Let Us Take the Essential Life Bible Studies Seriously
In House Church there are two kinds of Life Bible Studies: essential and elective. The essential courses run through five stages — Living Life, Life of Assurance, New Life, Life of Godliness, and Life of Experiencing God — and they are the root system without which neither the church nor our house churches can be built. The elective studies exist to fill in the gaps between them, giving us a good opportunity to train the areas where our faith is still weak.
Lately though, there is a tendency to be more interested in the electives than the essentials. If the essential courses stall while only the electives go ahead, personal faith may grow, but we fall short of the church’s reason for existing: saving the lost, raising disciples, and building healthy house churches. I am especially sorry to see how few now take Life of Assurance, while many choose the Road of Happiness because it is easy and undemanding. Please do not misunderstand me — the Road of Happiness was designed as a point of contact with the gospel for those who have no faith yet. But for house church members who have already received Jesus, what is needed is Life of Assurance.
If we are to keep saving souls and making disciples through our house churches, the shepherds and shepherds’ partners must first be passionate about the essential studies. Please do not stop until you have completed all five courses through to Experiencing God. You have to learn and to teach at the same time, and I know you are busy — but you must set the example for your house church members first.
The Life Bible Studies are not only for shepherds and shepherds’ wives; every member should keep taking the essential courses. And do not think that once you have heard a course there is nothing left to hear. Some have taken Living Life Bible Study several times, and say that what they missed the first time struck them freshly the second. It is a matter of absorption: the first time we may digest less than 30%, the second time 50–60% or more. If you heard it long ago and never returned to it, perhaps less than 10% remains.
From next week, enrolment for the second half of the year, Life Bible Studies begins, and this term we plan to focus on the essential courses. May it be a time when the roots of our house churches, and of our own faith, are set firmly once more.
Word of the week
Today we have the Receiving Jesus Meeting. If you wish to believe in Jesus, if you lack assurance of your salvation, or if you would like to register as a member of the church, please come. At 3:30PM in the Education Building.
윗글
아랫글
이동주 2026.07.25 14:22
신고
In House Church there are two kinds of Life Bible Studies: essential and elective. The essential courses run through five stages — Living Life, Life of Assurance, New Life, Life of Godliness, and Life of Experiencing God — and they are the root system without which neither the church nor our house churches can be built. The elective studies exist to fill in the gaps between them, giving us a good opportunity to train the areas where our faith is still weak.
Lately though, there is a tendency to be more interested in the electives than the essentials. If the essential courses stall while only the electives go ahead, personal faith may grow, but we fall short of the church’s reason for existing: saving the lost, raising disciples, and building healthy house churches. I am especially sorry to see how few now take Life of Assurance, while many choose the Road of Happiness because it is easy and undemanding. Please do not misunderstand me — the Road of Happiness was designed as a point of contact with the gospel for those who have no faith yet. But for house church members who have already received Jesus, what is needed is Life of Assurance.
If we are to keep saving souls and making disciples through our house churches, the shepherds and shepherds’ partners must first be passionate about the essential studies. Please do not stop until you have completed all five courses through to Experiencing God. You have to learn and to teach at the same time, and I know you are busy — but you must set the example for your house church members first.
The Life Bible Studies are not only for shepherds and shepherds’ wives; every member should keep taking the essential courses. And do not think that once you have heard a course there is nothing left to hear. Some have taken Living Life Bible Study several times, and say that what they missed the first time struck them freshly the second. It is a matter of absorption: the first time we may digest less than 30%, the second time 50–60% or more. If you heard it long ago and never returned to it, perhaps less than 10% remains.
From next week, enrolment for the second half of the year, Life Bible Studies begins, and this term we plan to focus on the essential courses. May it be a time when the roots of our house churches, and of our own faith, are set firmly once more.
Word of the week
Today we have the Receiving Jesus Meeting. If you wish to believe in Jesus, if you lack assurance of your salvation, or if you would like to register as a member of the church, please come. At 3:30PM in the Education Building.