Several years ago I led a Bible study group that met in the homes of our members. For many years I was passionate about this group, about helping the members, about the Bible study, about worshipping together, about meeting up and doing life together. Then things got too political. There were too many rules put on us by my church. Don't get me wrong, I understand why they were there, but I started worrying more about the rules and less about what pleased my Father. I lost some passion and zeal for what I was doing when the rules became more important than the purpose of our meetings.
The other night I was reading a book. The author said that when God interrupts your mundane existence with an extraordinary opportunity, it is your responsibility to make sure whatever it is happens. He puts the burden on the one that He calls. He went on to say that many Christians are so afraid to act on these opportunities for fear of misinterpreting them or doing the wrong thing so they do nothing. If God is the compass for our hearts, even doing the "wrong" thing is still a "God thing", right? If we are truly trying to follow God, I can't imagine that the "wrong" choice is an awful one.
So, the apathy will now be leaving the premises. I will act on these promptings with a passion and heart for pleasing my Father. I've had a request from a few people who used to be in my Bible study group to start another one. A group independent of any church, but rather just Christ-followers who want to come together to study God's word, regardless of their church affiliation, marital status, sex, or age. I hate excluding people from getting together to study God's Word when that is what they want, so I won't.
I was passionate about my ministry before I lost sight of the purpose for our meetings. I was passionate before I had to start telling people they couldn't study with us because they were married or because they happened to worship in a different location. I was passionate before my creative options were eliminated through format changes. It will take more time, energy, focus, and PASSION now then it did before because I will be responsible for finding appropriate study lessons, planning the details, etc. It won't be easy and I don't fool myself into thinking it will be, but it will be pleasing to my Father who has called me to this ministry and has entrusted me with this responsibility.
I can already feel the change happening. It's wonderful and scary and exciting and terrifying. How amazing!
5 remarks:
Let me just say... YOU'RE AWESOME! And... you have inspired me! I feel the same way! If we lived closer to each other, we'd be interested in attending. Nevertheless, I may have start something similar up here. Thanks for listening to your heart!
Amen, Very well put!! Thank you for expressing how you truly feel. None the less its time to take everything out and put the only thing that needs to be in focus, Our Father!!
Me again... Just wanted you to know your prompting is contagious and I'm now trying to organize a Fireproof bible study for married people. This particular study is for marrieds (obviously) but after this one, we'd love to invite others. And there are advantages to doing bible studies... 1) Different people can facilitate 2) Breaks can be taken between studies and 3) Host houses can easily change. Woo hoo!! Thanks again, Amy!
Thanks, ladies, for the encouraging words!
Kay, so proud of you!!! Let me know how it goes. I anticipate starting up by mid-January after all the holidays and vacations. What about you?
Oh, how I love passionate people, He was, you know. Just a few things for you to consider.
First, organizations "police" what they want to control as if all of us need controlling. What usually results from their policies is weak, bland, and non-passionate things. Stifled, they do not wax, the wane. Take your sheep to good water and to good grazing pastures.
Second, pray hard, not long. He knows what He wants to come of your work, and trust me, He can, and will, keep it straight. But mostly, He will use you to keep it on track, and to keep wolves out, be strong.
Finally, the "END" of your work should be saved souls (His Mission, our Mission as well). Remember, there are zero examples in Scripture of 13 week Bible studies to convert someone to Christ. Paul (the tentmaker) did it in one setting with the jailer ("the same hour of the night"), Philip in one setting with the traveler on the road ("here is water, what doth hinder"), and on and on. Paul said, "I determined to know nothing among you except Christ and Him crucified." Got to be our message to the lost.
Study with saved people to show them THE way we are to live and THE Mission we were given in the Great Commission. People will grow spiritually the "fastest and the strongest" by being DIRECTLY involved in the salvation of lost souls.
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