Last week our DISCIPLE study group had their final gathering. It was truly an act of commitment for us to arrange our schedules to share a meal and Holy Communion. As always this was a special time as we explored the theme word – Remember - for this particular session. In doing so, we realized how important we have become to one another and that we have claimed sacred scripture as the basis for our discipleship in new and exciting ways. One of the highlights of our year was to have two group members become engaged to one another. Of course, sharing prayer concerns and moments of personal insight bound us together and connected us with God in a special way. Now the challenge is to convince others to be a part of DISCIPLE BIBLE STUDY during the coming year. Why?
From one of my previous postings:
In today’s bullet and sound-byte culture, it seems to be difficult to help persons understand that in-depth Bible study is important to their spiritual growth and that it is important to the life of the church. Repeatedly, I hear “don’t you have a short-term study, one that doesn’t require a lot of reading?” Yes, periodically we do Bible study “lite” and it introduces participants to some basic understandings. However, this encounter with the Word is not long enough to let the stories become our stories. To be nurtured in the faith stories requires discipline of reading and prayer. Developing learning relationships – students and teachers with God and with one another – is the essential frame for all educational ministries. This means that we need to be a part of an intentional spiritual community. I continue to believe that DISCIPLE BIBLE STUDY is a model that does this and functions as a building block not only for individuals, but also for the congregation.
1 comment:
According to Amos, the day would come when there would be a famine for the Word. While preparing the covenant renewal lesson of Ezra/Nehemiah, It occurred to me that the people all were drawn to the Word because of just such a famine.Rather than thinking of famine as a lack of the Word, I began to think of famine as a time when the people were starving for the Word. We are starving for the Word. Your Disciple class showed me how interconnected are all the paths in the journey through the Word. It also allowed me to think about the Word as not words.When the Word is taught with any degree of understanding, people are attracted to it. You help us to understand. Water Gate out.
Tom
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