Sharing Day (Class)- May 10-2023

9:30:

Good morning…welcome to our BSF Class Sharing Day..

I want to extend a special welcome to our online group members who are joining us here today…if you were in one of our online groups, would you wave....We are so glad you are here!

I am so excited to be able to celebrate with all of you today what God has done this year!

Before we get started- I wanted you to stand up, greet someone and tell them something fun you have planned for this summer.

9:33:

Congratulations on making it to the end of our People of the Promise: Kingdom Divided study.

Before we jump into sharing I have a few announcements..

KIDS:

If you brought your kids with you today…first..thank you for coming…

I know it is a lot to bring your kids here and I am so grateful you chose to do that.

I want to encourage you to relax and enjoy the morning…

Your kids are not going to sit still..that is ok…so spread out, let them roam...we want them here…and we want you here...if you need to have a moment and step out, feel free to head to the back or to the atrium and re-join us again when you can.

RIDE:

We have 2 women who are in need of a ride next year in order to attend BSF.

One lives in Colerain and the other in North College Hill.

If you are able to help please see someone from our admin. team after we are finished in the back.

Registration for John

I am so excited to study John with you next year!

Our first class day will be on Wednesday, September 13.

If you have any questions over the summer, you can reach out to our BSF Class Administrator at [e-mail]

Most of you have signed the permission for your children, but if you haven’t- please do that as soon as possible so you can complete your registration!

- Please know that registering for next year does NOT guarantee placement.

- In September, IF you are placed, your new group leader will call you and let you know that you have a spot in the class.

- If you bring children, your GL will also let you know at that time if they were also able to be placed in our class.

- If you are not able to be placed- we will also contact you and let you know.

- Our desire is that every woman and child who desires to study God’s word through our BSF class would have a place- and we are going to do EVERYTHING we can to place as many women and children as we can.

Please join us in praying that God would protect the leadership commitments of our leaders for next year and that God would provide a place for all who want to study the book of John!

Also,

The BSF John study Lessons Books and John-branded apparel will be available mid-June in the BSF Store.

and…for those of you who have been asking…the Adult Lessons Book will be available in spiral-bound AND loose-page versions.

these are totally optional- you can access the lessons on the app, the website.....or in September, we can send you a pdf of the entire lesson booklet as well

So…speaking of John...Now here is a short video about the book of John from HQ...

SHOW VIDEO:

I can’t wait to dig into John with you next year and I hope that you will also invite your friends to join us!

So…as we prepare for John…there is an important step each of you need to take...

are you ready...

you need to let your GL go....Your BSF leader has faithfully served all year long and BSF asks us to take a break over the summer to pour back into our families and churches.

Please don’t ask her to lead a Bible study or expect her to meet with you or call you every week.

I promise that she loves you and we know you love her.

As you start to anticipate next year, you can start by praying for the new GL God has already chosen for you next year....

We take a break from BSF over the summer, but not from God or His Word.

SUMMER

If you haven’t made a plan yet…let me help offer some ideas:

Read back over your lessons from this year and answer any questions that you possibly left blanket (you know you have some)....

or dig deeper into one of the 15 books we went through very quickly.

Maybe read through one of the other gospels- Matthew, Mark or Luke to prepare you for John

or

WORD GO: You can use the BSF app called “word go”…there you will find shorter lessons, similar to what you are used to in BSF with lessons, notes, and even a weekly lecture. You can invite your friends to study along with you and even form your own small group! There are lots of courses to choose from.

This QR code will take you straight to the link to download.

PICTURE: Ok..before we go any farther…let’s pause for a quick picture....

Alright…so before we jump into sharing…I want to acknowledge that our class runs completely on volunteers...

VOLUNTEERS

Without volunteers..there would literally be NO bsf class…

please hold all applause until the end...

and Please stand and stay standing if I call out where you’ve served at any point this year:

• Class hosts

• Treasurer/assistant treasurer

• Audio/visual/tech helper

• Watched leaders children on Tuesday for LM

• Watched leaders children on Wednesdays before class during leaders prayer time

• Clean up after class on Wednesday

• Anyone who has served in our CP at some point this year - including with your group - Serving Sisters!!

• Anyone who has volunteered doing anything else for our class

• THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! CLAP!

