David Arthur of Precept Ministries - Awesome Story!

What a privilege to have David Arthur write this post as a guest blogger!

Thank you David for taking the time to do so..we love and pray for all of you at Precept!

Here is a short thought from our recent men’s conference in Texas:

At least three men approached the teaching staff at our recent men’s conference in Waxahatchie, Texas. All three of the men shared the same story: We have left our wives but we are now going back. Simple. They had studied for themselves what God says about forgiveness. They either needed to receive or give forgiveness – but all three of them were ready to make things right.

David Lawson taught about the role of forgiveness and the glory of God. He shared very practical exercises to pursue forgiveness for the Glory of God.

Ritchie Johnson walked us through Christ’s suffering on the cross and finished with God’s forgiveness for us.

I taught out of the life of Joseph that God is completely in control of all our circumstances and because that is true we can forgive others.

When the men were not in the auditorium they were in a small group working through Precept’s study on forgiveness – studying the text for themselves. They were hearing from God – through His living and active Word – the Bible.

A weekend spent with 250 men in Texas… no football, no hunting, no fishing – just inductive Bible study. At least three marriages now have a chance.

Praise be to our God!

David Arthur

Sweeter Than Chocolate - An Interview with Pam Gillaspie

What an honor, and a pure joy it is to introduce you to my new friend, Pam Gillaspie.

Pam is the author of "Sweeter Than Chocolate" - Sweet Words and Real Solutions from God's Book.

She was gracious enough to grant me an interview with her about "Sweeter Than Chocolate," and I'm excited to share with you what I learned about this exciting new study, published by Precept Ministries International!

Plus, this is the first interview I've ever written for my blog...it's a big day here! :)

As you read, keep in mind that God is tendering my heart more and more to be an encouragement to Precept leaders, so much of what I ask Pam in this interview is from the perspective of how "Sweeter Than Chocolate" can be used by Precept leaders, to grow new students and new leaders.

Jes: Pam, tell me how it came about that you wrote this study...what was your motivation?

Pam: I realized that I was plateauing in teaching somene else's material, having led for 10 years and having studied inductively for 20. I wanted to be digging the truth of God's Word out for myself even more. My mentor, Jan Silvious , encouraged me to follow God's leading for me. She helped me to see that God might have different plans for me than I had for myself.

Jes: How is "Sweeter Than Chocolate" different from other inductive studies, namely a Precept Upon Precept (PUP) study? I know from reviewing the first chapter, that the similarities are many, but how is Chocolate different?

Pam: Chocolate is designed to flex. Using Chocolate is a great way for teachers to meet with different levels of students in the same class. New believers and old believers can rub up against one another.

Jes: That's pretty exciting, really. As leaders, we often find ourselves with people who fall into one of two categories...those who are brand new to studying for themselves and are intimidated by it, and those who have been studying inductively for years. Having older believers in a class can either encourage the younger ones, or can scare them off. How does Chocolate bridge that gap?

Pam: Because the study is designed to flex, it allows each student to determine how deep they want to go. They have three choices...one is to do just the main section of the week's study; two is to choose the "One Step Further" boxes and do exactly that...go one step further; and three is to work through the "Digging Deeper" part of the study, incorporating word studies and cross references, which seasoned PUP students are accustomed to, but new students may want to wait to do until they are more comfortable with inductive study.

Chocolate is really a wonderful way to put these different groups of people together, and let them be the body of Christ, as we are called to be...encouraging one another in love as we grow up into Christ.

Jes: And as you said, it's designed for flexibility. As a leader, I love that! I can just see the women I lead being so excited that they have a choice as to how deep they will go...not only from student to student, but also from week to week.

Pam: Yes. We all know that kids get sick, dogs run away, in a word, life happens. Chocolate is a JOY based study - Jesus wouldn't have you doing homework, when your kids are in the other room throwing up!

Jes: You know, Pam, you were such an encouragement to me the day that I called you, crying my head off, because I didn't have my homework finished, and I was the LEADER!

I felt so much guilt, as though I was letting my class down. Yet, you helped me to see it from a different point of view.

I'll never forget you telling me, "This will be an opportunity for your ladies to learn grace."

I was so tempted to cancel class that night, yet because of your words of encouragement, I pressed on. We had a wonderful study that night, and I could hear the sigh of relief from some of the women when I said, "I didn't finish. So, we're going to add one more week onto our study, and we'll complete it next week instead."

We had a great laugh, and a precious time in the the Word..both that night, and the following week! And you know, the church didn't come crumbling down because I'd only made it through day 3.!

Thank you for helping me see that life really does "happen" to all of us.

Pam: It does. It so does, and the Lord knows that. And "Sweeter Than Chocolate" allows for weeks exactly like the one you had.

Jes: Now Pam, you've actually led this study with a group of women from your home church in Illinois, correct?

Pam: Yes, I have. And what I found is that newer students are quick to say, "I can do that!"...there's a sense of success in learning that they really can study for themselves. They see that they can get in and grow with the study as they go along. At the same time, advanced students have the freedom to push themselves further, all the while being an example to the newer students.

