5 minute read; 7 minute speech time
832 words

Value People the Key to Reclaiming the Church Mission
John Maxwell argues that if the church is to reclaim its mission, it must first value people. He states that churches often focus on maintaining their buildings and programs while neglecting the people they are supposed to serve. Maxwell believes that by valuing people above all else, the church can make a difference in the world. Whether you agree with Maxwell, his argument is compelling and sure to get you thinking about the church's role in society today.

The church has lost its way because it has stopped valuing people.
The church was once a beacon in the night, a pillar of strength for those looking for solace and overcoming sin. Yet, somewhere along the way, we began prioritizing politics and programs over people. We stopped valuing individuals, especially the poor, marginalized, broken, and weak. I believe the church has lost its way because it has stopped seeing people as essential and shifted its focus toward politics to maintain power. We must return to respecting and serving people- believing that we are all created in His image- if we want to recapture the spirit of the original mission found within our ancient texts.

The church's mission is to reach out to people and help them find salvation.
As the church looks to serve God and others, we must value people above all else. Our mission is to reach out to those in need by coming under them with unconditional love and compassion. We must serve others to serve God, providing opportunities for those within our reach to find the salvation they long for. It's not about collecting members—it's about genuinely caring for the needs of each individual and helping them discover a saving grace that can transform their lives forever.

The key to reclaiming the church mission is to start valuing people again.
If we want to reclaim the church's mission, one of the most important keys is actively adding value to every person we encounter. We must live out our good values and share them with others. Remember that value trumps law. We must actively seek it and focus on investing in others. That's how we reclaim our mission: by valuing the community of people, we come in contact with to build and bless.

When we value people, we can see them as God sees them.
Jesus, being the epitome of both grace and mercy, maintained that all individuals - regardless of who they were or what they had done - were of infinite value. Jesus did not judge in the world's ways; He instead chose to uphold his teachings, teaching those around Him to do the same. We must adopt this standard to see others as Jesus sees them truly. By valuing people above all else - their character, background, or experiences - we will build a relationship between God and them as Jesus intended. Our calling and responsibility are to show God's love to others through understanding and kindness. Valuing every person we encounter allows us to see them through Jesus's narrow gate, which invites us all in despite our faults and failings.

As we value people, we will be able to love them unconditionally.
When we truly value people, connecting on a deeper level and recognizing their worth, we can extend ourselves much more meaningfully. We are no longer limited by our assumptions and can see them through God's eyes. Our influence comes by actively adding value to those we contact. We become attractive to people by living good values as scripture teaches us. We transform people by sharing those very same values. We do all this unconditionally.

When we love unconditionally, we can lead them into a relationship with Christ.
We have a unique opportunity to love people without reservations or conditions. By serving people and coming under them, rather than attempting to lord over them, we can influence their lives and encourage behaviors reflective of Christ's teachings. When we practice unconditional love, adding value and worth to people, individuals become more open to a relationship with Christ. Only through serving others can we hope to exhibit our commitment to Christian values and make it easier for those around us to accept our offer of friendship in Jesus' name.

The church has lost its way because it has stopped valuing people. The church's mission is to reach out to people and help them find salvation, but we can't do that if we don't value them. The key to reclaiming the church mission is to start valuing people again. When we value people, we will be able to see them as God sees them: precious and worthy of love. As we value people, we will be able to love them unconditionally- just as Christ loves us. When we love unconditionally, we can lead them into a relationship with Christ. Who in your life do you need to add value to that they might experience the unconditional love of Jesus?

Outline

1. Introduction

• Definition of "Good Fight, Right Race, Steadfast Faith."

2. The Good Fight
     a. What Does It Mean to "Fight the Good Fight"?
     b. How Can We Win This Fight?
3. Running the Right Race
     a. What Does It Mean to "Run the Right Race"?
     b. How Can We Ensure We're On the Right Path?
4. Having Steadfast Faith
     a. What Does It Mean to Have "Steadfast Faith"?
     b. How Can We Cultivate a Steadfast Faith?
5. Conclusion
     a. Summary of the Three Elements for Reaching God's Promises
     b. Final Words of Encouragement

5. Conclusion

a. Summary of the Three Elements for Reaching God's Promises

Reaching God's promises requires a good fight, the right race, and steadfast faith.

