News & Views from Walk Thru the Bible
Catching a Wave in Georgia An Invitation to God’s Grand Story Weekly devotionals for Winter
Winter 2015
Walk Thru the Bible 4201 North Peachtree Road Atlanta, GA 30341 www.walkthru.org Volume 4, Number 1 Winter 2015 Published quarterly President Phil Tuttle Vice President of Advancement Michael Gunnin Editor Chris Tiegreen Designer Michael Koiner Contributors Chris Tiegreen Emily Tuttle Katie Rowland
Walk Thru the Bible ignites passion for God’s Word through innovative live events, inspirational biblical resources, and lasting global impact.
© 2015 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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love a good strategy. I love it when a football team comes up with an effective game plan, when musicians execute their technique to perfection, and when ministries find their sweet spot and stick with it. Following a plan is a great way to maximize your efficiency and
fruitfulness.
Usually. But there are exceptions, aren’t there? Sometimes the quarterback calls an
audible and surprises the defense. The greatest
musicians know exactly when to break the rules
for the sake of art. And ministries may sense a
prompting or find an open door that takes them beyond their plan, if only for a moment.
Sometimes, even when God inspired your plan in the first place, He prompts you to do something outside of it. You’ll see a great examp le of that in this issue’s article on Georgia. Our strategy has been to focus on the world’s most widely spoken languages, but we couldn’t resist an appeal to venture into Georgia and its obscure, isolated language. So we steppe d outside our strategy for a moment, and it has led to open doors in Armen ia and other nearby hard-to-reach countries. None of that would have happen ed if we said, “Sorry, Lord, Georgia is too small for our plans.” You’ll enjoy reading how God got our attention—and how we had to follow. You’ll find this pattern in your life too—how God gives you vision and strategies to pursue your calling, but reserves the right to turn you in unexpected directions from time to time. Whether it’s something as small as slowing you down in your Bible-reading plan for weeks in order to get one verse into your heart, or opening your eyes to huge opportunities you never thought you’d see, He has a way of getting you where He wants you to go. That’s our prayer as a ministry—that we would go wherever He wants us to go—and my prayer for you too. I trust you’ll be encour aged in the following pages by the evidence of His work—and by how His plans are greater than anything any of us can create on our own.
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 2015
VOL. 4
NO. 1
Features
6 Catching a Wave
A God-Given Opportunity in Georgia The country of Georgia may be off the beaten path for many ministries, but it’s right in the middle of God’s.
Devotionals 22 T C
he ulture of the Kingdom Weekly readings excerpted from indeed magazine
departments
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New at Walk Thru the Bible
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Regional News
Spanish resources and a new app
Highlights from around the world
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Country Profile
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Step Into the Story
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Leader Profile
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Donor Profile
Georgia
Life in the Wilderness: a Chapter in God’s Grand Story Equipping the Called Elvis Mvulane, country director for South Africa Getting the Word into the World Gary and Teresa Regoli
Cover and above: The Georgian Orthodox Church leads the official religion in Georgia, where evangelicals are growing and in need of resources.
What’s New @ Walk Thru And Now . . . en Español >
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ur partners in Latin America have been translating and using resources from Walk Thru the Bible—or Caminata Bíblica, actually—for many years. But what about the Spanishspeaking community in the United States? Our regional and national directors have often traveled to the U.S. for live events in Spanish-speaking congregations, but we have had few resources for national distribution. This market has long been underserved. That’s changing. There’s a huge need for Spanish language materials in U.S. churches, and Walk Thru the Bible is making Spanish resources a priority. Currently several of our
resources are available in Spanish in the U.S., with more on the way. The One Year Walk With God Devotional and the Your Daily Walk Devotional are now available in softcover Spanish editions as Devocional en un Año—Camina con Dios and Tu Andar Diario. A leatherlike gift edition of Camina con Dios (Walk With God) has also been published and is now available. The ministry also plans to publish Spanish versions of its Keyword Learning System for Old Testament and New Testament, as well is its guide to World Religions from a Christian Perspective, both of which are currently in production. All resources are available at www.walkthru. org/store.
Yes, There Is an App for That >
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ndeed readers can now enjoy the devotional magazine on portable devices by downloading the new indeed app in Android, Kindle, or Apple formats. The app is free and includes sample content for anyone who downloads. More content is available for purchase by subscription or on a per-issue basis. Video clips, links to the indeed website, and the editor’s blog are also accessible through the app, and clipping tools make content shareable on social media. Indeed has long been limited to mailed, hard-copy subscriptions. The app is a huge step for the ministry in making indeed available electronically worldwide. For more information, call 1.800.361.6131 or visit our website.
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ohn Starnes and Tony Gibbs taught OT Live (the student version of Walk Thru the Old Testament) to high school and middle school students at Brentwood Academy in Tennessee in August. At least 950 students plus parents and grandparents attended.
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Regional News Global > The God’s Grand Story churchwide campaign program is set to launch in 83 countries around the world in the coming months. The material has been translated into 40 languages and is expected to involve at least 3.6 million participants in more than 45,000 churches. This in-depth, six-week journey through the story of the Bible has already made an impact in India, where at least 12,000 to 15,000 churches and 1 million people will take part. God’s Grand Story material, which includes a live event, audio-visual support, DVD, and a workbook, has already been translated into India’s 12 most widely spoken languages. At least 700 churches in the Middle East and North Africa region also plan to launch the program, reaching 130,000 people. Among those participating in this region are 200 churches in Pakistan.
Asia & Pacific > Instructor Sharon Hattaway has been teaching 7 Laws of the Learner to Khmer teachers in Cambodia who are serving as tutors as a ministry of their church. She is also recruiting young men and women who have the potential to be some of Cambodia’s best future teachers. These include students, pastors, and others working in some
The Philippines hosted several pilot events for God’s Grand Story last year. aspect of education in Cambodia. They will learn the 7 Laws material and apply it in their teaching ministries. New Zealand director Robert Siakimotu taught Teaching With Style to Chinese participants in New Zealand; Walk Thru the Old Testament and 7 Laws of the Learner to participants in Fiji and the Cook Islands; and Vision of the Leader in Australia. Also in Australia, Al Watson taught two OT Live events. Numerous courses, including 7 Laws of the Learner and Teaching with Style, have been taught in recent months to pastors in rural China.
launched Detour at a large pastors conference in Ukraine and conducted several events in the southern part of the country in September. Yuri also continues to interact and minister with several churches in Moscow, Russia, bridging significant political differences as these churches work together for God’s kingdom.
