News & Views from Walk Thru the Bible
Jordan’s Holy Land Middle East Beyond the Headlines Weekly devotionals for Winter
Winter 2014
Walk Thru the Bible 4201 North Peachtree Road Atlanta, GA 30341 www.walkthru.org Volume 3, Number 1 Winter 2014 Published quarterly President Phil Tuttle Vice President for Advancement/International John Houchens Editor Chris Tiegreen Designer Michael Koiner Contributors Chris Tiegreen Dave Ball
Walk Thru the Bible ignites passion for God’s Word through innovative live events, inspirational biblical resources, and lasting global impact.
© 2014 by Walk Thru the Bible® Ministries, Inc. Contents may not be reproduced in any form unless authorized in writing by the publisher. Printed in the U.S.A. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 2011 by Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
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sat in the auditorium at our donor event this past fall listening to Jeanne Hendricks talk about her husband, the late Dr. Howard Hendricks. We were honoring Prof that evening for his profound influence on Walk Thru the Bible, and everything Jeanne said reminded me of our ministry’s rich history. But we had spent the weekend talking about the future, not the past— how we’re developing new resources, expanding our global reach, and introducing new apps. As I listened, I realized how much the event was a microcosm of where we are: celebrating our gratitude for God’s faithfulness and anticipating
more of it. We all live in a critical moment between past and future, but some of those moments seem more significant than others. This is one of them for Walk Thru the Bible. We have been blessed with many generous friends and supporters over the years, but new friends and supporters are joining our ministry family. We have been fruitful with events and resources for more than three decades, but new events and resources are being develo ped and introduced. We’re embracing new technologies, entering new countr ies, and facing a new era in history. And we have nothing but hope for what’s ahead. You’ll see this crossroads between past and future in this issue of Pathways. The Middle East is a region steeped in tradition but going through transition, and we’re confident God has good plans for this part of the world. There may be restrictions against Christians in some places, but there are open doors in others. And, as you’ll see in this issue’s devotio nals, God’s promises are certain regardless of circumstances—whether in a global region like the Middle East or in your own personal life. In His kingdo m, the future is always bright. This is the time of year when many of us look back with gratitude and forward with anticipation. Consider this issue of Pathways an invitat ion to do that with us. Pray with us, partner with us, and hope with us. Consider new ways to step into God’s story. Take a walk through these pages and celebrate His work in His people. With Him, even when the past has been filled with fruitfulness, all things are becoming new.
Phil Tuttle President
If you are not currently receiving Pathways and would like to, email pathways@walkthru.org or use the attached envelope to let us know.
Winter 2014
VOL. 3
NO. 1
Features
6 A Place of Beginnings
Christians In Jordan’s Holy Land Many Jordanians consider their country the birthplace of Christianity. It’s also where Walk Thru the Bible entered the Middle East.
14 The Other Stories
Headlines Don’t Say Everything Many Western Christians think of the Middle East and North Africa as the land of troubles and terror. But Christians who live there see the bigger picture.
Devotionals 22 T P G he
romises of
od
Weekly readings excerpted from indeed magazine
departments
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New at Walk Thru the Bible
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Regional News
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Country Profile
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Step into the Story
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Donor Profile
Tools for Transformation
Highlights from around the world
Jordan
Behind the Voice
One Couple’s Global Vision Jimmy and Elaine Moore Cover: Jordan is known for many things, including its beautiful deserts, receptive people, and biblical history. Above: Islam and Christianity live side by side in Lebanon.
What’s New @ Walk Thru NT27 > If you’ve been to a Walk Thru the Old Testament or New Testament event in the last year, you may have noticed the updated graphic design—same substance as in the past, but now with new clothes. And if you’ve been following us recently, you may be aware of OT39, a keyword learning system that makes it easy to remember the books of the Old Testament. So what’s next? The same keyword learning system for the New Testament, of course. And you can probably guess the name: NT27— complete with eye-catching graphics, memory techniques, and hidden keys to major themes. It’s a fun way to teach the big ideas of the New Testament, with components for adults and children, and for use by anyone whether they have attended a New Testament event or not. The system is ideal for Sunday school, homeschool, Vacation Bible School, and individual learning. It includes several components, each of which can be bought separately: • a coloring book. A licensing option for duplication and classroom distribution is available—see website for details. • flashcards • a flashcard app for iPhone and iPad • a slideshow presentation for PowerPoint and Keynote (available Spring 2014) The memory system enables users to describe the major theme of each book in the New Testament in surprising detail— and remember it for years to come. Visit www.keywordvisuals.com for complete details.
YW and the Year of the Bible > YW magazine, our student devotional magazine, is going on a year-long spiritual journey through the pages of Scripture. Not that it hasn’t explored Scripture before, obviously. But in 2014, the adventure will begin in Genesis and end in Revelation—a through-the-Bible path through every book. Along the way, students will have the opportunity to read through the Bible itself, understand the big-picture story, discuss the parts that many people never see, and encounter God in a way they’ve never experienced. The journey will strengthen the foundation of their faith and support them for a 4
lifetime. As always, YW will continue to provide devotionals and articles that help students connect with God through His Word and get a glimpse into the lives of Christian artists and authors. Visit walkthru.org/store for more details.
Speaking of the Store > If you visit the link mentioned in the previous articles—www.walkthru. org/store—you’ll notice something different. And by “different,” we mean “better.” We introduced a dynamic new look in November with great product visuals, expanded descriptions, flipbook previews of available resources, and more. The overhaul is designed to make everything easier: • smoother navigation • faster checkout • overview of your order history • expanded, lower-cost shipping options
• lower prices and quantity discounts (special pricing for bulk orders for churches, ministries, and bookstores) Overall, with its new features, enhancements, and conveniences, the e-store will be a better experience for web users than ever before.
A Deeper Daily Walk > For three decades, Daily Walk magazine has helped people read through the Bible over the course of a year and, better yet, understand how it all fits together. Not only is it a great source for personal devotions; it can also be used as a teaching or discussion tool for small groups. Soon it will be easier to do that. “Deeper Walk,” a small group study guide companion to Daily Walk, is currently in development and is expected to be released before the year’s readings begin January. It will be free for subscribers at www.walkthru.org/daily-walkguide. .
Regional News CIS > Yuri Shelestun, regional director for the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), presented several Walk Thru the Bible resources in Ukraine at one of the largest Russian-language missions meetings in the region. More than 2,000 national missionaries attended. Through this conference, Yuri connected with a Christian leader in a restricted central Asian republic and was able to get master copies of several of our resources into the country. Using a Walk Thru the Old Testament event as the background, a North American instructor trained 12 pastors in Tajikistan in how to present biblical stories effectively. The training represents a significant inroad for Walk Thru the Bible into this remote, Muslimmajority, central Asian country.
Europe > Nearly 20 youth camps were held in Romania and Moldova in late summer, reaching almost 2,000 students. Topics included Walk Thru the
Old Testament, prayer, and the dynamics of life-change. More than 200 pastors in Romania and Moldova were also trained in these courses.
