Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    What Are We Fighting For? Leader Guide: Coming Together Around What Matters Most
    What Are We Fighting For? Leader Guide: Coming Together Around What Matters Most
    What Are We Fighting For? Leader Guide: Coming Together Around What Matters Most
    Ebook82 pages47 minutes

    What Are We Fighting For? Leader Guide: Coming Together Around What Matters Most

    By Thomas J. Bickerton

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    With all the issues facing The United Methodist Church today, there are plenty of theories and opinions about what we should do. Frankly, many of us are weary of the relentless bickering associated with all the rhetoric. What are we fighting for? This question not only points us to the futility of our disunity but also compels us to consider what we are fighting for—what deserves our greatest intensity and effort as we seek to be faithful followers of Jesus Christ.


    Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton offers a way to move beyond all the discord to a hope-filled future by exploring how we can come together around what matters most so that the gospel of Jesus Christ becomes a vibrant part of our lives and witness. He says that fights, feuds, and uncertainties can distract us, leaving us ineffective and mired in mediocrity and decline; but focusing on what matters most causes our ministries to flourish and the church to become a relevant and vital presence in the community and world.With a warm and practical approach, he leads us on a journey of discernment, inviting us to explore:


    the spiritual problem at the heart of the issues we’re facing,

    three foundational reminders,

    guidelines for determining the essentials necessary to make disciples,

    a motto for working together in the midst of disagreement,

    and thoughts about the ultimate essential, love.



    This Leader Guide includes everything a group leader needs to plan and facilitate the six sessions, helping participants to explore what they have read, to view a video, and to discuss the reading and video with the group. The guide walks leaders through the study format and provides options for tailoring sessions to the time-frame and style of each group.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAbingdon Press
    Release dateApr 4, 2016
    ISBN9781501815089
    What Are We Fighting For? Leader Guide: Coming Together Around What Matters Most
    Author

    Thomas J. Bickerton

    Thomas J. Bickerton is a gifted storyteller and wise mentor who happens to be the Bishop of the Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. He is a native of West Virginia and the chief spokesperson for the denomination's "Imagine NO Malaria" campaign, which is reducing malaria-related death and illness in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition to being an avid sports fan, he enjoys photography, movies, and travel. He and his wife, Sally, have four grown children.

    Read more from Thomas J. Bickerton

    Related to What Are We Fighting For? Leader Guide

    Related ebooks

    Christianity For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Your Magnificent Menopause

      Mar 24, 2020

      Your Magnificent Menopause
      2 min read

    • Article

      From the EDITOR

      Dec 29, 2023

      JOY! Magazine seeks to glorify God by educating and informing Christians of a biblical worldview and applying the Lordship of Jesus Christ to all areas of life. Strive for excellence and integrity in all things• Provide interesting, accurate, and ho

      1 min read

    • Article

      You’ve Got The Style

      May 21, 2021

      You’ve Got The Style
      2 min read

    • Article

      Loud And Proud

      May 11, 2021

      • How and where can you take small steps to practise speaking your mind and being braver? • What do you fear about speaking up and saying how you really feel or what you honestly think? • How would it feel to speak up, stand out and be responsible fo

      1 min read

    • Article

      Student Survival Guide

      May 21, 2021

      Student Survival Guide
      1 min read

    • Article

      2023 Reset

      Jan 28, 2023

      2023 Reset
      14 min read

    • Article

      Just Breathe

      Jul 28, 2019

      Just Breathe
      4 min read

    • Article

      10 Ways To Get The Best Out Of Team Meetings

      Feb 16, 2021

      1 Before you even call the meeting, ask yourself if there really needs to be a meeting. 2 Allocate five minutes per person for individuals to speak about anything that is on their mind, and invite the rest of the team to listen. 3 Mix team members in

      1 min read

    • Article

      How To Build Genuine Team Harmony:

      Apr 28, 2023

      Even among the best teams, cognitive diversity can be awkward. Here’s how to start the process of getting your team comfy with healthy conflict. Understanding and changing habitual patterns doesn’t happen overnight – both for individuals and teams. U

