Another Possible Solution to Avoiding the Downfalls of Multiple Bible Studies

Whenever I write on this blog, I mean to suggest and argue for a particular case as a point of departure for discussion. People often read it, however, as if I am somehow making a final word on a matter. I am not. I am usually making a first word unless there are multiple posts that lead to a final word. Hence, anyone reading this blog should know that it functions for me as a Wittenberg Castle Church door, i.e., a central place to post things up for debate. It is a place where I put out ideas to promote thinking among God's people. Nothing is final until it is.

So as I was thinking about the solution to the problem of those who shun their responsibilities of ministry by replacing it with more Bible studies (I in no way am suggesting that this is done in a rebellious way but simply because laymen often think that all there is to the ministry is Bible study), I think there might be multiple solutions to the problem, and a reduction in Bible studies may not be the only answer to it.

For instance, a key solution may be to have just as much biblical instruction as before, even every single day for that matter, but to constantly remind people that the purpose of these studies is to equip them for their individual ministries to one another and to the world as God's priests.

Since that is the purpose according to Ephesians 4, a continual reminder and encouragement to take notes so that they can remember what is said (how will they speak it to one another if they can't remember it?), along with a challenge to think about an application of these truths in their devotions and teach these truths to at least one person that week might be just as helpful if not more so than reducing the amount of Bible studies offered. An encouragement and reminder that they are the ministry, and not just the recipients of a ministry, and so need to remember what is said in order to speak the truth each one to his neighbor, to bring up their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord, to wash their wives in the Word, etc. may be all that they need to solve the problem.

In this way, if our people are diligent to remember and serve one another in these truths that they learn, the amount of Bible studies can be infinite. The emphasis of the text still is quality in terms of making sure it aligns with apostolic teaching, but quantity in this case might be a non-issue, as a church would be able to handle as many lessons as are given in this way. I am fully open to this solution.

So there is not only one way, and I never mean to suggest that there is unless I say that explicitly. I argue a case and follow it to its conclusions to the best of my ability. There are likely other solutions, even to this problem, that I am not even thinking of. But if we care about what God has said and we care about God's people, we need to have these discussions in order to constantly evaluate whether we are doing what is best by God and His people. None of us wants to stand before God on that day that is soon advancing and be told that our work was unfaithful because we never questioned how we were doing it.

Either way, I do ask for my words not to be taken so absolutely, as I am just trying to think through these things myself when it comes to these new ideas. These are points for discussion and not creeds set in stone. My way is not the only way, and it may not even be my way if a better way presents itself.