Middle East > Walk Thru the Old Testament and Biblical Portrait of Marriage were taught to Russian-speaking churches in Israel this fall. .
Ukraine/CIS > Yuri Shelestun, regional director for Ukraine and the Commonwealth of Independent States,
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Catching a Wave From One Georgia to Another
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hen Phil Tuttle boarded a plane for a conference in Ukraine in April 2013, he had no idea he was about to have his heart broken for a country whose existence he’d barely considered. Or that he was about to take Walk Thru the Bible for a ride on one of God’s waves. After several days of teaching in Bila Tserkva, Phil met Oleg Shaykevych, one of Walk Thru the Bible’s Ukrainian team members. “Oleg is such a joyful, passionate person,” Phil remembers. “He and I immediately became friends, and toward the end of the conference he asked to speak with me about something important.” Oleg explained that God had given him a heart for the people of Georgia. With tears in his eyes, he spoke about a nation of people who lacked access to basic biblical resources in their own language. “The Georgian language is rare,” he said. “They have the Bible, but I can only think of about 11 Christian books available in Georgian. There is such a big need for resources to train pastors and teach in churches. The people are hungry to learn, but we have nothing to give them. “I want you to bring Walk Thru the Bible to Georgia. Georgia will be blessed if you come there. I believe Walk Thru the Bible materials will change Georgia and the Georgian people. I’m ready to dedicate my time, my effort, and my life to see that happen.”
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hen most Americans hear “Georgia,” they think of Scarlett O’Hara, the Atlanta Braves, or a tall glass of sweet tea. But on the other side of the world, nestled between the Caucasus Mountains and the Black Sea, is a small country with the same name. Known as Sakartvelo by its people, the nation of Georgia is less than half the size—in both population and area—of the state of Georgia. It’s a beautiful land, home to a proud people who have survived occupation and oppression by numerous foreign powers, civil war, and a recent conflict with neighboring Russia. Through the centuries of transition, the Georgian people have maintained their culture and preserved their unique language. The Georgian language and the other three Kartvelian languages are unrelated to any other language in the world. To a Western listener, many of the sounds of the language are unlike anything they’ve heard, and the Georgian alphabet is one of
Tbilisi is the capital of Georgia and home to one and a half million people. 8
the rarest on earth. The alphabet was created in the fourth century, derived from ancient Aramaic, and modeled after the Greek alphabet, with the original purpose of helping spread Christianity and the Christian literature that had come to Georgia in 330 AD. In a sad twist of irony, it’s that very language that has isolated Georgian Christians 17 centuries later and deprived them of the resources their Western brothers and sisters enjoy in abundance. The vast majority of quality Christian resources in the world are in English, but the vast majority of the world’s Christians are not primary English speakers. In the West, we’re glutted with endless options for biblical study and training, but in many places in the world, believers are starving for knowledge about God. Organizations like Wycliffe Bible Translators and New Tribes Mission have done an amazing job bringing Scripture to some of the most isolated corners of the world. But there is still a great need to translate resources beyond the Bible. Pastors are in desperate need of training, families need
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There are more than 6,900 spoken languages on earth. Half of the world’s people natively speak the 13 most populous languages. Georgian is not even in the top 100 natively spoken languages. About 6.4 billion of the world’s 7 billion people speak and write in a language that uses one of the top five most common alphabets (Latin, Chinese, Devanagari, Arabic, and Cyrillic). Only 5.1 million use the Georgian alphabet.
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CA
Abkhazia
UC
AS
Russia
US
South Ossetia
GEORGIA
Turkey
MT Tbilisi
Armenia
NS Azerbaijan
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guidance, and churches are searching for relevant material to teach their people how to respond to the world around them. “In Ukraine today we have tens of thousands of Christian books, but in Georgia they don’t have the same,” says Oleg. “Few people have thought about Georgia.”
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alk Thru the Bible exists to equip pastors and churches around the world with the biblical resources they need to teach their people. “We try to be strategic in our translation and distribution process,” Phil says. “We try to make our resources available in the most commonly spoken languages, so we can reach the most people with our efforts. So I asked Oleg if it would be possible to distribute Russian resources in Georgia, because we have so many great materials already available in Russian. Why start with a new, rare language when we have so much to offer in Russian?” Oleg responded hesitantly. “Many Georgian people can read Russian, but they won’t do it.” Georgia declared its independence in 1991, after years of oppression by the Soviet Union. But its troubles with Russia weren’t finished. In 2008, war broke out between Russia and Georgia over the separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Ossetian separatists began shelling Georgian villages, Georgia responded with attacks against South Ossetia, and Russia joined in by invading
and shelling Georgia. Five days of brutal fighting followed, destroying much of South Ossetia and many Georgian cities. A ceasefire was reached, but conflict still simmers between Russia and Georgia. Nearly 200,000 people were displaced by the war, and six years later, more than 20,000 Georgians still cannot return to their homes because their villages were completely destroyed by the Russian attacks. Georgia severed diplomatic relations with Russia, and distaste for the Russian invaders is still strong. After decades of Soviet rule and the recent conflicts, Georgians are not interested in using Russian for anything— even to learn about God. “Many older people know Russian,” Oleg explained, “but the Russian language became the language of their enemy. It was the language of the people who killed their children, and when someone talks to them in Russian, the first association they have is that those are their enemies. War was here very recently, and it’s left a big wound in their hearts.” When teaching about God comes packaged in the language of oppression, people slowly start to see that God as the God of their oppressors instead of their God who loves them. Everyone deserves the option to learn about God in the language of their heart. They deserve to hear His words and be taught about His love in the language they dream in at night, not just the language that’s most convenient for publishers. Walk Thru the Bible’s usual strategy is to target the world’s most widely spoken languages. “This time, strategy wasn’t the answer,” Phil says.
When teaching about God comes packaged in the language of oppression, people start to see that God as the God of their oppressors.
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Training director Mark Schaaf, with translator, helped teach the Crucible course to Georgian church leaders. 14
“We decided that even though Georgian is the rarest language we’ve ever used, and it will only work in one small country, we have to do this. This isn’t about strategy, it’s about people learning about God in the language they love.”
