Friday, July 15 - continued

Today was the last day of the English workshops. These workshops were open to the public but mostly geared toward teens and young adults. We used passages from the Bible as our resources for teaching, sang songs of Christian worship to God (in English), shared personal testimonies, and played games together for fellowship and fun. The discussions that occurred this week were thought provoking and effective in giving insight to the gospel. The times of worship were inspired ... so much so that someone came into the building on the last day of classes because he'd heard us singing from outside. He could tell we were worshipping God, and he wanted to see what it was all about. A new friendship was developed, and the door was opened for further conversation. God is always at work.

Here are the passages we studied during the week:

Tuesday - Tradition vs. Truth - Mark 7:1-23 - This discussion centered on what truly makes a person's heart clean and acceptable to God. Is it rituals, ceremonies and traditions? No ... it is obedience through faith. Romans 3:22 - "This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe ...."

Wednesday - Jesus and the Samaritan Woman - John 4:4-30 - Although the Samaritan woman had come to the well to draw drinking water, Jesus offered her 'living water'. Jesus said, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

Thursday - Walking by Faith - Matthew 14:22-44 - This is the passage in which Jesus walked on water out to the disciples' boat in the midst of the wind and waves. He calmed their fear. Then Peter walked on water out to Jesus, but he began to sink when he focused on the wind and waves, rather than on Christ. A few challenging discussion questions were: (1) What situations cause you the most fear in life? (2) What are some qualities of Jesus Christ that make Him worthy of our trust?

Friday - Once I Was Blind, But Now I See - John 9:1-9, 13-35 - Jesus healed a man who had been blind since birth. The Pharisees and teachers of the law were skeptical and questioned Jesus' authority, but the former blind man believed. In verse 5, Jesus called himself the 'Light of the World'. What does light do? It gives us sight. We discussed 'spiritual blindness' vs. 'spiritual sight'.


2 Corinthians 4:4-6 - "The god of this age [Satan] has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ."