Christianity Oasis Forum

[vahn]

I dont know if I had mentioned this before here at oasis , but I had definitely mentioned it at the retreat I'm in . That I had only attended Bible studies on a few occasions (not that I didnt want to) and actually enjoyed others' point of view on certain topics or subjects (thus we grow). My confusion actually centers around the fact of me (or anyone else , for that matter) being asked to lead a study knowing full well of my inexperience in doing so , (now please dont get me wrong , I consider it a blessing for the opportunity to serve our Lord any which way I can , and if that's what He wants me to do I will do it with all I got !! ) but that's exactly IT , all I got is inexperience , what if I misquote , or misinterpret ,
I mean yes I do know Scripture and live by it to the best of my ability , but finding the verses , and who was it that said this or that ? sometimes I'm at loss.

Is there a "specific" way for this to be done ? following guidelines ?

I need help with this , if any one willing to guid me through it will be greatly appreciated .

In Fellowship of Christ
vahn

[realtmg]

Luke 12:12! (Read)
Study and memorize. One does not have to quote it word by word.
Paul said that he came not with enticing words or of man's wisdom, but, with power from the Holy Spirit.
We grow daily as we seek HIM.

Luv Ya


Real

[mlg]

Vahn, a couple of suggestions. Get you a concordance, and when you are doing a study, make it a prepared study. Go through and research the Bible on a certain topic, and find in your concordance all the scriptures related to that topic. Then go and read them in the Bible, and study them out, and write down how they relate, and what they mean etc. Then when doing the study, you'll have some notes, and you won't feel like your winging it. If someone asks you a question in the study that you don't know the answer to, tell them you will research it and get back to them, when you have a complete answer, so as not to misquote.

As realtmg said...Luke 12:12 and study, study, study.

luv ya

[vahn]

Thanx Real for the input .

Yesterday was my first study lead , was caught off guard (too wrapped up in "me's" and had forgotten all about the day, so I went on Auto-Pilot and let the Spirit guide me . But didnt sleep a wink last night racking my brains with all kinds of "what if's ".

Whatever little sleep I did manage , woke up with this tremendous urge to have a "How dare you" conversation with the brass here . I mean speaking of myself , if I were to go to a study for the first time (like I did at my final arrival to AA) I clung on to every word the speaker was saying , and I thought he was a genius , until, afterwards he picked up a sixty day chip , and somehow I felt I was cheated , and yesterday I was fighting that at the study, though I did tell them from the get-go about my situation . Another thing is that how would these guys react if they were to find out about my inexperience , what kind of impact or impression would that leave with them ?

Maybe I'm making too big of an issue out of this , but considering the warning we receive in scripture " if our actions were to cause a brother to sin , we are the ones accountable for that sin " , that scares me .

You know as much as I do Real , even though "dont drink , go to meetings and all's well" is a somewhat good massage , but its not THE massage !

[mlg]

Vahn, your listening to the enemy and not to God...that's why you fear....Satan is trying to scare you away from doing this. It's because you don't know the ropes, gotta learn the ropes. If your let fear control your actions, then everytime God ask you to do something new...your gonna refuse, cuz Satan is gonna use fear on you over and over again. If Satan, knows your weakness and knows that you will give in to it, he's gonna use it against you from now til the end.

Fight the good fight. Step out in FAITH!!!! Ever hear that song Voice of Truth? If you haven't let me know, I'll post the words for ya.

luv ya

[vahn]

Hey thank you guys (gals) MLG , LJD , your reply came in as I was responding to Real , thank you all .

I did have three concordances at one time (long story)

What you mean study ? school was out long time ago (ha ha)

Once again thanx a mil .

[Mackenaw]

Hello Vahn,

God bless you this day.

Three years ago, I was asked to do the same thing -- to share the Word of God. I did not know that much, I could only find but a few books of the Bible without looking at the list in the front of The Bible.

I felt totally unqualified for such an undertaking. I was also instructed not to prepare and not to study. It was one of my most nervous moments. But what it did was give me a full dunking into relying on The Holy Spirit to speak through me.

I Corinthians 1:26-29
(26) For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
(27) But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
(28) And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
(29) That no flesh should glory in his presence.

On a more personal note: Do not go into this to prove others right or wrong, or to correct others. Share YOUR love of Christ, and then let HIM speak.

I'll be praying for you.

God bless you, Vahn,
Sister Mack

[realtmg]

Nice responses here Vahn.

As you know, I can only share from my experiences. I spent many years while I was incarcerated studying to know the Truth. I became well versed and eventually got caught up in the doctrine instead of HIM. I went to a retreat at a retired pro basketball players place that I knew personally when I went to basketball camp as a kid. He said, "Tim? You are well versed in the Bible but how well do you know Him?" This has stuck with me.
As Oasis study sermon Sunday night referred to Bible characters who were called and used of God; none seemed to be worthy or qualified.
John says not many noble are called.
We are not of man's world and seek only to please our Father. HE KNOWS our hearts. We will never know all the answers to His word until He calls us Home. Until then then, we walk by Faith and do our best.
If you are like me, do not think or dwell too deep into these issues but keep it simple. He will use the humble ones who strive to do His will.
I suppose I feel the same as you because I do not express what I want to as I would like therefore, I remain in the background or of few words.

I read these post in forums each day and I have been awake since 2 am thinking of the people here and Oasis in general. I needed to sleep because of work, but finally got up to spend time with HIM.
Easy Does It Bro. and I'm with ya!

GBU and luv ya


Real

[deetu]

I am coming into this after a couple of posts so sorry if this seems long.

My first big change came when my sister gave me a Bible. It is The Quest, an NIV study Bible with notes, teachings and concordances already in it. I personally cannot read King James and was turned off of Bible study because of it. Now, I will read a Scripture, read the side notes, then meditate (study) on it, asking for input from the Lord until I understand it (or called my sister to explain )
I had a friend that constantly had questions and when we looked a passage up in both her Old King James Bible and mine, we knew she needed an NIV. She has been immersed in the Word ever since.

compare of Mack's to mine
1Corinthians 1:26-29
Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not-to nullify the things that are.
so that no one may boast before him.

Just a thought.

When I was first walking, God was using me in a big way and I was boastful about how new I was and how God was using me. Well, he put me in my place with a time of hardship, of training that had I not gone through it, I would have had a problem with pride (thank you Lord) You are not doing that.
God has put some of us on a fast track and if we believe Him (faith), He will give us wisdom and knowledge that people are drawn to and don't care how long we have been doing it. You will feel so confident that you won't find it necessary to tell them either. It won't matter.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5
When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.
For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.
My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with the demonstrtion of the Spirit's power,
so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

I liked that you went to autopilot and let the Spirit guide you
Just remember, whatever you have gone through is usually what God wants you to help others with.

ps tell that voice that tries to give you doubt (out loud)to leave you alone in Jesus's name. It's amazing how fast it will leave.