      1 min read

    • Article

      Life After teacher Training

      May 19, 2022

      Life After teacher Training
      3 min read

    • Article

      How to Get Over the Hurdles

      Sep 18, 2018

      How to Get Over the Hurdles
      16 min read

    • Article

      Being Seen

      Aug 13, 2020

      Being Seen
      12 min read

    • Article

      Questions Questions

      May 21, 2021

      Questions Questions
      2 min read

    • Article

      Life Lessons From The Yoga Mat

      Dec 28, 2023

      How would you describe your teaching style and how can it help others find a sense of connection and peace within? I’m in love with yoga and therefore I love most of the styles out there. I teach tantric Hatha and gentle vinyasa classes. Both styles

      2 min read

    • Article

      Snack On Exercise

      Oct 28, 2020

      THE EASIEST WAY TO BOOST YOUR BRAIN, BODY AND MOOD How would it feel to wake up every morning with fantastic energy and vitality? Picture being the most positive, vibrant version of yourself every day. We all know that exercise is essential for great

      4 min read

    • Article

      Mindful Wellness

      Dec 22, 2023

      Mindful Wellness
      7 min read

    • Article

      Your Stars

      Mar 24, 2021

      This is a time to be creative and to think outside the box. Any problem can be solved by using a new mindset. Don’t be afraid to speak out now. It’s very important to express your emotions and not to allow things to fester on the inside. This is an e

      1 min read

    • Article

      Choose joy

      Nov 4, 2022

      Choose joy
      5 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for What Are We Fighting For? Leader Guide

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      What Are We Fighting For? Leader Guide - Thomas J. Bickerton

      What Are We Fighting For?

      Coming Together Around What Matters Most

      Leader Guide

      What Are We Fighting For?

      Coming Together Around

      What Matters Most

      What Are We Fighting For?

      Coming Together Around What Matters Most

      978-1-5018-1505-8

      978-1-5018-1506-5 eBook

      What Are We Fighting For? Leader Guide

      978-1-5018-1507-2

      978-1-5018-1508-9 eBook

      What Are We Fighting For? DVD

      9781501815119

      Coming Together Around What Matters Most:

      A Six-Week Devotional Journey

      978-1-5018-1509-6

      978-1-5018-1510-2 eBook

      What Are We Fighting For? Pastor Resources Download

      978-1-5018-1513-3

      For more information, visit www.AbingdonPress.com.

      What Are We Fighting For?

      Coming Together Around What Matters Most—Leader Guide

      Copyright © 2016 by Abingdon Press

      All rights reserved.

      No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted by the 1976 Copyright Act or in writing from the publisher. Requests for permission can be addressed to Permissions, The United Methodist Publishing House, P.O. Box 280988, Nashville, TN 37228-0988; 2222 Rosa L. Parks Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37228-1306; or e-mailed to permissions@umpublishing.org.

      This book is printed on elemental, chlorine-free paper.

      ISBN 978-1-5018-1507-2

      Scripture quotations marked CEB are from the Common English Bible. Copyright © 2011 by the Common English Bible. All rights reserved. Used by permission. www.CommonEnlgishBible.com.

      Scripture quotations marked The Message are from The Message. Copyright by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

      Scripture quotations marked NRSV are taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

      16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 — 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

      MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

      CONTENTS

      To the Leader

      Session 1: Getting to the Heart of the Matter

      Session 2: Three Reminders for the Journey

      Session 3: Discerning What Matters Most

      Session 4: Filling in the Blank with the Essentials

      Session 5: Paddling in the Same Canoe

      Session 6: Finishing with Love

      Handouts

      TO THE LEADER

      With all the issues facing The United Methodist Church today, there are plenty of theories and opinions about what we should do. Many are weary of the relentless bickering associated with all the rhetoric, wondering, what are we fighting for? This question not only points us to the futility of our disunity but also compels us to consider what we are fighting for—what deserves our greatest intensity and effort as we seek to be faithful followers of Jesus Christ.

      In this study, Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton offers a way to move beyond all the discord to a hope-filled future, inviting us to shift our attention from issues we fight about to the essentials that are worth fighting for so that the gospel of Jesus Christ becomes a vibrant part of our lives and witness. As group leader, you will lead others in a process of discernment that will help you come together around what matters most and become a relevant and vital presence in the community and world. This process is dependent on the presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Scripture tells us that where two or three are gathered together, we can be assured of the presence of the Holy Spirit, working in and through all those gathered. As you prepare to lead, pray for that presence and expect that you will experience it.

      This six-session study makes use of the following components:

      •the book What

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1