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leg chose Crucible, a course on the life of King David, as the first course to be translated into Georgian. “I’ve seen how the Crucible course has helped many pastors in Ukraine to deal with their deepest problems, and I believe in Georgia it will help people deal with the same kinds of problems.” Oleg and his ministry partners assembled a team of Georgian pastors and commissioned a translation of the Crucible workbook into Georgian. “When I came to Georgia and told them I want to hold a Walk Thru the Bible conference, I saw tears in many pastors’ eyes,” he said. “It has been the dream for many years now.” That dream came true in June as Walk Thru the Bible held its first-ever live event in the Georgian language. Pastors from different denominations all over Georgia came to Tbilisi to learn about David, the tests he went through, and the decisions that defined him. Yuri Shelestun, Walk Thru’s Regional Director for the Commonwealth of Independent States, taught alongside Mark Schaaf, Walk Thru’s International Training Director. “Several pastors came to me and told me they felt like this course was made specifically for them,” Yuri explained. “One pastor said, ‘It’s like a personal course for me, because I’m going through hard times and through crucibles, and this course is teaching me how to get through my troubles the right way. I’m changing personally, so now I can help my church change.’” The event was also strategic for the evangelical church in Georgia as a whole. Almost 85 percent of Georgian people are part of the official Georgian Orthodox Church. The Orthodox patriarch wields more influence than the country’s president, and the Orthodox Church has not responded openly to evangelicals in recent years. The Church views evangelicals as members of a dissident sect and does what it can to thwart their efforts to grow. The Orthodox
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Multiplication in action—pastors and teachers learning and praying for their congregations (above), then congregation members receiving new teaching (below).
Church has blocked access to meeting spaces, broken up evangelical events—sometimes with violence—and confiscated evangelical materials. Most recently, they fought against Franklin Graham’s Festival of Hope in Tbilisi in June. After an arsonist attacked the planned venue, the Orthodox Church blocked the festival planners from 15 other venues in the city until they finally secured a local church to host. Many scheduled musicians dropped out after the Orthodox Church threatened to excommunicate them for participating. And when the Church’s threats did not deter people from attending the festival, members lined up
Oleg Shaykevych long dreamed of taking Walk Thru the Bible from Ukraine to Georgia and saw his dream realized when he was able to organize the Crucible training event in June. 16
outside with signs of protest and insults for anyone who entered. Organizers said there was so much spiritual warfare surrounding the event because it was an unprecedented, strategic turning point in the Georgian evangelical church. Despite persecution from the Orthodox majority, Georgia’s evangelical churches have been extremely divided, often refusing to participate in the same events or collaborate in outreach efforts. The Franklin Graham festival marked the first time nearly every evangelical church in Georgia participated in a single event to promote Christianity in the country. Over 15,000
people attended the festival, and when Graham made his altar call, more than a thousand people responded. “Walk Thru the Bible’s arrival in Georgia only two weeks after the Festival of Hope could not have come at a better time,” Oleg rejoiced. “God works in waves—He moves at different times in different places in the world. Like a good surfer, you have to catch the wave at the right time so you can ride it. When you’re sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading, you can catch the wave of what God is doing and ride it. In many places in the world, the big waves have already passed, but in Georgia we are at the perfect time to catch God’s big wave and ride it to further what He’s doing here. “In the 1990s, we had a few years of awakening in Ukraine, and I think Georgia’s years of awakening are now. And when you have spiritual awakening and people coming to know the Lord, you also need unity, great teaching, and biblical resources for pastors and churches. God has sent Walk Thru the Bible to provide that for Georgia.” “It’s been amazing to watch Oleg’s dream for Georgia begin to come true,” Phil said. “He’s such an example of what it looks like to surrender your will and your dreams to God and watch Him give you a bigger dream and a bigger purpose than you imagined for yourself. He might even give you a whole nation!
“Now is the time for the American church to come alongside our Georgian brothers and sisters and equip them with the resources they need to steward this great revival God is bringing to their country,” Phil said. Oleg is excited about the future of the partnership. “I’m so happy that we now have Walk Thru the Bible in Georgia. I have told many brothers that this was my dream. I was praying for it and God answered. I believe this conference is only the beginning of the work of Walk Thru the Bible in Georgia. “My dream is for the American Church and the Ukrainian Church to come alongside our Georgian brothers and sisters and give them the tools they need to really understand the Bible and be able to change their nation,” Oleg says. “In Acts, Paul has a vision of a Macedonian man who begs him to come to Macedonia and help. Today, Georgia is your Macedonia. We hear this cry, ‘Come, please help us, we want to study, we want to learn.’ Now is the time to bring more resources from Walk Thru the Bible to Georgia and answer their cry. “This material is so important for Georgia. The pastors will use it to change their churches. It will bring churches together and provide greater unity, and together the Georgian church will change Georgia.”
“God works in waves . . . Like a good surfer, you have to catch the wave at the right time.”
Update: Since the launch of Walk Thru the Bible in Georgia in June, a team of Georgian pastors has come together to translate another course, and they are planning to host another training event soon. Please join us in praying that these courses will be just the beginning of the new resources available to our Georgian brothers and sisters. See our Georgia video at www.walkthru.org/georgia-video. .
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Suliko is known as a quiet and humble man who preaches very short sermons. But those who know him say he has done more for God’s kingdom in Georgia than anyone else they know. He carries his Bible village to village, builds relationships with people, and leads them to the Lord. Courses like Crucible will help multiply his ministry and expand his reach.
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Country Profile
Georgia in the world) Population: 4.9 million (122nd , other 6.5%, Armenian 5.7%, Russian 1.5% Ethnicity: Georgian 83.8%, Azeri 2.5%
ri 6%, , Russian 9%, Armenian 7%, Aze Language: Georgian (official) 71% cial language in the semiother 7% (note: Abkhaz is the offi independent region of Abkhazia)
Political system: Republic South in the world, slightly smaller than Geography: 121st largest country Carolina n 3.9%; cial) 83.9%; Muslim 9.9%; Armenia Religion: Georgian Orthodox (offi Catholic 0.8%; other 0.8%
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Ukraine
Kazakhstan Russia
Black Sea Georgia Armenia
Turkey
L
Syria
Iraq
Caspian Sea Azerbaijan
Iran
ocated in the Caucasus Mountains east of the Black Sea, Georgia is a former Soviet republic, now a democracy, with a long and rich history. The Georgian people have experienced times of independence as well as many eras of rule by other empires.
Prayer needs: The small evangelical church in Georgia struggled under Communism and, since independence, at the hands of some factions of the Orthodox Church. Evangelical ministries have been repressed, their work maligned as sectarian. They have had problems acquiring buildings and the permits necessary to hold meetings. There have been incidents of meetings being broken up, sometimes violently, and materials confiscated. Some legal changes in 2005 offer hope of greater freedom of religious expression. • Pray for a relationship of mutual respect and understanding between the Orthodox and other churches. Pray that evangelical believers conduct themselves in Christlike ways, even amid hostility. • Pray for unity among the different evangelical denominations in Georgia and motivation to work together to further God’s kingdom. • Young Georgians have lost interest in the Church, with a majority leaving during teenage years. Pray for churches to thoughtfully share the gospel with young people in relevant ways. • Pray for the team of Georgian pastors translating and distributing Walk Thru the Bible resources in Georgia. Pray that these materials will equip pastors and churches with the tools they need to change their nation. . Sources: U.S. Department of State (www.state.gov), CIA World Factbook (www.cia.gov), and Operation World by Jason Mandryk, 7th edition, ©2010.
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Into the Word w e e k l y
d e v o t i o n a l s
o n
Culture of the Kingdom the
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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 29–January 4 Genesis 6:11-22
THE UNKINGDOM Now God saw that the earth had become corrupt and was filled with violence. (Genesis 6:11) In Word This isn’t what the kingdom was supposed to look like. Eden hadn’t looked like it very much either, but that’s only because the mission hadn’t been carried out yet. At least it was a reflection of God’s goodness. But after the Fall, centuries of human history went in exactly the opposite direction of the kingdom because its stewards were negligent,
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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.
unequipped, and downright rebellious. The result was tragic, even devastating. Corruption and violence are not at all a picture of God’s nature. This is still the general condition of our world today. We can see places where the kingdom of God has created a haven from the fallenness of the world, and some places where kingdom values have drastically upgraded a culture’s well-being. But even the havens and the cultural improvements mingle in a society made up of imperfect human beings, and our imperfections taint everything. In this age, we see a unique mixture of influences in which the true colors of the kingdom are muted by the unkingdom and the true colors of the unkingdom are brightened up by the kingdom. Some people see a bland mixture with little distinction, but our eyes are more discerning. We know where this is headed.
In Deed The contrasts will grow clearer as time goes on, and the choice between kingdoms will become more obvious. But in the meantime, our job as restored stewards is to paint the colors of the kingdom everywhere we can and heighten the contrasts for others to see. The mission that was lost in the garden has been given back to us along with the authority we once had and then squandered. The “second Adam,” as Scripture calls our King, has secured the keys of the kingdom for us and recommissioned us as His agents. That means a world that is corrupt and full of violence has a viable alternative. The days of the unkingdom are numbered.
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Romans 12
Romans 12
Matthew 5:3-12
January 5-11
January 12-18
January 19-25
REVOLUTION
BY DOING GOOD
THE KINGDOM CULTURE
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. (Romans 12:2)
Conquer evil by doing good. (Romans 12:21)
“God blesses . . .” (Matthew 5:3-11)
In Word It may sound like a line from idealistic literature or a kids’ movie, but it’s nevertheless a radical, countercultural agenda. We don’t just attempt to conquer evil. We conquer it by doing good. That means that whatever the prevailing culture of the world throws at us, the way to overcome it is not by lowering ourselves to the same playing field. It’s to enter into combat with entirely different weapons. Like a gladiator who brings a handshake rather than a sword into the arena, we appear to be headed for disaster. But God has a twist woven throughout this story. He defines “winning” entirely differently than most of the combatants think. The goal isn’t to achieve your goal. It’s to live with His character. So all of those people who attempt to get love, wealth, happiness, accomplishments, status, positions, and pleasure in a way that does not reflect God’s character may appear to be winning the battle, but they are actually losing it miserably. And everyone who seems to fall short of success but maintains the character of God is really more successful than everyone else. That’s why Scripture can tell us to conquer evil by doing good. Reflecting the character of God is a victory in itself; and it further fuels a cultural revolution that will draw others into His goodness. Many will never come, keeping their eyes focused on a prize that isn’t really a prize. But many will, realizing that it’s better to walk with integrity in another realm than to dominate this one. Either way, God is honored. His goodness is displayed for others to see.
In Word We live in a kingdom of blessing. Not every citizen knows that. Many people think God’s kingdom is a culture of demands and expectations, of impossible purity, of feigned lifestyles, or simply of crushing burdens that are somehow meant to develop our character. But the Son of the King says differently. When He began to teach, He first described the kingdom culture and the attitudes of the citizens who are most highly favored and blessed. He decreed the happiness of His people. That’s what “blessed” means: happy, content, thriving in your sweet spot. When people move to another country, they want to know how to fit into the culture and avoid unnecessary clashes with its people. The beatitudes are Jesus’ explanation of how to minimize culture shock in His kingdom. Those who maintain these attitudes are those who are most likely to fit in and enjoy the experience. The beatitudes are filled with important insights about the kingdom of God, but near the top of the list are these two: (1) this is what the kingdom culture is like, and (2) the King wants His citizens to be happy. In spite of sermons we might have heard contrary to these two points— that the Sermon on the Mount is only for a specific era or dispensation, and that God wants us to be holy, not happy (as if the two were unrelated)—the words of Jesus are very clear. The kingdom is home to people who hold these attitudes, and the kingdom is a happy place.
In Word It’s a common theme in literature and film. A small band of rebels breaks away from a massive, monolithic, oppressive machine of a government and finds a way against impossible odds to undermine the system. The revolution-against-theevil-empire theme is rarely successful in actual history, but it’s somehow imbedded in our deepest desires. We’re drawn to any story in which the noble few overcome the brutal masses. Courage in the face of tyranny captivates our imagination. There’s a reason this theme fascinates us. It’s the story of humble servants of God going up against a world dominated by evil. On the surface, it looks impossible. Can love really overcome an every-man-for-himself culture? Are the powerful systems of this world really vulnerable to values like humility and sacrifice? Does a revolution against the prevailing spirits of the age really have a chance? Yes—to all of these questions. Jesus came to overthrow an enemy posing as the rightful ruler of this world, and He called His followers into this uprising. We have to engage the world, not by adopting its spirit but by countering it with the Spirit of truth. Our attitudes, words, and ways are decidedly different, and they are more powerful than all the world has to offer. In Deed Romans 12 captures the character of our revolution. It’s a path to kingdombuilding. We don’t tear down the culture that’s there; like leaven in a lump of dough, we infiltrate and transform our relationships and surroundings from within. In many ways, this is a silent uprising. But it’s a potent one, and ultimately unstoppable. We can’t afford to live with a mindset that acquiesces to the world’s ways, nor can we simply separate ourselves from them. If we determine to live contrary to the culture of the age and insist on living the kingdom culture, we who have been transformed become transformers. And the uprising grows stronger every day.
