Merge branch 'stage' into prod

src/en/aij/2025-01-bb-pth/07/07.md

@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ As you honestly look into the details of your life, what phrase best describes y
 {"style":{"text":{"color": "#a65726", "size": "lg", "typeface": "BaskervilleBT-Bold"}}}
 Reflect
 
-“The Bible is God’s voice speaking to us, just as surely as though we could hear it with our ears. If we realized this, with what awe would we open God’s Word, and with what earnestness would we search its precepts! The reading and contemplation of the Scriptures would be regarded as an audience with the infinite one” (Ellen G. White, _Testimonies for the Church_, vol. 6, p. 393).
+“The Bible is God’s voice speaking to us, just as surely as though we could hear it with our ears. If we realized this, with what awe would we open God’s Word, and with what earnestness would we search its precepts! The reading and contemplation of the Scriptures would be regarded as an audience with the infinite one” (Ellen G. White, ^[Testimonies for the Church]({"style": {"text": {"typeface": "PTSans-Italic"}}}), vol. 6, p. 393).
 
 - How would you share this thought in your own words?
 

src/en/aij/2025-01-bb-pth/11/11.md

@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ Which of the following thoughts about our words would you like to influence you
 Share your choice with your group and explain why you chose it:
 - “Our words evidence the manner of food upon which the soul feeds” (Ellen G. White Comments, _The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary_, vol. 3, p. 1160).
 - “He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit” (Proverbs 17:27).
-- “Above all things, parents should surround their children with an atmosphere of cheerfulness, courtesy, and love” (Ellen G. White, _Counsels to Parents_, Teachers, and Students, p. 115).
+- “Above all things, parents should surround their children with an atmosphere of cheerfulness, courtesy, and love” (Ellen G. White, _Counsels to Parents_, _Teachers, and Students_, p. 115).
 - “Words of cheer and encouragement spoken when the soul is sick and the pulse of courage is low—these are regarded by the Savior as if spoken to Himself” (Ellen G. White, ^[The Ministry of Healing]({"style": {"text": {"typeface": "PTSans-Italic"}}}), p. 159).
 - “Kind words do not cost much. Yet they accomplish much” (Blaise Pascal).
 

src/en/aij/2025-01-bg/07/03-the-heart-of-the-matter.md

@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ Encourage them to expand their learning beyond the repetition of reading the sam
 
 Watch as your child learns and grows through repetition. As they repeat the same actions again and again, you will see them develop coordination and control. Through repetition they will also discover success as they develop perseverance. Take courage in knowing that God too watches us with love and patience as we often require repetition to learn to trust in Him. It is in knowing that we can do it again that we find a resilience not daunted by a fall but rather strengthened in the opportunity to get up and say, “More, please.” 
 
-“What we venture to do once, we are more apt to do again. Habits of sobriety, of self-control, of economy, of close application, of sound, sensible conversation, of patience and true courtesy, are not gained without diligent, close watching over self. . . . Persevering efforts will be required if the Christian graces are ever perfected in our lives” (Ellen G. White, _Testimonies for the Church_, vol. 4, p. 452).
+“What we venture to do once, we are more apt to do again. Habits of sobriety, of self-control, of economy, of close application, of sound, sensible conversation, of patience and true courtesy, are not gained without diligent, close watching over self. . . . Persevering efforts will be required if the Christian graces are ever perfected in our lives” (Ellen G. White, ^[Testimonies for the Church]({"style": {"text": {"typeface": "Omnes-Italic"}}}), vol. 4, p. 452).
 
 > <callout>Galatians 6:9</callout>
 > “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” 

src/en/aij/2025-03-bb-pth/07/07.md

@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ Read the following quotes and share your thoughts with the group.
 
 > “[Children] need gentle, encouraging words. How easy it is for mothers to speak words of kindness and affection which will send a sunbeam to the hearts of the little ones, causing them to forget their troubles” (Ellen G. White, ^[The Adventist Home]({"style": {"text": {"typeface": "PTSans-Italic"}}}), p. 196).
 