Several courses were taught this summer in Monterrey, Mexico, some at a church training school for parents and church leadership. Walk Thru the Old Testament was also taught at an evangelical church in Juárez.
number of churches expected to participate in God’s Grand Story after its official launch, leaders in the Philippines followed up with a training event for new Old Testament instructors. These instructors will lead churches in their kickoff event for the campaign. A leadership training event in Hyderabad, India, in early November inspired and equipped 25 of our regional and zonal leaders in South Asia for more effective ministry.
Asia >
Middle East >
Walk Thru the New Testament will be the first in a series of events in Singapore designed to build momentum for Walk Thru the Bible in the region. Singapore is also the base for several upcoming outreach events in less open areas of Southeast Asia. The pilot phase of God’s Grand Story, Walk Thru the Bible’s comprehensive Bible-reading campaign for churches, ended in the Philippines with enthusiastic reviews from participants. In preparation for the large
The leadership training event held in Hyderabad, India, was repeated in November in Kuwait for leaders from the Middle East/North Africa region.
Latin America >
North America > Staff from the home office of Walk Thru the Bible spent a day serving the City of Refuge in Atlanta. The mission of City of Refuge is “to bring light, hope, and transformation to Atlanta’s last, lost, and least.” Walk Thru the Bible staff helped prepare for the opening of a facility for homeless women and children by moving beds and mattresses into the facility and cleaning up from recent construction. .
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A Place of Beginnings Christianity—and Walk Thru the Bible—in Jordan
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n the minds of many Westerners, “Holy Land” is a synonym for “Israel.” That’s understandable; much of the biblical story is concerned with the nation that came out of Egypt and settled primarily west of the Jordan River. But the stories of the Bible—and its geography—are much larger than that. They don’t fit within today’s national boundaries. And a visit to the Holy Land that doesn’t extend beyond modern Israel misses some extremely significant sites. Take Umm Qais, for example—the town once known as Gadara. A demon-possessed man living among the tombs encountered Jesus there and was never the same again. The demons left him and entered a herd of pigs, which then ran violently down the cliffs and into the sea. Far more significant is the site widely considered to be the place of Jesus’ baptism. John 1:28 tells us that John was baptizing near Bethany beyond the Jordan, the same area across the river from Jericho where Elijah was taken to heaven. Early Christian pilgrims referred to a church in this area that had been built over a pool within a stone’s throw of
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the river. The pool would fill whenever the river swelled. These early pilgrims believed this was the place where John carried out his ministry of baptism, and specifically where he baptized Jesus. Modern archaeological discoveries, including a sixth-century mosaic map discovered in the nearby city of Madaba, seem to have done nothing but corroborate the descriptions of the faith’s ancient witnesses. For that reason, many Jordanians consider this to be the birthplace of Christianity—where Jesus began His ministry, where the Trinity was first observed together as the Father spoke from heaven and the Spirit descended like a dove on the Son. It isn’t hard to look across the reeds on this site and envision John and his followers living off the land and baptizing repentant seekers. Not only is Jordan’s land integral to the beginning of Christianity; it’s also integral to the beginning of Walk Thru the Bible’s work in the Middle East. This was the country where Walk Thru the Old Testament was translated into Middle Eastern Arabic in the mid-1990s. At the time, some Jordanian pastors weren’t very interested in the Old Testament, at least not as instruction for their church members. That was the Jewish part of the Bible, and the New Testament seemed much more relevant for Christians. But after the first Walk Thru the Old Testament event and seeing participants’ responses, their disinterest turned to joy. The Old Testament wasn’t just Israel’s story; it was theirs—a powerful piece of Jordan’s own history. Eventually other courses—Walk Thru the New Testament, Solving the People Puzzle, A Biblical Portrait of Marriage, and others—were translated into Arabic and spread into other Middle Eastern
and North African countries. They continue to be popular in churches today across the Arabic-speaking world. Fares and Ibtissam Kawar find Walk Thru the Bible’s marriage and family courses particularly useful in their ministry. The couple does marriage counseling and leads relationship classes in their church in Amman and others in the region. Fares recalls the translation process for Biblical Portrait of Marriage, especially how many of the illustrations needed to be adapted for the Arab world. But the principles about common marital issues—sex, money, and in-laws seem to come up often, he says—are applicable across cultures. As dean of students at Jordan Evangelical Theological Seminary (JETS), Fares also works with current and future church leaders who are being trained to minister in Jordan and other Arab countries. JETS, which began classes in 1991 and continues to serve students from across the region, hosted Walk Thru the Bible’s regionwide launch events in 2001. It recently moved to a new campus, even as construction continues on the new site, and hopes to expand its course offerings and its student body, particularly through distance education. Jordan is an optimal place to equip Christian leaders for ministry in the Arab world because it is one of the most politically stable and religiously open countries in the Middle East. Though religiously less diverse than neighbors Lebanon and Israel—about 92 percent of the population is Muslim—it is not prone to the strife that many other countries in the region are. It maintains a good relationship with Western allies and constitutionally protects freedom of religion. Christians are well aware of their minority
Many Jordanians consider this to be the birthplace of Christianity.
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Situated at the southeast edge of the Sea of Galilee, Umm Qais (Gadara in the New Testament) was where Jesus cast demons out of a man and into a herd of pigs.
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status in Jordan, but they are not oppressed as they may be in some nearby countries. “I see Jordan as the best place in the region for those interested in biblical studies, international studies, Middle Eastern studies, early Christian studies, and for those interested in building peace,” says Father Nabil Hadad, a Melkite Catholic who founded and directs the Jordan Interfaith Coexistence Research Center. “Muslims here want Christians to come to Jordan as a pilgrimage site. They consider the baptism site as a blessing to Jordan.” One of many blessings, he might add. Jordan’s moderate political climate and relative sense of freedom are others. So are the impressive and
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ancient Nabatean city of Petra and the riveting red beauty of Wadi Rum, best known in the West as the land of Lawrence of Arabia. But for the biblical enthusiast, it’s the land of the Ammonites, Moabites, and Edomites; the land where Moses got a sweeping view of the Promised Land at Mount Nebo before he died; the land of Ruth; and a land where Jesus traveled and taught. And for Walk Thru the Bible, it’s the birthplace of our ministry in the Middle East, which has expanded into 25 countries and continues to impact lives, families, and churches across the region. .
Above: Early Christians—and many archeologists— believe this site a few miles north of the Dead Sea was where John baptized many people, including Jesus. Below: Wadi Rum’s beauty has captivated many tourists and starred in several Hollywood films.
