Bible Colleges

Called to Communicate

2007-04-11T11:49:00.000-07:00

Whether you like it or not, God has called you communicate. The means, however, may well be somewhat different to standing up at a pulpit once a week, six feet above contradiction.

You could have a writing ministry, be a mime, work incredibly well in small groups or in leading committees. The Good Lord has given you a unique mix of gifts that no-one else shares. He has a unique plan for you.

This is why it is so important that you discover the full range of talents you have, and not try to become a clone of a preacher you admire.

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Making all things new

2007-02-26T11:31:00.000-08:00

We have a hard act to follow. We have been called to emulate Christ. Not merely in terms of theological thinking, but also in attitude and action. Not an easy task - impossible in our own strength.

Fortunately we have not been left to do this on our own. The same Holy Spirit who raised Christ from the dead lives within each of us to empower us to do His will. It is in His strength that we are able to achieve the impossible, love the unlovable.

For this reason, we are called to make our calling and election sure. For without a renewed spirit, we have no ability to bring this about - our 'faith' would merely be a frustrating exercise in futility.

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Called to be faithful

2007-02-24T12:26:00.000-08:00

A thought-provoking snippet to ponder in the face of a triumphalism that idolised success. We may not all be called to be successful, but we are all called to be faithful to the vision God has called us to. Isaiah knew in advance that the message he brought would fall on deaf ears. Jesus new that He would be rejected and put to death. That di not stop them from carrying on in obedience to the will of the Father, because they saw something better.

God's measure of success is often very different to ours. As Jesus put it succinctly, what does it profit you if you gain the whole world, but lose your soul?

We are called to minister with integrity - whatever the cost.

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Do not neglect your intellect

2007-01-05T11:40:00.000-08:00

It is not an either/or choice. You do not need to sacrifice your intellectual development on an imaginary altar in order to achieve spiritual maturity. Exceptional Christian leaders come from all walks of life, having a brain doesn't disqualify you. If God made you clever, you don't need to hide that talent under a bushel - neither do you wear it like a badge.

It is easy to neglect your studies in favour of 'ministry' - I know, I've been there. But it isn't good stewardship of one of the most precious resources that you have - time. Someone else can lead that meeting - let them get the blessing from that. Your ministry right now is to commnicate your Christlikeness to your peers and teachers.

Even when you put school and college behind you, keep up to date with developments in science and the arts so that you can hold an intelligent conversation with your neighbours. You never kno where it may lead...

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Forgive them - bitterness has no place at Bible College

2007-01-03T09:50:00.000-08:00

He was a promising young Christian leader. He organised his fellow students well. He had a clear testimony of how Jesus had changed his life and was able to ommunicate his beliefs well. That's when the problems started.

He would not tolerate anyone having an alternative interpretation of any scripture. If it wasn't his, it wasn't right. I was called in to bring some correction to the situation. So, I did, with patience and as much wisdom as possible.

That was the end of the story. And that was the real problem. Over the years, I observed the slow strangulation of his spiritual life from afar. Later on, we picked up the pieces. The story is worth remembering, because it could affect any one of us.

It wasn't being in error or having pride that caused his downfall. It wasn't even a lack of a teachable spirit. It was his resentment, unforgiveness of people who had been right all along, when they had neither the intellectual gifts or depth of spiritual insight to match his - this bitterness, festering away killed off his enthusiasm to serve, to spend time with the Father, to care for what really mattered.

Later there was a time of restoration, reonciliation - a spiritual renewal for him - but that's another story. This one is here to warn you to not let it happen in the first place. Hebrews ch.12 v.15 was not an afterthought...

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Seek forgiveness now - preparation for Bible college

2007-01-02T12:31:00.000-08:00

It's an overused expression, but it is worth repeating here. Keep short accounts with God. If you know you are out of fellowship with Him, then, as Jesus made it quite clear in the Sermon on the Mount, it is your responsibility to put it right - even if you are the injured party in a dispute. It is your priority to develop your relationship with the Father and not let anything distract you from that.