-> “An approving glance, a word of encouragement and praise from the mother, will often cast a sunbeam into their young hearts for a whole day” (Ellen G. White, _Selected Messages_, book 2, p. 439).
+> “An approving glance, a word of encouragement and praise from the mother, will often cast a sunbeam into their young hearts for a whole day” (Ellen G. White, ^[Selected Messages]({"style": {"text": {"typeface": "PTSans-Italic"}}}), book 2, p. 439).
 
 {"style":{"text":{"color": "#a65726", "size": "lg", "typeface": "BaskervilleBT-Bold"}}}
 Challenge

src/en/aij/2025-03-bb-pth/11/11.md

@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ Discuss
 {"style":{"text":{"color": "#bf9648", "typeface": "BaskervilleBT-BoldItalic"}}}
 Share the ideas from the following quote that challenge you the most.
 
-> “Whenever the mother can speak a word of commendation for the good conduct of her children, she should do so. She should encourage them by words of approval and looks of love. These will be as sunshine to the heart of a child and will lead to the cultivation of self-respect” (Ellen G. White, _Testimonies for the Church_, vol. 3, p. 532).
+> “Whenever the mother can speak a word of commendation for the good conduct of her children, she should do so. She should encourage them by words of approval and looks of love. These will be as sunshine to the heart of a child and will lead to the cultivation of self-respect” (Ellen G. White, ^[Testimonies for the Church]({"style": {"text": {"typeface": "PTSans-Italic"}}}), vol. 3, p. 532).
 
 {"style":{"text":{"color": "#a65726", "size": "lg", "typeface": "BaskervilleBT-Bold"}}}
 Reflect and Challenge

src/en/aij/2025-04-bb-pth/03/03.md

@@ -58,5 +58,7 @@ possible environment to grow their characters.
 ---
 
 {"style":{"text":{"size": "xs"}}}
-<sup>2</sup> Barna Group, ^[Who Is Responsible for Children’s Faith Formation?_\
-<sup>3</sup> David Murrow, _Young Men and Faith_, in _Why Men Hate Going to Church]({"style": {"text": {"typeface": "PTSans-Italic"}}}), p. 185.
+<sup>2</sup> Barna Group, _Who Is Responsible for Children’s Faith Formation?_
+
+{"style":{"text":{"size": "xs"}}}
+<sup>3</sup> David Murrow, _Young Men and Faith_, in _Why Men Hate Going to Church_, p. 185.

src/en/explore/family-to-family-church-guide/appendix-d/03-daily-devotions/section.yml

@@ -1 +1 @@
-title: January 2025
+title: Daily Devotions

src/en/explore/family-to-family-family-guide/03-daily-devotions/section.yml

@@ -1 +1 @@
-title: January 2025
+title: Daily Devotions

src/en/explore/feed.yml

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
     view: folio
     resources:
       - en-explore-stewardship-offertory-readings-2025
+      - en-explore-steps-to-discipleship-leader-guide
   - group: Other Resources
     view: folio
     scope: resource

src/en/explore/steps-to-discipleship-leader-guide/00-introduction/00-introduction.md