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Country Profile
Jordan est in the world)
Population: 6.5 million (105th larg Ethnicity: Arab 98%
lish widely understood
Language: Arabic (official); Eng
y
monarch Political system: constitutional
ntry in the world, slightly smaller
Geography: the 112th largest cou Indiana
istian 6%, other 2%
Religion: Sunni Muslim 92%, Chr
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than
Lebanon
Syria
Iraq
Amman
Israel
Egypt
Jordan
Saudi Arabia
M
ost the adjectives that come to mind when Americans think of the Middle East don’t apply to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Radical? Not really. Volatile? No. Oil-rich? Not at all. Jordan is a rather moderate nation, with Swiss-like neutrality in the region and quite a few allies in the West. That doesn’t mean it isn’t solidly Muslim; well over 90 percent of its population practices Islam. But it’s a stable and peaceful Islamic nation with a government policy of religious freedom. It welcomes both tourists and refugees, with all their economic benefits and stresses.
Prayer needs: One of Jordan’s biggest challenges, both politically and economically, is the influx of refugees from two wars in Iraq and the current conflict in Syria. Relations between Muslims and Christians are often positive and relatively stable, and Christians serve in government and other places of influence while being acutely aware of their minority status. Pray for continued peace and stability in Jordan. In addition: • Pray for the strength of churches and the cultivation of strong leadership among their members. Pray for the Jordan Evangelical Theological Seminary and other training organizations in their efforts to train the next generation of leaders. Pray for Christians to have a positive influence in Jordanian society. • Pray that God would meet the physical and spiritual needs of refugees and other immigrants in Jordan. Pray also for the peace and well-being of their home countries. • Pray for Walk Thru the Bible instructors in Jordan—that they would have opportunities to minister effectively and impact many churches, marriages and families, and individual lives. . Sources: U.S. Department of State (www.state.gov), CIA World Factbook (www.cia.gov), and Operation World by Jason Mandryk, 7th edition, ©2010. 13
Mosques and churches sit side by side in Lebanon, where 39 percent of the population is Christian. 14
Other
The
Stories
Beyond the Headlines of the Middle East
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f news headlines painted the full picture of a region, here’s what we would know about the Middle East: conflict is likely to erupt any moment, religious freedom is nonexistent, and Westerners are not welcome. Of course, headlines don’t tell the full picture; not even close. Most people know those statements are stereotypes— that real life is more textured than that. Yet the perceptions persist. That’s understandable. In the past year, we’ve seen reports of full-scale violence in Syria and Egypt, a diplomatic crisis in Libya, and nerve-racking nuclear potential in Iran—not to mention ongoing Israeli-Palestinian tension, terrorist threats from Middle-East-based networks, and the Sunni-Shiite friction that bridges several countries. Problems in the Middle East and North Africa have hit close to home for members of the Walk Thru the Bible family too. Our team in Egypt witnessed widespread destruction of churches and threats to their personal safety in the backlash after the Muslim Brotherhood’s fall from power. Some of our Syrian partners have lived in constant danger from explosions and crossfire, and the dangers for
Christians seem to be intensifying. “The fighting is almost everywhere,” said one, “but there are still a few safe places”—suggesting that quite a few of his friends and colleagues aren’t fortunate enough to be living in one. One of our instructors in Libya was jailed for more than a month last year for distributing Bibles and engaging Libyans with the gospel message. He and his family are relatively safe now, having been deported, but their heart still beats for the country they served. Another of our instructors was arrested in Sudan for teaching the Bible. She was under house arrest for more than a month while authorities pressured her to share more details about her network of believers and fellow teachers. She remained faithful in protecting their identity. These snapshots of danger fit our expectations, but they don’t tell the story of the region. What lies beneath the headlines? Is there religious freedom anywhere in the region? Is God moving to change lives and cultivate peace? From a Christian perspective, is there any good news? Of course there is. Many of the areas that don’t make the news are home to thriving cities,
Snapshots of danger fit our expectations, but they don’t tell the story of the region.
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appealing tourist destinations, and religious pluralism. Though Muslim-majority countries often have laws against seeking converts to Christianity, some Christians find that Muslims are coming to them with questions. In many places across the region, even those currently struggling, there are opportunities to teach God’s Word.
“Ask Him to prove Himself.” That’s the advice one Christian in an Arab country tells the members of his Bible study, many of whom are Muslim. “I don’t want their faith to be based on my answers,” he explains. So he encourages them to take their time, think about whether to come to Christ, and then ask plenty of questions after they have decided to believe. One woman took his words to heart and prayed—to Jesus, to Allah, to whomever was listening—that she would know the truth. She had an encounter with a presence she knew was Jesus. Another prayed to receive Christ, and her entire
Though most areas of the Middle East are safe for businesses, tourists, and everyday life, security is often a concern in high-traffic areas. 16
countenance changed. Everyone who knew her says she’s a different person now. This home Bible study uses Walk Thru the Bible resources, which present the truth about who Jesus is. But only the Spirit can convince seekers of the truth and change their hearts. And when they ask Him directly, He does. Far away in a North African country, another pastor uses a similar approach. After he proclaims Jesus and explains the way of salvation, he tells his Muslim listeners to put his words aside. “Don’t rely on what I say,” he declares. Instead, he urges them to ask Jesus for confirmation. He knows their faith will not endure if it’s based on a single testimony rather than a divine encounter. So his listeners pray. They talk to Jesus Himself. They ask for some kind of sign, some answered prayer, some confirmation that “these things are true.” And, because God is faithful to His Word, they hear from Him. Most of his church in this North African city have come to Christ this way—through some sort of miracle or answered prayer. One is a woman
Leaders from the region gathered near Beirut in July for the annual Middle East/North Africa conference and training.
who once held overwhelming bitterness in her heart toward her father, who had abandoned her when she was young. When she prayed, the bitterness dissipated and she was able to embrace God’s truth about the need to overcome it. She doesn’t necessarily love her father yet, but she can have a respectful conversation with him without the old feelings arising. Like many in this small but growing church, she knows her heart has changed. This pastor is originally from Lebanon, but God called him to a country in North Africa years ago to minister to Muslims. He says 30 in his congregation are “solidly in,” another 30 are loosely on board, and yet another 30 are still seeking. All from the first two groups came out of the Muslim faith. Most in his country are staunchly
anti-Western, and he feels the need to protect his flock from the ideas and teachings of foreign ministries. But Walk Thru the Bible materials transfer well across cultures, and he says he can’t get enough of them. Unlike most conferences and pre-packaged materials, they are rooting his church in the Bible itself. That’s especially important in this area where some Christians have received threats and sent their children to live with relatives in safer places. The pastor considers this to be “not blatant” persecution. But it’s certainly enough to undermine weak faith. Walk Thru the Bible courses are helping his congregation and others endure and even thrive in a difficult environment. In Saudi Arabia, life as a Christian isn’t as difficult as it used to be. One Arab Walk Thru the
People are reading the Bible more often and more openly.
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Damascus, Syria, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world—and the site of a series of clashes during the Syrian civil war.
