New Years Resolutions considerations

This was our last session before the New Year of 2005. So, we discussed what, if any, New Years resolutions people are considering.

I shared that my resolution is the same as it has been the last several years, to lose weight. I mentioned all the equipment and tapes I've bought through the years, and the guys gave their suggestions on how and what I should do to get better results. I often do this (use something in my life as an example). It helps the guys open up. I find it seems to be easier to give someone else advice than it is to think of advice for yourself.

So, we talked about what it's like to want to change something about your life, and how hard it is to change. Then, we went around the room and everyone said what, if any, their thoughts of change for the New Year were. We discussed obstacles to making major changes.

Then we looked up Luke chapter 10 Luke 10:26-28 in the New Testament. Jesus agrees with a teacher about what is important in life. Also see Old Testament reference in Deuteronomy 10:12.

We discussed what we thought God wanted us to concentrate on in the coming Year; Love Him with all our heart, mind and soul and to love each other as ourselves.

Bridge

When considering what picture to place on this page, I decided on this bridge. I feel it is symbolic of the movement in our lives from one place or stage, to another - hopefully more mature and more faithful and loving.

What kind of host are you? (Christmas)

We had a good turnout of regular attendees tonight. Often in a county jail, people join and leave the group on a regular basis. We've had about 7 inmates attend on a weekly basis which is nice because you get to know the people and tailor the lessons a bit to where you think the people are in their spiritual walk.

Since it's near the end of the year, we talked a bit about what the inmates thought Yokefellow Prison Ministry should concentrate on for the new year. Although the local council had meet and had a retreat to discern a path for the new year, it was good to ask the guys for their input too.

I handed out the yellow Yokefellow cards to our group. I had an opportunity to talk with the prison chaplain previously this week, and gained permission to hand out the cards. The cards list the disciplines important to the Yokefellow movement including:

• Daily Prayer
• Daily Scripture reading
• Weekly Worship
• Giving of Money to Christian causes
• Offering the service of time to others
• Witnessing in life, work and words to others
• Study of the Christian books to aid in spiritual growth

Lesson: I shared with the group how a past visit to a friend had gone. The friend and his family were playing video games. They did not stop playing the games when I came to visit, even though the games have a "pause" button. I asked if that had ever happened to them or if they had every treated anyone like that. It was a good discussion.

Then I shared that a recent visit to the same household went very differently. The family had gotten a computer game that they wanted to play very much. Their computer would not play the game and they asked for my help since I work with computers. I spent about 3 hours working on the problem, eventually installing a new video card. But during this visit the family reacted much differently. They stopped what they were doing and gave me their attention. They offered me drinks and cookies. They welcomed me.

We went around the group and discussed this difference in attitude. We shared times when we had treated people (visitors) rudely and times we had welcomed guests.

Near the end of the session, I brought the themes together. At Christmas time we remember God coming to visit mankind in the person of Jesus. The book of John says that God pitched a tent in human flesh. God came to dwell among us. How did the world react? Few even noticed. Even fewer welcomed him in to their lives.

At Christmas let us consider how we welcome or turn away God every day. Do we use the "pause" button and give him our focused attention? Or are we a good host, offering food and drink, and our time?

What is your foundation built on?

It's about a week before Christmas. I thought we were going to have a small group, because only 4 inmates came to the session at first. Then another 4 guys came in late from another block. Then later another guy came in after his visit, so we had 9 inmates which is a good sized group.
Point: God brings the people to the session. Whether it is one person or twenty people, it is God's session, not mine.

We sang Christmas carols tonight. We were going to stop at three songs, but the inmates really wanted to sing 'Amazing Grace", so we did. As the fifth verse of the song, we sing "Praise God" as the text, repeating it throughout the melody.

Then we read Psalm 37. The "Fret Not" Psalm.

Our lesson scripture tonight was Matthew chapter 7. We spend a lot of time there. It starts with Judge not, lest you be judged. You can really spend a whole session on that verse. But we went on to verse 37 - the part about the 2 builders.

Why did Jesus have to die?

Tonight we had a good discussion session. We sang "How Great Thou Art", read Psalm 103, and then one of the guys asked a good question. He asked why Jesus had to die to save us? He was suggesting that perhaps God could have come up with a different plan and thus would have spared Jesus.

The group discussion went well. In a Yokefellow session all opinions are welcome. Although a leader guides the discussion, the leader does not need to answer all questions. Sometimes the correct answer is "What do you all think?"

This is sometimes hard to do. I tend to want to answer a question when it is asked directly to me. It's important to remember that we want the inmates to think about these issues a bit and formulate in their minds why a thing is so.

Change > Forgiveness > Serving > Whose your Daddy?

Session Date: November 2, 2004
Topic: Change and Serving

I was thinking we were going to continue discussing what it takes to change. When we got in group one of the guys was struggling with forgiving someone, so we turned and discussed that.

that's one of the good things about Yokefellow sessions - discussion topics can change depending on the needs of the group. I remember a woman from a different county jail telling me years ago that that was one of the things she really like about the Yokefellow volunteers. "We can ask you guys questions and talk about things." She said other bible study leaders came in with strict agendas and did not welcome questions or discussion.

So we turned and talked about forgiveness. What was the circumstance? What advice did the others have for the one inmate that brought up the issue?

We discussed why we should forgive people. I presented that I forgive people because of Jesus. Not because someone deserves it (that would make me a judge), or because they are nice, or I am nice, but because of the awesome sacrifice of Christ.

We got out our bibles and read John 13 (Jesus washes the disciples feet) and discussed what that meant for the disciples and for us today.

This took us to a discussion of "Who is your master?" If Jesus is our master, and he forgives us, and tells us to forgive others, isn't that pretty clear? Perhaps if we are not forgiving, we have not recognized Jesus in the situation.

Discussion questions: What advice do you have for someone who is struggling to forgive someone? On what reason do you forgive? Who are you serving?