Jes: I suppose I should have asked you this question to begin with. Why the name "Sweeter Than Chocolate?"

Pam: The Psalmist of Psalm 119 wrote that God's Words were sweeter than honey to his lips. (Psalm 119:103) As I dug into Psalm 119, I realized that honey doesn't necessarily translate in our minds, especially not in America. So I asked myself, what the sweetest thing that we think of is? Of course, it's chocolate!

Jes: Imagine how life would be different for us if we really did think of God's Word as being sweeter than chocolate! What if we had Word cravings, as we do chocolate cravings?! Now, that would be a neat thing to start asking God to give us...Word cravings!

Pam: Yes! So often, we think about God's Word as veggies and not as sweet. How do we get across to people that God's Word really IS sweet? If the Psalmist were writing today, I think he'd use the metaphor chocolate.

Jes: So, let's get the word out to people that God's Word is as sweet...no "SWEETER THAN CHOCOLATE!"

Pam: That's the thing that kept coming back to me as I wrote this study...just how sweet God's Word really is!

You know what's interesting too, is that chocolate is appealing even to people who might not be knocking down the door for Bible study. They might come for the chocolate, and stay for the sweet Word of God that they find.

We need to be telling people that God's Word isn't bitter. It really IS sweet!

I couldn't agree with you more, Pam!

With that, my blog reading friends, I'm going to wrap. Please visit again in the next few days, as I'll be digging deeper with Pam, and she'll answer the question,

"Why Psalm 119 for our summer study? Why spend 6 weeks in one Psalm?"

I think her answer will greatly inspire you to choose, "Sweeter Than Chocolate" for your group's next Bible study. Check back in the next few days to read part two of our interview.

Until then, I'll be praying that God puts a huge Word craving into your heart!

Much love,

Jes

A Mother's Heart Cry for Her Children, and God's Answer

This blog has turned out to be such a source for making precious friends across the miles, that I am ever astounded by how dearly I have come to love so many people whom I've never laid eyes on.

If you're reading this, and have wanted to "meet", I invite you to send me an email at the address listed in the sidebar. I'd love to know you, and know how I can be praying for you.

Shelly, a Precept leader in South Carolina whom I mentioned in this post, is one of the precious friends I'm referring to. She's become like a sister to me, and we talk weekly. I love to hear her pray, for when she does, the Word of God pours off of her lips as one who truly knows the Lord, because she has disciplined herself to study His Word, and therefore knows His heart.

Shelly is a woman who is deeply in love with the Lord. Her desire is to be the best mom she can be, yet she has a redheaded 4 year old little boy, Ben, who likes to really test her!

She also has Sam who is 6...not a redhead. :)

She called me shortly after having written the 1st prayer journal entry, which you'll see below, and was at her wit's end with Ben. Haven't we all been there!

It was during that conversation that I challenged her to the call of leading her boys through studying the Bible inductively. I shared my heart with her, which is that we as parents cannot expect our kids to learn all they need to know about the Lord, just by putting them in Sunday School and Wednesday night classes at church.

What if we were to disciple our children at home, and then trust that what they get at church would be the icing on the cake? The cake that we had been faithful to bake at home!

I fully believe that we will stand before the Throne one day and will answer to God for what we did (and did not do) with His command to us to teach the Word to our children!

That very night, Shelly answered the call, even though neither of her boys are fluent readers. She started teaching them by using one of the Discover 4 Yourself books by Precept Ministries, "Wrong Way Jonah!"

The common misconception that I hear is this...people think they can't use the D4Y books because their kids aren't readers.

Please hear me on this...each of the D4Y books is written as a story within a story. There are a few leading characters, Max and Molly, and with each of the studies, they are learning a new career... they become archaeologists, comic book writers, advice columnists, superheroes, etc, and all the while they (and your kids) are learning to observe, interpret, and apply God's Word!

So, even if the children in your life are not reading yet, you can still use these books!

You'd just need to read the story aloud, and then verbally walk them through how to use the 5Ws and an H to reason through the Scriptures listed. It's all laid out for you in the book, so it's very easy for the teacher.

You will be QUICKLY BLOWN AWAY by how much very young kids can learn about the Word of God, if you'll just take the time to go though a Discover 4 Yourself book with them. And, they'll LOVE it!

OK, back to Shelly....

She was gracious enough to share the entries from her prayer journal, chronicling her journey with her son Ben's behavior, and how being willing to seek counsel, apply some new ideas, and spend daily time teaching he and Sam how to reason through the Word of God, has helped her whole family.

Her hope is that you will be encouraged, edified, and exhorted to begin leading your own children, or those in your church, through inductive Bible study, too!

Here's what she wrote in her prayer journal...

Saturday, May 9, 2009 (the before entry)

Dear Almighty and Most Holy Lord,

My heart is so heavy today! My load and burden seems too difficult to carry.

Immediately I am reminded by the Holy Spirit that “sheep” are not burden bearing animals.

That’s what you call and refer to Your people as…one of Your sheep and You Jesus are the Great Shepherd.

I have come to lay my burden on You.