We must fight against our weaknesses and strive for spiritual growth. We must stay focused on the race at hand, choosing paths that will lead us closer to God. And finally, we must maintain a steadfast faith in God and His promises for us, trusting that He will guide us to the finish line.

By embracing these three elements, we can successfully race towards God's promises and secure our place in eternal life with Him.

​b. Final Words of Encouragement

Although the race is complex and, at times, overwhelming, we can find hope knowing that God is with us every step of the way. With Him, anything is possible. We must remain faithful to Him and trust that He will guide us throughout this race toward His promises.

So let us continue to strive forward, fight the good fight, race in the right direction, and maintain steadfast faith. Let us race towards God's promises and live our lives for Him.

Grace and blessings!

​Today, the United States Supreme Court has officially released its decision on the Mississippi case, which jeopardizes the infamous Roe versus Wade decision of January 22, 1973. I would certainly like to put out blogs that I know up front would be without controversy and be a place where people will see that they will receive thought-provoking Bible-based inspiration and knowledge from which they can gain wisdom. I desire to "Inspire Excellence." 

​As a Christian, I understand that I exist in this world but should not be of the world. Meaning that my life follows a higher standard of being, which I believe to be God's Word (The Bible). Yes, I am to submit to Governing authorities. However, when the Governing authority runs counter to the ultimate source, I am not required to submit to worldly mandates. The Government does not determine for me what is right or wrong. The Lord does that for me. Christians need to become clear on that point. Just because something is legal does not make it moral or righteous. 

​In considering what many would consider a momentous decision from our Supreme Court today, I prioritize it with the scriptures that ultimately direct my life. I am often asked my opinion about various matters of life and living. My best answers are not what I think but what I clearly articulate from God's Word. If I can effectively speak for God without addition or subtraction, I have done my fellow man an excellent service. I have done a disservice to my fellow man when I muddy up the waters by not being clear, choosing to convey my personal opinion, or not standing up for the truth. 

​I can not imagine a scenario where God would advise abortion. Therefore my advice must be like His. If God suggested abortion, I would have to do the same in those cases. Today's decision will not eliminate abortion, so Christians still have to decide for themselves what is right or wrong. Now, if you continue to look to the Supreme Court for your moral compass, your compass will point in opposite directions depending on when you look at it. That's a big difference; God is the same today as He was yesterday. He does not change His mind based on the climate of the political situation. 

​My advice to you is to turn to God and His ways. He will light your path to righteousness. Follow Him all the days of your life. Then you will not be tossed to and fro with every change from men's courts. As for me and my house, we know and trust the Lord. The Supreme Court does not get to decide what is right and wrong in my home. Only the Lord can do that. He has given me His Word that I might walk with Him and avoid the world's foolishness. 

There is a quick 5 question form you can fill out to help determine your thoughts on Roe V Wade. Click the link below to submit your responses. 
​
What are your thoughts, and leave me your comments?

Reading Time 4 min 41 sec - Speaking Time 9 min 1 sec

​What are the traditional Christian activities? Assemble, communion, fellowship, evangelism, and baptism, to name a few. Of all the Christian "things" we do, however, the thing we probably do most often is prayer. We pray when we eat, worship, when we're alone, when visiting sick people, during times of trouble and despair, or when we are pleased.
We probably rack up more time praying than any other spiritual "exercise" we do as Christians. For this reason, the prayer activity sometimes gets a little stale and boring. Like anything else, if you repeat it often enough, it begins to feel old and ineffective.
Never stop praying, and let's consider some reasons why we should persevere. You should persevere in prayer because:

​Prayer is Needed For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
In Ephesians 6:12, Paul tells us that the true struggle in this world is not between countries or economic systems (these only reflect the actual battle). Work is "..against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." The battle is against Satan and his evil forces continually trying to destroy the church and spread the word of God.
Some people have wisdom from below and can only see the small picture of human wars, politics, and power. God has given through His word the ability to see the bigger picture, which is that the battle in the spiritual realm creates the struggle in the physical realm. Some choose to fight with guns and diplomacy and financial wheeling and dealing - the local battles for territory, money, and temporary power. Others choose to fight the war on the first front, the spiritual front against the true enemies, and they fight this battle with the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and prayer.
Paul says that the "wages of sin are death" in Romans 6:23. Peter says that Satan continually prowls around to devour. In other words, he constantly tries to seduce people into sin to create death and its symptoms in their lives. Prayer is needed to counteract his attacks in many ways:

• We need to pray for workers to go out and preach the gospel so Satan will not destroy the ignorant (Matthew 9:38).
• We need to pray for those who suffer the direct and indirect results of sin in their lives:
• • Victims of war
  • Victims of disease/suffering
  • Victims of broken families
  • The list of damage due to sin goes on and on.
  • God tells us to pray for healing, support, and restoration from these things. James 5:15
• We pray that God opens our eyes to see the big picture.
• • Elisha prayed that his servant would see the host of heaven encircling their enemies so as not to be afraid (II Kings 6:17).
  • Paul prayed that the brethren could see the heavenly gifts awaiting those who were faithful to Christ (Ephesians 1:18).

We need to pray for vision, not just things. The Sight to see how we fit into God's picture and what position we will fill in the ongoing battle against those forces in the heavenly places. Every prayer, whether for our breakfast, to restore one from illness, to gain strength, or for vision, is always needed because it is relevant to life.
Continue to pray because it is needed, but also because:

​Prayer is the Basic Ministry of the Church.We know the ministry system in the church: Education, Evangelism, Fellowship, Service, and Worship. These activities allow individuals and the congregation growth. But each of these individual ministry groups needs prayer to be effective. We need to:

• Pray for teachers and their faithfulness
• Pray for our outreach efforts
• Pray that the brethren draw close together
• Pray that God provides the resources and the talents so that we can serve effectively
• Pray that our worship is in spirit and truth
• Pray that our leaders remain wise, faithful, healthy, and focused.

Prayer is essential because no matter your physical or economic limitations, you can make a difference in this church through an intense and persistent prayer life.
Never stop praying because:

​Prayer is PowerfulSometimes I hear people say things like, "We could always pray" or "Let's pray; it can't hurt." Statements like this reveal that we don't recognize the power of prayer. Prayer is not wishful thinking or desperation! Prayer is powerful for several reasons:

1. It is strong enough to defeat our most powerful enemy. Satan is a powerful spiritual being, much stronger than a human. Jesus tells us that prayer is our defense against him (I Peter 5:8; Luke 22:31-32).
2. Prayer is to God, who is all-powerful. The reason prayer is so powerful is because the object of it has all power. A million prayers to an idol are worthless. A zealous prayer with sacrifice without a clean heart is useless. But the smallest voice, the weakest hands lifted to God in Jesus' name, is heard and forever remembered by the Creator of the heavens and the earth.
3. Prayer is powerful because it works. Raise your hands, those of you who have had prayers answered in the past. Prayer works when nothing else does. Prayer works in its own time, way, and purpose - but it does work! Prayer works while we sleep; it works despite us in certain situations.

God can do so much more than we ever imagine - He's always surprising us - and prayer is our lifeline to that power.

​Summary
We have not covered every aspect of prayer, the types of prayers to be made, or examples of how we should pray. This June, we will give more information about renewed faith and prayer - why and how to do it effectively. For now, I remind you not to give up on praying as part of your Christian life and encourage those who do not pray regularly to begin making it part of their daily walk with the Lord because:

• Prayer is necessary for the church and your life. Probably the thing needed the most. We do not just think we should pray; we must take the time to do it.
• It is for everyone in the church. We all need it, and we can also all do it! We can all do it for ourselves, and we should begin doing it for others.
• The power of prayer sustains the church in its work and supports our faith.

