Over the last four weeks at Rock Island we have been doing a "Bible study" every Wednesday. Originally Ron and I had planned to do them on Sunday nights following the meal and worship at Cross and Crown. But, because there is so much activity and so many people we decided to move them to Wednesday afternoons and see what kind of turnout we could get. Also, another reason we changed the day of the Bible study was because one particular young person involved at Rock Island requested that because of her work schedule and class schedule we do the studies on Wednesdays so that she could attend. It's tough to argue against that.
Wednesday has become my favorite day during the week because of the Bible study. Over the years, after lots of trial and error, we have come up with a relatively successful "Bible study" format that fits our attendees at Rock Island. If you have been to Rock Island and have spent a substantial amount of time with the kids that come you would agree that, for the most part, there is not much Biblical knowledge or alot of spiritual foundation. Again, for the most part. Because of this our Bible studies may seem a little atypical.
Because most of our junior high students don't get out of school until 3:50 a large majority of the kids at Bible study are of high school age. During our studies we try not to overwhelm the kids with an enormous amount of scripture or pound them with the Bible by giving them "do's" and "dont's". A large amount of these kids aren't even completely sold on the whole God and Jesus thing, so why would they care what the Bible has to say anyway? I can understand that. But, on the flip side of that Ron and I do believe what it says in Hebrews 4:12 (For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart) and that the power is in the Word itself and that just by reading scripture in the presence of them their minds and hearts can be transformed. So, that's what we do. We pick two or three scriptures, read them, break them down a little bit and then just see what they think about it. Sure, there are always times of silence or little feedback, but just when we begin to think that nothing is clicking one of the guys or girls will say something that triggers a conversation, which triggers a another comment, which then makes another kid think about a question about who Jesus is or how Jesus can He can be born of a virgin, which makes this kids ask this or that. Next thing you know, we have a room full of inner-city "tough guys" (and girls) talking about Jesus, God and everything else in between.
It may or may not sound like much, but that's pretty revolutionary for these kids and these streets. When everything around them at school, home and in this neighborhood is telling them to turn to drugs, gangs, girls, boyfriends, sex, money and everything else, they are in a group trying to piece together how Jesus can be both God and Jesus, figuring out and reading in scripture how all people came from Adam and Eve, researching on Google what Cain's wife name was and where she came from and so on.
Wednesday Bible studies have motivated me and pushed me to read more too. It gives me extra motivation to know that I'm not just reading for my own growth anymore, to some extent I read so that I can expand and encourage these kids on their spiritual journey.
I am excited and anxious to see what develops over the next several Wednesdays.
