Dear Friends and Family of RRUMC,
It’s time to kick off the new school year. As many of you know, the schools may even be in session by the time you read this Circuit Rider Article. I know that my two boys, who are both at Rocky River High School now as a freshman and a junior, started on August 22. Where did the summer go?
It also means that, at RRUMC, we are kicking off a whole new year of Bible studies in September. The studies offered this year include “Genesis to Revelation,” which is an in-depth verse by verse study of the entire Bible over a six year span. We are offering Disciple I as we do every year. It is a 24 week study which spends 12 weeks in the Old Testament and 12 weeks in the New Testament. There is homework and, once a week for an hour and a half to two hours, the group gathers together to reflect on what they have read and learned over the last seven days. We are also offering Disciple IV.
This one is a 32 week study concentrating on the Old Testament writings, the Gospel of John, the Epistles of John, James, and Jude, and the book of Revelation. You are required to have taken Disciple 1 to take 2, 3, or 4. The Wednesday morning Women’s study is using, “Finding I Am: How Jesus Fully Satisfies the Cry of Your Heart” and the women’s LIFT group (Ladies In Faith Together) will be meeting on Tuesday nights through much of the fall covering, “Becoming Myself: Embracing God’s Dream of You.” We will also offer multiple Advent and Lent studies.
As you can see, there are many topics, times, dates, and lengths of Bible studies for you to choose from. Every church I have been a part of over the last 28 years have grown and new ministries have come to life when the people of the congregation are studying the Word of God. When you are in the Bible on a regular basis, you can’t help but hear God, see God, follow God, and walk the path that His Word unfolds for you. Many of the new ministries that have emerged in my now 12 years here as your senior pastor have all bubbled up not because I made a suggestion, but because the Lord had spoken to someone’s heart. All of those people were in Bible studies. The car cruises, the Link-Up Bicycle Ministry, the new Bible studies that we had not done before, and many more all came to life because someone was in the Word of God.
Are you in a Bible study right now? If not, please go to our website, read this Circuit Rider or the Sunday bulletin, or call the church for all the information about teacher, time, date, and place for the study that best fits your schedule.
I wonder what amazing ministry is currently hidden deep in your heart but has not come to the surface yet because God’s Word has not had a chance to set it free. A study is calling you.
Peace and Blessings,
Rev. Dan