Equip
for
Ministry
July/August
1997
Volume
3, Number
4
Preparation
It’s
time
consuming
and
that’s
hard
in
a
time-
conscious
age.
It
can
be
tedious,
and
that
can
make
us
wonder,
“is
it
worth
it?”
There
are
some
who
teach
who
regularly
“wing
it.”
But
even
if
you’re
good,
there
is
a
point
at
which
you
run
day.
Many
discipline
problems
are
directly
related
to
a
lack
of
preparation.
Even
adults
will
sometimes
attempt
to
take
the
leadership
away
from
a
person
who
seems
ill-equipped
to
lead.
If
nothing
else,
they
will
stay
home.
Here
is
one
way
to
effectively
prepare
without
committing
large
blocks
of
time:
-
Read
the
Scripture
for
your
study
and
the
accompanying
materials
the
week
before.
For
instance,
read
your
next
week’s
Sunday
school
lesson
on
Sunday
afternoon.
-
Think
and
pray
about
what
it
means
and
in
particular
how
it
applies
to
you.
Do
this
at
odd
moments
and
you
will
see
things
that
directly
relate
to
your
passage.
-
Early
in
the
week
do
whatever
research
is
necessary
to
get
a
good
handle
on
the
biblical
material.
-
Pray
each
day
for
people
in
your
group,
asking
for
direction
in
how
you
might
best
apply
your
Scripture
to
their
lives.
This
too
can
be
done
at
various
times.
-
By
mid
week
determine
what
you
want
to
accomplish.
There
are
four
kinds
of
aims.
a.
cognitive
-
you
want
them
to
know
something
b.
behavioral
-
you
want
them
to
do
something
c.
affective
-
you
want
them
to
feel
something
d.
dispositional
-
you
want
them
to
be
something.
With
this
aim,
more
than
any
of
the
others,
you
are
looking
for
God
to
do
something.
Change
is
hard.
And
this
objective
calls
for
a
change
in
perspective,
values
and
attitudes.
-
Beginning
about
midweek
start
to
gather
whatever
supplies
you
will
need.
-
If
your
group
meets
on
Sunday,
take
Saturday
off.
You
might
do
a
quick
review
the
night
before
or
early
the
next
day—but
you’re
ready.
With
this
approach
you
will
have
three
to
four
blocks
of
time
committed
to
preparation,
probably
none
of
which
will
involve
more
than
thirty
minutes.
However,
you
will
be
reflecting
on
your
material
and
how
it
relates
to
you
and
your
group
all
week,
praying
as
you
go
that
God
will
work
in
your
midst.
Robert
Edmiston,
Director
of
Training,
CE/P
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