In Deed Keep doing good, no matter how difficult or unrewarding it seems. God has promised that those who persist in goodness will reap its rewards. We always bear fruit according to the kind of seeds we plant—eventually. Suffering from evil is no defeat. Returning evil for evil is. Overcoming it . . . well, that’s a radical agenda. And we’re promised that it will be a successful one.
In Deed There are plenty of paradoxes in the beatitudes—like how it’s possible for a mourner to be happy—but this kingdom has no shortage of paradoxes anyway. Jesus doesn’t ask us to fully understand eternal truth; He asks us to embrace it. Those who do will discover a kind of contentment and peace that the world— our culture of origin—can never offer. Our spirits are truly at home when immersed in the attitudes of the kingdom.
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Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Matthew 5:3-12
Matthew 5:3-12
Matthew 5:3-12
January 26–February 1 A Culture of Humility “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” (Matthew 5:3) In Word It’s a common biblical theme: God loves and blesses humility. “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word” (Isaiah 66:2). “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). “Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly” (Psalm 138:6). The quotes could go on and on. Jesus didn’t open up a new theme; He emphasized an old one. That’s because the kingdom is eternal. The character of the kingdom doesn’t change over time because it reflects the unchanging character of the King. If He has ever honored humility, He always will. It’s His nature to do so. When Jesus blesses the poor in spirit, that’s essentially what He is blessing. It’s a true humility—not self-deprecating behavior but a deep sense of need and an understanding of where the human heart stands in relation to God. If we are poor in spirit, we will realize how desperately we need divine help for everything. We may approach His throne boldly, but we won’t approach Him arrogantly. We will always be in awe of the privilege we’ve been given, aware of the grace and mercy that sustain us, and willing to comply with whatever He asks of us. A spiritually poor heart is not presumptuous, complaining, or entitled. It’s forever grateful. In Deed Jesus offers happiness to such hearts. The King opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5). If you take Him for granted, feel entitled to His benefits, or condescend to others, you won’t fit the culture of His kingdom very well. But if you are selfless, deferential, and servant-hearted, you will experience the support of God Himself. That may take time—it’s a test of character to watch others push you down while you’re waiting for God to lift you up—but His promise is certain. Those who know their deepest needs will find Him meeting them.
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February 2-8
A CULTURE OF BROKEN HEARTS God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4) In Word We want to add words to the blessing. We want an explanation of why the mourners mourn. Are they grieving death? Their own sin? The condition of the world? The suffering they must endure? It could be any of these. It could even be all of them. All we know is that Jesus promises comfort to the brokenhearted. That, too, is an ancient theme in Scripture. Psalm 34:17-19 declares it clearly, specifically with regard to those who suffer because of or in spite of their righteousness. The world is a place of many trials and troubles, and things don’t always work out well for those who believe. Only redemption promises glory and makes our lives ultimately worthwhile. As Paul would say, if our hope is only in this life, we should be pitied above all others (1 Corinthians 15:19). But current suffering is never worth comparing to future glory (Romans 8:18). Broken hearts, crushed spirits, and days of mourning come to an end. This is the promise of Jesus. He came to destroy the works of the evil one (1 John 3:8). He undoes all kinds of evil and its consequences, offering beauty for ashes and joy instead of mourning (Isaiah 61:3). His ministry wipes away every tear (Revelation 21:4). The mourning of the heart is temporary; the comfort of God lasts forever. Even so, the culture of the kingdom does not demand that we get rid of a broken heart as quickly as possible. There’s no need to cover it up, no need to fake a smile, no need to pretend to be happy when our hearts are crushed. We should be relentless optimists; in the kingdom of God, the best is always yet to come. But mourning is an appropriate response to the brokenness of this world and of our own lives. In Deed Don’t embrace mourning as a friend, but don’t see it as an enemy either. It opens your heart to the promises of God and the joys of His kingdom. It turns your face toward glory, now and forever. And it comes with a promise of joy.
February 9-15
A CULTURE OF BROKENNESS “God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.“ (Matthew 5:5) In Word Jesus was well familiar with Hebrew Scripture. He quoted it often and expanded on its truths. The blessing for the meek is one of those quotes; Psalm 34:11 says the same thing. The meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity. The gentle people of Israel—the ones who have power without abusing it, who could promote themselves but don’t, who submit themselves to God without rebelling against Him—are the ones who will actually inherit the nation. Jesus reiterates this—the word translated “the earth” is also the word for “the land,” as in the country—and possibly expands on it. On a much grander scale, those who are last will be first, not just in Israel but in the new earth. On a cosmic stage, these people will be exalted and rule with Christ in His kingdom. Who are the meek? They are lowly in heart, unassuming, unpretentious, and gentle. It can imply brokenness, as in the case of a horse that no longer resists his master’s bridle. The word can refer to humility—an attitude Jesus has already included in the blessing of the poor in spirit—and it is especially seen in those who have other options. Whether it’s referring to people with earthly status and power or children of the King with spiritual privilege and the keys of the kingdom, the meek don’t oppress, push, control, manipulate, berate, complain, or wield a heavy hand. They understand the kindness and gentleness of God, and they demonstrate it. In Deed Kingdom people are not selfpromoting. We may be bold, persistent, and even brash in spiritual pursuits, but we don’t buy into the “every man for himself” philosophy of the world. It doesn’t fit the kingdom culture, and we don’t have any need for it anyway. A person with a meek heart can trust God for promotion and position rather than forcing him- or herself into it. Meekness is an attitude of confidence in Him. And it leads to blessing.
