| "For the first five years
of my ministry in this four-point parish, I have only been
able to interest eight parishioners in in-depth Bible study. Subsequent
invitations seemed to fall on deaf ears, but as I talked to
people, I learned that their seeming reluctance revolved around
their embarrassment at not knowing their Scriptures.
Later, I preached on the subject of biblical illiteracy, and
invited parishioners to attend a six-hour presentation of
See Through the Scriptures®. I offered it with four options. They
could attend a six-hour Saturday presentation including lunch.
Or they could attend their choice of three two-hour presentations
over three weeks — in the morning, afternoon or the
evening. Net result? We had 55 attendees, including one Roman
Catholic, one Baptist, one Pentecostal and one Free Methodist. Feedback? I
had no negative comments, but numerous expressions of intent
to proceed with further biblical studies — either The Divine Drama® or Crossways.
I enjoyed doing the presentation, because it enabled me to
clarify many things for myself about our common 'faith story,'
as well as getting to know where many of my parishioners were
in their understanding of the story."
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