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Bible instructor recalls how risky it was to bring a Bible into the country when he moved there 20 years ago. There were stiff penalties for discipling people, so small groups, usually fewer than 25 people, would worship together and keep their voices down. Now churches can worship out loud with amplified music and words projected on a screen— nothing secret about it. It’s still wise to be cautious, but the risks have diminished. “We are no longer followed by security police like we used to be,” he says. The result of this more relaxed approach to Christian practice is that people are reading the Bible more often and more openly. “We used to minister to youth who had never read a Bible before,” the instructor said, “but now more and more are familiar with it.” That doesn’t mean evangelistic outreach is accepted yet. One Christian was recently arrested
and beaten for proselytizing, and he was detained for about a month. Even so, when authorities released him, they told him, “We know you are going to do this. Just be discreet about it.” Their greater concern was public perception rather than his actual ministry.
“People are seeing that Islam is not the solution. Many are questioning.”
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ewer restrictions in some countries and trying times in others make this an opportune moment for training leaders and teachers. Bible colleges and seminaries scattered throughout the region have long been equipping leaders for ministry. Walk Thru the Bible events and resources not only supplement the training these leaders get, they also equip laypeople and teachers who haven’t had formal Bible instruction. One of the most significant training events each year is Walk Thru the Bible’s Middle East/
North Africa (MENA) conference, usually held in mid-summer. This year it was in Lebanon for the first time, and church leaders from 10 countries were able to attend. The conference began one day after Egypt’s “second revolution” ousted President Mohammed Morsi. Knowing the transition from one government to another would be tumultuous, the Egypt delegation nevertheless arrived with great optimism about the direction of their country and signs of a new spiritual openness. They hadn’t yet seen the backlash against Christians (although Christians represented only a small percentage of anti-Brotherhood protestors). But they knew disillusionment with the Islamic regime would prompt the kinds of questions Egyptian Christians were prepared to answer. They were right. Egyptians are more open since the summer’s transition, which has had a spiritual impact well beyond Egypt. “The failure of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt is huge for the Middle East,” said one Christian leader from another Arab country. “Their slogan was, ‘Islam Is the Solution,’ but people are seeing that Islam is not the solution. Many are questioning.” The questioning has turned some Muslims away from Islam but not toward anything else
yet, said one leader from Egypt. Some people are simply fed up and are rejecting God. But some are visiting churches just to see what their options are. They aren’t Christian yet, but they are expressing dissatisfaction with Islam. Egypt’s Christians want these seekers to see love in the lives of believers and spiritual unity among Christians. Egypt’s turmoil has actually made this more likely; leaders of several branches of Christianity have pulled together for support and cooperative responses to people in crisis. Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant leaders have had conversations that would have been unthinkable before the revolution. Some have agreed to pray for each other and speak at each other’s worship services. They have had to rely on each other. This is why training like the MENA conference and more local events are especially important now, and why Walk Thru the Bible’s equipping ministry is perhaps positioned for greater impact in this region than ever before. Hearts are more spiritually open. People are searching for answers. Churches are restoring long-broken connections. And believers are seeing stories that will never make headlines—but are just as likely to change the world. .
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Into the Word w e e k l y
the
d e v o t i o n a l s
Promises of God
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alk Thru the Bible exists to ignite passion for God’s Word wherever we go and to provide the opportunities and resources for eternal truth to work its way into people’s hearts. One of the best ways for the truth of scripture to sink in is to meditate on it daily. The following devotionals, adapted from indeed magazine, are a valuable tool to aid that process. One devotional is provided for each of the next 13 weeks. You can read the weekly reading any day during your week, but you may also want to revisit it every day of the week to make it a regular part of your time with God. If so, many have found this approach helpful: On Monday, read the devotional. Become generally familiar with the Bible verse, its original context, and the insights in the devotional reading. On Tuesday, look upward. How does this verse or passage apply to your relationship with God? What does it teach you about His will and His heart? What aspect of His character is He inviting you to experience and enjoy? On Wednesday, look inward. How does this truth apply to your heart
Week 1
December 30–January 5 2 Peter 1:3-4
GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES He has given us his very great and precious promises. (2 Peter 1:4) In Word Imagine how you would feel if Jesus walked up to you and said, “I am sending you on a mission to live a godly life and to represent Me to your world. This won’t be an easy mission, but I will give you everything you need. I will be there with you the whole time, but you won’t be able to see Me. Nevertheless, I will walk with you everywhere you go,
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and your own spiritual growth? What does it teach you about yourself, your needs, or your goals in life? In what aspects of your personal life is God inviting you to grow and mature? On Thursday, look around. How does this truth apply to your relationship with others? What does it teach you about how to relate to them? What is God inviting you to do differently in your relationships? On Friday, look outward. How does this verse or passage apply to your ministry and mission in life—to your role in God’s kingdom, in society, and in the world? What does it teach you about God’s purposes? What part of His mission is He inviting you to participate in? On Saturday, look forward. How does this verse or passage apply to your future, both in this age and in eternity? What does it teach you about God’s plan for your life, now and forever? What aspect of eternity is God inviting you to participate in? This approach can help you look at God’s Word from every angle and incorporate its implications into your life. As you saturate yourself in scripture, God will shape your heart to align with His own.
and whenever you need anything for this mission—anything at all—I will give it to you. It’s a promise.” Would you accept this mission? It isn’t hypothetical, of course. You have already been chosen for this mission, and, if you’re reading this, you have probably already accepted it. More than that, whether you realize it or not, you have accepted it on these very terms. The promises of God Himself—very great and precious promises, we are assured—are part of the contract. Everything you need for life and godliness—in other words, everything period—is available to you. The only catch is this: You have to know the promises and you have to ask Him in faith to fulfill them. Other than that, there are no overriding restrictions. Do you believe that? Do you realize that everything for life and godliness has been promised? Do you understand
that every time we say we couldn’t help our sin, we didn’t have enough resources for the mission, or we couldn’t get along with someone we’re required to relate to, we’re deceiving ourselves and contradicting His Word? The great and precious promises are rock-solid guarantees. Everything we need is available. In Deed God’s great and precious promises are like a forgotten storehouse containing priceless goods. The treasures within it are mind-boggling. The ignorance about them is mind-boggling too. There’s a gap between the fact of the promises and our willingness to believe them. And Peter’s words are an emphatic encouragement to bridge that gap. The promises are everywhere—and God invites us to count on them completely.
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Acts 13:13-52
Acts 13:13-52
Acts 1:4-9
January 6-12
January 13-19
January 20-26
THE GOD OF PROMISE
THE FAITHFUL GOD
WAITING ON GOD
He has fulfilled for us . . . As it is written. (Acts 13:33)
What God promised our fathers he has fulfilled for us. (Acts 13:32-33)
“Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised.” (Acts 1:4)
In Word Fulfillment. Everyone wants it, no one claims to have arrived at it. The desire is written deep within our hearts, and it drives us all our lives. Underlying all the things we do, all the decisions we make, is this craving to be whole—fully satisfied and at peace. We want to be complete. There’s a significant answer for us in the writings of the early church. Over and over again, the apostles’ letters point to Jesus as the fulfillment of the Scriptures. From Peter’s first sermon on Pentecost to the voices of angels in Revelation, the gospel is described as the ultimate completion of all God had ordained. Jesus rose “according to the Scriptures.” The Kingdom is coming because “it is written” that it would. Nearly every aspect of the new creation is identified with some inscription penned centuries before. Why? Because, as Jesus had once said, “The Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). What’s the connection between the prophecies of Scripture and our craving for fulfillment? Simply that God has demonstrated Himself trustworthy. If He spoke it, it will happen. That means that when the Bible says that no one can comprehend what God has planned for us, it’s true. When it says that we will be raised into everlasting glory, it’s true. When it says that all things work together for the good of those who love Him, or that we can legitimately rejoice in all things, it’s true. Whatever Scripture has promised you, it cannot be undone. The Word is inviolable.