I am so glad that I can pour out my heart like water before You and You welcome it.

How wonderful! How grateful I am!

So, here goes…

I need Your help with Ben! His screaming is driving me crazy. I beg of You to make him stop!

Teach me how to teach him to control his temper and anger. Teach me how to control mine as well. You have helped me with this already but I’m not all the way there yet.

I greatly desire peace and serenity for my home. A place where order and contentment exist.

A place where mommy doesn’t have an attitude, where mommy doesn’t resent her children’s misdeeds.

I beg for You to fix me to be the mother/nurturer/trainer of these kids.

I want to go to bed each night without regret that I said or did the wrong thing!

Here's the "after" entry....

A dear friend of mine, Jesica, spoke words of wisdom to my heart today.

She challenged me to be in the Word daily with Sam and Ben. I said “really?” “daily?”

I know I should and I have the “want” to but I hesitate – anticipating their response. I feared their lack of attention and lack of excitement.

So, Heavenly Father I bring this to You. I want to want to teach them more than I want to teach adult ladies.

Give to Sam and Ben a deep desire and enthusiasm for Your Word. May they initiate our time of Bible study.

Give me the ability to teach them at 4 and 6 years of age.

I realize that I don’t take teaching them seriously enough. I am more concerned and excited and consumed with teaching others rather than my own children.

Why is that, Lord?

I ask for you to forgive me and change my heart. I am pleading with You Father to truly change my heart and attitude regarding them and turn my heart back to my first ministry.

UPDATE!

We started Bible study last night and it was GREAT!

I read the first chapter of Jonah out loud and asked the 5 W’s and an H.

I used a small dry erase board and drew pictures of the events. I had them draw in their notebooks pictures as well.

They participated and even Sam said the best prayer that “we wouldn’t be like Jonah who when told to go to Nineveh went to Tarshish instead and disobeyed God.” (Sam is 6!)

I showed a map that showed Tarshish was in the opposite direction of Nineveh.

I asked them “Can you really run from the presence of the Lord?” and they said “NO! He sees you all the time and everywhere!”

We also discussed how Jonah’s disobedience was and is SIN and his sin affected other people (the sailors).

We discussed how we are often like Jonah and Sam gave me an example.

Ben tried but had some trouble (he’s four).

Our time together far exceeded my expectation and was so fulfilling!

Oh, my heart is so full of thankfulness to my dearest Father. He answered the cry of this mama’s heart beautifully!

Don't you just want to meet this Momma, who so transparently poured her heart out before the Lord? Doesn't her story make you want to start studying with your own children or grandchildren? What about the children in your church?

Oh that we would all cry out to God for the hearts of our children, as Shelly did!

Here she is...with Sam and Ben, in front of the library on the grounds of Billy Graham's ministry.

I love you, Shelly! Thanks for sharing your story with us, and keep up the great work!

Teaching Teens How To Study The Bible

I just have to share today...I'm so excited!

Veracity Group and Precept Ministries have teamed together and now have inductive Bible studies geared for Jr. High and High School aged kids!!!!!!!

Yippie!

These are ideal for Homeschoolers who are looking for a homeschool Bible curriculum! They are also perfectly geared for use in Christian schools, and I'm hoping to use them to lead the youth in our church on Wednesday nights.

Last summer, at our Precept retreat, there was a teacher from a private Christian school who had been piloting these studies with her students. She brought several of the girls to the retreat, and they were such an encouragement to the women in attendance, as we witnessed first hand their understanding of God's Word.

These girls had learned to study the Bible inductively, and for their final exam, they had to fill out a blank "At a Glance" chart. 

Basically, an "At a Glance" is a blank chart which the student fills in with appropriate chapter titles, after having studied a book of the Bible and chosen a title for each chapter.

So imagine...these girls knew the book of the Bible that they had studied so well, that they were able to fill in chapter themes for the entire book, by memory!

Isn't that amazing?!

Oh, did I tell you that these girls were YOUNG? The average age was about 14!

Are you encouraged that YOU too can learn to study for yourself?!

You just have to go and check out Veracity Group's web site! 

I hope you're inspired, and if you're a youth Bible study leader, I hope you'll order some studies and ground those kids in the truth of God's Word.

Have a great day!

Do You Have a Servant's Heart Like Nehemiah?

Tonight we're going to look at the rest of Nehemiah chapter 1.

It's such a beautiful prayer that he prays to the Father...and his heart shines through his words.

Neh 1:5
I said, "I beseech You, O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who preserves the covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments,
Neh 1:6
let Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You now, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Israel Your servants, confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have sinned against You; I and my father's house have sinned.
Neh 1:7
"We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses.
Neh 1:8
"Remember the word which You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful I will scatter you among the peoples;
Neh 1:9
but {if} you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who have been scattered were in the most remote part of the heavens, I will gather them from there and will bring them to the place where I have chosen to cause My name to dwell.'
Neh 1:10
"They are Your servants and Your people whom You redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand.
Neh 1:11
"O Lord, I beseech You, may Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to revere Your name, and make Your servant successful today and grant him compassion before this man." Now I was the cupbearer to the king.

