WHAT HAPPENED WHEN I TOOK A BIBLE STUDY

Ellen Parrott VPC Member

Recently I’ve wanted to learn more and grow deeper in my understanding of the Bible. I know spending time in the Word of God is an important way to grow closer to Him. I mean, the Bible is called the Living Word for a reason, right? Sometimes, when I read it on my own, I feel like I miss some deeper understanding because I’m not terribly familiar with how to actually study the Bible. When I saw VPC offering a Bible Study class on the Book of Mark, I thought it would be a great opportunity to dive into God’s Word beyond a surface level. Pastor Chris is a wonderful teacher! He brought forth themes, nuances, and an overall deeper understanding of who Mark was, who Jesus was, and who He is in my life today.

What really stands out to me is how provocative Jesus was given the culture during His time. Studying specific verses and the context of the writing my heart began to stir with questions: how was I living out my belief in Jesus and the truth of the Bible, especially in the context of our today's culture? It seems He is just as provocative now as he was back then. Choosing to follow Him can be uncomfortable; the Disciples literally left their familiar lives behind to truly follow Him, regardless of the cost.

If I profess to truly believe what is written in the Bible, how do I follow Jesus in my day-to-day life? Would I risk losing my job or making someone uncomfortable if it meant standing firm in following Jesus and the written Word of God? Would I share the good news of the Gospel the same way I talk about something I find interesting? Yet sometimes I feel like I shy away from the most transformative information I have ever come to know: Jesus.

Conversations in the class and with attendees after class sparked something with me; I have been able to share things in my work setting that previously I would have been apprehensive to say or do. Pastor Chris gave us special little notebooks with specific Bible verses on them. I took a few extra and set them out at work. I was surprised to see they had been picked up from the “free to use” table within an hour! I was able to share a sprinkle of God with a co-worker in a simple way. I was also able to talk with some others about Lent and Ash Wednesday. These conversations can sometimes feel forbidden depending on the setting. I shared some specific historical aspects that we learned with a girl I am doing a Bible study with, to help her have evidence as to why the Bible is true.

I know God is at work and the Holy Spirit is stirring in my heart to get me thinking and looking for ways to step out and be more intentional. For me, that is the beauty of what this class offered. By learning God’s word, my heart started changing. I hope and encourage others at VPC to consider attending one of these Bible-based classes. It was a very powerful experience!

Dinner available starting at 5:15PM

($5/person, $20/family)

Childcare (0-3) available by registration