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Matthew 5:3-12
Matthew 5:3-12
Matthew 5:3-12
February 16-22
February 23–March 1
March 2-8
A CULTURE OF HUNGERS
A CULTURE OF MERCY
A CULTURE OF ONE THING
“God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.” (Matthew 5:6)
“God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Matthew 5:7)
“God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.” (Matthew 5:8)
In Word When the Bible talks about mercy, it doesn’t simply mean “forgiveness.” Years of focus on our own sins may paint the word in that color for us, but it’s much more comprehensive. It certainly includes forgiveness, but it also implies having compassion on those who are in need and taking pity on the miserable by practically helping them. That applies to our fallen condition, to be sure, but it also applies to specific times of distress. Those who are able to treat others compassionately—forgiving, providing, comforting, and more—are those who will receive the same treatment from God. That brings several proverbs about the poor and oppressed, as well as verses like Luke 6:38, into focus. With whatever measure we use, it will be measured back to us. We don’t like to think of God’s treatment of us being dependent on our treatment of others, but to some degree it is. Our experience of Him will reflect how well we’ve represented Him to those in need. With that in mind, demonstrate mercy. Don’t take pleasure in anyone’s hardship, even an enemy’s. Bless those who curse you. Forgive with the greatness of the grace God has shown you. Take pity on those in desperate situations, praying for them and practically meeting their needs. In other words and in all other ways, have a heart.
In Word Our hearts aren’t completely pure. We know that. We’ve been told by a prophet that they are desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9), and though we’ve also been told by a prophet that we can have a new one (Ezekiel 36:26), we know some old things that still take place there. So when Jesus blesses the pure in heart, we aren’t very encouraged. We’re pretty sure we don’t qualify. We jump back to the first beatitude and take comfort in our poverty of spirit. But for this beatitude, we lose heart at the prospect of having a pure one. The good news is that Jesus isn’t talking about spotlessness, at least not in practical terms. Perhaps He is referring to the cleansing that comes from His blood and the renewal that comes from His Spirit, but there’s even more to it than that. Having a pure heart means being singularly focused. The pure in heart are concerned with one thing, wholehearted in their desire for God. Their hearts are not distracted or filled with clutter. They are pure in their pursuit of Him and His kingdom. That’s encouraging. We can do that. It isn’t easy—we get distracted by lots of details in life—but we know what it’s like to be single-minded about something. A man in pursuit of his beloved, an athlete in pursuit of his prize, a researcher in pursuit of his great discovery—these are common human experiences. If that’s what it means to have a pure heart, we understand.
In Deed That’s what God’s kingdom is like. It’s a realm in which hearts are soft and the vulnerable are safe. Just as Jesus was moved with compassion to heal, deliver, and forgive, so are the citizens of His kingdom moved with compassion toward human suffering in all its forms. This goes beyond politics and economics; it’s a matter of the spirit. And those whose spirits are sensitive enough to show the compassion of God will experience His compassion in increasing measure.
In Deed Some have called it a “magnificent obsession” or, more biblically, a “pearl of great price,” or some other picture that captures the surpassing worth and beauty of the prize. Paul cast aside everything for it (Philippians 3:8), and we should too. That’s what Jesus urges His listeners to do. The pure in heart live in all-out pursuit of the things of the kingdom, and of the King Himself. And they hang on to a promise: that their wholehearted devotion will result in the reward of seeing God.
In Word The Olympic athlete stood on the medal stand listening to his national anthem. Years of hard work and dedication were now being rewarded with gold and honor. Analysts could point to various reasons he won—his technique, his physical attributes, his perseverance—but there was one larger reason underlying them all. He won a medal because he had spent his life hungering for it. To a very large degree, we will be defined and directed by our hungers in life. We are pointed in the direction of our desires. They motivate us, determine our focus, and keep us going when we’re tempted to lose heart. They turn our face toward a goal, and we generally grow in the direction we’re facing. That’s why Jesus blesses us if we hunger and thirst for righteousness—or “rightness,” justice, and truth for ourselves and for the world. That’s the direction we will grow in. Unlike an Olympic athlete— or anyone else who desires something strongly and expends a lot of effort for it— we don’t get it by hard work. We must seek it and be persistent in our desire, and we must cooperate with God in His work in us and through us. But in a very real sense, this attribute can only be given. We hunger and thirst, He fills. In Deed We’re different than an Olympic athlete in another regard too: we don’t have to worry about whether we will achieve the goal. That’s the promise of this beatitude. Jesus doesn’t say those who hunger and thirst for justice, rightness, and truth might be filled, or may find success, or could possibly be rewarded. He says we will be filled. It’s definite. This goal is not beyond our reach because it’s up to Him, and everything is within His reach. For those of us who hunger for the right things, that’s extremely good news. The end of our search is not futility and frustration. The reward is fulfillment, and it’s inevitable. Our hungers drive us to exactly the right place.
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Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Matthew 5:3-12
Matthew 5:1-12
Matthew 5:3-12
March 9-15
March 16-22
March 23-29
A CULTURE OF SHALOM
A CULTURE OF EASY TARGETS
A CULTURE OF REWARDS
“God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.” (Matthew 5:9)
“God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” (Matthew 5:10)
“Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven.” (Matthew 5:12)
In Word You long for it. We all do. It’s that state of peace, wholeness, contentment, and completion—a sense that everything is right in your world. We spend much of our lives trying to arrange it, plan for it, pay for it, and pursue it however else we can. Why? Because this Hebrew concept of shalom—a word we often translate as “peace”—is what we were made for. We were created for fullness of life. That’s essentially what Jesus was talking about when He promised abundant life, and it’s at the heart of what He’s talking about here. Yes, peacemakers help reduce conflict and bring people together, but the bigger concept of shalom is surely behind this beatitude. Blessed are those who make shalom, who seek restoration and wholeness in their lives, the lives of others, and the world at large. Shalom is a kingdom pursuit because it’s in the heart of the King. He wants us all to be well. Most of us understand that instinctively. We know the world is not as it should be, and neither are our own lives. We desperately long for the satisfaction and fullness of a restored, abundant life. And we’re pretty good about seeking it for ourselves. But Jesus’ blessing goes beyond ourselves. The true seekers of shalom, the peacemakers who will be happy, are those who have a global focus. They pray for God’s kingdom of shalom to come here on earth, just as it is in heaven. They seek the kingdom culture everywhere.
In Word Imagine playing golf your entire life under the mistaken belief that the object of the game is to have the highest score. Instead of going straight for the hole, you simply have fun hitting the ball anywhere. You wonder why some people think the game is so difficult; you must be exceptionally good at it, as hitting the ball away from the hole comes so naturally to you. Then one day you discover that the object of the game was opposite of what you’d always thought. Confused, embarrassed, and with an overwhelming sense of having wasted so much of your time, you gaze back at your life in futility. You can’t go back and start over. It’s too late to redeem the experience. That’s what it will be like when those who pursued temporary wealth, status, and pleasure at the expense of lasting treasures see the true picture. They will realize that the goal of life wasn’t to get as much out of it as possible but to put as much into it as possible. They will be confronted with the fact that they spent their entire lives going after the wrong goals. In that context, it makes sense that those who endured persecution while hanging on to the goal of righteousness— rightness, justices, goodness, and truth— will inherit the kingdom. They saw the true picture and hung on to it, even when it cost them dearly. They dismissed their pain and humiliation in order to cling to lasting treasures. The played the game right.
