LAST LESSONS #174 — LAST LESSONS — RBS ADVANTAGES

“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Psalm 119:103

There are a number of good Bible studies out these days. I used to think that BSF was the best until Rafiki developed the Rafiki Bible Study (RBS). BSF is still excellent for beginners but let me tell you the advantages of the Rafiki Bible Study.

1. The RBS goes deeper into the Bible text and is therefore a more serious study.
2. The RBS is designed for small groups (5-15) with a leader and can meet in a home, church, office, or wherever quiet space is available.
3. Lessons are studied in four ways: personal study of questions, reading a commentary, group discussion of questions, reading of RBS notes. Four ways to learn.
4. Any book of the Bible can be studied because lessons for all books have been produced and are available. All together there are 553 lessons.
5. Lessons are different lengths—from 4 to 32 lessons. That means that a person in a group is not required to sign up for a whole year. They sign up for only the number of lessons in the book.
6. Lessons are written by 18 notable theologians.
7. Members need not have a computer or printer because all lessons are printed and given out at the RBS group meeting.
8. Lessons consist of questions for discussion and notes to keep.
9. Members become good friends because the RBS groups meet in person and can pray for one another.
10. All group members are encouraged to use the ESV Bible (ESV Study Bible is best) so that there is no confusion or time taken to discuss what different versions say.
11. Since there is no lecture, group members are encouraged to buy a commentary on the book studied. Rafiki recommends the commentary and can provide them at a discount.

One of the editors of the RBS, David Wells, has said this:

“It is through His Word that God addresses us. It is His Word that instructs us, illumines our path, and nourishes our soul. This is why Rafiki put together this Bible study. Its aim is that we might learn to think our thoughts after God and walk in His ways. It is the most extensive, thorough, and edifying Bible study that I know about. I am delighted to be able to commend it.”—David F. Wells

So if you are not in a Bible study, sign up for the most extensive, thorough, and edifying one—RBS. You can contact Rafiki (www.Rafikifoundation.org) to get more information.

You might even start one yourself! 

LAST LESSONS #173 — LAST LESSONS — MISSIONARIES

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:19)

I am so excited to tell you what God has given us now! By “us” I mean Rafiki and me personally. Here’s what happened:

I received a Christmas card from a couple of good friends with a book enclosed. The name of the book is THE MISSION OF GOD AND YOU. The title intrigued me, so I read it right away. I read straight through it and couldn’t put it down. It made me want to be a missionary again!

I realize that my job now is to help others be missionaries, so I asked Karen Elliott if she thought the book would help potential missionaries get a heart for missions. When she said “yes” I wrote to see if we could get 100 copies of this book for all our missionaries and short-term missionaries.

Well, you know God! He always gives us more than we ask, so my friends gave us 200 copies! Karen will give 100 books to potential missionaries and I will share 100 with others—especially pastors!

Please get this book. You can get it from Amazon. It is short, easy to read, and full of one-liners that you will love. The author, Lori McDaniels, is a past missionary, the wife of a pastor, and a speaker-writer.

I highly recommend this book. And who knows, after reading it, you might become a Rafiki missionary! No job in the world better than that.

Rosemary

LAST LESSONS #172 — LAST LESSONS — RBS FOR LOL

Here I am again. At least for a few more LAST LESSONS. I need to recommend some more books. But before that I want to share what one of our readers wrote. To me it’s very encouraging! See what you think.

“His delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:2

I’d like to give you an update on Rafiki Bible Study in my little corner of the world.

I’ve told you before about our “LOL” study (“Little Old Ladies”) meeting in the home of a dear friend Vickie, who is physically incapacitated due to several strokes. We’ve been meeting together weekly for 3+ years, doing only Rafiki studies—LOTS of Rafiki studies! We began as a group of 6, which is still our core group.

Through the years Vickie’s family has hired in-home caregivers—3 to be exact. The initial 2 served till Vickie’s physical needs grew beyond the abilities of each one to care for her. Since they were at the house, we invited them to join our Bible study, and, though they’re no longer on the payroll, they’re still part of our group.

The third, Pam, began about 6 weeks ago, and, as usual, we invited her to participate in the study. In the providence of God, we were just beginning the Gospel of John. Pam has very little knowledge of the Bible and is a bit rough around the edges. She agreed to try, and WOW! She works on the lessons together with Vickie. In her limited physical capacity, Vickie is teaching Pam whose growing enthusiasm for God’s Word, and love for Jesus are contagious—SO encouraging to us all!

On another front, our new, young pastor asked me to teach/lead a women’s Bible study at our church, which had no Bible studies of its own (though it does host 2 BSF classes: EW & EM). I showed him the Rafiki studies & he gave me the green light.

In October/November we studied the Book of Ruth on Tuesdays from 6:30-8:00 pm AND Fridays from 9:30-11:00 am, having a total of about 25 mostly young moms between the two meeting times. The gals really appreciated just studying God’s Word—no “bells and whistles,” and also the depth of the questions which caused us to dig deep into the Scriptures as well as dig deep into our hearts. They’ve asked me to lead another in January, which seems to be the plan. These women are being exposed to the ministry of Rafiki as well. We often pray for God’s workings there, using the list from the “Summer 2023 Rafiki Report” as a starting point.

My daughter Jane, head of Heritage Academy (a K-12 homeschool hybrid), has most grade levels using Rafiki Bible Studies as well. Her school meets in a rented facility with recent physical challenges of its own. My husband Curt and I are pursuing a land purchase for the school, and he, with much experience in business as well as construction throughout his 83 years, is working on plans for a facility, as well as fundraising for the project. I tell you that because you have been and are such an inspiration to us both.

Lord willing, I plan to attend the March Enrichment at Rafiki Home Office with hopes of seeing you, Rosemary! Curt may also join me this year.

P.S. from Rosemary: I hope a lot of you will come to ENRICHMENT this March. You will truly be enriched! But you better let Rafiki know soon because space is limited!