growing deeper in the Word of God.
Delving deeper into some of the reasons for the exodus, the research group found that nearly 40 percent of the surveyed twentysomethings first had doubts about the Bible in middle school. Another 43.7 percent said they first doubted that all of the accounts and stories in the Bible are true during their high school years. Only around 10 percent said they first became doubtful about the Bible accounts during college.the rest of the post can be found here -
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20090629/survey-churches-losing-youths-long-before-college/index.html
these are alarming statistics. and it shows how much we disregard the Word of God as part of our relationship with Jesus when the Bible itself already mentions that "All Scripture is breathed out by God..." (2 Tim 3:16a). John 16:13 states, "But when He, the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth." The Holy Spirit who convicts the world of sin also assures the believer that the Bible is God's Word.
these truths may familiar and we do believe that the Bible is God's Word and its importance. But do we really live it out? do we seek guidance from the Word? do we want to learn more and more about the Bible? do we place it as an authority over our lives? do we really know what the Bible says? (for example, the Bible never mentions 'God only helps those who help themselves')
truth be told, nobody really wants to read the Bible (Psalm 119:36). we have to get down on our knees to plead with God for that desire. “Now set your mind and heart to seek the Lord your God.” (1 Chronicles 22:19) and the more we seek, the more we will find out. “If you seek him, he will be found by you” (1 Chronicles 28:9) Basically it means - the more you'll understand the Bible if we spend time in it.
just like how we pursue an object of interest, the more we'll find out about that interest. it's the matter of the heart. example, i would want to research on everything that makes up the girl of my interest. i want to know what she likes, what she doesn't like.
there is no possibility of saying you know someone, if you don't know the least about that someone. the same way, the way to know God is to study His Word.
Growing deeper in the Word of God is very important aspect of our WinGS ministry, and we would not abandon the cause to instill Biblical knowledge for the sake of making youth ministry more attractive. there is no a need to dress up God's Word because the Bible stands alone, unchanged throughout the ages, and it is God inspired.
for this i pray, God that You instill in us an understanding of Your beloved words. we acknowledge the need to learn Your Word. we desire to hid Your words in our hearts that we may not sin against You (Psalms 119:11) that we may be a youth ministry that places Your Word above all else, and that it may equip us for every good work that we pursue. (2 Tim 3:17b). in Christ name, Amen.
i found this article really interesting.
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20061116/23499.htm
the letter G is one of the five purposes that i would like to refresh our memories about the purpose of our WinGS ministry : )
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