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Thank you so much for joining me on this exhilarating journey into the life and writing of Peter. I believe as you lead this study, your life will be enriched beyond measure, and you will fall in love with the Word of God all over again. Know that as you lead others, the Holy Spirit is leading you.

Before we begin to prepare for “Timeless”, would you allow me to pray for you?

"Lord Jesus, we love You so much. I thank for this precious leader who is offering her time, her heart, and her Godly wisdom for those she will be leading. I pray that the Holy Spirit would give her even greater revelation into the Word of God than this study presents. Father God, we thank You for the Bible and for the eternal truth contained therein. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.”

Now – let’s begin!

As you prepare to lead your group, these suggestions may help you to present each session with wisdom and enthusiasm:

• Pray daily for those in your group. Pray that the Holy Spirit would speak to each woman under your watch and that the Word of God would come alive in her heart. I often write each participant’s name on a 3 x5 card along with specific prayer requests she might have.
• Watch the video teaching before the session so you are fully prepared to answer questions and to lead the discussion in a meaningful and thorough manner.
• Don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know,” or “I don’t have that answer,” to the questions that are posed by the women in your group. Assure them, however, that you will try to find an answer to any heartfelt and sincere questions. Also, please feel free to e-mail me if you are unable to find an answer. My e-mail is carol@carolmcleodministries.com.
• Begin and close every class with prayer. As you get to know the women, ask one of them to pray at appropriate times. Most women love to stay involved and participate in some manner.
• Assure the women that the group is a confidential group and they are safe to share what is on their hearts. This is especially important as we study the section on marriage and submission. More about that later.
• Not everyone will feel comfortable sharing answers or personal information. One of the most important jobs for you, as the group leader, is to allow each woman a zone of complete comfort and understanding. While not everyone will share in the group setting, remind the women often they are welcome to share with you personally. Give them your e-mail address so they can reach out to you.
• Come to every session prepared with a box or two of tissues! Women are emotional beings and often the Holy Spirit is at work cleansing hearts and the process may be a tearful one. This is yet another one to include group members to participate in the group – assign different ones the job of being “tissue chairwoman” each week.
• I have found it is often helpful to ask a very general question before doing a deep dive into the questions in the lesson. Some of these more general questions might be:
  • What are you thankful for this week?
  • Have you ever experienced a miracle? Tell us about it.
  • What is your favorite worship song or hymn?
  • What woman has impacted your life most greatly?
  • What do you love the most about serving the Lord?
  • Do you have a favorite Bible verse?
• My suggestion for the agenda of your class time is this:
  • Welcome the women and pray. (2-3 minutes)
  • Share a short, personal illustration. (2 minutes)
  • Go over a few questions from the prior week. This, of course, won’t begin until your second class. (10 minutes)
  • Watch the video. (30 minutes)
  • Discuss the video as a class. Have a few questions prepared for the class. (10-15 minutes)
  • Introduce them to what they will be reading the following week. (5 minutes)
  • Have someone close in prayer. (2 minutes)
  • Be sure that you are available after class to talk individually to the women.
• As you read through the book and ponder the daily questions, it is a beneficial practice for you, as the leader, to write out or highlight the questions that highly resonate with you in your personal study of I Peter. You can use these influential questions in the group discussion.
• It is important for you to lead by example, so make sure that you are memorizing the weekly treasure verse. As I often say, “Memorizing scripture is not just for Fifth Graders!” You will be amazed at the difference scripture memorization will make in your life.
• I have also included notes for each video teaching which may enhance your group’s understanding of the study. These are certainly optional, but you may want to copy them and hand them out either in totality at the beginning of the Bible Study or before each individual session.
• And finally, although you should not do all the talking in a group session, do be vulnerable. Share your strengths as well as your weaknesses.

Several times during this Bible Study, I am careful to tell women not to stay in an abusive marriage. As you will quickly realize, Peter, with the help of the Holy Spirit, tackles some complicated relationship issues. You, as the leader, should offer yourself as a safe listener for the women in the class. If you are not comfortable with this role, ask the Pastor or his wife for a recommendation of someone who could come to the aid of a woman who is in an abusive marriage, is married to a man with unhealthy addictions or is cruel to her. Be prepared also to have phone numbers of local shelters or counselors for the women who might need additional help or counseling.

“Focus on the Family” houses a data base of Christian counselors across the nation. The following link may help you or someone in the Bible Study find a reliable Christian counselor. https://findacounselor.focusonthefamily.com/?refcd=1068102&utm_source=/FindACounselor&utm_medium=redirect

Also, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24 hours a day. The number is 800-799-7233.