I can hardly believe that our second full year as a non-profit ministry is in the books. In the past twenty-four months, we have seen God's mighty hand direct, protect, and provide for this free Bible study ministry.
I am profoundly grateful for the people who God has raised up to partner with us in this work. The only
reason we are able to provide such high-quality free resources is because of our committed donors, and our team considers it a privilege to serve alongside you for God's glory.
I look forward to sharing ministry highlights, testimonials, a financial snapshot, and prayer requests with you in this quarterly newsletter. But first, I'd like to share a brief message from my heart to yours.The textbook for my current seminary course is entitled "
An Invitation to Educational Ministry: Foundations of Transformative Christian Education."
This hefty book is packed with biblical wisdom from experienced educators, but my favorite nugget of truth so far is this:"
Those who MAKE disciples must BE disciples first. Disciple-making involves so much more than proper instruction. (You must) imagine yourself as Jesus' living visual
for others."
As we are primarily a discipleship ministry
— meaning we exist to edify and equip the church
— I take this challenge to live as a disciple quite seriously.
For, if I cannot learn how to deny myself, take up my cross, and follow Jesus (Mt 16:24), my testimony will never inspire similar actions in the lives of others. How does one live as a disciple of Christ in the twenty-first century? Submission.
Service.
Sacrifice.
As disciples of Christ, we must submit ourselves to His Word, commit ourselves to His service, and sacrifice our will upon the
altar of His will.
This past quarter of ministry work demanded the "Three S's" from me at unprecedented levels. As a result, my faith and dependence upon God grew.
At the core of my being, I believe that fruitful Bible study is about so much more than just learning the truth.
It's about living the truth we've learned!
If we are unwilling to respond to God's Word with humble obedience, we are missing the purpose of Bible study entirely.
As disciples and disciple-makers, we can't just teach the truth, we must learn to live the truth.
This is the only way for our earthly stories to testify to the transformative power of God's eternal truth. I hope and pray you will join me on this journey to submission, service, and
sacrifice.
As we embrace a lifestyle of obedience, and teach others to do the same, we will experience the joy of our salvation in our everyday lives.
What a joy it is to serve the Lord with everything that we are, everything that we have, and everything we ever hope to be!
"Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'" Matthew 28:18-20 HCSB (emphasis mine)