In Word Paul’s sermon in Antioch, recorded in Acts 13, was compelling. Many Jews were intrigued by it, and many Gentiles rejoiced over it. It shows God’s work throughout the ages, unifying a strange, varied history under one overarching purpose: salvation through Messiah Jesus. For us, Paul’s sermon is like an aerial photo taken at thirty thousand feet. It shows the whole landscape, including the glorious peaks of salvation. Even more than that, it demonstrates the abiding faithfulness of God—from the choosing of Abraham to the resurrection of the Savior. Every step of the way, this God has watched over His people, cultivated their loyalties, purged their rebellions and sins, and secured their redemption. God had invested centuries in His plan. He never abandoned it or even diverged from it. He had a remedy for the Fall from day one. And when the Holy Spirit had come, believers knew just how perfect the remedy was.
“You will be my witnesses . . . to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
In Deed There’s a close connection between the fulfillment of the prophecies about Jesus and the fulfillment of the promises given to you. If God has been reliable in one—and the witness of the apostles is that He most certainly has— then He will be reliable in the other. It’s inconceivable that God would promise His people, both collectively and individually, His fulfillment and then not deliver it. When His Word speaks, it speaks truth. The God who has relentlessly pursued His plan for Israel and the church will relentlessly pursue His plan for you.
In Deed That should be profoundly comforting to those of us who wonder if God is still with us. Not that we doubt His faithfulness in principle, of course. No, our doubts are more subtle. We wonder if He is faithful to us right now, in our current circumstances—in our nation, in our families, in the details of our daily lives. We know He would never abandon His plan for the world, but we suspect He might abandon His plan for us. We appreciate the view from thirty thousand feet, but we really want Him at ground zero in our lives. God’s story in the Bible is not simply told for the sake of Israel or the church. It is told in order to reveal His character. And one undeniable observation from the story in Scripture is that God is faithful, both in master plans and individual lives. Always has been, always will be. Remember that when you doubt. There has been a remedy from day one, and it is perfect.
In Word At times, being a disciple is confusing. Jesus may tell us on one occasion not to take with us a purse or bag (Luke 10:4), and on another occasion to take a purse and a bag (Luke 22:36). We are told that we cannot find our life without losing it, and we cannot become great without being a servant. The gospel abounds with paradoxes and context-specific instructions. Here the disciples are told to stay in Jerusalem—and also that they will be His witnesses to the ends of the earth. What should they make of this ambiguity? They are looking for the kingdom of God, even willing to march into service; they are looking for guidance. And Jesus gives them virtually no information to go on. “Wait.” “It is not for you to know.” All they are told is to see what God does. In Deed Often we look for God’s direction in a matter—a career choice, a business decision, or maybe a relationship issue. We are willing to act. We’ll do whatever He says. We just need to know what it is. We don’t hear from Him, and then we grow impatient. And just when it seems that God has left us in a state of perpetual ambiguity, He acts. We were to wait and watch because, like the disciples, we were yet unequipped. Waiting is perhaps the most difficult aspect of a believer’s relationship with God. Our culture emphasizes speed, efficiency, and instant gratification. We pray and then wonder at God’s “silence” when His response isn’t immediate. We forget the stories of Joseph, Moses, and many others who spent years in preparation for God’s timing. When we find ourselves impatient and directionless, we must remember that all of His work is done on His initiative and that He takes time to prepare us for it. Like the disciples, we are to wait and watch.
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Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
John 14:27
Mark 9:30-32
Matthew 24:1-35
January 27–February 2
A CERTAIN PEACE “Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27) In Word We live in an unsettling world. There is no such thing as security here. Thieves break in, accidents happen, illness strikes, terror assaults, and death comes to all—no one is immune. No human institution can guarantee our safety. The locks on our doors, the airbags in our cars, the medicines on our shelves—they may help us, but they do not come with promises. We walk on shaky ground. On the night He was betrayed, Jesus reminds His disciples of this certain truth. Even He, the Son of God, will experience the uncompromising danger of a fallen world. But He leaves them with a promise: peace. They may breathe a sigh of relief. There is a sure foundation for security, not in this place, but in the One who transcends it. They need never be troubled if they rest secure in Him. Some of the world’s strongest faithfilled Christians became so in battlefields, torture chambers, cross fires, and crimeridden neighborhoods—the places on this planet where conflict rages and death can come in an instant. One of the many paradoxes of the gospel is that those who have no security in this world can be the most secure of all. They have found it elsewhere—in the promises of the One who overcomes the world. The King whose kingdom is never shaken has assured them that they need not let their hearts be troubled. They are beaming examples of peace in the presence of God. In Deed We fill ourselves with false securities. We surround ourselves with safety measures, especially protecting our physical lives. But the world is fraught with hazards, not just physical, but also spiritual and emotional. Who can protect us? Real security can only be found in Christ—all else is sinking ground. It does not matter what threatens us if we know He is with us. He, and no one else, has promised us peace. And His promises are certain.
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February 3-9
February 10-16
THE RESURRECTION PROMISE
A PROMISE OF PRESERVATION
“The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” (Mark 9:31)
“I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.” (Matthew 24:34)
In Word Death surrounds us. It is on our TVs and in our newspapers. It has taken family members and friends. It will come to each of us. For all who are crushed by the reality of the Fall, Jesus gives this promise. There is a resurrection. Perhaps we have heard this from the pulpit so often that we have lost a sense of amazement over this impossible claim. But think about it. This just does not happen, at least not visibly. Most religions have some concept of an afterlife, but a man being physically raised from the dead? No one ever made such a claim. Except Jesus. Even His disciples, who had seen Him raise Lazarus, a widow’s son, and a little girl, were dumbfounded (v. 32). They didn’t know what to make of this prediction, because it was beyond the realm of possibility. People die and they are buried. Period. But Jesus erased the period. His resurrection, far from being an exclusive privilege of the Son of God, means everything for us. It reversed the curse of death that we brought upon ourselves at the Fall. It is the re-genesis—the beginning of a new creation. And we are invited to be a part of it.
