Bible Classes

So You Want to Be Like Christ

Starting October through December, 2008 we will begin So You Want To Be Like Christ by Chuck Swindoll. This is an excellent book to encourage a stronger relationship to Christ. God cannot transform our hearts unless we take those steps to grow closer to Him. The Bible says that when we take those steps, He who is faithful will draw us closer. God is faithful, and will draw us closer to a deeper relationship. Once that happens, transformation starts to take place where he turns us from a caterpillar to a beautiful butterfly!

90 Minutes in Heaven

In September, 2008 we started the book 90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper. We have so many in our class that could relate somewhat to what Don had been through. Shawn was put in a trunk of a car and shot 10 tens point blank, and survived. He was in a coma for awhile and learned how to walk again. He should have died by all logical means, but God still has a plan for him. He can relate to the pain that Don Piper described in his recovery. Kim, was hit by a car and left for dead. She was also in a coma, and stayed in the hospital in a body cast for awhile. She still has scars and pain after the tragic incident, and can relate to Don Pipers testimony at the struggle for day to day living. We are still in the middle of this book, but what I hope this book brings home for everyone is sometimes God allows a wrench to be thrown into our plans! We can have our life already worked out, but sometimes in a day it could be drastically changed. There are lessons to be learned, and we have to be faithful each and every step. We have to allow others to help us through it, and we have to continually praise God each hard and painful step. We also have to realize that God created us for His purpose, not ours. He uses all things for His glory and honor, and even our most difficult and trying times.

On September 21, the homeless get the opportunity to meet Don Piper in person. He'll be in town to give his testimony at First Baptist Concord, and we are taking them there to hear it in person. Continue to pray for those who are still struggling with the daily pain in their lives. Pray that God will deliver them, heal them, and restore them. Pray for their obedience to be used by God to share their testimony in order to bring hope in their lives.

When the Enemy Strikes

Starting May through August, 2008 we read through Charles Stanley's book, When the Enemy Strikes, which is an excellent book on spritual warfare. We had a great class with lots of input, thanks to Shawn! So many people recognized how Satan was keeping them in bondage by wrong relationships, addictions, depression, etc. I pray that everyone seeks God for strength and obedience now that the blinders have been lifted. Please pray for everyone that was in the class who are dealing with powerful strongholds. Pray that they learn to trust God to deliver them & lead them out of the grip of Satan. Pray that they surrender daily so God can transform their hearts and renew their minds!

We decided to take another trip to Cades Cove for this book reading & it was beautiful & eventful. I think we'll remember the bear for awhile!

Purpose Driven Life

In January, 2008 we began reading The Purpose Drive Life Book by Rick Warren, and finished in April. The book is awesome and reminds us that God has made us all for a purpose. He has gifted us, and He has a plan for each of our lives. When you are beaten down to hopelessness, it is easy for anyone to lose sight of that truth or forget it completely. On the first day of Spring, I brought the class to do the book study in Cades Cove. The first day of Spring symbolizes new life, a new beginning. It is a surreal setting to be in the middle of Cades Cove on blankets, surrounded by mountains, and far away from downtown Knoxville. We began by standing in a circle and praying for God to remove specific mountains in our lives. We had a picnic, fellowship, and read our book in the midst of the Smokies. This year, it also fell on the same day as the Last Supper, so we also had Holy Communion. Amy and Mark, expressed and interest to be baptized, so later that afternoon we baptized them in the chilly Little River in Townsend that afternoon. As my daughter said, it will be the first of many, and we all knew we will be coming back on a regular basis for baptisms. It was an awesome day in the Lord!