Bible study...

Just came back from a new bible study class which Boon Cheang (the teacher) invited me to attend. This is additional to my regular class at BC's place with Debbie, Jiamin, Lifang, Ivan, Huiting, Ivan, Kenneth & Collin. I think BC actually wanted me to observe and learn from how he conducts bible study sessions. Well from my first session tonight, I'd say there's so much more to learn, not just from the conducting point of view, but especially from the Word of God. You can never have too much of the Word of God, so I'm really happy to have this additional opportunity to study His word.

But I think the greatest blessing of all with regard to being part of this bible study class is the people whom I'm attending it with. With the exception of Ivan, and to a much lesser extent Joel Pang & Kax, I can't say I know any of the people in this group well at all... which actually is quite sad in a sense since we're all part of the same church AND in THREE ministries together (for most): JYM, Connect & Worship.

How well do you know the people your churches and in your ministries whom you serve with? The people who are part of your spiritual family, your brothers and sisters in Christ. Do you know what's in their hearts? Do you know what makes each individual the way he or she is? I don't mean that EVERYONE has to be best friends (although that would be great), but do we make an effort to look beyond the surface of the people we meet once a week every Sunday (sometimes more)?

The church is not a social club. We were meant to be a fellowship of disciples, of believers. We ARE Christ's body. How can you be one body if one part doesn't know the other? I personally feel that if we seek (with the Holy Spirit's help) to look into the hearts of our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and not just focus on a person's exterior actions/looks, we will understand why a person behaves the way he or she does. We will know what makes them tick. And imagine how many conflicts in the church could be avoided if the people involved looked beyond the surface in love, and sought to see, in light of the Spirit's illumination, what was in the other person's heart? Many times you'd find that they were actually on the same page. I too am guilty of passing judgement and jumping to conclusions, and have to repent and seek His forgiveness & grace on a daily basis.

Too many times in church we seem to stick within our comfort zones, our own cliques. The other people in church who are not "our gang", we just offer the standard pleasantries, smile a bit and that's it really. Is that what brings glory to the Father? Could someone be hurting and we miss it? Could someone be hurting and EVERYONE misses it? This has got to be one of the enemy's best weapons against the Body Of Christ: a church that's united in clumps, and even so probably only in terms of human relations and not in the spirit. Only because we failed to follow the example of Jesus who looked into the hearts of men, and saw what our heart and souls really needed. Let's start learning to serve each other rather than wondering what the church can do for us. Hey Christ has already done enough for you don't you think? Just respond and serve His body... (By the way, those whom we are "close" to, do we even know what's really in THEIR hearts?)

Ok... wow... I've drifted so much from wherever I was when I first started this post. But I'm not gonna delete it. Stuff like this has been on my heart for too long. Which is why I'm thanking God for the opportunity to really get to know other members of my spiritual family who I ashamedly do not really know. I just pray that my pride won't get in the way, that with a heart of humility and love I'll be able to seek how to better serve my fellow brothers and sisters, and foster stronger bonds in Christ.

Oh... and congratulations to you to if you've actually stuck around to the end of this post. I wonder if you think I'm mad... oh but I am.