Finishing Well

Here we are at the end of another Coffee Break season. Perhaps you are approaching the end of the season full of praise as expressed in Psalm 65:11, You crown the year with your bounty; your carts overflow with abundance. Or maybe you are longing to put into practice Jesus’ words found in Matthew 11:28, Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Both are real responses and truth be told, many of us feel a combination of the two.

As leaders we pay attention to the three foci of Coffee Break; Bible discovery, the evangelistic purpose, and small group interactions. As we wrap up this season, how might we pay attention to each focus with a desire to finish well?

Bible Discovery

Your role as a Coffee Break group leader has been to facilitate weekly spiritual conversations. Asking good questions has created space in which the Spirit worked in people’s lives. The desired end result of our studies is always a deeper relationship with Christ that leads to transformed lives.

As you finish well, you will want to ask your group to reflect on questions like these. Be sure to respond in ways that confirm the Spirit’s work in their lives:

• During the course of this Coffee Break season, what biblical truth has become more real to you?
• What response might God be asking of you based on what you learned this year in Coffee Break?
• What about God or the Bible am I more curious about as a result of our studies together?

Evangelistic Purpose

In Coffee Break, we move from studying the Bible with only those who already believe in Christ to including those who are searching for Him. Our goal is to invite spiritual seekers into a safe place where they can discover for themselves the message of the Bible. Our desire for them is to discover the life Christ offers through his redemptive work so that they can respond to his call when they are ready.

At the end of the Coffee Break year, what might we do to honor our commitment to the evangelistic purpose? Here are some ideas:

• Have one-on-one conversations with people who have been asking questions about what faith in Jesus is all about.
• Have someone in the group share her story about how God drew her closer to him as a result of your Coffee Break conversation. Allow time for others to respond.
• Talk about the themes and promises from your study that point to the redemptive work of Jesus. Ask for group response to those themes and promises. Be willing to talk further with those who would like to hear more.

Small Group Interactions

You’ve spent a lot of time together around your Coffee Break table. Chances are, you’ve come to know one another well. You may have cried together and laughed together. Friendships have been formed. Maybe there was a little bit of conflict to work through along the way, or a difficult person to deal with.

In order to finish well as a small group and the relationships within it, what might you do? Here are some ideas to get you thinking:

• Allow time for each person to share with the group what your times together have meant to them.
• Bring stationary and allow time for group members to write notes of appreciation to each of the other group members.
• Have a party! Share the fun stories of what happened in your group this year.

And don’t forget about you. As you finish this Coffee Break season, be sure to reflect on how God has been at work in your own life. Sharing these reflections with those who lead beside you will bring you to a rich celebration of God’s work. Take time to delight in these promises from God. They are as true for you now as they ever were.

• ...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 1:6)
• ...so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.  (Isaiah 55:11)

You’ve pressed on. You’ve finished the race. You’ve fought the good fight. Rest well this summer, friend!