Let us pray that humanity will get right with God. Pray that those putting off obeying the gospel will hesitate no more and follow God in repentance and baptism. Then God will hear their prayers for salvation and other matters. Pray constantly that brothers and sisters will have the courage to remove whatever sin or hardness of heart separates them from God or their brethren. Pray with me that the Lord will send us godly people who will want to join our church family.

Take the very short 5 question quiz on this blog below.

Leave your comments or suggestion.

Reading time - 3min 31sec   Speaking time 6min 46 secs   Words 881

​We have begun the year intending to renew our faith. The effort in June to achieve that objective is "Prayer." It would probably be helpful for us to consider what prayer is not.

What prayer needs to be
​In developing a godly character, prayer needs to be the following:

• A calling out to God
  • Prayer is a personal conversation with God that includes praise, thanksgiving, request, and repentance, to name a few elements. In prayer, we call God to know His will concerning the matters we have put before Him.
• Prayer needs to be a priority.

1First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
- I Timothy 2:1-2

• Prayer needs to become our remedy for worry

Jesus reveals the truth about the value of worry, which is zero.
And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.
- Matthew 6:7
Godly mature Christians replace worry with prayer in their lives. We seek God's solutions for our troubles through prayer instead of more worry.

• Prayer needs to be constant.

Paul says, "Pray without ceasing" in Philippians 4:4-7. Worry about nothing; pray about everything. Why do you ask? Because trouble and stress are always there, prayer must also be there each day.
As human beings, we are naturally concerned about illness and trials, but the concern is different than worry. Respect treats matters seriously, relying on God to provide through prayer. Worry is choosing to fret and review the problem without giving it to God in prayer. The problem with anxiety is that it has no faith attached to it, so it is a nonspiritual action that does not affect the situation other than weakening the individual.

• Prayer needs to be listening.

Listening is part of any conversation. Prayer can certainly be considered a conversation. Human beings do very little listening in our prayers; we are more adept at making demands and requests. It is also complicated to listen to God when we do not speak His language or know His will. That is where Bible study will make your prayers more effective. 

The perils and promises of prayer
​Here are a few tips for those ready to devote more time and energy to prayer. Remember:

• Prayer is not a substitute for human responsibility.

Pray and work and serve and seek and persevere. Pray for success on the exam, but do not forget to study!

• Pray to the true God.

The true God is not your grandfather, buddy, or a faraway judge. He is the creator of everything and an all-powerful being for whom nothing is impossible - trust in that when you pray.

• God answers prayers in His way, not yours.

God always hears the prayers of the saints but His answers fulfill His will and purpose. Paul's prayer in II Corinthians 12.
7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
- II Corinthians 12:7-10
Note that God gave Paul what he needed (humility) and not what he wanted (healing). God required glory through Paul's weakness rather than by his strength.

• No matter what - God is with you!

Regardless of the answer or time frame, because you are praying - God is with you. In the end, being with God brings peace and joy - not having your prayers answered.

Adapted from: Prayer, 10 Steps to the New Spiritual You - BibleTalkTV

Reading Time 4 min 58 sec - Speaking Time 9 min 34 sec

​Church leaders say that prayer is the action in life that we need most to do but do the least. Therefore, before we study how to pray, who to pray to, and what to say, it would be prudent first to understand some of the important reasons we ought to pray.
First, let's define prayer as communication and communion with God. We should also be aware that prayer does not have to be verbal. You can pray in silence; man can do prayer with his body; man can pray with his life. The more ways we can learn to pray, the better it will be for our souls. 
Here are three reasons why we should pray:

1. Prayer is how we unburden our hearts of the anxiety and guilt that plagues us because of sin. Amazingly, people will try everything under the sun to deal with their worries and fears (drugs, self-help methods, escapes, and devices) before finally coming to God in prayer.​

