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Education Ministry

Posted on September 12, 2006 ...

There is a maxim that says, ?¢‚Ǩ?ìYou can?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t determine if you will get an education, it is only the type and quality over which you have control.?¢‚Ǩ¬ù I believe that a very good case could be made for the validity of this statement. We can indeed be ?¢‚Ǩ?ìeducated?¢‚Ǩ¬ù by most any person or circumstance that we encounter. However, the problem with this type of unstructured approach is that the result is seldom what we had hoped for. On the other hand, we always have the ability to choose for ourselves what shapes our perspectives and priorities and, therefore, our total worldview. If we allow the difficulties of a secular world and the influences of secular people to educate us into being defensive, suspicious, cynical, or bitter then we can find ourselves mired in a life that is lived ?¢‚Ǩ?ìin?¢‚Ǩ¬ù the world. Rest assured that there must be a continuing deliberate choice, on our part, to immerse ourselves in an environment that encourages the growth of all those fruits of the Spirit which enable us to live for eternity rather than today. Having said this, let me encourage you to take some positive steps toward defining your personal environment by intentionally selecting continuing educational opportunities that lead toward Christian maturity.
I read an article once that stated, ?¢‚Ǩ?ìBusyness is not of the devil, busyness is the devil.?¢‚Ǩ¬ù I don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t agree with the theology, but it does make an important point. When our lives are so filled with things, even important things, that we do not cultivate our own spiritual development, we have sacrificed the victorious, productive life that God wants for us and in its place we find only a secularly-induced silhouette.
I would welcome an opportunity to work with individuals in finding material that would be appropriate for their specific Christian growth needs. Simply stop by the education office or give me a call. It is not always necessary to wait for a small group study to be offered.
Beginning Sep. 17th, we have 2 new opportunities for growth available at our facility on Sunday evenings.
1. Music Theory 101
2. Foundations of the Faith; Doctrines that Baptist Believe
If you would like to be a part of either of these classes, please register in advance.
There are also ?¢‚Ǩ?ìon-line?¢‚Ǩ¬ù courses that can work well for those whose calendars conflict with traditional time schedules. - Verlin

1 Peter 3:15..always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you?¢‚Ǩ¬¶.