Refreshments

Make bagged lunches for the women. They could include a piece of fruit, a fluffer nutter sandwich, a juice box and a bag of chips. Include one of the scripture verses below in each bag.

Decorations

Place a stack of books on a black tablecloth with an apple on top for the centerpieces. Have a pencil at each chair for the women to take home.

Service Project Ideas

Invite the women to bring school supplies for backpacks for corps children whose families have limited funds. Ask them to write a note to be placed in the backpacks, telling the children that they will be prayed for during the school year. Invite them and their parents to attend a Sunday service and present the backpacks. Invite all the children to stand and offer a prayer for them for the coming school year.

Sharing Activity

Give each woman an index card and a pencil. Ask them to describe the most challenging homework assignment they had or ask them to share a time when they forgot to do their homework. Invite them to share if there was someone who supported them through their school years and how that made them feel. Is there someway that they can encourage a child that comes to the corps?

Hit The Books

Have you ever heard a child say, “Homework? Not again!” Believe it or not, children feel that homework is one of the worst things that could happen to them. If you mention the word, they begin to huff and puff and groan. They would much rather watch TV or hang out with their friends than do their homework. I remember being in school and the class erupting in celebration when the teacher announced that there would be no homework over the weekend. Homework may be disliked by many children, but it is a necessity for learning. It is the way children practice and master what they are taught in school. Simply put, if they want to hit their goals in life, they must hit the books at home.

As believers, we have homework to do doing everyday. If we are honest, some of us have been missing several assignments. We have not been reading our Bibles and putting into practice the things we learn. The time we should be spending with God we give to shopping or watching TV, talking on the phone, crafting, or reading magazines. We avoid doing our spiritual homework. David writes in Psalm 25:5, “ Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long.”

This Psalm reflects David’s earnest desire to learn the Lord’s ways and to be guided by Him. David faced a troubling time and prayed that the Lord would teach him and guide him. David says that he will wait all day for the Lord’s guidance and will not be hasty in making a decision on his own. During the most difficult times in his life he sought the Lord for His truth. In the same way we should have an earnest desire to be taught and led by the Lord especially during the difficult times in our life. The more we know about God, the more we will be able to trust that His way is best for us. When we are faced with uncertainty about the future, concerned about our current circumstances, or even hurt by our past, we should earnestly seek the Lord as David did. When troubling times occur, the best thing we can do is hit the Book—the Bible. It is through the Bible that we learn about God’s commands and promises for our lives. It is through the Bible that we are guided to make the right decisions.

At times it may be intimidating to read the Bible. Maybe you feel like a child again, having a hard time completing a homework assignment. You are not sure that you understand what you are reading. The best part about reading the Bible is that the Lord desires to help you understand. You have other believers who want to help you also. You can pray just like David did and the Lord will teach and guide you. Included in your lunch bag is a scripture verse. Your homework this week is to seek to put that scripture into practice in your life and to read your Bible. Let us end by praying David’s prayer together.

Pray together Psalm 25:5 by having the women repeat after you.

Scripture Verses

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these. (Mark 12:30-31).

In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. (Eph. 4:26-27)

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Eph. 4:29, 30)

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. (Eph. 4:31)

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2–4)

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will. (Rom. 12:2)