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.- I Peter 5:6-7

Notice that Peter doesn't say that we have to work out our problems and give them to God for approval, nor does he suggest that we pray and ask God for the solutions so we can take care of the problems with His divine help (e.g., "God, give me the plan…!"). He says to take the burden off of your heart and give it to God — that's it! I'm not saying that this absolves us of the responsibility for our lives and problems, but through prayer, we can detach ourselves from the anxiety, fear, and stress caused by these things.
Prayer serves us the same way when we use it to deal with the problems we have due to the sin in our lives. As Christians, we often sin and fail in living as we ought. God knows this and has given us the avenue of prayer as the starting point in addressing these issues. Yes, we must resist temptation and secure the help we need to do away with sinful behavior. John writes the first action in combatting sinfulness is to acknowledge it as such and appeal to God for help and forgiveness in sincere prayer.

If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. - I John 1:8-9

For the non-Christian, forgiveness comes through baptism (Acts 2:38). However, for the Christian, God has provided the spiritual exercise of prayer to accomplish spiritual healing. We need to pray because we leave with God the worry caused by trials and the guilt due to our sins through this action. No other method is more effective to these ends than prayer. Prayer is a vital rhythm in the health of the soul.

2. We need to pray because prayer initiates spiritual and physical blessings for ourselves and others (Matthew 6:31-32).
In Matthew 7:7, Jesus tells us that we should ask for the things we need, and God (who knows what we need) will provide according to His will and purpose.
Our society prides itself on being independent. The world admires the self-made man/woman, and we strive to be fully self-sufficient or at least the dominant partner in any cooperative enterprise we undertake. As Americans, it goes against our training, history, and character to be dependent, yet, in reality, this is what we are — totally reliant on God! 

• He keeps the universe in order (Colossians 1:17).
• He gives life and rules over death (Job 14:5).

From Adam to the last person born, all depend on God.
Prayer is our expression of dependence on God. We cannot think of or enumerate everything needed to sustain our daily lives, but in prayer, we express our dependence on God to supply everything we need. In addition to the physical things required, prayer is also the way we access the "spiritual" blessings necessary for growth in the kingdom of God.
Paul describes specific blessings only obtainable through prayer in his letter to the Ephesian church. There are no physical ways to generate things like spiritual wisdom, a more precise knowledge of God, and an understanding of eternal life through Jesus Christ other than through an active prayer life.​

For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 
- Ephesians 1:15-18

3. Prayer is necessary because, through prayer, we sanctify (purify) everything that we have to consume or use with a clear conscience and a joyful heart.​

For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer. - I Timothy 4:4-5

Is there anything in this world that is not imperfect because of sin? Are we not compromised in some way no matter what we do? For example:

• We often use our taxes for ungodly things, forcing our cooperation with evil against our knowledge or will.
• The places we work may not do things in entirely righteous ways. Indirectly causes us to participate in unrighteousness by association.
• What we consume as food, ideas, entertainment, etc., is tainted with worldliness, imperfection, and sinfulness.
• Our motives are a mix of pride, ignorance, or lust.

As disciples of Christ seeking to live righteously, how can we survive in this world? How can we continue to live, breathe, and consume the things of this place without violating our consciences day, after, day, after day? We could never have peace of mind in any area of life if we did not have God's grace, and we could not express our gratitude and relief for this grace if it weren't for prayer. Everything created by God is good; however, all good things man spoils because of sin. Thankfully, we can pray that things we typically corrupt can become acceptable through prayer and thanksgiving. Without prayer, we remain in the world and of the world and never rise above the world.

Join us at the Brookfield Church of Christ, where we will present four sermons on "Prayer" for your consumption and spiritual benefit.

​Due to Christian attendance sinking, many believe that there are not enough opportunities for the church to win souls. If you have fallen into this mode of thinking, I would like to dispel you from it. It all depends on how you think about opportunities and what you think about the church.

​Opportunities are when we can share our faith in a way that we hope will be persuasive. They are not just the times that individuals visit our church buildings. We are the church, and we take the church with us wherever we go. Therefore, everyone we come across is a visitor to the church. This expanded and accurate depiction gives us a better understanding of the opportunities to present the church. There are way more visitors to the church than our bulletins or guest boards portray.

