The Chronological School of Biblical Studies (CSBS) kicked off Sunday night with 24 students and 8 staff. We spent time in worship and getting to know one another on Monday, but then Tuesday brought on Genesis first readings! (This is where the students read the whole book out loud in one sitting to get the big picture before they dive into the details.) Yesterday we took time out from Genesis and went to Manhattan Beach. I loved being back in the waves! I think I had a perma-grin the whole day. (In case you didn’t know, I love the ocean.)
About our students: I LOVE THEM! Such a great group of passionate young people who want to change the world. But there is some baggage they carry with them. (Don’t we all?) Without going into details, a large percentage of our students have dealt with major grief issues in the past year - from a brother who committed suicide to a fellow DTS classmate who was murdered after she had returned home. There’s some heartache in our group and I am so humbled to be part of shepherding this flock of wounded sheep, if you will. What I love though, is that they have come to the Bible for healing, for truth, for some sort of foundation for the hope that they have. It reminds me of when I first came to my CSBS in 2009. I didn’t have any great aspirations... my heart was hurting and I missed my brother... but I came to Jesus and met him in the pages of the Bible. My heart’s cry was like the disciple, Peter, when Jesus was saying difficult things and causing his disciples to make a conscious decision... it wasn’t a huge statement of faith... it was a basic realization that Jesus was THE only answer.
66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:66-69)
I believe that is why our students have come. They believe Jesus has the words of eternal life and that he alone is the Holy One of God. Some of them have believed this for a long time, some have only believed this for under a year and don’t even know the name of the guy who was in the ark or in the belly of the big fish. We are all going to be learning and growing as we sit at the feet of the Holy One of God, the one who has the words of eternal life.
So please pray for us. Bible study is not like other studies. It changes us, molds us more into the people we were created to be. Sometimes that is an easy and natural process, sometimes it is a painful, yet beautiful process.
- Pray for the students who have recently lost a friend or loved one.
- Pray for the students who have been living as missionaries for a few years, but became disillusioned and are coming to the Bible to strengthen their foundations so they can continue to serve for the long haul.
- Pray for the students who just came to know Jesus in 2012 and have chosen to start off their relationship with him digging into the Bible to know him more.
- And by all means, please pray for us staff who have the privilege and responsibility to lead and teach these little ones.
- Pray that we might have the fear of the Lord in all we do, that we would teach and live with integrity, and that we might flourish in this season and not burn out.
- Pray for our leaders, Nigel & Megan Burmester! They are an awesome family and are carrying a lot of things on their shoulders in this time. Megan is homeschooling her two boys, leading a women's bible study at her church, and helping to co-lead this school! Nigel is co-leading this school and also an elder for YWAM Los Angeles and a go-to guy for the accounting office. They need prayers for grace and extra hours in the day.
What about you? Have you ever felt like you had no where else to go? Like you came to Jesus because you had tried everything else and finally realized he was the only answer, the only resolution to your searches? How did you find him in that moment? Was it through the Bible, through a friend, through a good book or song? How could you encourage someone else to turn to him?
Thanks for reading this, praying, and commenting!