Our Monday night Precept class is studying The Sermon on The Mount, and last night we dug deeply into the Lord's prayer.

We saw that the first thing that is said in the Lord's prayer is "Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name..."

Do you see how Nehemiah's prayer was so similar? He began his prayer with praise to the Father, recognizing His almighty power and His character.

The term "lovingkindness" is a covenant term. You see it over and over again when studying the covenant's of the Lord. By the fact that Nehemiah is speaking this term back to God, about God's character, tells us that Nehemiah truly KNEW the LORD.

He speaks to God of His promises to Israel. He reminds God of His covenant with her, and how He said that if she was unfaithful, but then returned to Him, that He would do something very specific for the sons of Israel.

What was it that God had promised to do?

I realize that I'm skipping around a bit here, sorry for that...but I can't figure out how to "cut" in Blogger, so forgive me.

Do you see what Nehemiah does on behalf of the sons of Israel in verse 7?

Why, when you read it in context, was is necessary for there to be admission of sin on the part of Israel?

If you study the Lord's prayer, you'll see a place within it that the one who prays it will also make confession before God.

To confess means to agree with God about our sin. How can we repent (have a change of mind) if we aren't willing to make an admission of sin?

I love that God, in His command to Israel through Moses, didn't say, "If you return to me, I'll do such and so...".

No. He won't be mocked. He didn't just say "return to Me", there was a condition that He placed upon His people. What was it?

Do you see it?

It's pretty clear, isn't it?!

"Return to me, and keep my commandments, and do them."

So, fast forward back to the day of Nehemiah, and we see the remnant of Israel, the exiles, now back in the place where God chose to cause His name to dwell.

Yet, as we learned yesterday, the city is in trouble.

Enter Nehemiah.

One man.

One man, willing to be faithful to God's AWESOME call on his heart...God's HUGE call on his heart.

And what does Nehemiah do? It's found in verses 5-11. Every single one.

How does Nehemiah refer to himself?

And how does he refer to the sons of Israel?

What is your mindset when God calls YOU to a huge task on His behalf, and for His glory?

Do you think to yourself, "Man, I'm so gifted. I'm really going to master this challenge?"

Or, do you repeat over and over that you are God's servant, here for His pleasure, to do as He calls and He asks?

I think it's amazing that Nehemiah had this great call on his heart from God, and yet he still prays for favor from the Lord.

What was his request from God?

Isn't it awesome that he asked God to grant him compassion?

He knew he was about the Lord's work, but he still asked the Lord to pave the way.

God is blowing our minds with all that He is doing for this retreat. We continue to ask for your prayers, that God will fill the retreat center up. Our hope is that there won't be one bed left open.

We are requesting this of God, that our state might be set on fire by the study of God's Word.

We are praying that women who are already leaders will form wonderful relationships with other leaders, to equip and encourage one another for years to come.

We are petitioning the Lord for many new women who will fall in love with Precept studies, and will then go and be trained to take inductive study into their own churches and communities.

We are begging God for the retreat center to be full, that it would be a HUGE blessing and encouragement to Precept Ministries International.

We are also asking this of the Lord, that Living Water Retreat Center would be hugely blessed.

They are such wonderful people there...so dedicated to serving the body of Messiah across denominational lines. Being at Living Water makes me truly feel like we are one body in Christ, just as the Word tells us that we are.

Let us pray as Nehemiah did.

Won't you pray with us?

No time to proof-read, hope it's all good...

Have a great night,
Jes

Awesome New Resources for Pastors and Church Leadership from Precept Ministries!

Please click on the link to go to Precept Ministries' website and see the awesome new resources available for pastors and church leaders. It's so good!

They are even offering FREE TRAINING for them!

I'm am so excited about these new ministry developments and just had to share them with you!

Be sure to watch the video..it's great!

"Discover. Go Deeper. Disciple." - LOVE IT!

Maybe you'll want to pray about how you can share these new opportunities within your own church body.

Think about what a blessing it could be to a pastor to know that the flock he is leading is learning to discover the truth of God's Word on their own time, and not solely dependent upon his Sunday morning message....that they are growing up in Christ and are ready to lead others in their own walks.

Sounds like the great commission to me. ;)

Matthew 28:19-20
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Enjoy!

http://www.precept.org/site/PageServer?pagename=servingthechurch

The Work of Precept Ministries Around the World...

Dear Friends,

When I was introduced to Precept in 1999, I had no idea the reach that this ministry has around the world! All I knew at the time was that my life was being RADICALLY changed as I learned to study the Bible for myself, and listen to God as He led me in the application of the Truth I was learning.

Now, 9 years later, Shane and I have had the priviledge of meeting some of the amazing brothers and sisters in Christ who are working so hard to teach others, in the Middle East and other areas, how to study the Bible for themselves, too.

Below is a note that one of the directors recently sent to Precept, and I share it here with you, by permission. Names and locations have been removed on purpose, and you will notice that some of the English is a bit rough, but it's not their first language, so that's why.

The things that really stand out to me in this letter are:

1. Sometimes God allows illness in the life of the believer in order to accomplish His greater plan.

Will we trust Him?

