How churches are grounding their congregations

By This Name Clas in SingaporeRecently we received two testimonies. One was from a ladies’ small group from a church in Alberta, Canada and the other was from a church in Singapore. These two churches were an ocean apart but they had the same vision: to ensure every member understood a clear gospel.

These two churches found it useful to use By This Name as the book for small group study. Longtime churchgoers as well as and people still seeking to understand what the Bible is all about benefited from going through the creation-to-the-cross approach used in the book. They saw how the Old and New Testament tied together as one story, and for many, it made them want to read the Bible more! Here are their stories.

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I found my faith in Christ through this study

Ladies Church StudyOur ladies’ study group consisted of 12 ladies with different levels of Bible knowledge. There were ladies with no knowledge at all, some with many of years of study and everything in between. The study ran for two months and we met every Wednesday morning. Our book study was By This Name by John R. Cross of GoodSeed International. The commitment was to read 1-3 chapters every week and fill out the companion workbook before the sessions. At the sessions we would watch video segments that would reinforce the previous week’s reading as well as go through and discuss the questions in the study guide.

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Dad, are you ready to die?

Photo credit: Bruce on flickrStuart* levelled his eyes steadily at his father Frank. He took a breath before asking one of the most difficult questions a son could ask: “Dad, are you ready to die?”

Frank had been in and out of the hospital over the past few months with a series of problems. First there was a fractured hip, then the cancer and now there was fluid in his lungs. The doctors had run tests and determined the problem—his kidneys had failed.

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Four visits to the manicurist. Four books on the good news.

Photo credit: Hoa Dang on flickrWith willingness and a keenness to share the gospel whenever the opportunity arises, one can never tell how God will use a person to give away the Good News. Here are four consecutive visits to the manicurist that resulted in the good news being shared.

First visit
Last December, while Christina* was getting her nails done and having a chat at the salon, Christina’s manicurist wondered aloud what she should get for her seven-year-old son as a Christmas present. Ever alert for an opportunity, Christina asked if her son liked to read. The manicurist said yes and Christina went to her van and from her “Be Ready” box, pulled out a copy of The Lamb. She presented it to her manicurist as a gift for her son. On a subsequent visit, the manicurist reported that her son loved the book and got his father to read him the story every night.

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Discipling ‘baby’ believers

Bible StudyThe following is an excerpt from an email from Simon and Lydia,* a couple in Nebraska. They are using By This Name as a Bible study guide to ground new “baby” believers. Not only did they help their students, they themselves were refreshed by the amazing grace of God in the gospel story. Here is what they shared:

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Don’t stop Easter (Part 2)

Hair SalonWe mentioned yesterday how the Easter season is natural opportunity to share the gospel. We shared a story of how four women went out of their way to make the Easter season last all year by training teachers to share the Good News. Today, we have a story of a lady who recently understood the Good News and is already using natural opportunities in her daily life to pass on the gospel.

I consider myself a “quiet witness.” I try to mention Jesus here and there in everyday conversations. This past year, with four deaths in my family—one of them my twenty-year old cousin—I’ve had opportunities to tell how my trust in Jesus held me together when my world felt like it was falling apart.

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How are you using your retirement?

Group Bible Study

In Quebec, two retired professionals decided to lead a course teaching other retirees the main message of the world’s all-time bestseller: the Bible. This was the write-up they had for the course which was advertised in an academy for retirees:

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Take a journey within a journey

Photo credit: Hajime Nakano on flickr

[This post is part of our “Give away the gospe” series. Eric* writes from his personal experience.]

One day three years after receiving a bone marrow transplant, I was in the cancer clinic for my annual check-up. As I sat in the lab, a young nurse came to do routine blood work. I asked her, “Are you taking a vacation this year?”

She replied, “Yes, I am starting my holidays day after tomorrow.” She went on to say that she was leaving on a trip to Dubai to see a friend. I asked her how long the flight was, and she told me that with layovers and flight time, the trip was almost a full 24 hours. I asked her if she liked reading. She said she did.

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Video Clips for “By This Name” Interactive Edition

Video editing for By This Name Interactive Edition

The video clip editing for By This Name Interactive Edition has been slow-going.  This upcoming edition will include a DVD with video clips that help teach the material. As people read through the book, some sections will have a DVD icon, and they can view a video clip to help understand the message better.

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Give away the gospel during Lunar New Year!

Chinese New Year decorations

(This post is part of our “Give away the gospel” series.)

Lunar New Year is coming! Chinese, Vietnamese and Koreans in Australia, Canada, the US, Europe and, of course, in every corner of Asia, are getting ready to celebrate this major festival on the Lunar calendar.

If you were to visit a Chinese home during this season, you might find greetings and wishes in red and gold adorning the house, while pots of New Year plants and lanterns grace the entrances. Mandarin oranges would be carefully arranged in baskets alongside jars and trays of New Year goodies. The air would be filled with the aroma of pots of delicacies gently cooking in the kitchen. Occasionally, you might hear the booms and clangs of drums and cymbals of a passing lion dance troupe or the tunes of New Year music coming from a music player.

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