As a lifestyle choice, this attitude will put you in a good position to grow spiritually. As someone who seeks to confirm the call that the Almighty has placed on your life, it is an essential prerequisite.

You do not want to turn up to college with baggage that could and shoul have been dealt with long before you got there. So, seek Him out now, and make it your practice to continually seek His face when He is less near to you than before. Discover what attitudes or actions have affected your relationship with Him and put it right. Whatever the cost.

Remember, you ould expect no less from the people who will one day be uner your care - so start with yourself. Now!

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Missions: a pre-requisite for Bible College

2007-01-01T09:42:00.000-08:00

An awareness of world mission is an essential dimension of Christian discipleship. Without it, we have little idea of the universality of the Gospel and its power to transcend cultural barriers.

One way to build up this awareness is through reading missionary literature - many groups produce regular prayer letters. The exploits of missionaries from previous generations can be read about in powerful books.

But it's the personal touch that counts. Gt to know the missionaries supported by your on church. Pray for them, support them, write to them. Spend time with them when they are on furlough.

If there is an opportunity to visit them on the field as a form of short term service, do so. It will be a rewarding experience.

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Short Term Service Prepares You For Bible College

2006-12-31T12:59:00.000-08:00

So, you want to know whether you have what it takes?

Volunteer to work on a short ter mission project. Help out at a children's camp during your vacation. Work with an evangelistic outreach team.

If you don't know where to start, ask someone experienced, who knows your gifts, who can point you in the direction of the right organisation.

The time you invest in a vnture ike this will yield great dividends. It will enable you to see what you have an aptitude for, and also where your gifting doesn't lie. It will give you an opportunity to experiment and reach out in faith amongst peers who feel the same andwho have similar goals. You will be allowed to fail. There will be no shame in it, it's all part of the process of ironing out the awkward parts of your personality that need to be sanctified.

Spell it out like that, and it sounds like there will be no takers. But the good news is that more and more young people like yourself rise to a challenge like this. Will you?

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Planning for Future Success

2006-12-26T11:32:00.000-08:00

Perhaps Jesus will reurn before I've finished at Bible college. Perhaps I'd be more effective ministering now without a formal education.

It's a risk we take with any long-term plans. It's not just the Second Coming that should concern you. Your lifespan is limited, and only the Almighty knows for certain when He will call you home.

There is one clear standard - do you have Christ's peace concerning any major decision like this? Other factors would include other scriptural principles that might come into play when considering your vocation.

In any case. It's a cop out - similar to the lazy man in Proverbs who refuses to leave his home, just in case there's a lion outside. To avoid hard work and self discipline that would make you a more effective worker for Christ is not an attitude of faith.

Faith knows that if God has called you to serve, He will also call you to study and prepare. Faith knows that the most important thing for you to do is to be in the centre of His will for you. You do not know what ministry He has prepared for you participate in while you are studying at Bible college. But you can be sure that it will be the most effective use of your time and your effort. God is not wasteful - and even if you die or Jesus returns while you're still studying for a life of service, you can be certain that you will have fulfilled all He has set you apart to achieve.

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Christmas Greetings!

2006-12-25T13:34:00.000-08:00

A quick thank you to everyone who passes by and takes the trouble to read my musings and suggestions. I enjoy the challenge of writing - deep down inside I have a compulsion to share what little I have that the Good Lord has blessed me with.

In the meantime, I have big plans for the coming year. Watch out for some new resources I'll be mentioning here.

I'll be praying for you, my readers - particularly those of you struggling with the thought of whether you should go to bible college or not - whether you have heard a clear call from God, or whether you're just experiencing the emotional tug of a situation of great need. Be patient. God will make His will clear to you in good time.

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The Bible Student at Christmas

2006-12-23T13:12:00.000-08:00

It's a busy time for everyone. It's an opportunity to share the true meanng of Christmas to a wide circle of people who, at one time of the year are more open to hearing the message of Jesus - who want to experience the love of God, who want to come home spiritually to the One ho i waiting for them with open arms; or who just want to find out what the mystery behind all the trappings realy amounts to.

As a growing leader in the Christian community, this is an opportunity for you to demonstrate that you are faithful, dependable, flexible.

