The lessons listed below are sessions that Kevin and Laura Payne have successfully presented and may help provide a framework for the planning of a Family Seminar, Marriage Retreat or Children’s Ministry weekend.  Please feel free to the needs of your particular congregation, and make suggestions for additional topics you would like to see covered.  We are always looking to develop new material!

MARRIAGE & GENERAL TOPICS

MARRIED WITH PURPOSE  

Is there a purpose for marriage beyond friendship, companionship, sexual intimacy and security?  Let’s look at God’s Kingdom purpose for marriage and how we can walk in it.

DATING WITH PURPOSE

Most young adults are excited about marriage because they are looking for friendship, companionship, sex and security.  But God has a greater purpose for marriage.  In this session, young adults will be challenged to choose a mate who is Kingdom-minded.

WE NEVER EXPECTED TO BE THIS DIFFERENT

We often hear the phrase “opposites attract.”  But can opposites stay together?  How do you find the glue that keeps couples connected when they are feeling so different from one another?  Successful marriages find a way to remove unrealistic expectations and accept the differences of their spouse.

MODELING THE ONENESS OF CHRIST IN YOUR MARRIAGE

The Bible paints a beautiful portrait of marriage: God intended for marriage to be an equal but unique partnership.  We uncover the secret of taking two vastly different genders and bringing them together to form a marital Oneness modeled after the Godhead.  Discover the true meaning of “helpmeet” and what it means to be mutually submitted. (1 Corinthians 7)

FAIR FIGHTING

Fair Fighting is a specific communication strategy to help couples resolve conflict.  Arguments and misunderstandings are inevitable in most marriages.  In this lesson we learn how to de-escalate heated interactions and how to “fight fairly”.

INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION

Successful relationships rely on good communication.  This session explores how our attitudes reveal themselves in our communication.   It covers tactics for communicating about difficult issues and gives handrails for improving communication with our friends, loved-ones and co-workers.

MARGIN: FINDING THE WHITE SPACE

We live in a world where we are bombarded every moment with multiple options to fill up our time.  We juggle family, church, entertainment, careers and community involvement!  The enemy of our soul would love nothing more than for us to stretch ourselves so thin that the “good” things we do become ineffective. This session addresses the need for healthy margins. 

THE MARK OF A MAN (Suitable for split sessions)

This lesson from the book of Job shares the characteristics of a man of integrity.  This lesson is specifically for men who strive for Godly character.  “Lifting hands without wrath (anger) or doubting” is the Biblical mark of a man’s holiness.

WHO TOLD YOU THAT YOU WERE NAKED? (Suitable for split sessions)

This lesson for women looks at the mind tricks that Satan, the Accuser, played on Eve.  It examines how the enemy has been continuing to bring blame and shame into marriages. 

EXPLORING YOUR PERSONALITY (2 sessions)

The Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator is an outstanding assessment tool for those who want to learn more about their personality and how it impacts their relationships with others.  In this very interactive, 2-part session, the 4 personality pairs will be introduced, and then the participants will have an opportunity to break into groups and discuss how their personality is alike or different than others.  This workshop is most effective when the participants take the MBTI test ahead of time.  It is an extremely effective workshop for leadership teams, new ministry volunteers, married couples or young adults.

ANXIETY

Anxiety is a significant concern in today’s fast-paced, stressful world.  This session addresses anxiety and offers practical tips for overcoming it. This topic is large enough to be a seminar on its own or reduced to a single session to fit into a multi-topic weekend event. 

UNDERSTANDING DEPRESSION

Depression is an often-misunderstood condition that plagues nearly 19 million people in a given year.  Too often depression has been linked to spiritual sin with little credence given to organic causes.  In this lesson we discuss a balanced approach to understanding depression and finding Biblical and practical solutions that bring peace of mind.  Like the topic of anxiety, this can be a full seminar or reduced to a smaller session.

CAPACITY TO LOVE

This session is based on our own adoption journey.  It challenges the listener to consider God’s desire for his people to be known by their love for others.

WE CAN’T LEAVE IT TO BEAVER ANYMORE

The profile of the family has drastically changed, even in the church.  Step Families! Blended Families!  Single Parents!  Come hear practical tools that encourage and equip families who no longer fit the typical stereotype of a 2-parent, intact nuclear family. 

PICKING UP THE PIECES: RECOVERING FROM DIVORCE

Divorce destroys families and leaves lasting scars.  This session offers practical teaching for adults or children and brings fresh perspective to families who have lost their road map.  This could be an entire workshop with break-outs for both adults and children, or be a single session at a family conference.

WOUNDEDNESS & FORGIVENESS

Forgiveness is by far the greatest gift that God could ever give mankind.  Yet even though it is wonderful and freeing, it is a difficult concept for many victims. In this session we will explore the journey towards forgiveness.  This session will highlight the differences between “forgiveness and reconciliation”, and focus on the concepts of “accepting versus condoning”.

CHILDREN & YOUTH TOPICS

OPENING YOUR CHILDREN’S MINISTRY TO SPECIAL NEEDS

Families with special-needs children will “shop” for a house of worship that accepts their family as it is.  We want your church to be a success-story in your community, rather than a church that adds to the sad stories of misunderstood families.  Come hear practical tips to help your Children’s leaders feel comfortable and confident ministering to children with special needs.

BUILDING A STRONG CHILDREN’S MINISTRY TEAM

There are many ways to have Children’s Ministry, but what is the right way for your church?  Do you have the right people sitting in the rights seats on the bus?  This session explores a healthy children’s department structure and offers ideas for maximizing the talents sitting on your pew.

UNDERSTANDING ADHD

A comprehensive seminar on working with children who suffer with ADHD.  This can be for a parent, teacher or combined group.

NURTURING SPIRITUAL SENSITIVITY IN OUR CHILDREN

This session challenges parents and children’s workers to consider if they are developing spiritual sensitivity in their children.  This session includes ideas for how we can model reverence for the house of God, nurturing Biblical truth, and develop spiritual sensitivity in our children.  

PARENTING

Parenting is no easy job!  It’s tough to establish healthy routines, raise Godly kids and find balance in this media-frenzied world.  This session is sure to equip and inspire parents.

TEENS: HEALTHY SEXUALITY

The topic of sexuality is often avoided in church settings.  Yet we want the church to be a stronger voice than the world when teaching sexuality.   This class could be geared towards teens themselves, or be a lesson to adults of how to talk about Godly sexuality in a positive and healthy way.