our COVID-impacted world these days. It’s also the news my husband and I received at the doctor’s office a few weeks ago.

“Joy to the world, the Lord is come!” So starts a well-known Christmas song. We hear it many times, on the radio, on our music mixes, everywhere. But do we say to one another, “Joy to you?”

This 4th of July was just not the same. Normally we would go to a local minor league baseball game in our area. At the end of the game there would be a fantastic fireworks display. It would be so patriotic. Everyone would enjoy a great evening, feeling good about our country, community and life.

The Disciples, painted in 1898 by Swiss artist Eugene Burnand, is considered one of his greatest works. Burnard was an artist of outstanding range and talent whose art had religious and basic life themes.

As I write this, our family has been in strict lockdown for around 10 weeks. This means for seven weeks my wife Tanya and our four kids have not left our property for any reason. I leave the house once a week to go to the local grocery store to get groceries and medicine. We do school together, worship together and I work from home. I was struggling with being discontent, when one of our supporters shared how he was loving time with God and his family.

We are all too familiar with this conversation exchange. We usually ask it as a greeting rather than with the intent of actually acquiring information about the other person.