In Word Bible-believing Christians easily get hung up on this verse, especially when a critic comes along and tells us that Jesus was wrong about His understanding of the future. Don’t get hung up on their arguments. Perhaps segments of the early church misunderstood Jesus’ words in this verse, but the text does not necessarily mean that He would return before His hearers died. The Greek word genea, translated in Matthew and Luke as “generation,” may certainly mean that. But is it the generation Jesus is speaking to, or the generation that has seen the signs referred to previously in the discourse? That is open to interpretation. But there’s another way to approach the prediction. Genea may also mean a race of people, an ethnic group. Historians cannot explain exactly why the Jewish people have not gone the way of the other ancient tribes of the Middle East, but they haven’t. They have persisted against all human odds and obstacles. Vastly outnumbered, often attacked, and widely scattered, the Hebraic culture is still around. It has not passed away. The physical people of Israel, as well as the spiritual entity of the church, are given a precious promise in Matthew 24:34, not a questionable prediction. The promise is that they will endure until the very end. Jesus will not let His people fade from the scene before He comes for their final redemption.
In Deed The promise of this resurrection is astounding. Every privilege of the risen Jesus, in all of His glory, is offered to us to partake in. It is the reality of the eternal promises of God. In His resurrection, He intercedes for us at the right hand of God (Hebrews 7:25); He lives in us (John 14:20; Galatians 2:20); and He exercises all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). Not only is He exalted, but we are seated with Him in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6); we are fellow heirs of His inheritance (Romans 8:17); and we have eternal life (John 6:40). These are magnificent and astonishing truths. We could spend a lifetime— make that an eternity—letting them sink in. Today, meditate and marvel at the promise of the Resurrection.
In Deed Don’t let the skeptics mislead you. Jesus and His followers were not wrong about the end times. He has given us a promise. It is especially dear to those who are Jews outwardly, but it applies to those who are Jews inwardly (Romans 2:29) as well. God’s people cannot become extinct. Take comfort in that. He will preserve us all, even if He has to move heaven and earth to do so.
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Psalm 5:12
Psalm 78:9-16
John 3:16-21
February 17-23
February 24–March 2
March 3-9
SURROUNDED WITH FAVOR
HISTORY LESSONS
PROMISED DELIVERANCE
Surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield. (Psalm 5:12)
They forgot what he had done, the wonders he had shown them. (Psalm 78:11)
Whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
In Word God has done great things. Many of them are recorded in the written Word by generations who wanted their descendants to know of His faithfulness. Many of them are the subjects of biographies and church traditions. But many of them are relics of history, forgotten by a forgetful humanity. They are often buried in the minds of those who have passed on. Sometimes they are faint hints in our subconscious that God has done something good for us, but we can’t remember what. The wonders were marvelous at the time, but they are wasted in the present. Far too often, we don’t let the lingering goodness of God linger long enough. Why not? What is it about us that can remember who insulted us decades ago but cannot remember the deliverance God gave us last year? We can hold a grudge for a lifetime, but when asked how God has answered our prayers in the past, we struggle for a response. It’s not that He hasn’t answered our prayers, even dramatically sometimes. No, the problem is that we are always focused on the next hurdle, the next problem, the next goal. God is only relevant in our minds when He is relevant to today’s needs. He would actually seem more relevant to today’s needs if we could rehearse and remember His past victories. It’s much easier to pray to the God who delivered us from an impossible situation when we remember the deliverance. We pray with faith when His miraculous strength stands out in our minds. We pray with ambiguity and doubt when it doesn’t.
In Word Perhaps we’ve heard this verse so often that it has lost its impact. Familiarity breeds contempt, they say, and while we may not have contempt for this greatest and most precious of all promises, it does tend to go in one ear and out the other sometimes. It’s such a standard verse that we don’t stop and think about it, and that’s a shame. Today, stop and think about it. Think about the sweeping scope of the promise: It applies to “whoever.” Think about the amazing simplicity: It requires only genuine belief. Think about the astounding implications: It’s the difference between eternal death and eternal life. And think about its unfathomable time frame: Eternity is a really, really long time. Most of all, think about the high price of the promise. Consider the excruciating condescension of a God who would clothe Himself in human flesh, be tempted by all its fallenness, suffer all its pains, die one of the worst of its deaths, and do it with the kind of humility a lowly human being ought to have. We can scarcely imagine the king of a vast kingdom dying for the least of his citizens, but that’s what we’re asked to believe about our God. It doesn’t seem typical, and in fact it isn’t. It doesn’t even seem practical, and perhaps it’s not. But passion isn’t always typical or practical. It’s extravagant, persistent, and sometimes even absurd—at least on the surface. And yet, we are told, this absurd extravagance is lavished on us. Why? Because God so loved the world.
In Word When we observe the world around us, it’s easy to become negative. We often see righteous people suffer, and we see the wicked prosper. But what we see are the circumstances that surround someone. What we don’t usually see is God’s attitude toward that person. They are not always the same. Sometimes His favor results in visible blessing; sometimes it doesn’t. As in so many other psalms, David cried out to God for help in Psalm 5:2. His conclusion at the end of the psalm is that he will be blessed. Why? He knows who God is. Though he is suffering at the hands of evil, he knows that this will not always be his situation. We, too, may not see justice at a given moment, but over the course of time we will see two unalterable trends: the blessing of those who pursue righteousness and the destruction of those who pursue evil. In Deed We need to know this when we wonder whether our pursuit of godliness is worth the cost. It always is. We may not see it right away, but we will see it eventually. God has never withheld blessing from anyone whose heart was right toward Him. Never. That would contradict His character and it would violate His promise. He blesses the righteous and He surrounds them with favor. Do you wonder about your future? Are you afraid for your welfare? Don’t be, not if your heart belongs to God and you live for Him. It is not in His nature to forsake His faithful ones. He may let you experience a hard time, but never without abundant grace and never indefinitely. There will be relief. His favor already surrounds you like a shield. Sooner or later you will see it.
In Deed Make sure His strength stands out in your mind. If you are not in the practice of keeping a prayer log, begin the practice now. It doesn’t need to be elaborate. Just make a list of what you ask God for, and then when He answers, check it off. Then in a day of distress, review all the checks—and watch your faith grow. The spiritual markers you put up in your life will largely determine the depth of your faith today.
In Deed That’s a lot of love. It’s hard for us to understand, because our love is usually limited or tainted with self-serving motives. But not God’s. His love results in promises that deliver us from utter catastrophe. And His promises are backed up with painful sacrifice. If you ever doubt that God is serious about keeping His promises, consider this one. He promised salvation and He bled to keep that promise. There’s no greater guarantee than a promise written in divine blood.
