I have quite a history. Before I came to faith
in Christ I was a true seeker – a very confused, deceived and agonized
seeker.
When I was a child I attended a
Lutheran church with a friend as my own family didn’t attend church. My
mom then told a neighbor that I had religious interests. He, being a
well-meaning friend of the family, gave me a bunch of books to read that
all had to do with reincarnation. I read them and they seemed to make
sense so I believed thinking it all was true. As life progressed I got
involved in drugs and became a member of several occult secret
societies. I was also an astrologer.
One sunny, Saturday morning a nice
couple of ladies showed up at my door offering me an opportunity to
study the Bible with them. I was eager to learn more about the Bible. It
turns out that these ladies were Jehovah’s Witnesses and had a corrupted
Bible. At that time I had friends who attended a small chapel who were
trying to tell me that what the Jehovah Witnesses were teaching was
wrong. They were especially adamant about the deity of Christ.
After a number of intense discussions
with them and my JW Bible teacher I was reeling with confusion. I lay
down on my bed and cried out to God. “God! All I want is the truth —
even if it means being a ‘Jesus freak’!”
The next morning there was a tract on
my coffee table. To this day I don’t know how it got there. It was
called ‘A letter to a Jehovah’s Witness’. It carefully explained the
Gospel and refuted their doctrine with scripture after scripture. I knew
when I read it that it was the answer that I prayed for. My heart sang!
Shortly after that I was baptized in my friend’s little chapel in
Glenwood Springs, Colorado.
This new believer had a ton of beliefs
and practices that didn’t go away instantly. I remember praying, “God
how am I ever going to un-believe all this stuff I’ve held on to for so
long?
The answer to that prayer came almost
as swiftly as the first. God moved me to Greeley, Colorado and got me
established in a strong Bible-teaching church. I went to a Bible study
every Tuesday morning for the next several years. As I continually
bathed my heart in the study of His Living Word the transformation came
naturally without striving.
My early years as a believer included
intense spiritual warfare and trials but I found that I had all I needed
in Christ and in His Word. I learned to stand firm, I learned to pray
with authority, and I found that all those occult beliefs and practices
I had just evaporated.
Addicted to Precepts
Needless to say I have a passion for
the truth. It truly, truly sets us free! And Precepts Bible studies are
the most exciting experience in discovering truth I have ever found in
my 25 years as a believer.
Precepts is an amazing method of Bible
Study, called “inductive”, that allows you to discover truth as you
study. It is like going on a treasure hunt with God — one that you are
guaranteed to find gold! It is so much fun finding a gold nugget of
truth yourself instead of relying on others to find it for you. And you
treasure the nuggets of truth that God reveals to you; they have
tremendous personal value.
With each Precepts study you get a
workbook that walks you through this journey of discovery. In the back
of your workbook you have ‘Observation Worksheets.’ This is the text of
the book you are studying typed in large print, double-spaced with wide
margins. You use colored pencils or pens to mark the key repeated words
and phrases and as you read and reread the text. Something truly
remarkable happens when you read the Bible with purpose. Seeking the
answer to questions, your mind is very active and attentive and you see
things in text you never saw before. Later in the study you learn to do
Greek and Hebrew word studies and then you study cross-references so you
can see how scripture interprets scripture. This is the basis of
inductive Bible Study.
Our classes meet once a week. During
class we have a discussion that allows everyone to share what they
learned during the week and then watch an hour video by Kay Arthur. Kay
is the founder and author of Precepts Bible studies. She is one of the
most gifted and exciting teachers I’ve ever had the privilege to hear.
She has the ability to share deep understanding of the Bible and
challenge us to put what we are learning into practice in our daily
lives.
There is a less intensive study
(requiring less homework each week) called ‘The LORD’ series. These
studies are more topical in nature than the Precepts studies (which work
through a book of the Bible), but they still allow you to observe text
and discover truth for yourself.
I’ve been involved in Precepts as a
student or teacher for ten years. I can honestly say that nothing has
had a more profound transforming effect on my life and faith than these
studies. I can also testify that James 1:25 is true; “But one who looks
intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not
having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall
be blessed in what he does.” Amen!
If you have a hunger for truth and for
radical change in your heart, I strongly encourage you to take the
plunge into one of these studies. You’ll be richly blessed!
Precepts Testimonies
“There has never been anything in my
life more exciting and meaningful than to lead people in the study of
God’s Word; a deep study of him, his love and will for our lives. “
--Sherrie Maupin, Vineyard Boise
Precepts Teacher
“Precepts helps me to dig deeper in
the Word. By learning details in the Bible, I have discovered greater
truths about God and his love for us. The more I learn, the better
picture I have of his faithfulness and his masterful plan for all of us.
Studying the Bible through Precepts is encouraging and rewarding. That's
why I keep coming back.”
---Theresa Williams
“I have taken several Precept classes.
I hesitated at first because of all the homework but I have found this
kind of study to be so exciting that I often found myself doing more
than what was required for that week. It was also very exciting to hear
what others discovered during their studies. Many times it was similar
to what I found but God always emphasized something a little different
to each of us.
Precepts has changed the way I read
the Word. It's not enough to just read what I see on the page. I know
that even though the Lord speaks through that, there is so much more
than that. It reminds me of an archaeologist who certainly will make
discoveries while studying the surface, but when he takes the time to
gather the necessary tools and excavate, he finds treasures he could not
have imagined. How exciting is that? God always rewards me when I take
the time to dig.
The word also tells us "Be diligent to
present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be
ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth." 2Tim. 2:15. I want to
know and understand the Word. Hey, do a study on the word ‘Word’... I'm
addicted!”
--- Kim Wood