2. The Word changes people....children, fathers, inmates, teens, moms, the elderly...we must be faithful to teach people how to study for themselves...for it's when we are face-into God's Word that He will speak through His Word and pierce our hearts.

Where would God have you go to teach others how to study the Bible for themselves? An elderly home? A prison? Across the street? A coffee get-together? One mom in town is about to start "Being A Disciple, Counting The Real Cost" and her class is meeting at the park...already there are over 10 moms who are going to be learning to "Discover Truth" for themselves!

3. People in these areas are so HUNGRY for God's Word. Many of them have lived in areas where it was against the law to be anything but a communist until only a few decades ago. Makes me think of Josiah, and how he responded when he finally had a copy of the Word for himself. He was diligent and hungry and QUICK about obeying God's Word, once it was in his hands.

Do we take for granted our freedom to study the Bible without concern, anywhere we like, at any time?

4. Even public school children are studying God's Word! In school! How amazing is that?!

How many public school children in your town might show up if you offered to lead "The Truth About Sex" as an after-school class? It's not like they aren't hungry to know the truth about it! Who will tell them? Can God send you?

5. Sometimes we need to think outside the box in how we reach people. They are teaching children computers at the same time they are teaching them to study the Word.

In another area, kids who want to take martial arts classes must first take a Precept class. For each Precept class they complete, they get to go for their belts. Imagine how much of the Word these kids have in their hearts by the time they get a black belt!

How might God be tugging at your heart to share the gift of inductive study in your home town?

6. We need to be in prayer for these faithful leaders. They are humble, and love the Lord. They have given their lives so that others may know Him, and know His Word. Won't you please join me in praying for them?

Thank you!

7. Remember, every time you buy a book or a workbook from Precept Ministries, you are helping to send books and Bibles to people in other lands where they can't afford them. If you have a choice of buying your class materials from Precept, or from a discounter. Please buy from Precept.

Thank you again!

Here's the letter...I pray it blesses you like it did me. :)

Love,

Jes

____________________________________________________________________

A camp was held for elderly people, and they studied 1 Peter. A lady said, "Do you really believe God is still doing miracles today?". After the camp one woman working with Precept had a stroke and entered the hospital. All the sisters and brothers from the camp came to visit her.

Since she was in a ward with many people, these visitors came to share the Gospel one on one with the sick people. Some rejected, but many received the message and some received the Lord. Now our Precept friend considered that her sickness brought people to the Lord, and she rejoiced over this miracle saying, "Now I understand the sufferings 1 Peter talks about!"

Every day it gets better.

At a camp, the director of a school participated so she could see how the Precept teachers relate to students. A "trouble boy," whom the director had tried to discipline many times to get him to say, "I am sorry," and obey her instructions, after the first day of camp said, "I am sorry" when he was confronted. The director was amazed and wanted to know how it is possible for a child to change in one day!

It was an opportunity for leaders to share God's Word with her.

At the session using the Book of James and Homiletics in another town in the Middle East, where another Precept Trainer taught, the trainer's brother came.

He has nine children, and as he studied about "wisdom" for the first time, he understood that God gives it without reproach. The Holy Spirit rebuked him for not having patience with his nine children who constantly ask for help with their homework. "If God is so patient with me not to rebuke me, I decided to be a different father to my children."

His children saw in their father a huge change!

There is another Precept student in another town in the Middle East. His ministry is to teach Precept in penitentiaries. As he went to the market, his name was called, "My name is Art. Thank you for coming to the prison and teaching God's Word. You may not know, but I received the Lord, I was released from prison, and now I attend a local Baptist church."

A group of six troubled youth with lots of problems of their own came to church in yet another town. Their behavior was unpleasant. The church youth leader, was advised to start a Precept class with this group.

After prayer, this man began to train the church youth leader and others how to lead a class.

The church youth leader started teaching "The Truth About Sex" to this group. To his
surprise, these young men became much disciplined during the lesson and very interested about the knowledge they found in the Bible about this hot topic. When the church youth leader said, "We will see you in two weeks," they said, "No. We want to come next week to the class because we are eager to hear what God says about sex."

The Precept leader who introduced the church youth leader to Precept is happy that the youth leader understands the value of teaching God's Word to these youth.

After our trainer had a seminar in a large church in another town, the pastor said, "We want on Sunday afternoon to study "The Sermon on the Mount" with the whole church. Five hundred people come every Sunday, and they are on Lesson 7 now. The pastor is amazed how young and old come with Bibles and notebooks and write down everything that is on the board.

One by one people come to our trainer and say, "We want to study more. When can we come to the institute?"

In a church in another area, the pastor asked the trainer to study I Samuel with others pastors, teachers, deacons, and youth leaders in this church (30 people). After a few lessons the pastor said, "I want God to raise godly servants after my departure," just as like Samuel.

A Precept trainer held a workshop for leaders from all churches in another city using the Book of Leviticus. The leaders rejoiced over the discovery of the message of this book. "Now we see God's desire for His people to be holy and in fellowship with Him. Now we understand this book to be more than "blood and sacrifices." "

They are encouraged to take this study to their churches.