Anything you can do to support those in leadership who have shared their lives with you will be a great help. No job is too great or small. It is a busy time for all, and it is a time for you to show that you do not buckle under stress and that your attitude is one of excellence in all things.

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The Desire to Study

2006-12-22T11:14:00.000-08:00

A longing to sped time in the Word of God is an entirely natural result of a life-changing encounter with the Holy Spirit. We have experienced a complete transformation, a new birth into a life where our goal is now to see God's Kingdom in all its glory in the worl we live in.

It should come as no surprise therefore that the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead, who is capable of healing broken bodies and revealing hiddent truth to those who would listen to Him; this same Spirit wishes to re-energise our desire to study the Word of God in order to speak to us more clearly.

The converse is also true. For when we cut ourselves off from Him, turning to our own desires and trying to blot out His call through pre-occupying ourselves with the distractions of the orld - then we see our desire to study diminish.

Recognising this is the first key to returning to full fellowship with Him. For a prospective pastor it is essential that you become sensitive to promptings of this nature; your responsibility is not only to feed yourself, but to study to provide food for those entrusted into your care.

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Follow Me?

2006-12-15T09:42:00.000-08:00

If we see someone able to do something well, we like to imitate, emulate it. There is a simple scientific principle in there. Hypothesis and testing. We want to kno if we can duplicate the same result by doing exactly the same as our mentor.

Sowing and reaping - works exactly the same way. There is a science to it.

But people, and God, are not scientific experiments. Individuality breaks through unpredictably. As Jesus said, "The wind blows where it wants to..."

But there is another danger we're not so quick to warnabout, because we like to see results. You've seen them before, the trainee pastor who models himself after his mentor down to dressing the same, the same annerisms, affectations when preaching. It's as if they want to become that preacher.

It brings results.

Better than they had before.

But not the best.

If the Good Lord wanted preacher clones, He culd have created them, in an instant.

Yes, it is our responsibility to learn from the best, assimilate and build upon what we catch from them. But we ere made as individuals - uniquely able to reflect God's infinite creativity through expressing ourselves in a way that no-one else can.

As John ended his letter - dear children, keep yourselves from idols...

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How badly do you want it?

2006-12-14T11:15:00.000-08:00

Just how badly do you want to respond to God's call? How important is it to you?

It is very easy to say, "It's the most important thing in my life!" But this is why we're warned to ensure that our actions match our words. If further training to handle the ord of God is your priority right now, what are you doing about it?

Praying for doors to open, for wisdom to choose the rght Bible college?
Seeking God for the finance you will need to pay for your tuition?
Studying your Bible now, putting together the study tools that you will need?
Spending time with those whose local ministries you respect?

It is not my place to condemn, but to provoke you into action. If you are convinced that the Almighty has a plan for your life that involves serving Him to the exclusion of all other pursuits, then this should be evident from the way you live your life now.

I am not calling for a legalistic moulding of your habits into a lifestyle you cannot maintain nor thrive under. The Good Lord provides both the desire and the ability to discipline yourself as an integral part of your calling. Respond to Him with faith, and you will find the freedom to flourish; and receive your heart's desire.

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Students of Victory?

2006-12-11T12:16:00.000-08:00

For a prospective student at a Bible college, one important criteria must be the ethos of any school under consideration. hat is their outlook on essential matters of faith?

Another issue is the mindset. After you have finished your course, will you leave with an attitude that is quietly confident of Christ's ultimate victory? Will you have a clear vision of your part to play in the fulfillment of his inescpable triumph over all?

What do the other graduates look like? In what ways have thy been envisioned?

Most importantly, what does Father say?

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Do others recognise your call?

2006-12-07T00:24:00.000-08:00

It's an important question. How do you know that you have a call from God to lead others?

Do others follow you now?

It may sound trite, but think about it this way. We know from Romans ch.12 that God will not call you to do something that He will not equip and prepare you for. Otherwise, His will would not be good, pleasing or perfect. So, if the Good Lord is not going to call you to a life of frustration and disappointment, there should be evidence already of what He has set you aside for.

