Scripture
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life, he who comes to Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty” (John 6:35 NIV).
Purpose
The purpose of this program is to bring women together by eating at a restaurant they have not had the opportunity to visit. Encourage them to try something new from the menu. Beforehand, check that the menu is affordable and has items that everyone can enjoy. This will give some of the senior women’s ministries members the opportunity to share a meal with someone rather than eating alone. For the younger women, this could be an opportunity for an evening out without children and to enjoy a meal and fellowship just for them. If the expense of eating out would be a hardship for some of the women, locate sponsors from within the corps. For those single mothers who cannot afford a babysitter, maybe the corps cadets would take on this responsibility.
Getting to Know You
Ask each woman to share their name, their favorite restaurant and menu item at that restaurant.
Cooking Terms
Use The Food Network website to print off food glossary terms and see which ones the women know.
Name the Restaurant Specialty
Applebee’s Baby Back Ribs
Arby’s Roast Beef Sandwiches
Auntie Anne’s Pretzels
Buffalo Wild Wings Wings
Burger King Burgers
Chilis Ribs
Chipotle Burritos
Dunkin Donuts Donuts
IHOP Pancakes
Jimmy Johns Sandwiches
Olive Garden Spaghetti
Panda Express Chinese
Quiznos Sub Sandwiches
Red Lobster Sea Food
Starbucks Coffee
Swenson Ice Cream
I Believe
Women have many responsibilities. Sometimes it can feel as though we are wandering through the desert like the Israelites did in the Old Testament. It’s as though we are being held captive by the piles of laundry to be washed, the stacks of dishes to do, the never–ending cleaning and dusting. There never seems to be enough time in the day to get everything done. We look at magazines, listen to podcasts and read self–help books to try to become the perfect woman that we think we should be. Sometimes we push ourselves so hard that we miss those vital moments that God has played out in front of our eyes. We can’t find enough time to accomplish all that is expected of us, let alone spend meaningful time with God.
We struggle to be what the world tells us we should be and move farther from God’s intentions for our lives. We begin to feel empty, hungry and sometimes alone. We question, doubt or even become angry. This can bring us to a crossroad. We can choose to stay lost or seek God’s direction.
After the Israelites escaped Egypt and crossed the Red Sea, they ran out of food. They began to look back and question why they had left Egypt. “In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. 3The Israelites said to them, ‘If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death’” (Exod. 16:2, 3). They grumbled that even though they had been slaves, at least they had food. When they doubted God’s plan and provision, He provided manna, the supernatural food God gave the Israelites during their 40 years of wandering in the desert. In Hebrew, the word “manna” means “What is it?” Manna is also known as bread of Heaven, corn of Heaven, angel’s food, spiritual meat.
When we find ourselves overwhelmed, wondering if we are enough, Jesus will provide manna for us. In John 6:35, Jesus declares, “I am the bread of life, He who comes to Me will never go hungry and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty.” He says it again in John 6:41, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”
Lauren Daigle writes these lyrics in her song titled, “You Say.” Play this video on YouTube.
You say I am strong when I think I am weak
And You say I am held when I am falling short
And when I don’t belong, Oh, You say I am Yours
And I believe, Oh, I believe
What You say of me
I believe.
