Tuesday, 02 October 2007

Intricacies yield great beauty

It's always so cool to look back on a Bible study after it happens.

After this weekend and the conversations I had, I was pretty certain that forgiveness was a topic that would be worth studying. It's a decent segue from sharing my story last week, it fits into our idea of building community, and I know it's something that we can always be reminded of on a regular basis.

The group was smaller than I expected. I missed the other guys. When even one is missing, it isn't the same. When many are missing, it really changes the dynamic. But it was sort of special to have that smaller-group feel on Monday. Nevertheless, I had prepared a lesson and carried on. We would still talk about forgiveness anyway

"I'm really glad we're talking about this topic. I need to think about forgiveness right now," was the initial response.

I could hardly believe what I was hearing, but at the same time I could completely. I believe this is the Holy Spirit at work, ministering to His people through one another. I couldn't have known that any of them particularly needed to talk about this issue. Yet God provided for that need.

One of the things I've learned as a musician is to notice little intricacies in music and how they make it more beautiful. I look at all these factors that came into play for the Bible Studs.

-I went home and had a chance to talk to some people that I needed & wanted to talk to.
-I learn a few lessons on forgiveness that weekend.
-Pastor Carlson's sermon on repentance gave me a couple Scripture ideas to work with.
-The idea of community and following my testimony with a lesson on forgiveness seems logical.
-One of the Studs has a need to re-examine forgiveness.

These five factors, and others, converged at 9:30 P.M. on Monday night in my apartment with four guys and ministered to us together in a way that none of us could have imagined. That's far more beautiful to me than any symphony or motet.

Currently Listening Restored - Deluxe Gold Edition By Jeremy Camp Take You Back see related