I am delighted that you have expressed interest in Christ Community's 2009-2010 Bible Instruction Course (BiC). Trusting in Jesus and obeying God's Word takes many forms and it is different for every individual. Being sensitive to individual spiritual pathways we at CCC offer a variety of opportunities to grow in Christ. However, we also recognize that at times God calls each of us to grow in knowledge of Him and be transformed in ways that are sometimes inconvenient, uncomfortable, and difficult for us. For example, one person may deeply sense God's presence through academic study but struggle recognizing intimacy with God through music, relationships, or nature. Or another individual may experience their relationship with God through relationships with others but not in solitude. Yet God calls each of us to seek Him in all things--to recognize the spirituality of mundane life, and to (at times) practice disciplines that may be difficult for us.
Just as those who are more relationally-wired are also called to seek God in the quiet solitude of their private lives and those who are aware of God's presence through silent journaling are still called to "Sing to the Lord a new song" I believe that every person will better appreciate what God has done for us in Jesus and grow in our relationship with Him through the Bible Instruction Course. Those who enjoy academic study may find that BiC comes naturally to them but this by no means makes them better followers of Jesus. But those who struggle with intellectual or academic disciplines ought also to pursue growing in Christ through BiC just as I should pursue growing in Christ through silence and solitude even though I'd rather spend time in fellowship and sometimes I feel lonely and disconnected during the practice of silent prayer or time alone with God.
BiC meets at Christ Community Church on Sunday mornings during the education hour (11:00a-12p). The material covers basic Bible overview and biblical geography, Church history, the history of the Evangelical Free Church movement and Christ Community Church, and what we believe about the Bible, God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, Salvation, the Church, and the End Times. All of the material is very accessible to students, young adults, and parents. The target age is 7-9th grade students making the curriculum very suitable developmentally for anyone of that age or older. 1 Peter 2:2-3 says, "Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good." For most students the material covered in BiC is milk. It's simple but foundational to our daily diet. The point is this: milk is essential for BOTH newborns and for mature adults. I've learned from my 3 month old son, Silas, that newborns need only milk to grow. Mature adults, on the other hand, need solid food also but milk is still a daily staple of a healthy diet. This is why the writer of Hebrews 5:11-14 says, "We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." Bottom Line: no one is too mature and no one is too immature for BiC.
The emphasis in all that we learn and study will always be God's glory through the good news of His Son, Jesus, carried out today and forever by us through the power of His Holy Spirit. We start Sunday, August 30th, I can't wait to see you there! -PT
