Cloud Of Witnesses: Growing Deep In Christ

When I came to faith as a high school student – many, many years ago – I thought that our Youth Group was living the next chapter of Acts to be written.  I’m thankful for the sense of close connection to New Testament life which that represented.  I’m embarrassed by the sophomoric self-righteousness that caused me to think that we had the best handle on God and His Kingdom in the nineteen centuries between the Book of Acts and me.

The Father has been at work extending the Gospel of grace to all nations across those centuries.  That history and accumulated wisdom becomes a rich resource for better understanding and serving Jesus in my own day and setting.  I now look at the church across history as fellow believers who have much to teach me.

Beginning this February, I will be leading a group designed to dig into that rich understanding of Christ and His Kingdom.  Our Steering Committee will be using the Leadership Training Material developed by the Evangelical Presbyterian Church for Elder training and would like to open the opportunity to everyone interested.  Here’s how it will work.

 

The material is broken into fifteen chapters.  We’ll do one each month.

I will be preparing an audio version of all the reading for each chapter to be made available before our meeting.  This will allow you to either read the chapter, or listen to it as you commute, exercise or read along.

We will then meet to study and discuss the chapter for one hour, one Saturday morning per month –the same Saturday that the Steering Committee regularly meets.

“Any four people, Any time or place” – I’m sure that Saturday morning will not be ideal for everyone, so I am willing to do the same study with any four people at any time or place that works for them.  Gather three other people, find a time and place, and I’ll be there.

Click Here To see a chapter by chapter listing of the material, as well as a sample.  

As you can see, this is important material.  You will want to study it well, and have it for reference in the days ahead.  When you complete it, you will be well grounded in the historic Gospel faith from across the centuries until now.

All Elders in the EPC go through a study like this to prepare for their Ordination Vows and to serve well as Elders.  Even if you never expect to serve as an Elder though, you will benefit from this deep and systematic grounding in the faith.  It’s a chance to study, learn and interact with others, to join with the Cloud of Witnesses who have run the race of faith before us.