• You may be seated

Administrative Leaders: stand and stay standing (again hold applause)

Mary Kay

Shawn

Sally

These women are behind the scenes masters- they excel at hospitality, they oversee emergency procedures, social media, access to BSF materials, lecture recording, audio/visual/tech, answering questions, giving and finances, host church relations…they move chairs,...they can pivot at a moments notice and they do all of it with a smile on their face and joy in their hearts.

CLAP

Preschool Children’s Leaders stand and stay standing (hold your applause)

Lyndsee

Cassidy

Shannon

DeDe

Ashley

Julia

Jana

Emily

Kim

Erin

Gale

Meg

Myra

Karen

Christina

Jessica

Tracy

Cindy

PS-ACS- Colleen

These women are finger play masters…nose wiping experts…fun creators…but most importantly- they are gospel centered teachers…they weave gospel truths into EVERY part of the morning....they have the ability to get an entire group of 2 year olds to be QUIET before the Lord…they pray for each child by name....and they pour the love and truths of God and His word into them each and every week...

CLAP

Student Program Leaders: • stand and stay standing (hold your applause)

Melinda

Vickie

Lauren

Cathy

Julie

Jennie

SP-ACS- Kari

These women are also Gospel Centered Teachers....through building community- together they lead the children to discover the truths found in God’s word and challenged them to live differently…they answered profound questions asked by the students, prayed for each student by name…and taught them about WHO God is and how much he loves them.

CLAP

Group Leaders stand and stay standing (hold your applause)

Online Group Leaders

Nanette

Shirley Brown

Kim

Marilyn Woods

Unassigned GL’s

Karena

Cynthia

In-Person

Becky

Gail

Mary Anne

Treva

Kay

Elbie

Meredith

Mary

Katy

Allison

Nancy

Shirley Salway

Emily

Marilyn Wilsey

Carol

These women have made countless phone calls, text messages, and emails to you…they are shepherds…women of prayer…and this year we found out that they can facilitate a discussion on an entire book of the Bible in just 45 minutes....

CLAP

CLASS STAFF- again- hold your applause...

I get the honor and privilege to serve alongside 5 other women on our class staff to lead this class....

I am going to ask all of you to come up and stand in front together...

Cindi Nugent- CA- Cindi leads and trains our admin. team…She keeps track of a zillion different details, answers lots and lots of emails, and God has uniquely designed her to keep ME on track…she is kind..compassionate…funny…and steady…and has a heart for every woman and child in our class.

Hannah Martell- SP-CS- Hannah runs and oversees our Student Program- she leads and trains the SPCL’s…she is a mom of students herself and has a heart for every student to experience God and know His word. She brings lots of joy and laughter into our student program and we are so, so grateful for her.

Anna Mullady and Lea McQuinn- STL’s....these two women teach, lead and train our class and leaders…they give lectures and seminars and also shepherd our leaders…they are prayer warriors…for you…for our leaders....and for me…Anna has a deep love and passion for God’s word and brings it to life in the way that she lives but also through her creative and unique illustrations. Lea is full of compassion, tenderhearted and wise...what a gift for you and for me to get to have them as part of the teaching team this year!

and last, but certainly not least…

Glenda Packo....PS-CS....who is being called out of her role for next year…she runs and oversees our entire preschool children’s program…and she leads and trains all of our PS CL’s…Glenda has been in BSF leadership since 1987....and has been our class CS for the past 20 years. When I think of Glenda- the words that the Lord keeps giving me…are humble servant….When I stepped into leadership as a preschool children’s leader, it was Glenda who taught me to teach God’s word as I know she has also taught countless other children’s leaders to do the same over the years…if you have ever had a child in our class- know that they have been prayed for by name by this woman…She has been such a gift to me and to our class for so many years....and we will miss you dearly...

so ladies- you can now clap for your staff team..

Since Glenda is stepping down…we have a little gift for her...

one of our leaders made her this beautiful blanket...

and it has the words to one of our cherished children’s songs…(along with handprints from the children)

so…kids…and ladies....I need your help....

(invite to front?)

I’m going to invite our next children’s supervisor...Ashley up to help us sing....

Ashley...

sing good morning God… 3x?????

SHARING TIME

I think that was the perfect way to kick off our sharing time…

Just some friendly guidelines before we get started...

1st…sharing is optional..we will bring the mic. to you- just raise your hand and someone from our admin. team will bring you a mic.

Here are some friendly ABC’s of sharing day....

A- Be Audible- you have a mic…speak clearly and into the mic so everyone can hear you.

