Bible Study Gone Bad...or Not.
Saturday, December 06, 2008
First, I need to apologize for not updating my blog on a regular basis. I have no excuse and have simply been unfaithful in keeping everyone updated on what's happening here in the FSR. Forgive me for this.
God has really been using me and has been so faithful in answering the requests of my heart. These past several months I've been partnering with Dima and Andre, two local university students, who have a desire to reach the lost. I've been partnering with these two guys in leading an English club and Bible study on Saturday nights. We have an average attendance of about 11 people as we've been going through the book of Ephesians these past couple months. This group is still young, as for its formation, and still has a lot of learning and growing to do. I've been praying and really trying to model an Acts 2:42 worship group for Andre, Dima, and the group as a whole. I never thought that starting and leading a group like this could be so hard! I'm so inadequate in many ways but God seems to take control and turn my inadequacies into God-glorifying results. For example, this evening's Bible study.
The scripture reading for tonight's Bible study was going to be in Ephesians 5:22-33; 6:1-9 with the focus point being on verses 6:5-9. I say this WAS going to be tonight's study...but God had other plans in mind. Lena, one of the ladies who attends, spoke to me in Russian asking if she could say a few verses and a poem which is completely normal for believers to do. At least that's what I thought she said to me. Instead, she had a whole study prepared from 1 John 2:7-17. I soon realized that I had completely misunderstood her intentions so I sat there, listened attentively to what she was saying, and watched the reactions of everyone else in the group. Not too far into her study did some of the other group members point out some misinterpretations of hers. But what was great is that others would share what they thought the Scriptures were saying. Some of the stronger Christians spoke up and corrected her in a loving way. What I like about Lena is her passion. She's still young in her faith but she usually seeks the Scriptures for answers, even though some of her thoughts are misinterpreted, but I can see God is really working in her heart and refining her.
Although Bible study didn't go as planned, I was so proud of our worship group because it was the first time that I really saw everyone open up to one another and participate in sharing what God was teaching them. I love how God is using this group to model what real Christian community looks like. I love how we can come together every Saturday night and worship the Lord in song, prayer, Word, and fellowship. My prayers is that God would continue to grow this group and lead nonbelievers to faith in Jesus Christ.
I hope to give another update about our worship group next Saturday.