1. Frst: and most important - internal evidence, within your own spirit. It was no accident that Gideon was fist called a Mighty Man of Valour by the Angel of the Lord in Judges ch.6 v.12, long before there was any external evidence of this - but Gideon acted on the revelation he was given, thus demonstrating the truth of Hebrews ch.11 v.3 and Romans ch.4 v.17 - that God calls into reality whatever was not already in existence to fulfill His words.

2. Acting on the Revelation - it would have done Gideon no good to go around confessing "I am a mighty man of valour" if he didn't also act on this word from God. The same is as true for us as it was for the Israeites in the Wilderness. The revelaed Word will only be of benefit to you if you combine it with faith. Fortunately for us, that faith is also a gift available for all of us if we ask.

Of course there is a question related to this. How do you know it is God speaking and not just the after-effects of a rich meal and a good nap? Remember, all the answer you need to questions like this can be found in one Book. In James ch.1 we are told that at times like this when we are questioning which route to take, rather than being double-minded in a state of indecision or attempting to do two things and being distracted from our purpose - we can act for wisdom, and be confident that we will receive it.

In Colossians ch.3 v.15 the Apostle Paul reminds us that we can let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts - that when faced with a choice, if one option will give us no peace inside, then it would be folly to go don that route.

Another obvious test is that the Good Lord will never call you to do something that contravenes the principles He has already laid down in his Word. Another good reason to know your Bible - so you can be thoroughly equipped.

3. Assuming you acted in obedience to the revelation you have; there should be some evidence for other more mature believers to assess. Be careful. We in the church are often far too nice, too diplomatic - we don't want to upset people. There is a reason why Proverbs ch.27 v.6 tells us that the wounds from a friend are faithful. Sometimes it hurts to be told that you are wasting your time.

Particularly value feedback from someone already in leadership who is doing what you would like to do - they have already experienced and acted on a similar call. They will know what you are going through. Their honest advice should be sought after and acted upon.

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Properly handling the word of truth

2006-12-05T12:37:00.000-08:00

2 Timothy ch.2 v.15 puts it this way: Give diligence to present yourself approved by God, a workman who doesn't need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth.

A few thoughts to ponder. If there is a proper way to handle the Word of Truth, then there must also be an improper way to do so - which ought to shame those who do so for such a thing is most certainly not approved of by the Good Lord.

2 Timothy gives us some clues to the improper misuse of the Word that Paul had in mind. Worthy of a study in itself, if only to help you guard against what you should not do by focusing your attention on the positive call of God.

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Building into peoples' lives

2006-12-04T12:41:00.000-08:00

As an aspiring Bible teacher, one important question to ask is why?

Why are you doing this? What is your motivation? We aren't just doing this to try to curry favour from others. If that's the case, the first hint of opposition and your resolve would melt away. Nether is this an ego trip disguised as personal development for ourselves.

We have a sacred trust to have the same motivation as the one who sent us. God loved, therefore He gave. We are to be the same, reflecting Him. We love, therefore we give - building a life of power and love in those we come into contact with.

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Will it make a difference?

2006-10-21T14:46:00.000-07:00

A wise man (a retired missionary ho is now with the Lord) once said to me, "When you find that your work is getting in the way of your minstry, it is time to consider Bible college."

He explained his thoughts a bit more clearly to me in case I didn't quite grasp what he was saying. We are all called to minister, to be missionaries wherever the Good Lord places us. There is no escaping this calling. It's there at the end of Matthew's Gospel for all to see.

However, we are all also called to be exemplary employees to whoever pays our wages. Now, if we find that we are so successful in our first calling, that it would affect our ability to do the second, then it is time to seek the Lord's leading as to how He would like to finance the ministry He has given us - for it would not be fair to rob a human employer for the sake of the gospel.

Of course it is that point, when further training to become more effective and to learn how to live by faith, becomes a priority. Up until that point, a Bible college education is not going to make as significant a difference.

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Bible Teaching Resource

2006-10-15T13:00:00.000-07:00

For those of you looking for Bile teaching resources, I recently came across a short free email course on how to improve the way you teach the Bible.