​The question becomes, are we accurately portraying the body of Christ? Are our visitors getting an authentic glimpse into what the church is? Perhaps that is why guests who attend our corporate assemblies are not persuaded about the church as we think they ought to be. They've already judged their involvement in the faith we profess. Their visit is a kind gesture to you as a friend, but that soil is not ready to receive the seed that is God's Word.

​There are more chances for us to present the church than we realize. We must become more aware of those opportunities and adequately show the body of Christ for the benefit of humanity. Do not wait for opportunities to come your way. Instead, create your prospects found with and inside your problems. This proactive approach to opportunities carries a powerful ability to develop ways to increase visitors to experience the abundant life in the church.

​What are your thoughts about opportunities the church creates for itself? What problems are you aware of that are opportunities? Who was the last visitor you are aware of to the church?

​Choose the button below to get assistance in evaluating opportunities for visitors.

421 Words - Reading Time (1min 41secs) - Speaking Time (3min 14secs)

​The world today is always trying to sell us something. Commerce is a way of life for most. Buying and selling take up a disproportionate amount of our human experience. It has gotten to the point that individuals feel like they are being sold in everyday human discourse even when they are not. Communication today often feels like manipulation. One person is trying to convince another person about their ideas. 

​If you have ever spoken with someone about your faith and they make a complaint about you selling something, then it is time to consider another more powerful command. Our Lord gave us a command as one of the two most outstanding commands. That is the command to "Love your neighbor." Look at what Jesus teaches us in Matthew 22:36-40.

​Matthew 22:36–40 (ESV)
36 "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" 37 And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."

​As a people trying to lead others to Christ, we must do a better job at the second most excellent command. Doing this will allow others to answer the previous three questions mentioned above in a positive light. When we love our neighbor, then leading can happen in good soil. Love removes ulterior motives where people think we only want to convert them to our religion. Instead, people will think we are doing what is best for them and not for ourselves. 

​Rule #3 – Be Patient Some folks don't understand that just because a person understands intellectually (in their minds) the teachings of the Bible, it doesn't mean that they believe and accept (in their hearts) the teachings of Christ.
For example, the Apostles were with Jesus for three years, and yet, it took almost ten years after His resurrection for them to understand that the Gospel was meant for the entire world and not just for the Jews in the whole world.

​Many obstacles stand in the way of faith other than ignorance of the doctrines. For example,

• Loyalty to family and church group
• Culture
• The fear of change
• Love of sin and this world (John 3:19-20)
• Comfort with the way things are

​When discussing religious issues with someone, we need to remember that all of these issues and more may affect the other person's response and attitude. We need to be willing to keep the discussion and the interchange going as long as the other person is willing to share and exchange ideas. People have turned away from Christ because of the hurry to convert them without taking time to understand their issues.
Most have many obstacles to faith that require time to think through and accept the points made concerning the Bible, so be patient.

​Let's Summarize our Three Best PracticesWhen we engage someone in a discussion about religion and questions concerning the Bible, we need to remember three rules of engagement to avoid bad feelings and wasting our time.

​

1. Give people credit for being as sincere as you are. Demonstrate true Christian love and respect (not for religious practices that may be false) but rather for people's genuine effort to serve God. Respect will set the exchange tone and enable the person to listen honestly to what you are saying. If you offend them with your disrespectful attitude, they won't hear what you're saying.
2. Study God's word, not your opinions. People's biggest mistake in religious discussion is that they don't even open their Bibles. Find the passage and keep the debate centered on understanding what the Bible says about the issue, not the various positions of different groups.
3. Be patient. You are sharing to teach someone more perfectly the way and the Word of the Lord – this requires patience. If all you want to do is win an argument, you will need skill and intelligence. If you're going to win a soul, you will need love and patience in addition to skill and intellect.

​Go back and review the two previous blogs, and check out the links below.

https://youtu.be/E90uU5tYLJIƒ
https://vimeo.com/598284190
https://bibletalk.tv/the-basics

What do you think about these best practices? What would you change and why? Thanks for your comments and feedback.

