What if you held a bible study and...

[ReformedWretch]

No one came?

That"(tm)s the position I find myself in at my work place. I work with kids 24/7 at a children"(tm)s home amongst many people who claim the name of Christ. I"(tm)ve been told that I in no way can ever judge ones spiritual condition by their actions and I am an evil person if I even suggest that you can. I"(tm)ve been told the denominations and "œlabels" shouldn"(tm)t matter because we all serve the same Jesus. I"(tm)ve been told that living, as a good example is the best thing you can do for the kids that we serve. Yeah, I"(tm)ve been told a lot!

I prayed for some time about what to do within a bible study amongst such an array of people. The Lord led me to "œThe way of the master" series with Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron. It"(tm)s a solid teaching on using the law in your Christian witnessing to lead those you speak to, to grace through Christ. I believed this would have an appeal to my co-workers and set a clear agenda on the topic being studied (reaching the lost),

I made up flyers, sent reminder e-mails, and spoke about it at length whenever I could. I was warm, friendly, and inviting. I went out this morning and got coffee and donuts even! I thought surely someone would come.

But by 9:15am I knew it wasn"(tm)t going to happen. (We were scheduled to begin at 9am). Needless to say I am rather dejected and even slightly miffed. We work with KIDS and yet Christ cannot be our focal point. I feel completely alone amongst many people who have Christian shirts, bumper stickers, and books yet seem more interested in almost anything other than time devoted to the God"(tm)s word.

Don"(tm)t judge I"(tm)m told. I suppose I am supposed to just smile and ask what everyone is doing next Friday?

 

[RamistThomist]

Been there my friend. It can get frustrating. I will spare you with the "cheer up" comments; you probably don't want to hear them. I do not know the full extent of your situation, but the Lord used mine to teach my humility (I used to be real cocky; even now I find myself with a little arrogance).

 

[crhoades]

For what it's worth,

Send another reminder email next week, buy fewer donuts, and show up again. If no one shows up, spend the time studying and praying and try it again the following week.

If that doesn't work, put out an email telling people you will be studying predestination. That will draw people outta the woodwork just to refute you. At least people will be there!

 

[ReformedWretch]

What is arrogance? I mean in this situation what would being "cocky" look like? If all you can give me if something from your experience, that's fine. I would like to examine this. THis board is the only place where I would trust an answer to that question.

[quote:d0bc02b706]If that doesn't work, put out an email telling people you will be studying predestination. That will draw people outta the woodwork just to refute you. At least people will be there![/quote:d0bc02b706]

LOL!!!!

 

[RamistThomist]

On Arrogance in Youn College STudents:
I was in the Baptist Collegiate Ministries and in my area it is not known for theological bible studies. I was doing one on JI Packer and had recently studied the doctrine of Justification by faith Alone. Of course they were going to come; I mean, I was teaching a bible study on one of the cornerstones of our faith (and by the way, [i:f18aa3bfeb]I[/i:f18aa3bfeb] was teaching it--who wouldn't have come?) Can you see the arrogance dripping? I knew that they were theologically anemic (they would have gleefully amened me on that one) and decided to straiten that meself.

Ergo,
I had really prepared a good one for these young freshman...well, nobody came. I was more let down than embarrassed. Nobody was there to see my shame. Interestingly enough, GOd didn't keep me down. I realized that they (some by word of mouth) told me that they couldn't make it for the rest of the semester (classes and other clubs, etc.). I decided to put a hold on the bible studies. I realized I had a lot of pride in my knowledge (in retrospect I realize how embarrasingly little I knew) and I was in no position to herald the glorious doctrines of the faith. I knew that God had to teach me. I had to spend time "on the mount with God." I then discovered the radio ministry of RC Sproul. I also picked up the first volume of Iain Murray's bio on Martyn Lloyd-Jones. The rest of the semester was spent in communion with God. Instead of vainly teaching, I was being taught in prayer by the Master. I began to learn theology on my knees.

I then went home for the summer. I thought that I had been humbled enough (and I took it with understanding). I then had a job working in the swamps (oil and gas business). The work was brutal and the people there impossible. I was put to work with a man who: 1)knew more bible than anyone I had ever met. Rather than using his knowledge to edify the saints, he drove me to the edge of insanity. 2)His theology was a mix of KJV-only; the worst of end-times speculation; and he was a charismatic.
I felt like I had experienced Luther's anfechtungen of the soul--this may not be theologically accurate (Luther spoke in extremes) but I felt like God had driven me to the pits of despair, even at times where I felt that I had despaired of God!

Anyway, to bring it to a close I then felt I had been truly broken and taught of God. GOd then matured my theology, taught me how to fight intellectually for the faith (i.e. He introduced me to Van Til), and gave me the experience of preaching.

However, someone else gave you much better advice than I did. Thank you for listening...I probably gave you more than you wanted. :bs2:

 

[Abd_Yesua_alMasih]

In my experience which is very short people like this often have to be dealth one by one as if they are in a group they can feed off each other and if their arguments make no sense they still think they do because they have others to agree with them.

First of all if I were you I would talk to them and just try and point out where you are coming from. I have found Ray Comforts style of asking questions quiet useful as it gets them thinking. The other day I was talking to some guy at my cell group who said the reformation could never happened and it would be have been best for the unity of the church if we just stayed Catholic etc... and who was to judge what was orthodox and shouldnt be allowed in the church. You get the picture. I asked him, "So if you were a pastor would you accept someone into the church who did not believe in the deity of Christ" and says "of course not, they are not Christians then." - so I asked him "Would you accept someone who didnt believe in sin" - and he thought about this and so did the others and responded that you cant be a Christian without realising sin exists. We went on and on with these questions and while you will never give them the answers you let them reach them themselves. (They realised they already believed in an orthodoxy and were disgarding people who didnt follow it anyway) Suddenly they realise when they think about it they actually realise some things they believe dont make sense.

These people might not have the same ideas as the person above but my advice is to talk to them one on one, just help THEM to find the logical truth and path (well really it is God who will show them 'the light') If they find it themselves it is more useful than you having to preach to them about it. ie - debate etc...

 

[alwaysreforming]

Brother Adam,
I very sorry this happened to you; how terrible! I can't imagine the disappointment you must have experienced as minute after minute trickled on with no one coming through the door.

I'll just give you what I do (did) and perhaps you can implement it next time: I don't "start" a study and see who will show up. I announce that a study might take place if there is enough interest by potential members to make it worthwhile. And then only after I get firm commitments from each person do I proceed with the study. You might not have a large enough population to work with where you were holding the study to do this, but in my "Church circle" this has always worked out for the best. I have a "sign-up sheet" and everything.

By the way, on the brighter side, God might have spared you from an even more discouraging, trying time as people who were hostile to your ideas (Biblical truth) showed up and tried to make your life miserable. Ya never know....