@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+---
+title: Introduction
+---
+
+Welcome to the Steps to Discipleship Small Group Leader’s Guide. You are a vital part of the success and impact of program. The small group process will greatly contribute to the spiritual growth of your group members as they work through these next seven weeks. Please join us in praying that God will use you and your group to help each member deepen his or her walk with God. Thank you for being an important part of this exciting journey together.
+
+### Purpose
+
+This **Leader’s Guide** is designed to help you as a small group leader or discussion coordinator to guide your group into deeper study of the topic and decision for the week. This topic is first presented in the Sabbath sermon, and then reviewed and expanded in the daily study guide for each participant.
+
+This **Leader’s Guide** will help you in your work with your group in several ways:
+
+First, it will provide you a framework for the entire program so that you can understand where we are going throughout the seven weeks.
+
+Second, this **Guide** will identify objectives for each week’s study and discussion.
+
+Finally, this material will give you a suggested process for each week’s group meeting. Please use your judgment in adapting this process to meet the needs of your group. The most important objective is to help the members of your group connect with God and grow deeper in their relationship with Him as disciples.
+
+### Steps To Discipleship
+
+The **Steps to Discipleship** material is designed to help individuals grow in their relationship with God and in an intentional discipleship process. It also invites individuals into discipleship as a lifestyle.
+
+There are eight Sabbaths and seven weeks in the overall strategy. Participants have a personal **Study Guide** which guides them through daily study in Scripture, as well as time in reflection and prayer.
+
+### Principles
+
+There are four foundational principles on which the **Steps to Discipleship** strategy is built.
+
+Two of these principles are biblical:
+
+- God promised that we would find Him when we search for Him with all our hearts. (Jeremiah 29:13)
+- Jesus promised that we would be drawn to the uplifted Christ. (John 12:32)
+
+There are also two mental or psychological principles:
+
+- People resist making a long-term commitment, but are willing to make a short-term one.
+- If we do something daily for six to seven weeks, we develop a habit, and we want to build a habit of regular devotional time with God.
+
+### Objectives
+
+There are three key objectives for the **Steps to Discipleship** program:
+
+- To invite individuals into an intentional discipleship process of daily time with God in prayer and Bible study.
+- To move people through a set of sequential discipleship decisions.
+- To lead individuals to discipleship as a lifestyle.
+
+### Sequential Decisions
+
+The study material invites individuals to make a series of eight sequential decisions. It will help you as a group leader to keep these decisions in mind as you facilitate the discussion each week.
+
+1. To try intentionally try God for seven weeks by giving Him 30-45 minutes a day in planned Bible study and prayer
+2. To accept or affirm Jesus Christ as Savior and to accept the assurance of salvation based on grace and the gift of God.
+3. To accept Jesus as Lord of our lives, surrendering control to Him of every area of life.
+4. To accept the reality of Jesus Christ dwelling within us as the power for the daily Christian life.
+5. To accept the invitation to the ministry of sharing with others what Jesus has done for us.
+6. To accept being and living as part of the Church as the Body of Christ, and to explore what it means to be part of this Body.
+7. To accept a personal ministry based on God’s calling and the spiritual gifts He gives us.
+8. To choose discipleship as a daily and long term lifestyle.

src/en/explore/steps-to-discipleship-leader-guide/00-introduction/info.yml

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+title: Introduction

src/en/explore/steps-to-discipleship-leader-guide/01-suggested-group-process/01-week/01-week.md

@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+---
+title: Try Him And See
+---
+
+### Objectives for Week
+
+The objectives for this week’s study are:
+
+1. To begin an intentional search for a deeper relationship with God.
+2. To explore how God sees us.
+3. To explore the depths of God’s love for us.
+4. To claim the promise that we will find God when we search for Him.
+
+### Opening Prayer
+
+You will want to be sure to open the group study and discussion session with a prayer. You may want to ask one of the group members to have the opening prayer. In order to avoid embarrassment, it would be good to plan ahead and ask the person if he or she is willing to lead the group in prayer.
+
+### Sharing & Prayer
+
+Invite the group members to spend a few minutes in sharing with each other the highlights of the week, and any prayer requests they might have. Then spend a few minutes praying for those requests. This can be done as an entire group, or by teaming up in two’s or three’s.
+
+### Memory Verse Review
+
+Review the memory verses for this week, and discuss the meaning of each verse. Invite the members to share which of the verses spoke most directly to them, and how. The two verses for this week are:
+
+> Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV) — “The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: ëI have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.’”
+
+> Jeremiah 31:3 (KJV) — “The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, ëYea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.’”
+
+> Psalm 34:8 (NIV)—“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.”
+
+> Psalm 34:8 (KJV)—“O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”
+
+Then discuss any possible application to our lives as individuals and as a church family. Look especially for points that fit in with the objectives for this week’s study.
+
+### Discussion
+
+Now we want to explore the area of study for the week—seeking God. Help the group clarify and remember the purpose of this week’s study. The following questions will help you in this discussion. Remember, you do not have to complete all the questions below if your time does not allow. What is important is that the group members process what they have been learning in their daily study, and explore how to apply these things to their lives. You may choose from any or all of these questions.
+
+`1. Read Jeremiah 29:11-13 — What does this passage tell us about how God looks at us? How do you think God sees us?`
+
+`2. How does the life and death of Jesus Christ draw us to God? (See John 12:20-33)`
+
+`3. Read Psalm 63:1. In what ways can we identify our own thirst for God? How does this thirst show up in our daily lives?`
+
+`4. Time alone with God was important for Jesus. How is that time important for us, and what can we do to help make that time meaningful for us?`
+
+`5. Read Matthew 1:21-23. Which of these two names for Jesus is most meaningful to you and why?`
+
+`6. Share with the group one or two things you would like to accomplish in your journey with God during the next week.`
+
+### Closing Prayer
+
+Encourage the group members to follow through on their commitment of daily time with God. Then close your group session with prayer.

