Dodger: Woo-hoo! Summer vacation is here and so are you!
Lilly: It's great to see you again!
Dodger: I'm really excited about all the upcoming events my family's planned for the next month.
Lilly: Like what?
Dodger: The usual stuff. Camping, barbecuing, staying up late, amusement parks, etc. How about you?
Lilly: Pretty similar. We're hoping to visit some out of state relatives and have some water fights.
Dodger: That sounds great.
Lilly: Yeah, it should be pretty fun.
Dodger: You know, speaking of summer plans, that reminds me of an email I received a while ago.
Lilly: Oh? What's it say?
Dodger: I'll show you. Here:
Lilly: Wow, what a great idea! A neighborhood Bible study sounds like it would be a lot of fun!
Dodger: It does sound like fun. Tim raises some interesting questions, though. I can't help but wonder what kind of reaction his neighbors would give.
Lilly: Well, I suppose they would respond differently, depending on the person. At any rate, he won't know until he's tried it!
Dodger: What if they do slam the door in his face, though?
Lilly: Well, the best answer I can give to Tim would be this: if your neighbors slam the door, that's not something you should take to heart. Not everyone wants to hear God's Word, but instead of letting people who give you a grumpy response discourage you from trying, you should pray for them and keep trying. After all, even if they don't realize it, they need Jesus. Besides, you want to put a Bible study together not because you want to look good, but because you want to help others learn about God. It's up to God to bring people into your group. You should seek them out, but remember that God is the One ultimately guiding your footsteps.
Dodger: That's a pretty good point. After all, it's the Holy Spirit and the Bible that change peoples'
hearts, not our own words or actions. Hebrews 4:12 tells us about the power of the Bible. It might be familiar to you, but I'll repeat it just because it's so awesome: "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (NKJV) We have to remember where the Bible comes from, too. As the Apostle Paul says in a letter to a man named...oh...Timothy: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness," (NKJV). We can light up the world because God works through us. He's the one Who opens peoples' hearts- if they'll let Him. That also reminds me of another Scripture in the Bible written to Timothy.
Lilly: Why did you pause earlier?
Dodger: Oh, I just realized...never mind. Anyways, Paul gives Timothy some great advice. He says: "Don’t let anyone look down on you for being young. Instead, make your speech, behavior, love, faith, and purity an example for other believers." (1 Timothy 4:12 NOG)
Lilly: What does that mean?
Dodger: It essentially means that no matter how young you are you can still set an example for other believers. So age doesn't prevent you from setting a good example, and if you can be an example to other Christians, how much more so for those who don't know God!
Lilly: Oh, yeah! Now I see what you mean. I also just remembered something else Paul told Timothy in another letter.
Dodger: Let's hear it...please.
Lilly: Here it is. 2 Timothy 1:7 says: "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (NKJV)
Dodger: That's one of my favorite verses! So you see, Tim, even if you don't know all your neighbors super well, you can still lead others and know that God gave you the ability to do this. Even if you don't feel completely up to the task (and believe me when I tell you you're not the only one who's had that feeling about spreading the Bible) you can rely on God. In fact, you should. His strength is made perfect in your weakness, as 2 Corinthians 12:9 says. In other words, He's with you all the way!
Lilly: I really hope your Bible study goes well, Tim.
Dodger: Me too. Wow, time has flown. I've gotta pack!
Lilly: I've got to go home and help my mother bake cookies for a charity bake sale.
Dodger: I guess that this is where we say goodbye for now. It sure was nice of you to visit! Thank you so much. Remember, Jesus loves you, and that's not about to change!
Lilly: See you!
The "email" shown in this post was written by the author, using a screenshot from a program called "appfolio", which is a program not owned, operated, or otherwise edited by I-BulldogStudios. The screenshot was heavily edited by I-BulldogStudios.
NKJV Means "New King James Version", and NOG means "Names of God Version".
Lilly: It's great to see you again!
Dodger: I'm really excited about all the upcoming events my family's planned for the next month.
Lilly: Like what?
Dodger: The usual stuff. Camping, barbecuing, staying up late, amusement parks, etc. How about you?
Lilly: Pretty similar. We're hoping to visit some out of state relatives and have some water fights.
Dodger: That sounds great.
Lilly: Yeah, it should be pretty fun.
Dodger: You know, speaking of summer plans, that reminds me of an email I received a while ago.
Lilly: Oh? What's it say?
Dodger: I'll show you. Here:
Lilly: Wow, what a great idea! A neighborhood Bible study sounds like it would be a lot of fun!
Dodger: It does sound like fun. Tim raises some interesting questions, though. I can't help but wonder what kind of reaction his neighbors would give.
Lilly: Well, I suppose they would respond differently, depending on the person. At any rate, he won't know until he's tried it!
Dodger: What if they do slam the door in his face, though?
Lilly: Well, the best answer I can give to Tim would be this: if your neighbors slam the door, that's not something you should take to heart. Not everyone wants to hear God's Word, but instead of letting people who give you a grumpy response discourage you from trying, you should pray for them and keep trying. After all, even if they don't realize it, they need Jesus. Besides, you want to put a Bible study together not because you want to look good, but because you want to help others learn about God. It's up to God to bring people into your group. You should seek them out, but remember that God is the One ultimately guiding your footsteps.
Dodger: That's a pretty good point. After all, it's the Holy Spirit and the Bible that change peoples'
hearts, not our own words or actions. Hebrews 4:12 tells us about the power of the Bible. It might be familiar to you, but I'll repeat it just because it's so awesome: "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (NKJV) We have to remember where the Bible comes from, too. As the Apostle Paul says in a letter to a man named...oh...Timothy: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness," (NKJV). We can light up the world because God works through us. He's the one Who opens peoples' hearts- if they'll let Him. That also reminds me of another Scripture in the Bible written to Timothy.
Lilly: Why did you pause earlier?
Dodger: Oh, I just realized...never mind. Anyways, Paul gives Timothy some great advice. He says: "Don’t let anyone look down on you for being young. Instead, make your speech, behavior, love, faith, and purity an example for other believers." (1 Timothy 4:12 NOG)
Lilly: What does that mean?
Dodger: It essentially means that no matter how young you are you can still set an example for other believers. So age doesn't prevent you from setting a good example, and if you can be an example to other Christians, how much more so for those who don't know God!
Lilly: Oh, yeah! Now I see what you mean. I also just remembered something else Paul told Timothy in another letter.
Dodger: Let's hear it...please.
Lilly: Here it is. 2 Timothy 1:7 says: "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (NKJV)
Dodger: That's one of my favorite verses! So you see, Tim, even if you don't know all your neighbors super well, you can still lead others and know that God gave you the ability to do this. Even if you don't feel completely up to the task (and believe me when I tell you you're not the only one who's had that feeling about spreading the Bible) you can rely on God. In fact, you should. His strength is made perfect in your weakness, as 2 Corinthians 12:9 says. In other words, He's with you all the way!
Lilly: I really hope your Bible study goes well, Tim.
Dodger: Me too. Wow, time has flown. I've gotta pack!
Lilly: I've got to go home and help my mother bake cookies for a charity bake sale.
Dodger: I guess that this is where we say goodbye for now. It sure was nice of you to visit! Thank you so much. Remember, Jesus loves you, and that's not about to change!
Lilly: See you!
The "email" shown in this post was written by the author, using a screenshot from a program called "appfolio", which is a program not owned, operated, or otherwise edited by I-BulldogStudios. The screenshot was heavily edited by I-BulldogStudios.
NKJV Means "New King James Version", and NOG means "Names of God Version".
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