Quick! What two words strike the most fear into both Christian believers and non-believers alike? That’s right! Everybody knows the answer to that one . . .
BIBLE STUDY!
And with good reason – most of us have all encountered at least some form of a less than inspiring, if not out-right “snoozer” of a bible study . . . Whether the cheesy, pre-packaged ones we encountered as a child or the dull, dry lecture variety we might have experienced from the recently retired lawyer who had nothing else to do with his spare time. (Though we should certainly offer an “A for effort” there.)
But it just doesn’t have to be that way!
I mean really – I happen to know because about 15 years ago I discovered a Bible Study program put together by those wily United Methodists that is “just killer” as my 11 year old son Rob would say.
“Well, how could that possibly be?” you ask.
The name of the program is quite simply, “Disciple,” and while it was originally created some time back it has been massaged and renewed and recreated such that it (like you and I) is a wondrous ongoing work in progress. But the three things that make Disciple so uniquely powerful have remained very much the same:
• Group size is limited to 12 “souls on board” as a target. (About 16 is “absolute maximum occupancy.”)
• The class meetings are held once a week and are “Conversational” in lieu of being “Instructional.” Students are able to share personal understandings and experiences and there is a clear emphasis that “it really is OK” to disagree on various interpretations.
• Students tend to start out reading the Word, before realizing that somewhere along the way it has begun to “read them.” i.e. the Spirit has plenty of room to work in our lives and usually does week in and week out – and often in some rather unexpected ways.
“But why bother reading the Bible? I mean, I’ve heard it all before haven’t I?”
Well, if you’re like most of us you really haven’t – most studies and even scripture based sermons tend to stick to the more familiar texts, but in the first level of Disciple you’ll read almost 80% of the Bible over an 8 month period. Sound challenging? In some ways, absolutely – but in others not at all. In fact, most students have a hard time stopping once they begin using the study guide and watching the weekly DVD presentations by leading scholars from all denominations and even other faith traditions.
Simply put, every preconception you ever had about a “Bible Study” will go right out the window.
Intrigued? Been thinking about doing such a study but “Just never got around to it?” There are plenty of excuses to go around (believe me, I’ve had my own) but when you really get down to it, there is simply no more powerful, life altering, important, critical, peace-giving thing you will ever do. Ever. Way big EVER. And that applies whether you’ve never graced the doorstep of a church or never missed a Sunday service in your life.
Don’t believe me? Give it a try – jump in for 6 weeks and then tell me how much money it would take to get you to STOP. I mean it – after leading these programs / classes for over 7 years collectively, I have only seen perhaps five out of over 600 students drop out and I think four of them were pregnant and had other rather “large matters” to attend to . . .
The congregation I lead at Peace Presbyterian Church will begin offering Disciple classes the first week of February and groups are forming now. Contemplated meeting times are Monday evening (7 PM), Thursday evening (7 PM) and Sunday mornings (9 AM), but if you have a suggestion and some others are seeking the same time slot we can make that work as well. Please contact me at 330-7335 or [email protected] if you’re interested or would just like to learn more.
Here’s to a Joyful and Wonderfully Prosperous NEW year – with many inspired new beginnings!