At Christmas 2007, Precept students organized many events to reach out to the community. Christmas for orphans and for widows were events held in local churches where the Gospel was presented, and people were motivated to come to local Precept classes.

Also Christmas events were organized in public schools where we teach Precept during the year. The students are encouraged to continue to study Precept during the school year.

Work in public schools continues to be a success. In a village middle school, all 350 students study "Computers, Gospel of John and Numbers."

"The Truth About Sex" was presented at another school to 450 students and 15 teachers. Five public schools in another town study "God, Are You There?" (The book of John), "Lord, I Want to Know You" (The Names of God), and "The Truth About Sex" according to the children's ages. There are 1,185 students and 30 teachers involved.

In a penitentiary in the Middle East, Precept students of the institute go four times per week to teach Precept classes. The same students go to four public schools and teach 340 people.

Do You Ever Ache to Do More for the LORD?

I realize that my blog is supposed to be about what I learned from the Word today..and so tomorrow it will be. :)

It's just that tonight I'm in a pretty contemplative mood..and my blog has turned out to be a great gift to me during these times.

I'm at this place in my life where I just want the LORD. I want so much of Him. I want to be used of Him for His purposes. I really want to disappear so that He can shine through.

If you've been following my blog at all, you know that this past summer was a time of real testing for me. Testing is putting it mildly. It was BRUTAL!!!!!!!!!

As I was going through it, I couldn't see HOW or WHAT God was going to do to bring good out of it. In addition, I thought that all of the work that needed to be done, needed to be done in someone else. ;) (Pretty stinkin' funny, isn't it?!)

Yet, God used that time so richly in my life! He refined me in His fire. He tore out pride like He was cleaning out cobwebs! I didn't even realize it was there....but God did!

And now that He has allowed me to see it, I'm at a new place of discovery with Him.

It's no secret that my heart's passion is to learn more and more about how to study the Bible through inductive study. I want to spend the rest of my life teaching others how to study this way, too.

Shane and I hope to retire in Chattanooga one day, and spend our last breaths working with Precept. Shane wants to mow the grass, and I'd be happy doing anything they needed...but, if I had my heart's desire, it would be to develop materials for kids under 7. :)

I am so thankful to Precept Ministries, for their commitment to the Word of God, and to helping anyone, anywhere, any age learn how to study the Bible.

It's just this....there are so many, many Christians that I meet who really don't know their Bible, and don't seem to want to know it. They are content to go to church on Sunday, let the pastor tell them what it means, never question him on it, and go about the rest of their week never picking their Bible up.

That just breaks my heart! And, I can't help but wonder where we went wrong. It didn't used to be like this...the pilgrims lived by the Word. They KNEW the Word, and they taught it to their children, faithfully.

My grandmother read her Bible every single day, for an hour or more a day..she loved it, she fed on it.

So...I'm struggling a bit, I think.

I know without question that it's not my job to judge the walk of other believers with the Lord. I'm not God, nor would I ever be qualified to be. I've got enough areas in my own life that He is still working mightily on...no time to take anyone else's inventory.

It's just this...how can I help my fellow sisters in Christ to WANT God's Word?

Is it that we are so inundated in America, with Christian books, that we never get to the Word?

Is it that the Bible seems too hard to understand?

Is it that Precept studies are scary?

Is it that the world is just too attractive, and more "fun"?

What is it?

If the Bible tells us that we are blessed when we hunger and thirst after righteousness, then why are we so willing to settle for anything less?

Would you share your thoughts with me?

I really would like to know. I promise, no judgement.

OH, here's a little video of my kiddos doing their Scripture acting. Hope it makes you smile!

In Love,
Jes

URGENT Prayer Request....

I just received this note from Jan at Precept Ministries, asking us to pray for our fellow brothers in Christ.

Bob, the man mentioned below, is an international hostage negotiator. PLEASE, stop for a few minutes and ask the LORD to guide and protect Bob and the missionary, Steve and their families during this time of persecution. I have deleted the name of the organization Bob is working with, for reasons of security.

"My Bob left today for Washington, DC and then off to Africa to help _____ get an American Missionary who was kidnapped, released. Bob is very nervous. The last missionary the terrorist group kidnapped, lost his finger at the hands of the kidnappers and it was sent back to ______as proof of the kidnap. Bob is meeting with _______ tomorrow and then off to _____. The missionary's name is Steve. He is married with 3 kids. His wife is back in the US, safe. Bob has 29 saves, but he has lost 5. We are having our church pray during Bob's negotiations."

You and I may not be the ones on the mission field in Africa, but we have a responsibility to our brothers in Christ, to lift them up in prayer.

Have you ever been in a situation where you didn't even know how to pray? Where the pain of your circumstances was so tough that your only prayer was, "God, please help me?".

I was there this summer. It was so hard. So dark. The evil one was on the rampage, and he wanted all glory in my life. All I could say, over and over again was, "God. Please!"
"God. Please!"

