How churches are grounding their congregations

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By This Name Clas in SingaporeRecently we received two testimonies. One was from a ladies’ small group from a church in Alberta, Canada and the other was from a church in Singapore. These two churches were an ocean apart but they had the same vision: to ensure every member understood a clear gospel.

These two churches found it useful to use By This Name as the book for small group study. Longtime churchgoers as well as and people still seeking to understand what the Bible is all about benefited from going through the creation-to-the-cross approach used in the book. They saw how the Old and New Testament tied together as one story, and for many, it made them want to read the Bible more! Here are their stories.

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I found my faith in Christ through this study

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Ladies Church StudyOur ladies’ study group consisted of 12 ladies with different levels of Bible knowledge. There were ladies with no knowledge at all, some with many of years of study and everything in between. The study ran for two months and we met every Wednesday morning. Our book study was By This Name by John R. Cross of GoodSeed International. The commitment was to read 1-3 chapters every week and fill out the companion workbook before the sessions. At the sessions we would watch video segments that would reinforce the previous week’s reading as well as go through and discuss the questions in the study guide.

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The Bible had always been confusing for me

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By This Name ClassA church in Singapore regularly runs its own version of a TERM Seminar. They use By This Name as the text and run the course over seven Friday evenings. All types of people, from long-time church goers, to new believers, to those who are just seeking to find out what the Bible is all about attend. Here is a testimony from a recent participant.

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Trained and ready to lead

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Practising hand motions at the TERM Seminar

Over the weekend, we finished up a TERM Seminar in Olds, Alberta. Unlike previous ones, these participants had the advantage of having access to all the leader’s notes and visual aids. In the past, participants had to take down notes, write in the margins of their books and then back at home, they had to make their own visual aids. It took some effort to get ready to guide a friend or neighbour through the course.

Now with the Worldview Rethink curriculum and visual aids, the preparation was done. They could lead a course literally at a moment’s notice. “Oh, you want to start tonight? Well, sure you can! Come on over for supper and we can begin right after.”

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How do I get a friend to spend 16 hours in a Bible study?

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AHEAAt the AHEA convention over the weekend, there was a gentleman who was keen on the Worldview Rethink curriculum. He had a friend in mind who knew nothing about the Bible. He was interested in how Worldview Rethink takes a creation to Christ approach to lay down biblical foundations.

“This sounds like a long study,” he said. “How much time would I need to teach a friend?”

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Discipling ‘baby’ believers

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Bible StudyThe following is an excerpt from an email from Simon and Lydia,* a couple in Nebraska. They are using By This Name as a Bible study guide to ground new “baby” believers. Not only did they help their students, they themselves were refreshed by the amazing grace of God in the gospel story. Here is what they shared:

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Don’t stop Easter (Part 1)

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Four friendsThe Easter season is a time when the “Christian community” commemorates the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Friends and family show natural interest in the gospel. Churches take the opportunity to reach out to the community. But why limit it to just one weekend? Don’t lose the momentum. This Good News should be shared throughout the year.

A couple of weeks before this Easter season, a group of four women took a flight to another country and spent time teaching teachers how to reach their students with the Good News. What they did will help to spread the Gospel year-round to students who have not heard the message before. Here is their story.

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I walked away from God and celebrated with a beer

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Photo credit: Fireramsey on flickr

Editor’s note: This testimony came to us in French and has been translated into English.

I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour when I was 12 years old. At that time, I had recognized that I was a sinner—the deep desires of my heart were wicked and separated me from God. Thanks to Jesus Christ, I was reconciled to God.

After my conversion, I followed the Lord, not without struggle, until halfway through my sixteenth year. I knew that I needed God and His Word in my life, and yet, at the beginning of the summer of my sixteenth year, I decided to follow my own path, doing whatever I pleased. Upon telling the Lord what I intended to do, I opened a beer which I drank to celebrate the choice I had just made. I knew in my heart that this decision would continue long after the summer holidays. That was the beginning, until not so long ago, of a life filled with alcohol, drugs and sex. I abandoned the Lord for 25 years.

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I just can’t share the gospel with my family… it’s too hard

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FamilyIt is one thing to share the Good News with a dear friend, a co-worker or even your mechanic. It is entirely different to even attempt to share it with family. These are people who have seen you at your worst, argued with you, who know your strengths well and your weaknesses better than most. The challenges may seem insurmountable—the risks too great.

Yet, here are some stories of people who have shared the good news with their loved ones. Perhaps some of these ideas would be of encouragement to you, too.*

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It’s a shame I didn’t understand as a teenager. I might not have rebelled.

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Photo credit: Vincent on flickr

We received a note from Jane* about her sister. This is her note:

Recently my sister, Sue,* has been inquisitive about God and the Bible. I suggested that she read, The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus. She told me she couldn’t put it down! She wrote me an email and I was so moved and thankful in my heart for God’s working in her life. Here is what my sister wrote:

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