We’re pleased to announce the return of the mid-week gathering here at the Oasis! Starting in May, there will be a Bible Study held in the sanctuary on Thursday nights at 730P. These Bible studies will be in-depth examinations of the Scriptures that are sure to encourage and inspire you in your own walk with Christ. Be sure to bring a Bible, a pen, and a notebook, as we aim to provide you with a wealth of information and resources that will enrich your life.
For some, this announcement is welcome news and you’re looking forward to participating. Others, however, may be wondering why Pastor has decided to go this route with the church schedule. We’d like to take few minutes to explore this issue and provide some basic insights into this decision.
A simple and honest explanation is for this addition to our schedule is that Pastor has a clear sense that this is what the Holy Spirit is leading us to do right now. The church is a living organism – not an organization – so we need to embrace change as an expression of life. Many people find change unsettling or trivial, and it certainly can be, but at the same time, change can also signify genuine humility and a desire to obey the voice of God.
A more detailed response would definitely bring us back to the book of Acts and the mindset of the early church. Almost everyone seems to agree (a rare feat among Christians!) that this initial group of believers had a profound impact on the history of the world. They literally “turned the world upside-down.” In contrast, the church in our culture today has seemingly become little more than a punch line – an irrelevant and out-dated organization that most people merely tolerate (and some loathe). What is the difference between the church in Acts and the church in America? Well, clearly it’s not any one thing, but a couple of answers to this question lie at the heart of why we’re calling for a mid-week gathering…
Acts 2:42 says “they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” A little further down in verses 46 and 47 it reads: “And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” These people were focused on the Gospel and Christ’s work in the earth every single day. It consumed them! At the same time, they were having an impact on their community that was recognized by all. Quite simply: regular fellowship and study with other believers did not limit their ability to touch their neighbors – it enhanced it!
Our desire is that these Bible studies will be used by the Holy Spirit to ignite an all-consuming passion for God’s Kingdom in our hearts. We’re not studying to be smarter or better than anyone. We believe this is how we can “set our minds on things that are above” (Col. 3:2) and as a result, be transformed into the likeness of Christ (Gal. 4:19). We realize it may not be easy or convenient for people to come out on Thursday nights, but endeavors of value and worth never come to us easily, do they? Self-denial and sacrifice are at the heart of walking with Jesus (Mark 8:34-36).
Ultimately, these Bible studies are simply an expression of our Pastor’s desire to follow the leading of the Spirit of God. And there should be confident expectation then, that if God has initiated this, our lives will be that much better for it! So join us – give it a try! We look forward to knowing “the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that [we] may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:19)