Yet, I took such ENORMOUS comfort in knowing that my brothers and sisters in the Lord were lifting me up in prayer...they were the ones that were praying the Word back to God on my behalf. They were so faithful...the truly did bear my burden with me.

And God was so gracious...He heard their prayers, and answered on our behalf.

Let's commit today to pray like that for these dear men.

Will you?

Pray that God is glorified in their lives, as I have no doubt that would be their prayer request.

In Him,
Jes

Teaching Precept Inductive Bible Study to Kids and Children

God's Word Matters to Me Too!

It can teach me, reprove me, correct me, and train me in righteousness...so that I will be adequate, equipped for every good work! (see 2 Tim.3:16-17)

Today was a pretty amazing day.

A friend of mine is teaching a class for her church, and asked me to come in as a guest teacher. She goes to a Catholic church, and her class is made up of about 20 1st graders.

Today's lesson was on Luke chapter 1, through about verse 38.

These kids had never been exposed to inductive study before, and I really didn't know what to expect...but they caught on so quickly! I was so proud of them!

I wrote the 5Ws and an H questions on the board, and then explained to them that questioning the Scripture will help us to better understand it.

Who?
What?
When?
Where?
Why?
How?

I just jumped right in by reading to them straight from the Word...and every few verses I would stop and ask them one of the above, and then write their answers on the board. They loved seeing what they had said, printed out for all to see!

Pretty soon, they figured me out, and were all over it...they listened so well, and then answered my questions like pros!

They were able to tell me that the story was about the angel Gabriel coming to earth and giving a message from God to two people...first to Zacharias, and then to Mary.

It was so cool, because we made a comparison chart of the two on the board..and the children quickly saw that even thought Zacharias was a priest, who likely knew God's Word quite well, he didn't act in faith when Gabriel told him that he would have a son.

By contrast, Mary asked a question of Gabriel, but acted in great faith. She even said that she was the bondservant of the Lord!

I explained to the children that a bondservant is one who has willingly given their life to serve their master. All that their master asks, they will do. They have given up their life to live for another.

So I asked the children.."Who do you want to be like? Whose faith do you want to have?".

We talked about salvation, and about why Jesus came to earth as a baby. We talked about repentance, and about how John the baptist came to pave the way for Jesus..and that John was going through all the area telling people to repent of their sins.

I told them that I had sinned, and that I needed Jesus as my Savior and Lord....their little eyes grew so big when they heard me say that I had sinned...had told lies, had disobeyed.

OOOOOH! They are so precious!

Then, they learned how to act out Proverbs 3:5-6.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge Him
And He will make your paths straight."

We had a great time with those verses! I asked them all kinds of questions about it to make sure that they understood the concepts, and they did!

At one point I asked one little boy,
"The next time you're on the playground at school, and someone tries to get you to refuse to play with another boy...or someone wants you to join in on making fun of someone else, remember that you don't have to lean on your own understanding of what to do. If you aren't sure how to act, what does this verse promise you?"

He thought for a minute and then said, "That I can ask God in my heart. I can pray and ask Him what to do, and He'll make my paths straight."

I was so proud of that little guy! I could have hugged him!

You know, the more time that I spend teaching little ones the gift of Inductive Bible study, the more I love it.

I am amazed by how many Christian publishers think that they have to dumb down the material in order for children to understand it.

If we'd just get past thinking that we're the one doing all the work, and remember that the Word says that The Holy Spirit is the teacher, our kids would be much better off.

These kiddos had never heard of Precept Ministries. They don't know what inductive means...BUT, they sure did learn a whole lot of Truth from God's Word today...and they had so much fun doing it!

I wish we'd commit, as believers, to spend the hour a week that we have with children in our churches, feeding them on the Word instead of trying to entertain them.

Take away the cheese puffs, and give them the meat of God's Word!

They get it! I promise, they do!

I encourage you, if you're teaching kids....just give them a chance, by giving them the Word in Spirit and Truth...and then make up some fun quiz games to cement that which you've just taught them.

You'll be amazed, in short order, how much God writes on their little hearts.

Below are the verses that we studied today...we started with the 1st one that you see in red, but I just went ahead and included from Luke 1:1 -1:38.

In Him,
Jesica


Luke 1:1
Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, Luke 1:2
just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word,
Luke 1:3
it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write {it} out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus;
Luke 1:4
so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.
Luke 1:5
In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
Luke 1:6
They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord.
Luke 1:7
But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years.
Luke 1:8
Now it happened {that} while he was performing his priestly service before God in the {appointed} order of his division,
Luke 1:9
according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
Luke 1:10
And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering. Luke 1:11
And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.
Luke 1:12
Zacharias was troubled when he saw {the angel,} and fear gripped him.
Luke 1:13
But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.
Luke 1:14
"You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
Luke 1:15
"For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb.
Luke 1:16
"And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.
Luke 1:17
"It is he who will go {as a forerunner} before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
Luke 1:18
Zacharias said to the angel, "How will I know this {for certain?} For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years."
Luke 1:19
The angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
Luke 1:20
"And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."
Luke 1:21
The people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple.
Luke 1:22
But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept making signs to them, and remained mute.
Luke 1:23
When the days of his priestly service were ended, he went back home.
Luke 1:24
After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying,
Luke 1:25
"This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked {with favor} upon {me,} to take away my disgrace among men."
Luke 1:26
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth,
Luke 1:27
to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
Luke 1:28
And coming in, he said to her, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord {is} with you."
Luke 1:29
But she was very perplexed at {this} statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was.
Luke 1:30
The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.
Luke 1:31
"And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.
Luke 1:32
"He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;
Luke 1:33
and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end."
Luke 1:34
Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?"
Luke 1:35
The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. Luke 1:36
"And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month.
Luke 1:37
"For nothing will be impossible with God."
Luke 1:38
And Mary said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