Best Practices
Bible Study with a group of people, follow these simple rules to benefit a discourse on religious or faith issues. Twenty-five years in ministry from the Pulpit and Lectern have taught me some simple rules to follow when visitors come by. These practices are best because Scripture bears them out.

As Christians who want to share our faith, we must realize that we are in the communication business. Communication is necessary to share the Gospel. Three practices, when applied, provide a blessed opportunity for visitors coming by. These practices are general and not exhaustive.

Rule #2 of 3 – Stick to the Bible
We get into more problems and emotional turmoil because we go from discussing what the Bible says or doesn't say about a matter to judging opinions, habits, traditions, and feelings. For example:
In commenting on the Roman Catholic practice of having a religious service at midnight on Christmas morning, someone will call it "crazy," "useless," or "dumb." However, such a comment would be highly insulting, hurtful, and unproductive for those who grew up with this tradition and practice.
As Christians, our task concerning other people, whether fellow Christians or people who follow other religions or complete atheists, is always the same. It's easy to understand, but it's not always easy to do because of our sinful natures and ignorance.
Our task is given to us in Matthew 28:20 by Jesus, and He says that we must "teach them to observe all that I commanded you." This task does not involve our feelings or opinions, only the Word of the Lord – the Bible. There are some critical reasons for rule number two.

A – It's Biblical
Sticking to the Word is how the Word itself tells us to debate and discuss with others about faith.
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
- II Timothy 3:16

• Paul tells a young preacher, Timothy, that it is the Word of God that can instruct someone in matters of faith (teach). 
• He says that the Word of God is the standard for proving or disproving the validity and truthfulness of any idea or religious claim (reproof). 
• The Word of God is used to adjust a mistaken idea or proposal in spiritual matters (correction). 
• The Word of God is to be used to train a person to live a good life before God, serve Him, or worship Him (training).

The Bible itself tells us that we should use it in trying to convince, debate or teach other people.

B – It keeps the debate in perspective
When a religious discussion gets ugly and bitter, it is usually because the exchange has become personal. Comments like, "what a stupid idea," or "that's not the way we do it at my church," or "my preacher says that you people are all going to hell."
Religion and faith are deeply personal things and just discussing them with someone else is dangerous. You're afraid of being wrong or looking ignorant, or being rejected. Try to remember that the discussion is not between

• your church versus their church
• your faith versus their faith
• your ideas, traditions, and leaders versus theirs

Religious discussions that are productive, non-confrontational, and informative, a religious debate should be framed in the following perspective: "How do our respective beliefs, faith, and religions line up with the Bible?"
On one side is Jesus and His Word; the other side is ourselves and the people we are discussing religion. 
For example:
Jesus is on one side, and we are on the other. We hold all of our beliefs, including our own, to the light of God's Word. That makes us partners in the search for truth, not adversaries.
So, a simple example of this type of approach would be discussing baptism with a Baptist or a Methodist friend. The debate never ends when approached with the idea that we would argue what the Church of Christ teaches versus what Baptists teach. If we put it into this perspective, the discussion becomes more fruitful and less contentious. "Let's study what the Bible teaches about baptism and discuss what we've learned."
There may not be immediate agreement. The other side may not accept certain conclusions that we readily approve. Still, communication will happen, God's Word will be read and discussed, and perhaps the discussion will end well with the desire to continue because of mutual respect.
If you keep discussing people's beliefs and God's Word (and not between your idea versus their idea), you have a better chance of teaching God's "Word and Will" rather than your own.

That brings us to Practice #3. Check this blog out in a week to look at these three practices in the coming weeks. In summary, remember 1. Give people some credit where their sincerity is concerned; 2. Study God's Word, not your opinion, and have no other agendas; 3. Be patient because teaching the perfect way requires it. 

Beliefs need to be Bible-grown and matured if one is to have peace and salvation. We must remember that we have not cornered sincerity and zeal of faith.

See you in the next blog, and check out the links below.