“Five for Your Friday” is a recurring roundup of articles, videos, resources and more from around the web. Content included here is based on suggestions, input and feedback from Baptist State Convention of North Carolina staff, and it is intended to equip, encourage and challenge you and your church to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18) as you seek to “go and make disciples” (Matthew 28:19).

Please note that information and content included here does not constitute or imply endorsement by the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.

Adjusting to the new normal brings up decisions many never thought they would have to make, let alone discuss. How are we supposed to “go” if we are ordered to “stay”? How do we celebrate graduating seniors? Will there be VBS? What is the right thing to do with the stimulus check we receive? What wisdom can we gain in these strange times?

5 ways to go and make disciples when we have to stay
Tension can be felt when we read the command to “go” in Matthew 28:19, while also being told to “stay” by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Yana Conners offers five ways that you can continue to be intentional with evangelism and discipleship while obeying the stay-at-home order.

What Should I Do with My Stimulus Check?
Many Americans have already received their stimulus checks and may be wondering what they should do with it. Clint Moore of The Gospel Coalition gives eight biblical guidelines to maintain financial wisdom with the stimulus check.

Celebrate our 2020 seniors
You may have seen on social media where people are celebrating 2020 seniors due to them being unable to hold a typical graduation ceremony. Mixed emotions are sure to be felt from these students as they have worked hard to get to this point in their education and lives. This Lifeway Students article gives these suggestions as a way for churches and families to still celebrate the graduating classes of 2020.

4 ways to do VBS this summer
Regardless of what this summer will look like, there are ways to utilize the important strategy of Vacation Bible School (VBS) to reach our communities. Lifeway suggests these four creative, safe and effective ways to do VBS this summer. 

The Proverbial Pandemic
This season of the unknown should drive us to seek biblical wisdom as we navigate the new normal. The Center for Preaching and Pastoral Leadership’s Jim Shaddix offers wise lessons that can be learned from the book of Proverbs during the pandemic.