In Deed Shalom is the prevailing climate in God’s kingdom. People who thrive on conflict, contentiousness, criticism, cynicism, angst, and all other anti-shalom attitudes can’t experience it. But if we are among those who seek it—if we are true peacemakers of this world who cultivate wholeness, harmony, and abundance—we will be blessed, entirely happy, and called the children of God. Shalom-makers partner with God to transform lives and advance the kingdom culture. We reflect the heart of our Father so thoroughly that we become vessels of His shalom everywhere.
In Deed Standards in the kingdom culture aren’t the same as the standards of a fallen world. Everything is measured differently. The goal isn’t to reject as much temporary pain as possible in order to experience as much temporary pleasure as possible. It’s to reach out for the true prize, whatever it costs. Yes, kingdom people become easy targets in that scenario. But we are blessed. We fit the kingdom culture perfectly.
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In Word Many Christians aren’t comfortable with the idea of rewards. We’re saved by grace, not by works. Grace doesn’t earn rewards; it receives blessings. And even if God gave rewards, it would be self-serving of us to seek them, right? No, surely rewards aren’t part of this kingdom of selflessness and grace. But they are. Jesus talked about them often. It’s true that there’s nothing we can do to earn salvation—it’s a free gift of grace—but God loves to honor people who have responded to Him well. He knows we don’t deserve rewards—not in the sense of earning a proper payment—but He gives them anyway. Those who insist on living in the kingdom culture even when another kingdom makes it painful and difficult please Him with their choices. He longs to bless hearts that are completely His. So in this kingdom, rewards are given generously. We don’t know exactly what those rewards are like, only that they will be great. We probably couldn’t comprehend them even if we were told. What we do know is that a kingdom lifestyle—humility, sensitivity, deference, zeal for justice and truth, compassion, wholeheartedness, restoration, endurance—is well worth whatever it costs us. God never lets our sacrifices be greater than our blessings. He gives rewards because He’s generous toward those who love Him. In Deed Enjoy the generosity of the Father. The beatitudes aren’t impossible standards to live up to. They are invitations to participate in the kingdom culture and reap its unfathomable benefits. When hearts and minds conform to this spiritual environment, the result is blessedness, happiness, and whatever rewards the King wants to give. They don’t make life easy in this age, but they make it very worthwhile. And the rewards only get better in the age to come. .
Step Into the Story
Life in the Wilderness An Excerpt from God’s Grand Story
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s God’s Grand Story launches around the world, many participants will be immersed in the story of Scripture more deeply than they ever have before. But God’s Grand Story can be used not only as a six-week, church-wide campaign with multiple components (live event, daily reading plan, small group discussion, and sermon series). It will soon be available as a 12-week small-group study. For more information on God’s Grand Story, visit www.thegrandstory.org. THE STORY: Wandering in the Wilderness
When Exodus opens, Jacob’s family has multiplied into a small nation over the course of 400 years, but Egypt’s rulers have enslaved them. God prepares their deliverance through an Israelite baby who was saved from a mass infanticide and grew up in Egypt’s royal household. Years later in exile, Moses encounters a burning bush, where God speaks to him and calls him to deliver his people. God sends 10 plagues on Egypt until a stubborn Pharaoh finally let’s God’s people go. In a dramatic picture of salvation—the Passover and the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea—God frees Israel and leads them into the wilderness to receive His commandments at Mount Sinai. At its core, the covenant at Sinai is a call to love and worship God above all. It’s a relational commitment, not a legalistic demand. There are plenty of instructions for relating to God and others, including a moral code, health practices, and a
comprehensive system for priests, offerings, and feasts (Exodus and Leviticus). And a tabernacle designated as the place to meet God is regularly filled with His presence in the form of a cloud by day and a column of fire of fire by night. This cloud and fire will lead them all the way to the Promised Land, a journey that ends up taking 40 years (Numbers). The journey would have been shorter, but when Moses sends 12 spies from their camp in Kadesh into Canaan, only two, Joshua and Caleb, come back with any faith intact. The other 10 question God’s ability to bring His people into the Promised Land. So this faithless generation will wander and complain, though they are fed by miraculous manna from heaven and given water from a rock in the desert. They will fight battles, face temptations, and deal with internal strife and rebellions. But God will prepare their children to inherit the
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Step into the Story
(Contd.)
promise. When the time comes to enter, Moses reiterates the people’s history and law to the next generation in Deuteronomy. Moses himself will not be allowed to enter because of a moment of rash disobedience. He dies. But God will take His people into the land as He has promised.
DEVOTIONAL: Moses and Pharaoh Read Exodus 3:1–4:17; 7:1-7 Moses’ mother sent him floating down the Nile in a basket to save his life, and Pharaoh’s daughter found him. So the Israelite infant grew up in the royal household as an Egyptian. But he never lost his identification with his people; he defended one by killing an oppressive Egyptian and ended up having to flee in exile. The would-be deliverer seemed to have missed his calling by attempting to accomplish it the wrong way. But God appeared to him in a burning bush and sent a very reluctant Moses back to Egypt. His assignment? To make a seemingly unreasonable demand on Pharaoh to allow a massive amount of the nation’s labor force simply to leave. God’s message through Moses was simple: “Let My people go.” Yet there was a greater purpose than freedom: “so they can worship Me” (Exodus 7:16, 8:1, 9:1; 9:13). He wanted to relieve their suffering, of course, but more than that, He wanted to draw them into a free and meaningful relationship with Him. This wasn’t simply about human rights; it was about worship and God’s plan to reveal Himself. It took 10 divinely sent plagues to convince Pharaoh to let Israel go, and even then he would later have second thoughts. Step by step, God would inflict a “natural” disaster on Egypt’s population, not because He delights in suffering but in order to prompt repentance. Yet no matter how much Pharaoh was moved by each event, he would eventually harden his heart, with God sovereignly ordaining his stubbornness. Only when the cost was high
enough would he relent. Not only did this series of events birth a nation, it also painted a picture of God’s deliverance and the enemy who opposes it. Captives to the fallen human condition, we are the recipients of a traumatic deliverance many centuries later, and there remains a stubborn enemy who does not like to let go of his captives. Yet he must; the power of the Deliverer is too great, and those who believe in Him cannot be kept in chains.
