Bible Study Conferences

In 2010, we challenged ourselves to go back and REVIEW the “story” of biblical spirituality that we tell ourselves and others. In the words of the great gospel hymn, we need to love both how we “tell the old, old story” as well as “sing the new, new song.” In the words of that year’s theme from 1 Peter 3:15, we also need to “be ready to explain the hope that is within us…to whoever may ask.”

Like people called to do this throughout the Bible we are asked to look freshly at familiar passages… as well ones we may have dismissed as less inspired. “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching…” (II Timothy 3:16). The Word, Christ, is present in all the words of the Bible.

In 2011, with a more complete understanding of our biblical “story”, we turned toward sharing that story more effectively with a wider community..to fulfilling the biblical demand of Isaiah 54:2 to “enlarge the borders of your tent.” Doing that, in the way Isaiah tells us to, required us to RENEW our vision of our present sense of local church, fellowship, and faith community.

Were we constricting the borders of the tent with layered traditions and familiar habits we associated with the Bible or sacred teachings that are really not fundamentally connected to either? Perhaps some of these practices had been helpful innovations at one time in the past and had served as useful trail markers. Now, however, they are borrowed memories (not inspired to us by Spirit) which parody the tent or fellowship experience which we want to be aflame with love…a healing narrative that is readily seen and perceived by all people and all generations.

In 2012, having reviewed our history in 2010, and sought to renew our present in 2011, we want to envision how we can be of the greatest service to the future God is already pouring into the present to “speak to the churches today.” In doing so, we join with other members of a broad movement of thoughtful Christians who are re-thinking the common 19th century goal to RESTORE primitive Christianity. We want to not just report on that movement, but be a part of it, participating in both learning from others as well as bearing effective witness to those elements of primitive Christianity which have so greatly enriched our lives.

So let’s consider this year’s theme, “Healing and the Kingdom of God,” in terms of how very familiar we find the words “healing” and “kingdom.” We use them all the time, but actually restoring them to deeper meaning requires us to make sure we are not clouding them in the patterns of either our church cultures or our societal definitions.

• Healing through prayer may be seen by many in the contemporary public as merely a health care alternative, a therapeutic method of physical relief sought as dispensary care through spiritual healers like others seek relief through pharmaceuticals and physicians.
• When we pray daily “Thy Kingdom come…” – what are we really open to having happen? Are we genuinely willing to be fundamentally challenged in the way we lead our lives and treat others?

2012 Asilomar National Bible Conference
2012 Midwest Bible and Spiritual Life Conference

Click here to download the 2012 brochure with all conference details