LAST LESSONS #156 — STORIES — 6

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14

Until my mid-thirties, I was a completely secular non-believer. At the urging of friends, I found myself at a retreat. During that retreat, I was overcome by an urge to read the Bible—clearly from God as I had never had any interest in, and was completely unfamiliar with, the Bible. Shortly thereafter, I was invited by friends to attend a Men’s Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) class in Edina, Minnesota. After 2 1/2 years, I was asked to pray about becoming a Discussion Leader. Even though this required more time than I wanted to commit to God, I agreed. At the same time, my wife Linda had rejoined BSF, after her self-described “rebellious years,” and was a discussion leader in a Women’s BSF class.

After a couple of years, we were invited by our Area Advisors, to consider becoming Teaching Leaders (TL) for a Young Adult (YA) Class. I am reasonably sure the invitation was because of Linda, who was more qualified and suitable for the position. This was the last thing I wanted or needed. Nevertheless, we agreed we would begin the process “until there was a closed door.”

Not experiencing any closed doors, we arrived at HQ for the week of training. On the last day of training before the day of departure, Rosemary’s (the then Director of BSF) challenge was that we needed to be absolutely certain we were being called by God to be TL’s. She warned us that the job would be difficult and that one needed to be sure God was in it. Here was the closed door I had been looking for as I was not at all certain of God’s call.

The next day we were to have our personal interview with Rosemary. I asked Linda for the verse saying that teachers will be judged more severely. She wasn’t sure so I thumbed through my Bible. I came upon 1 Timothy 4:11-13: “Command and teach these things. Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of scripture, to preaching and to teaching.” Nothing could be clearer; this was a direct and confirming word from God. Even though woefully inadequate in Bible knowledge and Christian maturity, we went ahead with the door unmistakably wide open. By the grace of God, we taught a capacity YA class for 11 years. After we decided to retire Rosemary invited us to become Area Advisors to YA classes across the country.

In 1996 while we were still Area Advisors, we moved to a 55+ golf community outside Scottsdale, AZ. Linda immediately started a small Bible study which she taught for almost 20 years, with numbers into the 80’s. I began a small (3 of us) study around 2001, reluctantly again (slow learner). I am still teaching a weekly Bible study with about 25-30 attending. I use the BSF format centered around questions on the passage for the week from the particular book we are studying. The questions are emailed weekly in advance. We meet to discuss the passage, using the questions as a beginning point, followed by a short wrap-up. We have a Community Church in our community which graciously allows us to use its facilities and announces our meetings in its weekly bulletin. The pastor is very supportive. So, despite being over 80, I am still teaching because Rosemary, as the woman who taught me how to teach the Bible, told me this is “what I am supposed to do for the rest of my life.” I continue to be blessed by God in serving Him as a teacher and being in His word daily.—Ed

P.S. from Rosemary: Linda went to be with the Lord in 2021, but Ed and a Bible-loving friend of his, Michael, have agreed to encourage older men to start Rafiki Bible Study groups in as many senior living facilities as they can. How great is that!

LAST LESSONS #155 — STORIES — 5

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14

A GIRL, A TREE, AND THE BOOK OF PSALMS

My dad’s business sent us, mom, sister Laurel, three months old, and me to Rio de Janeiro from 1948-1954. Upon our return from the color, music, and beauty of Rio we moved to Wichita, Kansas during the McCarthy era. I was told I wasn’t an American (I am, was, and will be) and spoke with an accent (we lived in Rio and my father insisted we speak Portuguese), so I was bullied.

In comes the Bible. My Mississippi Baptist grandmother and grandfather gave me a Bible for my birthday. I was very lonely and would climb the big welcoming elm tree with my King James Bible each summer morning as soon as it was light, and on weekends during the school year. As I would weep, I read the Psalms of David and felt God’s presence in the Scripture as I saw the man after God’s own heart and David’s struggles and successes and was comforted. I particularly clung to Psalm 22 as my strength, hope, and courage. I did find friends and one took me to church with her where I heard scripture, sang in the choir, and went to Sunday School. My parents were unbelievers.

If ever anyone doubts that God can call and choose him or her, look to the Bible and the Psalms.

All my life the Psalms comforted me, through the loss of my son and sister 11 months apart. Then a friend invited me to Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) and I learned about Jesus, my Savior who died, arose, ascended, and intercedes for me. And, I had a role model in Rosemary who showed me the unconditional love of Christ with “skin on.”

I no longer climb trees, and elms are dead, and that dear Bible of tears is long gone, but the foundation laid for me in the tree with the Bible is sure, for it is on Christ I stand.—Pam

P.S. from Rosemary: If loved ones have been taken from you, get into a Bible-teaching church where believers can surround you with Christ’s love and companionship.

LAST LESSONS #154 — STORIES — 4

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14

I have been a Christian for as long as I can remember. Raised in a Christian home, I was saved at the age of 7 at a Billy Graham crusade. I thought I was a good Christian and knew the Bible till I started attending a Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) class at the age of 26. God opened my mind and heart to truly understand that He gave us His Word so we might know Him and our desperate need for Him.

Through the study of His Word I soon realized how truly sinful my heart was and is. I began to see that God wanted all of me, not just my Sunday mornings. God showed me my need to learn to control my tongue. To be quick to listen and slow to speak. (We are still working on that, but I have come a long way).

God has opened the doors so I could serve Him as a Girl Scout leader, Awana leader, Sunday School teacher and Teaching Leader (TL) for BSF. I was willing to take on those tasks because His Word promises to help us by the power of His indwelling Spirit. He did!

I am grateful to have been in BSF for many years. I even had the privilege to meet Mrs. Jensen when I applied for the position as a TL.