Insight • Moses was reluctant to accept God’s call, offering excuse after excuse. How would you have felt if God called you into a situation that would probably result in your death if God didn’t show up and defend you? What would it take to convince you of God’s power? • The people didn’t believe in Moses’ mission at first because they were too discouraged from their slavery (Exodus 6:9). Are there any areas of your life in which you’re afraid to hope? If so, what? Why is God’s good news sometimes hard to believe? • In what areas do you need to be freed?
Bottom Line God is determined to free His people, even when they don’t at first accept the possibility or understand the process.
Discussion Questions • Read Exodus 3:1-15. What does God’s perspective on His people’s condition show us about His heart? What is His purpose for them? What does Moses’ response tell us about him? • Read Exodus 6:1-9. What does God want to do with regard to His people’s condition? with regard to their enemies? with regard to His relationship with His people? with regard to His own reputation? Why do you think it took 10 plagues to accomplish these things? .
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Leader Profile
Equipping the Called Elvis Mvulane, national director for South Africa
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the way He does. They have to respond to the need s Elvis Mvulane was finishing his theological training years ago, he was excited that is there.” That’s true both for younger pastors and for about beginning church ministry and those who have spent years in the marketplace leading people to Christ. But when he before sensing God’s call. Churches have plenty of became a pastor, he found that he spent much of needs, and these leaders are responding because his time burying people who had died from HIV/ someone has to. But they may not know even the AIDS and not much time doing the ministry he basics of putting a sermon together or understand expected. He would sometimes do three or four the overview of Scripture. funerals a day, each preceded by Because he sees this pattern five days of mourning in which the “God has so often, Elvis strongly believes that pastor was expected to be with the God does not wait for people to be family. He found himself grateful for to do qualified before He calls them. He the training he had received; there something calls them and then qualifies them. certainly wouldn’t be any time in That’s where his ministry through ministry for personal development. in you Walk Thru the Bible helps. Elvis’ training isn’t a common before He As national director, Elvis now experience among all young pastors spends much of his time training in South Africa, where Elvis serves can do pastors with Walk Thru the Bible as national director for Walk Thru something events and resources. The messages the Bible. Churches are growing of biblical courses are relevant first very fast, and leadership developthrough to the pastors’ lives and are then ment is not. That creates a huge gap you.” transferrable to the lives of the membetween the calling and equipping bers of their congregations. of those who serve. Many pastors “You need to experience the have responded to God’s call but message first,” he tells the pastors and leaders who have never had opportunity to receive any formal come for training. “You need to be the message. training. God has to do something in you before He can do “They have had no exposure to resources something through you.” It’s a principle that has and training because they cannot simply leave proven true and is impacting many leaders and what God is doing and go to theological college,” churches across South Africa. . Elvis explains. “You cannot stop God from moving
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Donor Profile
Getting the Word into the World Gary and Teresa Regoli
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ary and Teresa Regoli first connected with Walk Thru the Bible when they attended a live event at their church in the early 1990s, but years went by before they heard about the ministry again. Then in 2008, a friend invited them to a dinner where Phil Tuttle was speaking, and they caught the vision of Walk Thru the Bible’s global ministry. Since then, Gary and Teresa have attended several donor events and gotten to know the people behind the mission. “I’m drawn to the broad international reach of Walk Thru the Bible,” Gary says. “Their global partners are deeply ingrained in their own countries and cultures, and they’re the perfect people to take the resources Walk Thru produces and reach their own people. The depth and quality of these partnerships allows the ministry to put their materials in the hands of people all over the world.” The testimonies from leaders in the Middle East made an especially deep impression on Gary. “I’m intrigued with the Middle East, because we see so much about it in the news these days. We’ve heard stories from believers in Egypt and Syria. In the midst of so much turmoil and unrest, they’re
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living their faith in phenomenal ways. It’s a huge encouragement to me. They come from places in the world with different challenges than we face here, and I see their faith and I’m so encouraged to partner with them in the work they’re doing.” For Teresa, the best part of partnering with Walk Thru the Bible is knowing she’s helping give people all over the world access to God’s Word and solid teaching about Him. “The idea of an entire organization that deals with the Bible is encouraging to me. It’s refreshing because it’s just biblical truth. There’s no denominational or biased slant to it—it’s just the Word. From the local church to worldwide outreach, they’re getting the Word of God in people’s hands at a level that most people can relate to and understand. They’re not off on any tangents; it’s just the Bible.” Each year Teresa gets a new Bible and starts her study fresh. “Using the Daily Walk Bible for the past two years has changed me. And getting to pass that along and help other people around the world have access to Walk Thru the Bible’s biblical materials is encouraging.” .
The Last Word
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ost of us hold two big visions in our hearts and minds at the same time. In one vision, we’re looking back, usually with a mixture of regret and satisfaction, with some “what if?” questions mingled in. In the other vision, we’re looking ahead, planning what we want, wondering what might be, and hoping for the best. With one gaze, we look into the past; with the other, into the future. (The present gets squeezed out of the picture far too often.) Life offers us plenty of opportunities to exercise this double vision: when we face a life or death situation, for example, or pass a major milestone, or celebrate an anniversary. And this time of year, those gazes seem to intensify. As the calendar rolls into another number, we can hardly resist reviewing the past year and looking forward to the next with anticipation. We do that frequently as a ministry; that’s part of good stewardship and taking advantage of God-given opportunities. It’s important to assess where we’ve been and where we’re going. But I’d also encourage you to do that for yourself. Vision is a God-given ability and a powerful force in our lives when we use it well. Why not choose to see more, believe more, and live more intentionally? Maybe that means reading through the Bible this year, whether again or for the first time. Perhaps it means renewing some aspect of your relationship with God or with others, or branching out into some new area of impact. Whatever that looks like for you, ask God into both visions—your backward and forward perspectives—to heal, forgive, celebrate, inspire, hope, and plan. But choose to look forward more than you look back. Dream about how He wants to move through you to reach some corner of His world with His truth and love. And ask Him to put His heart within you. You may be surprised at what He inspires, but you know it will be good. Regardless of how the past looks, the future is full of opportunity.
Chris Tiegreen Editor
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In the next issue of Pathways: Every year, students from all over the world spend nine months at a country estate in England to learn the Bible. How do they begin? With a Walk Thru the Old Testament event, of course.
Discover more about Walk Thru the Bible at
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