Why I Love Inductive Bible Study and Precept Ministries

I had the priviledge of spending the past several days in Albuquerque for a Precept Leader Day and for a Kay Arthur teaching event at Hoffmantown Church.

I came in early to help the ministry team in any way that I could..I count it such an honor to give back to a ministry that has given so much to me. Learning to study the Bible inductively has changed my walk with God completely..and continues to change my life.

I love the people that work with Precept so much! They are so REAL and transparent, and fun, and they have such a HUNGER for God and for His Word, and to live a life of Righteousness that honors Him.

Kay spoke yesterday on one verse that really sums the heart of Precept up for her...and I just had to share it with you, because it's so perfect!

Psalm 119:102
I have not turned aside from Your ordinances, For You Yourself have taught me.

And that's it..don't you see?

When we study God's Word through exhaustive Observation FIRST...then we allow the Lord Himself to teach us the Interpretation of the Scripture, and then follow His lead and obey Him as we apply the Truth in our lives...We won't turn away from His ordinances.

That's what I love about Precept Ministries and Inductive Study.....it points me to God, not to a person to tell me what the Word means.

I love Kay with all of my heart, but I don't depend upon her to tell me what Scripture means.

She has allowed God to use her to teach people HOW to study for themselves, so that we can depend upon GOD to do the teaching.

Do you know how to study the Word for yourself? If not, and you want to learn, Shane and I have dedicated our lives to teaching people what others have so graciously taught us.

We'll be starting a couples' study on March 29th...all are welcome.

Shane and another man from our church will be leading "Living a Life of True Worship" starting very soon, at our church on Sunday mornings.

We have the childrens' Precept study on Friday afternoons...all are welcome.

The women are studying Covenant on Monday nights...all WOMEN are welcome. ;)

If you live outside of Arizona and want to find a class in your area, please go to www.precept.org and look on the right hand column for Classes...it will take you to a map where you can click on your state and then enter your zip code, and you'll have the info. you need to get started.

Or, feel free to leave me a comment with a way to get in touch with you. All comments are moderated by me, so if you send your e-mail or phone number, I will not publish your comment, but will get back with you asap and we'll get you plugged in.

If there's not a study in your area, I'll be happy to help you find the right materials to help you start one, or at least to help you get started studying on your own.

We have no excuse in America, for not spending time in God's Word.

Especially not when our brothers and sisters in Christ who live overseas are being brutally murdered for doing the very thing that we think we can't find the time to do!

That's just absurd, and a lie from the pit of hell!

You CAN learn to study your Bible!

You will be BLESSED when you learn to study your Bible!

You have been afforded the FREEDOM to study your Bible anytime, anywhere in this great country...without fear of death or imprisonment.

What will YOU do with that FREEDOM that great men and women have DIED to make sure that you have?!

I gotta tell you, from the depth of my heart, that over the past year and a half or so, I have gone through the most heartbreaking time in my life. I have lost someone that I love very dearly...she's still alive, so I didn't lose her to death...but I lost her because of the filth of sin.

I pray for her daily, that God will teach her His precepts, and that through learning them, she will choose to walk in obedience to Him.

But, until that time, I still wipe away many a tear as I think of all that she is missing in my life, and in my childrens' lives, and I in hers.

PLEASE hear me on this...If I did not know God's Word...if I had not been taught how to STAND on the Truth of His Word....if I had not learned to incline my ear to His still small voice, and to walk in obedience to what He whispers to my heart and teaches me through His Word....

I would be a basket case!

My home would be a war zone!

My children would be confused.

And I would be blaming God.

But, I am so far from any of those.

I am walking in the peace that passes all comprehension...and I am waiting on God.

He has made it clear to me that He has work to do in the lives of those involved, and that I am to stay out of His way.

So I am obeying.

Do I know that healing of this relationship will come in my lifetime?

No, I do not.

But, I pray fervently that God's Will will be established, and that restoration will happen.

Until then, I have chosen to take God at His Word....He tells me to "Cease Striving and KNOW that I AM God".

And I do know...and I can cease striving...because I've learned to study His Holy Word.

So my only questions for you are:

1. When are you going to start studying His Word inductively?
and
2. If you're already an inductive student, when are you going to share the gift with another person who also so desperately needs His Word?

Send me a comment...and let me know how I can help you.

All for Him...all for His Glory,
Jesica