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Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Hebrews 6:13-20
Mark 4:35-41
Mark 5:21-43
March 10-16
March 17-23
March 24-30
A SURE THING
TRUST AND REST
JUST BELIEVE
It is impossible for God to lie. (Hebrews 6:18)
“Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40)
“Don’t be afraid; just believe.” (Mark 5:36)
In Word God has given us a multitude of promises in His Word. Some of them are for the biggest issues of all—eternal life and a relationship with Him. Others are for the prayers we pray or the blessings we seek. But regardless of the scope, the truth is unwavering. Whether we’re talking about a big-ticket promise like eternal life or a smaller promise during this age, the principle is the same. God can’t lie. Those who have clung to a promise of God know where our minds take us at this point. Sure, God can’t lie, but we can misunderstand Him. We can hear a promise that isn’t there. We can misinterpret what He has said. We can make assumptions about what His will is. We know He is infallible, but we certainly aren’t. So underneath all His promises in Scripture, we mentally fill in the blanks with fine print and legal caveats just so we’ll have a good theological explanation in case we get let down. The result is a God who cannot lie trying to communicate with people who won’t let themselves accept His truth. It’s true that we can misunderstand God, but the theological gymnastics we go through to explain why His promises mean something other than what He said are completely unnecessary. What He has said is true. The promises He has given us for eternal life are inviolable. The assurances that He will answer our prayers of faith are rock solid. The God who expects us to have unwavering faith would not give us wavering covenants. When He has spoken, we can trust that we have heard and that He will do what He said.
In Word The life of faith requires us to lean on an invisible source of strength and wisdom. We do not have an unfounded faith, but we learn quickly that it does not rest on our five senses. And as we trust God, we find that very real and visible storms war against our belief in the invisible God. Sooner or later, a greater test will come and we will have to choose: Trust God or trust ourselves. We cannot do both. At some point in this walk of faith, we must learn to detach from the things that so greatly concern us and cast them wholly on God. This feels irresponsible at first, but it is actually irresponsible not to do so. We must stop thinking of ourselves as the source of deliverance in a difficult situation. It is not up to us to save. We may be useful tools of God, but not everything is riding on us. Usually, we approach crises as though God is depending on us to do the work while He supports us in the background. We need to turn that around. We must depend on God to do the work while we are behind the scenes believing in Him. When He says to act, we must act. But most of us act far too quickly and believe much too slowly. We must be quick to believe and hesitant to interfere in God’s work. By this we can keep our hearts from being so troubled, if we will really trust in Him.
In Word Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue, likely had a range of negative feelings toward Jesus when men from his house came and told him his daughter was dead. Jairus had risked a lot to plead with Jesus for his daughter’s life. In a moment of desperation, he threw theology out the window in exchange for a miracle. He probably didn’t care where the miracle came from, even if it was from Jesus; his daughter’s life was at stake. Now, after Jesus had “wasted” precious minutes healing a bleeding woman in the crowd, the report meets them on the road. The girl is dead. Jesus’ response is strange to our ears. Throughout the episode, He completely ignores the circumstances. There is no acknowledgment here of the obstacles to His power. She’s dead? No matter. Commotion and wailing? Not important. None of the hubbub is the truth of the situation. He is. There are at least two things Jesus would have us learn from this verse: 1) Negative reports are not the final analysis of a horrible situation; and 2) fear is at war against our faith. When all hell breaks loose against us—and it quite literally does, sometimes—Jesus would have us ignore its ultimate weapon. Do not believe its reports. The enemy—and the death he wields against us—will devastate us if we let them. But we have a choice. We can fear, or we can believe. We can’t do both. We have to pick one.
In Deed God isn’t like us. He doesn’t say one thing and mean another. He doesn’t waffle on His plans. He doesn’t change His mind with every shifting circumstance. He speaks and then waits for those with real faith to step into the truth He has spoken. The question is whether we will take His words as the reality that they are.
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In Deed How do you react in a crisis? Do you feel responsible to step in and intervene? Perhaps God will require you to do so, but rarely until you have first trusted Him with a calm heart, sought His will diligently, made yourself fully available, and waited for His timing. When we pray and ask for God’s will to be done in a given situation, we must believe that His will is, in fact, very good, and that He is quite able to accomplish it. Any asking that maintains an internal sense of panic is not genuine trust. It reveals a hidden belief that we are perhaps more critical to the situation than God is. But to trust is to rest, and the heart that is calm has learned that Jesus is above the storm.
In Deed Does this mean that faith always brings about our desired outcome? Of course not; our desires are not the product of omniscience and are skewed sometimes. We don’t always know God’s will in a situation. But it does mean that faith always brings about God’s desired outcome. If it’s real trust, based on the real character of God, it prompts His perfect response in His perfect timing. But fear wars against our trust; it questions God’s goodness and His power. Don’t let it. Jesus’ solution is simple—make a choice. “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” .
Behind the
Step Into the Story
Voice
Influencing the World’s Influencers
where the Bible is easily available, many Christians struggle to get into it regularly, finding it difficult to understand and perceiving it as irrelevant or boring. As a result, from remote villages to urban hubs, many believers—including many church leaders—lack the whole picture of God’s story.
You can give it to them.
~ Malawi ~
B
ig Voice became a Christian after seeing the Jesus Film. So did many others in his remote village, and they wanted to start a church. “Will you be our pastor?” they asked. “We need a pastor in order to have a church, and you have the loudest voice.” So Big Voice became the village pastor with one viewing of the Jesus Film as his only biblical reference! It wasn’t until Walk Thru the Bible held a live event in Big Voice’s village that he finally learned the big story of the Bible. And it only took a single day. But that single day ignited his passion for God’s Word and enabled him to begin sharing Bible truths with his fledgling church. His teaching became rooted in scripture rather than the faint memory of a movie. Big Voice’s story may seem extreme, but it isn’t unusual. In many parts of the world, Christians don’t have access to a Bible in their own language. In some places they have a Bible but don’t know how to read it. Or they can read but prefer to learn orally. Even in places like North America,
Your generous gift will enable Walk Thru the Bible to hold training events and provide biblical resources to local church leaders in every part of the world. These local leaders—from pastors like Big Voice who have no training to leaders simply needing a more efficient way to get the Bible into the hearts of people—will be able to teach God’s big story powerfully and effectively in their own churches and communities. We’ve seen this need in every part of the world. Many people lack a full understanding of God’s story. They may know the story of Jesus, for example, but not the story of creation and the fall. Or they have heard bits and pieces of the Bible but are in the dark about God’s plan of salvation. In other words, millions of believers worldwide are in “scriptural shadows,” waiting for the light to come on . . . a light that sets their life on fire.
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You can bring believers out of the shadows, be a spark that ignites passion for God’s Word in their hearts, and help them impact their families, communities, and nation. You can help meet this need. Your support of Walk Thru the Bible can have that kind of impact in people’s lives. Here’s how:
kgf LIVE EVENTS:
Nothing builds excitement and enthusiasm for God’s Word like a Walk Thru the Bible live event. It gives believers the big picture of the Bible in a single day, helping them see God’s story as a whole and grasp His heart for the world. Our educational, energy-filled live events are interactive and memorable, teaching a riveting Bible overview through kinesthetic learning—hand signs and movement—to convey key themes and profound truths. Thousands of participants have said our events completely revolutionized their faith walk, opening their eyes to how the biblical story is woven together and points to Christ. As a result, believers from all cultures have become passionate about truly living out God’s Word in their homes and communities. Last year, more than 2 million people around the world participated in our events, led by 25,000 trainers from local churches.