When the Lord closed the class I was leading, I knew I needed a disciplined study to keep me close to Him. I have learned that I need to be involved in an in-depth Bible study to keep me on the right path. That’s when I learned about the Rafiki Bible Study (RBS). I have led a Rafiki Study in my home for 3 years and it has kept me close to Jesus. The questions cause us to think deeply about what our purpose in life is. How am I using the assets God has given me for His Kingdom?

Last year our group wanted to study Revelation. Many people think this book is too divisive or hard to understand, but we took the challenge. It was wonderful! I came to understand that God gave us the Revelation of Jesus Christ in all His glory, and a glimpse into future events so we would not be afraid. We did the study a little different than usual. It took us 3 weeks to cover 2 lessons. The study of Revelation has removed my anxiety about what is going on in the world, because I know God is Sovereign and He is working out His plan. I still pray much for lost loved ones and the leaders of our nation, but fear has been replaced with faith in our Glorified Risen Savior Jesus. The Book of Revelation begins with a vision of Jesus in all His resurrection glory and that is where I try to keep my focus when I begin to worry. I encourage anyone who wants to know God and His word more deeply to start up a Rafiki Bible Study in your home, you will be blessed.—Carrie age 66

P.S. from Rosemary: To help RBS Groups with study of especially hard books like Revelation, I suggest that group members purchase the commentary that is recommended by Rafiki and is written by a theologian different from the one who wrote the RBS lesson notes. Reading a commentary along with studying the lesson will enrich your understanding of the passage tremendously. These commentaries can be purchased from Amazon or from Rafiki at a considerable discount.

LAST LESSONS #153 — STORIES — 3

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14

Valerie’s story

My name is Valerie. I have been reading your blogs since they began and wanted to thank you. I have purchased books for my edification from your recommendations and had the privilege to purchase books for the new Rafiki School in Florida.

I first came to recognize your name through Bible Study Fellowship (BSF). BSF was fantastic training for me (10 years as a group leader and my favorite—being on the Admin Team) and drastically changed my worldview. In my opinion there is still nothing like it. BSF taught me and disciplined me to pursue God first in the morning and acknowledge Him throughout my day. I remember being in my early 30’s with children and it was difficult. Now that my youngest is 13 it seems unnatural when I begin my day without first going to Him. Oh, how I love Him.

After such incredible training I was then equipped to follow the Lords leading. And lead He did :). What adventures!! The Lord led me to start a woman’s Bible study at my church (First Baptist Church of Brandon) that wasn’t a “book” study but studied The Book. We have since moved from that area, yet I still go back into Brandon to teach this study once a month. The ladies are so hungry for His Word, and I delight in it! He even had me be "at the right place" "at the right time" to be First Baptist Church of Brandon’s Interim Administrator for over 2 years—what a long, fun God story that is—for another time. My life has been packed full of those kinds of God moments, where if I had not been trained to seek Him, to listen to Him, to read about Him— would have missed out on a fulfilling life—full of Him.

At your 94 years, it encourages me that God is never finished with us, He always has something He wants us involved in.

All for His glory,

Valerie

P.S. from Rosemary: I am grateful for the stories that are coming in. They are such a witness to what studying the Bible can do in a person’s life. Don’t worry, if you write an imperfect story, I will edit it! Remember, I was an English teacher.

LAST LESSONS #152 — STORIES — 2

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14

First story

At the age of 51 I was at a very low point in my life—newly divorced after my 25-year marriage had ended, depressed, and dependent on alcohol to get me through each day.

When given the option by my boss to either stop drinking or lose my job, I would have chosen the latter except that God turned the tables (another story). I enrolled in a treatment program, attended AA, worked diligently on the 12 Steps, and started to feel better to the point that I was once again happy to be alive. Then a question arose within me: “WHY was I feeling better, what had changed or taken place within me?” I set out on a journey to answer the question by enrolling in a university class called Faith and Spirituality.

Through a series of miraculous occurrences (another story), my class was cancelled, and I was enrolled in a class called The Synoptic Gospels. I had no clue what this meant at first, but I soon fell in love with the study of Jesus in God’s Word! God had led me to the narrow road and opened the life gate! Jesus as Son of God and Son of Man intrigued me, and I took two weeks of vacation to write my mid-term and final exam on this topic.

At the end of my university class, the professor stated that we would not be studying the resurrection because it was fraught with too much controversy! Like Paul Harvey, however, I was desperate to know “the end of the story.” I went to the Presbyterian Church and learned in the New Member class that Jesus died for my sins and was resurrected to new life by God the Father, the first fruits for those who would follow. With great joy, I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior. My question had been answered: God had given me new life and that is why I recovered and again wanted to live! That was now 29 years ago.

But the story does not stop there! Immediately, I enrolled in Bible Study Fellowship which would become my life support for the next 17 years. Before becoming a Christian, I had read the Bible, even all the way through, but without understanding. My criticism was that there was very little “factual” information in the Bible about individual people, that most of what it said could apply to all people. And then! God opened my eyes: What is in the Bible can apply to ALL PEOPLE FOR ALL TIME! What an amazing revelation, hitting me from my blind side! For the last 12 years I have been continuously involved with studying The Word through Precept Ministry and Bible study at church. I am constantly in awe of God’s Plan for the Ages and how all 66 books written over 1500 years coherently and supportively reveal His purposes. To Him be the Glory!

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105

Bonnie

P.S. from Rosemary: The best group Bible study available is the Rafiki Bible Study (RBS). If you want to find or start a group call Rafiki (352-483-9131) and ask for Geri. She will help you.