B- Be brief- We want to hear from as many women as possible so please keep your sharing to under 3 minutes…if you go over 3 minutes, our loving admin. team will slowly walk towards you and sound a friendly sound letting you know your time is up...

C- be Current…we want to hear what God did through THIS study THIS year....let’s focus on what unites us- and that is our Kingdom Divided study, so we won’t focus on what God is doing at your church or another Bible study or what God did 20 years ago :)…

D- be discreet- please do not use specific names- remain loyal and confidential if you are referencing someone else in your sharing

E- Exalt the Lord- this day is about God...our leadership DOES NOT want the glory- so we know you love your GL, you can thank her personally after- but for today..let’s keep God as our focus...

and to help you..if you don’t know how to end…all you have to do is say…:”To God be the Glory” when you are finished...

it’s ok to be nervous…but let me tell you- if your heart is thumping out of your chest- that just might be the Holy Spirit in you, encouraging you to share....

but if you don’t have anything on your heart…dont just talk to fill silent moments…sit back..and listen...

if you become overwhelmed by emotion- have no fear- this is a room full of women..you are in safe place..there are lots of tissues in this place…for both happy and sad tears...

also…it may be tempting to clap after someone shares..but please don’t so that we can maximize our sharing

There are some questions behind me on the screen to help you... :)

If you brought children to our BSF Kids or student program, we would love to hear how God has used BSF in the life of your child!

Also, If you have made a decision to allow Jesus to become your personal Savior and Lord this year, we would love to hear even a simple declaration of your decision - it would glorify God and encourage us to hear this.

So let’s pray…and then get this party started!

PRAY

Alright- so let’s share and I will make sure we are out of here by 11!

9:50:

I want to close with a prayer today…this prayer that is made up of verses from every book we have studied this year....a prayer to give God glory for who He is...so let’s pray...

“You, O Lord, are the one, true God; the living God, the eternal King. You made the earth by Your power and founded the world by Your wisdom. All other gods will perish. (1 Kings 18:39, Jeremiah 10:10-12)

The day of the Lord is near for all nations, and You alone search the heart and test the mind. As one has done, it will be done to them. (Obadiah 1:15, Jer. 17:10)

Your justice will roll on like a river, Your righteousness like a never-failing stream (Amos 5:24),

and the earth will be filled with the knowledge of Your glory as the waters cover the sea. (Habakkuk 2:14)

O Lord, You live in a high and holy place, but You are also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit. (Isaiah 57:15)

When we seek You, we find You. (2 Chron. 15:2b)

When we cling to worthless idols, we turn away from Your love. (Jonah 2:8)

Yet even when we are obstinate and unfaithful, You hold out Your hands and work wonders to return each heart to You. (Isaiah 65:2, 1 Kings 18:37)

How can it be You delight to show such mercy? (Micah 7:18) We know You are gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. (Jonah 4:3)

You were faithful to keep Your covenant with Jacob and Abraham (Micah 7:20),

and then You made a new covenant for Your people. You wrote Your law on our hearts. (Jeremiah 31:31-33)

Yes, You became our salvation through Your Son- the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 12:2, 9:6)

He bore all our sins (Isaiah 53:4),

tread them underfoot, and hurled them into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:19)

His wounds healed us (Isaiah 53:5), and His Spirit has been poured out on us (Joel 2:28) such that we know You are with us, fights for us, delights in us, and rejoices over us with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)

Yes, we are betrothed to You forever. (Hosea 2:19)

O Lord, You are good, a refuge in times of trouble. (Nahum 1:7)

You never grow tired. Your understanding is unfathomable. (Isaiah 40:28)

Even though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, we still rejoice in our Savior, the sovereign Lord, who is our strength. (Hab. 3:17-19)

For even in the year of drought, we do not cease to bear fruit. (Jer. 17:8)

You lead us with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. You speak tenderly and bend down to feed us in the wilderness. (Hosea 2:14, 11:4)

Because of Your love, we are never consumed. (Lam. 3:22)

You are our Father, we are the clay. You are the Potter, and we are the work of your hands. (Isaiah 64:8)

Indeed, You work wonders for us and repay the years the locusts have eaten. In You we are satisfied and will never be put to shame. You are our God. There is no other. (Joel 2:25-27, 2 Kings 5:15b)

You Lord, reign forever. (Lam. 5:19)” Amen.

Will you stand..and one more time this year....let’s end by singing “Great is Thy Faithfulness”