B BIBLE RESOURCES:
Walk Thru the Bible’s resources stoke passion for God’s Word long after the event is over. Solidly biblical and focused on lifelong discipleship, our books, devotionals, DVDs, magazines, and small-group curricula—in 39 of the world’s most widely spoken languages—support more than 5 million Christians in 111 countries. Walk Thru the Bible is a transdenominational movement that bridges cultural boundaries to produce committed followers of Jesus Christ, disciples of all ages who know, love, and obey God’s Word. Events and resources enable many leaders to teach God’s story powerfully and effectively in their own churches and communities. Here’s how they work: Regional trainers in our network of church leaders from around the world— nationals who already know the language and culture of their region—are trained in one of our courses or events. They then teach it to hundreds of pastors and other church leaders of various denominations and backgrounds. Those pastors and leaders are then able to teach what they’ve learned to their congregations and many others.
T
his is 2 Timothy 2:2 in action: “Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.” The bottom line is that your support multiplies disciples—disciples who are equipped and energized to live out God’s Word in their families and communities, influencing lives, workplaces, and even entire nations.
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How You Can
Help
W
ith $100, we can train someone like Big Voice, who then reaches 100 people with one event that teaches the big picture of God’s Word. Whatever amount you give will help us equip a leader who equips others, whether in a remote village or an inner-city church. Your investment continues to multiply as changed lives impact other lives around them. Families are restored, churches are strengthened, and communities are healed. The Word of God accomplishes exactly what He intends. Please prayerfully consider a gift to Walk Thru the Bible today as part of your role in fulfilling the Great Commission. You can make a lasting kingdom investment by helping us train and equip people around the world to live and breathe the whole story of scripture—and to teach it to others. We value your partnership and thank God for the opportunity to advance His kingdom together. Thank you for your consideration, and may God richly bless you and encourage you with His Word each day.
This is the heart of the Great Commission—making disciples. If it’s your heart too, please consider partnering with us today. Believers around the world will be grateful for your help. Take the Next Step If God is prompting you to connect your heart and your resources with His work in the world through Walk Thru the Bible, you can partner with us by:
FO
m
w
c
returning the envelope provided in this magazine
connecting to www.walkthru. org/donate
calling 678-578-5534
To learn more about Walk Thru the Bible, scan this code to our Global Impact Report on your smartphone or tablet, or visit www.walkthru.org/wherewe-work 29
Donor Profile
One Couple’s Global Vision Jimmy and Elaine Moore
J
immy and Elaine Moore had grown up going to church in the U.S., but they met Christ during the Vietnam War in a church in Okinawa, Japan. That’s where Jimmy had been assigned for 18 months, and the couple was impacted by believers of all nationalities whose walk “matched their talk.” That experience provoked a lifelong passion for reaching internationals. Elaine started a group in Little Rock to minister to Vietnamese immigrants after the war, and they have worked with a ministry in Tuscaloosa that helps local families befriend international students at the University of Alabama. So when Jimmy and Elaine learned of Walk Thru the Bible’s strategy for global discipleship, especially its emphasis on training nationals in their local context to reach their own people, they were immediately on board. The Moores had attended a Walk Thru the Old Testament event in the late ’70s, but they didn’t attend a donor event until 1997. That’s when the world’s needs and Walk Thru the Bible’s mission connected with their hearts to reach nations. “We saw Walk Thru the Bible as a tremendous discipleship ministry,” says Jimmy. “All around the world, there are people who want to share God’s love who don’t have training. Walk Thru the Bible has the materials and the training. We feel like this has been the best universal discipleship tool we’ve found.”
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The Moores have seen the ministry up close not only in the U.S. but also on trips to Ukraine, Russia, and the Middle East. They already understood the importance not just of global evangelism but of discipleship, but seeing national and regional partners made a difference. “It puts a face on the relationship,” Elaine says. The Moores appreciate evangelistic ministries but believe the Great Commission is about more than conversions. “Once somebody receives Jesus, they then have to have the Word change their life,” explains Elaine. “I know evangelism takes place in Walk Thru the Bible’s ministry, but that’s just the starting point. They need to grow. And this ministry helps them grow. It makes a difference in how they face a situation in their family, or how they relate to people at work.” In all of the Moore’s work with internationals over the years—through their church in Japan, with students in the U.S., with friends in countries around the globe, or in trips with ministries they’ve been involved with—they have seen the power of God’s Word to change lives. And they believe Walk Thru the Bible’s approach is effective and efficient. They grasped the vision at their first Walk Thru the Bible event. And, as they say, “We’ve been excited ever since.” .
The Last Word
I
love coffee. It’s one of my vices. I love the taste, the aroma, the warmth . . . and the fact that it keeps me awake during my 6 a.m. commute to the office. It’s difficult to go anywhere in the world where you can’t get a cup, so when I travel, it reminds me of home. Coffee is common. Economists consider coffee beans a commodity—one of those abundant, accessible, and cheap items from the natural world, like cotton or soybeans or pork bellies. (Bacon, another of my vices, is great with coffee, by the way.) So how is it that some places can sell a common, ordinary commodity for $4 a cup and stay in business? It’s because they don’t want you to just taste coffee; they want you to experience it. Coffee is a conversation starter, a reason to get together with a best friend, great for meeting a potential client, perfect for breaking the ice on a blind date. It is a relationship builder, a thought provoker, a communication enhancer. Not just a way to stay awake. At least, that’s what the corner coffee shop wants you to… experience. In some ways, at least in North America, God’s Word is like a commodity. The Bible is common, accessible, easily obtainable. You go to any bookstore, sacred or secular, and you might find a hundred different Bibles on the shelves—different translations, font sizes, notes, and study guides. I’ve got five different translations on my computer and a smart phone app for listening to it. I’ve got Bibles in print, digital, and audio. With study helps and without them. Traditional translations and new translations. As Danish philosopher and theologian Søren Kierkegaard said, “There is no lack of information in a Christian land; something else is lacking.” Commodities can be overlooked and undervalued. Every producer fears an item becoming “commoditized.” That’s also a fear we have at Walk Thru the Bible because we don’t want you to just know about the Bible, read the Bible, or learn about the Bible. That’s not enough. We want you to experience the Bible. To feel the hope the woman at the well felt when Jesus spoke to her instead of ignoring her. To be awestruck by the power of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost when men and women spoke boldly about what they had seen, heard, and knew to be true. To know the depth of forgiveness like King David did when he cried out “Oh Lord. Please. Create a clean heart in me.” My prayer for you in 2014 is that you would experience the living Word. But it’s not just my prayer for you. It’s the prayer of Walk Thru the Bible for everyone. It’s why we exist. It’s what we have been called to and what we have given our lives for. Not that you would simply know the Word, but that you might experience first-hand its wonder, power, and beauty. It’s one commodity that isn’t a vice at all.
John Houchens Senior VP for Advancement/International
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In the next issue of Pathways: What do you get when a Walk Thru the Bible instructor develops a love for hiking? The unofficial chaplain of the Appalachian Trail—and a lot of God stories along the way.
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