Outdoor
Bible Study Directory
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Found 143 Results
3 Important Ways to Prepare for Next Summer During the Off Season
February 2, 2017
As an outdoor leader, I always find summers end to bring a time of debriefing and rest. Summer, while amazing and full of adventure, can be quite draining. Leading others into the wilderness is physically, emotionally, and spiritually demanding. This rest is welcome and necessary, but I have learned to not let the off season […]
Confused? A Wilderness Experience Might be the Cure
May 2, 2016
Being confused is one of the most common and most unsettling of human experiences. Uncertainty about what to do, what is going on around you, or what is expected of you can make you confused. When you are confused it is usually because things are happening that you can’t seem to control.
How You can Experience True Family in Temporary Community
March 9, 2016
Although a wilderness expedition is temporary, it can be an ideal setting to talk about family. People desperately need to be spiritually connected to others in a family.
10 Common Biblical Themes to Organize Your Camp
January 19, 2016
One of the most important details to consider in leading groups outdoors is the content you will teach. What does your group need to learn or process right now? What themes will I stress throughout the camp or retreat?
How to Motivate People by Creating a Thirst for Learning
October 28, 2015
Jesus captivate the imagination of his audience, but he also motivated them to change. He did this by creating a thirst for learning so they would actually “hear” what he was saying. Thirst cannot be satisfied if you are not yet thirsty.
Trials are an Instrument God Uses to Reveal What You Fear
October 13, 2015
God intentionally tests us through various forms of resistance or trials to establish our belief and integrity. Through the process we learn he is the One who sets the terms of discipleship, not us. When pushed, we might want to push back at God, but in his perfect wisdom he questions and stretches us in such a way that draws us nearer to him rather than causing us to run away.
15 Ways to Teach Like Jesus through Variation & Participation
September 17, 2015
Is it time to bring some more variety into your teaching style? Jesus made the effort to vary his teaching techniques, and for good reason. He motivated his listeners to participate with him in the learning process. He wanted to move audiences to become active participants. He taught for impact.
Creating Space for God to Fill You through Wilderness Time
April 22, 2015
God has used the wilderness as a special place for transformation through the ages by providing his people with “dry space”, where distractions are removed, and margin is created in the soil of people’s hearts to drink in and soak up his words.
3 Ways Time Outdoors Helps Your Decision Making Process
November 22, 2014
Outdoor wilderness experience help you develop critical thinking and a good decision making process. Outdoor adventures are such a great training ground for leaders because they give you a keener ability to discern the will of God through solitude with him in the pristine beauty of his Creation which is absent of everyday distractions. RELATED: […]
The Spiritual Compass Points to True North | Being Drawn to the Personality of Jesus Christ
July 31, 2014
Jesus is the most admirable, noble, attractive person who has ever walked the face of the earth. He has gone to the ultimate extreme to show us that he loves us. The compass points to true north – Jesus Christ.
Planning: Struggle to Complete Plans? Draw Water Daily-Proverbs 20:5
July 23, 2014
The next time you’re in the wilderness, waking up really early before everyone else–going down to the stream to collect water, remember that this may be a small act of service, but it is an illustration of a much larger and more profound discipline of how to faithfully complete our plans.
Danger of Viewing the World from Behind a Desk & Smartphone
July 21, 2014
Wilderness ministry is so vital for the church today. We are all so “busy” but often that busyness is from behind a desk, computer, or laptop—and from there we can only see a small sliver of the world. The dangerous reality is that from there, we only get a small peephole view into people’s souls.
Dilemma: Many Outdoor Facilitators – Too Few Outdoor Ministry Builders
February 18, 2014
I love the concept of “facilitation” in outdoor ministry because it represents an important skill that helps people get the most out of an experience. Yet how many of these “facilitators” would actually impact more people if they transitioned from a season of “facilitation” and embarked into a season of “initiation?”
A Surprising Spin on Procrastination & Delay as Leadership Skills?
February 11, 2014
Procrastinators often make better decisions. Why? Because by waiting until a decision MUST be made they have more time to take in information. The opposite is those who make quick, impulsive decisions based upon emotions…
7 Reasons Why Church-Based Outdoor Ministry is Taking Off
January 22, 2014
If Jesus chose the wilderness as a favorite setting to shape his disciples into dynamic leaders, then is it not equally critical in our increasingly urban world for people to encounter Him through wilderness adventure?
The Element of Surprise in Experiential Learning
December 12, 2013
This is an incredible real life illustration of extravagant and thoughtful generosity. Even though the warm myth of Santa is used as the backstory or this 5 minute video, this reminds me of the intensity of God’s love for people…
Trustology: A Blueprint for Building a Culture of Trust. A Remedy for Healing Disunity & Unproductivity on Your Team!
September 27, 2013
Trustology inspires leaders and managers to tenaciously maintain an environment of trust because the fruit of cooperative behavior is worth the effort. People who don’t trust one another can only cooperate under a highly regulated and enforceable system of policies. This poisons the roots of creativity and it doesn’t take long before a culture of distrust erodes productivity.
Practical Stories that Inspire Excellence in Experiential Learning & Outdoor Ministry
September 18, 2013
Joel’s stories on experiential learning and outdoor ministry come from months of time in the wilderness around the world with a variety of participants in a myriad of cultures.
3 Ways Wilderness Experiences Help Promote Visionary Thinking
February 21, 2013
The wilderness is an ideal environment for fostering visionary leadership because it is wild and unpredictable. It constantly creates “need to know” situations where one has to sort out the difference between an “okay idea worth trying”, versus “the right thing to do… the thing that we must do, right now.”
Adventure Planning | Scout It and They Will Come!
February 20, 2013
Adventure planning is so foundational to outdoor ministry. And scouting trips are especially fun for leaders of adventures, because we get to explore and discover routes that others will one day bless those we lead on our route.
