New Bible Study Format

Hello all,
It is time to start a new Bible Study, and we will meet for the first time Sunday at 9:00 AM at the church building. I came across this format at a meeting of Mission Developers in Tampa. I like it because it is less about me rambling on about the text and more about how the text shapes and changes the individual readers. The scriptures have a power that goes beyond simple knowledge or education, they have the power to re-shape the reader if the person reading them is open to being changed. This may be at the very heart of the Christian way. We do not choose God, he chooses us. We do not change to mirror God, He changes us. We do not we choose to become Christians, Christianity chooses us. All of this hinges on a truth that goes back to the Garden of Eden: free will. God does none of these things without our free choice to accept them. This is the true choosing that a Christian does, the choice to allow God to move us. This perhaps is the first mystery that the Holy Spirit works in the heart of a human, the power to make that choice if we want.

This Bible study method was introduced by the African Delegation to the Lambeth Conference of the Anglican Church. It is known by both names: "Lambeth" and "African."


1. One person reads passage slowly.

2. Each person identifies the word or phrase that catches their attention ( 1 minute ).

3. Each shares the word or phrase around the group ( 3-5 minutes, NO DISCUSSION ).

4. Another person reads the passage slowly ( from a different translation if possible ).

5. Each person identifies where this passage touches their life today ( 1 minute ).

6. Each shares ( 3-5 minutes, NO DISCUSSION ).

7. Passage is read a third time (another reader and translation if possible).

8. Each person names or writes "From what I've heard and shared, what do I believe God wants me to do or be? Is God inviting me to change in any way?" ( 5 minutes )

9. Each person shares their answer ( 5-10 minutes, NO DISCUSSION )

10. Each prayers for the person on their right, naming what was shared in the other steps ( 5 minutes ).

I hope to see you there.

Pastor Rus