src/en/explore/steps-to-discipleship-leader-guide/01-suggested-group-process/01-week/info.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+title: Try Him And See
+subtitle: Week 1

src/en/explore/steps-to-discipleship-leader-guide/01-suggested-group-process/02-week/02-week.md

@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+---
+title: You Can Have It Now!
+---
+
+### Objectives for Week
+
+The objectives for this week’s study are:
+
+1. To face our need for salvation.
+2. To understand that salvation is a gift of grace.
+3. To accept and/or affirm the gift of salvation.
+4. To believe and rejoice in salvation.
+5. To accept and explore our new life in Christ.
+
+### Opening Prayer
+
+Once again you will want to open the group study and discussion session with prayer. You may want to ask one of the group members to have the opening prayer. In order to avoid embarrassment, it would be good to plan ahead and ask the person if he or she is willing to lead the group in prayer.
+
+### Sharing & Prayer
+
+Invite the group members to spend a few minutes in sharing with each other the highlights of the week, and any prayer requests they might have. Then spend a few minutes praying for those requests. This can be done as an entire group, or by teaming up in two’s or three’s.
+
+### Memory Verse Review
+
+Review the memory verses for this week, and discuss the meaning of each verse. Invite the members to share which of the verses spoke most directly to them, and how. The two verses for this week are:
+
+> Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)—“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
+
+> Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)—“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
+
+> 1 John 5:13 (NIV)—“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
+
+> 1 John 5:13 (KJV)—“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life . . .”
+
+Then discuss any possible application to our lives as individuals and as a church family. Look especially for points that fit in with the objectives for this week’s study.
+
+### Discussion
+
+Take time to explore the subject of salvation and assurance in Christ. This is the focus of this week’s study. Help the group clarify and remember the purpose of this week’s study. The following questions will help you in this discussion. Remember, you do not have to complete all the questions below if your time does not allow. What is important is that the group members process what they have been learning in their daily study, and explore how to apply these things to their lives. You may choose from any or all of these questions.
+
+`1. Read Ephesians 2:4-9 — What does this passage tell us about salvation and how God sees us?`
+
+`2. What does the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10 tell us about how Jesus dealt with sinners?`
+
+`3. Read Psalm 32:1-8. What does this passage tell us about God’s forgiveness?`
+
+`4. Read 1 John 1:5-9 and 2:12. What is the basis or foundation for God’s forgiveness?`
+
+`5. Discuss how forgiveness changes our lives.`
+
+`6. In light of John 3:1-17 and 1 John 5:11-13, what level of assurance of salvation can be ours? What impact can this assurance have on how we live?`
+
+`7. Share with the group one or two things you would like to accomplish in your journey with God during the next week.`
+
+### Closing Prayer
+
+Encourage the group members to follow through on their commitment of daily time with God. Then close your group session with prayer.

src/en/explore/steps-to-discipleship-leader-guide/01-suggested-group-process/02-week/info.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+title: You Can Have It Now!
+subtitle: Week 2