The author is Glenn Brooke - if you've never stopped to take a look at his weblog, you should make the effort. On his website, he also sells a more in-depth ebook on the subject. Click on this link for more information on both the free course and the $29 book.

If you join his email list, you get access to a few other free Bible teaching resources too.

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Exporting success

2006-10-07T12:19:00.000-07:00

It is essential that those who play a part in building the church have a clear experience of the power of the Almighty in transforming their own lifes. If it doesn't work at home, then what makes you think that it will work anywhere else?

Service to the church is not a repository for God's cast-offs, misfits who have failed in other ventures and finally decided that the only thing left for them to try is full-time Christian service. Yes, God loves failures; and our determination of failure is not the same as his. But if we believe that the Good Lord deserves the best, then this means that it is the responsibility of those who are the most gifted to earnestly examine whether He has called them to set themselves apart for his service.

This is not to deny that the less than perfect can hope to receive the call. The Bible is full of the stories of men and women who blew their chances of success, who blundered into God's call. God will call whoever will listen and serve, regardless of age, family background, gender, reputation, physical appearnace or academic ability.

But if we are serious about service, we need to also be serious about stewardship, study, sin, speech...

We may not all have the gifts to be the best preacher, evangelist, Bible teacher, pastor - but we can all strive to be the best we can be at whatever the Lord brings our way.

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Know Your Gifts

2006-09-27T14:15:00.000-07:00

Romans Chapter 12 mkes it clear to us that we can know God's will for our lives, and that key to this process of discovery are two things.

First of all we are expeceted to consecate our lives - dedicate ourselves to His service. Not reluctantly or begrudgingly, but joyfully, willingly; recognising that it is through giving ourselves to Him, we truly find ourselves.

Secondly, as part of this process of being a living sacrifice, we are expected to test and approve the leadings within our spirits, to discover whether inclination and opportunity give birth to desire and mastery of specific gifts.

If we find that the out come is good, we have a positive experience; we continue in that vein. If we find enjoy and lok forward to the next opportunity to practise; it is pleasing. Finally, if we look back and see how an unseen hand has shaped our formative experience and directed us almost unconsciously into this path - we recognise that His will is perfect.

Our only responsibility then is to be wholehearted, to throw ourselves with enthusiasm into the enterprise that our Creator has uniquely designed us for.

What is the fuss about?

2006-09-26T21:59:00.000-07:00

If you believe that the Bible contains a timeless wisdom, applicable to all generations, then it is entirely logical that you should want to understand its message in order to apply it to your ow life. This is a responsibiity for all who would claim to be followers of Christ, however, not just a select few.

As a book, the Bible makes certain specific claims about itself and its purpose. These claims can be tested, and it is the conviction of those of us who valuse the art of apologetics, that these claims stand firm when the book is put to the test.

One claim can be fount in 2 Timothy ch.3 v.16-17, where the Apostle Paul confidently declares that "Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.."

His words set a scope for the use of scripture in transforming lives, but makes some bold claims. It is all of scripture, not just the bits that we like, it provides a thorough equipping, not a partial training that needs to be suppleneted, and is effective for every good work - it has universal application as a foundation for all fields of service.

That is why it is essential for those who believe that the Good Lord has set them apart for the responsibility of service to set apart time to study His message in detail. To do otherwise is to be inadequately prepared for the task.

Why go to Bible College?

2006-09-26T11:57:00.000-07:00

In this weblog, I shall discuss some of the pros an cons of pursuing an education at a Bible college, seminary or Bible school.

People's reasons for going to a Bible college are many and varied. For some, it's just an education. A degree in theology is just as marketable as any other higher education qualification. It shows a potential employer that you have a trained mind, that you can organise yourself to persevere with a programme of study for a number of years, that you can perform well under stress and meet deadlines. It may say little about your spiritual life, however.

For others, it is one step on fulfilling a divine calling on their lives. It may not be a necessary requirement for them in achieving their destiny, but it will open doors and give them opportunities to test that calling in different situations. It gives an opportunity to concentrate on the foundations they need to be sccessful in a life of service.