Searching Scripture, Finding Jesus

I, Rhoda, also had the joy of presenting at a breakout session at Best Practices Ministry last week. After a brief presentation that began with the “grim statistics” of the decline in church membership in recent decades, moved to the need for adult faith formation, and zipped through a quick summary of the stages of the adult catechumenate, my formal presentation ended with brief descriptions of three models for small group reflection on Scripture. Common to all three is use of the Gospel texts from the three-year lectionary.  The focus on Gospel readings in these small groups introduces those unfamiliar with the Bible to the person of Jesus – not doctrines or teachings about Jesus – but the stories of Jesus, what he said and did. One resource on the adult catechumenate, describing the African method, says, “this method turns Bible study away from the intellectual pursuit of knowledge about the text toward an attitude of listening to what God is saying through the text” (Go Make Disciples, 140).

After my introductory presentation, we broke up into small groups that experienced the three models, led by three of my former students, all serving as Directors of Christian Education in parishes. The joy I felt observing these young women leading the small groups with a gentle but firm hand, with the skill of servant leadership, and with empathy as participants shared their reactions to the text was overwhelming — so much so, that I completely forgot to take photos of them; but I found these on their church’s websites.

Thanks be to God for these women and their service to the church!

Alanna Davis CSP ’16 Epiphany Lutheran Church Kenmore, WA

Jackie Druckhammer CSP ’14 St. John Lutheran Church Vancouver, WA

Heather McCormick CSP ’14 Faith Lutheran Church Topeka, KS

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Banner photo by Jackie Druckhammer