New Thoughts!

I am attending a community bible study again this year. It is a great place to meet new people who are interested in learning more about God’s word. I love that the sole focus is the Bible. You are not allowed to name the church that you attend or talk about the latest author you are reading (not by name) or which book you found an answer out of. It is really designed to get you to find out what God’s word says more than anything else.

We are studying the book of Acts this year. It is a very exciting book. The teacher brought up a very good point this last week and I was reminded of it as I read this entry http://readshlog.blogspot.com/2006/09/why-cant-we-be-friends.html She related bringing a new believer into the church to childbirth. She noted how we can often try to force a conversion and that is just as painful and dangerous as a premature birth. It is God who prepares the hearts and if we are doing what we are suppose to, it is a very simple but powerful process. Depending on where the person is at in their understanding our job can be very different.

I was so encouraged when I realized that I don’t have to dread sharing my faith or especially how any particular person might respond. I do need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit who knows every man’s heart and He will instruct me as to how I should be responding to those that He places in my life.