June 2026 Discussion Group Summary

“Preparing to Give Your Personal Testimony”

This past month or so our minister has been teaching and preaching about evangelism. So the ladies discussion group this month was about preparing to give their personal testimony at any time. Believe it or not there are steps that I found that detail what should be a part of your testimony.

The Cru Christian Testimony Guide states there are 5 points of a testimony.

1. The opening: a theme that frames your story and explains what your life revolved around before Christ.

2. Life before Christ: a brief picture of your life before faith, sharing only enough details to show your need for God.

3. How you came to Christ: the specific circumstances, turning points, or moments that led you to accept Christ as your Lord and Savior.

4. Life after Christ: how your life, priorities, or perspective changed after placing your faith in Him.

5. The closing: a brief conclusion or challenge that relates directly to the non-Christians you are speaking to.

During the discussion it was brought up that not everyone is comfortable speaking to a stranger about such a personal thing as your testimony. But scripture encourages believers to view their experiences as living proof of God’s work. {Acts 1:8}-believers are called to be witnesses, enabled by the holy spirit, rather than just relying on eloquence. Scripture encourages the redeemed to share what God has done for them. {Psalm 107:2} So the home work for the ladies was to go home and spend time preparing and thinking about their testimony and ready themselves to share it with non-believers.

August 2026 Discussion Group Summary

“Talking to Jesus”

Believe it or not, one of our references for tonight’s discussion was a song by Thomas Rhett and Brandon Lake called “Talking to Jesus”. If you have never heard it, I highly encourage you to google it, listen, and allow this song to provide you some guidance. The most important conversation you CAN have every day is your personal conversation with Jesus. It is important to spend time talking to Jesus daily to deepen your relationship with him, grow spiritually, and find guidance, peace, and joy in daily life. Tonight we discussed practical ways to spend time with God.

1. Daily devotion and prayer: begin your day with God, following Jesus’ example of early morning prayer (Mark 1:35). This time with God is personal. Express gratitude, concerns, and seek his guidance. Go to your Bible to find the answers

2. Reading and meditating on scripture: The Bible provides wisdom, encouragement, and direction. Meditating on God’s word allows it to transform thoughts and actions equipping believers for righteous living. (2 Timothy 3: 16-17, Psalm 119: 105)

3. Worship and reflection: Worship, whether through music, silence, or contemplation, helps focus the heart on God’s presence and fosters intimacy with him. (Psalm 27:4)

4. Stillness and listening: creating quiet moments to be still before God allows Him to speak and reveal His will, helping believers realign priorities and trust His sovereignty. (Psalm 46:10)

5. Journaling and spiritual exercises: recording insights, prayers, and reflections can deepen understanding and track spiritual growth over time.

July 2026 Discussion Group Summary

“Let Them, Let Me”

Reference: Robbins, Mel (2024). The Let Them Theory. Hay House LLC

I have been reading a book titled “The Let Them Theory” by Mel Robbins. The book is not a Christian book but as I was reading, I viewed what was written through Christian lenses and began applying it to my Christian life. “The Let Them Theory is a proven method that teaches you how to protect your time and energy, and focus on what matters to you.” Page 12 of the reference book. There are eight key areas discussed in the book. Today we only talked about a few. The first being other people’s opinions. God gave us the ability to have an opinion. Is it always necessary to share our opinions? No. Do we always have to react to someone’s opinion? No. Can opinions sometimes turn into gossip? Yes. The Bible teaches that believers should not argue over personal opinions or pass judgement on one another regarding disputable matters. The Bible warns against fearing man’s approval or airing foolish thoughts, advising Christians instead to focus on pleasing God and living peaceably with everyone. Everyone has an opinion and it is ok, Let Them. The Bible however is not opinion, it is fact. Romans 14 discusses this very topic and I encourage those that could not come to read that verse specifically. The next thing we talked about was controlling others. The Bible condemns controlling, manipulative, and domineering behavior in relationships. Instead of forcing others to do your will, scripture teaches mutual submission, love, and respect. Some scriptures to read with regard to being a servant leader is Mathew 20:25-26. Leaders prioritize the needs of others. That is how God leads us. God prioritizes our needs. With regard to self control read Proverbs 16:32. I was a social worker in my career. I had to set healthy boundaries for several reasons. But one of those being how much I let others control my day to day. Always keep God first and follow God’s teachings and it is easy to have healthy boundaries. Self control is a virtue and a fruit of your spirit. Trying to control other people, outcomes, or circumstances can be viewed as a lack of faith. Let Them. Be responsible for your family, yourself, your own tasks, and your God given duties. Another focus in the book is how you react to others. Let Me. Let me respond and be graceful, gentle, and patient.