I had the privilege of leading a book study this summer called Jesus: The I AM (Ruth Cowles). Stepping into the unknown, I threw out a Facebook post asking if anyone would like to join me in going through it. At first there was only one response. Then I had this big dumb surgery on my ankle the first week of May and was scooting around on a knee scooter for six weeks. I had planned to start the study in June – but now, how could I possibly?
Finally I decided, after some prayer, that if there was enough interest I would go ahead and do it, here at my apartment. Trust me, I waffled on it! It did not seem wise to go forward given the scooter but I couldn’t get away from feeling like I should do it.
Soon after, the class began to fill, by word of mouth. Before I knew it we were up to 16 ladies, which is waaay too many for my apartment! I considered off site, but again … scooter. Then I remembered something – some of the tornado shelters in our complex are amazing spaces, and some can be reserved. Sure enough the building across from mine had a terrific room with a conference table big enough to seat us all. (And bathrooms, which was nice if they were unlocked. If not my friend Vanessa is quite a lock picker – wonder where that skill came from??).
I checked it out and it was available for all eight weeks so of course I moved forward. Showed up on the scooter the first week and you know what? It was fine.
It’s also one of the best studies I’ve ever been a part of.
Get this – we had everything from recently-saved to saved-for-forever women in the room, and here’s my favorite part. The ages of these ladies? Ranged from 13 to 88.
Mothers and daughters, a grandma and her granddaughter – it was a gorgeous example of Titus 2 coming true in real life:
Older women … are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children. (Titus 2:3-4)
And I think we did that. We loved speaking into those young ladies, and guess what? They blessed us immensely, with their joyful presence, incredible insights, and their maturity. In the last class we talked about pouring into each other – I asked the girls if anyone was pouring into them, and they all immediately said yes. I wonder how many more are out there needing that pouring?
Then I asked the olders who they were pouring into. It’s our job, it’s a command, period. I think it gave us all pause.
During those eight weeks, we also shared our testimonies with each other. Five minutes each, short and sweet, a couple each class. Talk about powerful! It was amazing to hear everyone’s stories – we came to Jesus from wildly different places, but the common thread through all was the TRUTH we’ve learned, and COMFORT we’ve received, and the HOPE and JOY that we move forward in.
Some of them had never shared their salvation testimony before, so it was a many-layered endeavor. I’m proud to say they all did it, in spite of some fear and anxiety. And through the weeks we grew quite close.
The study itself was about the seven “I AM” statements of Jesus in the book of John.
I AM the Bread of Life.
I AM the Light of the World.
I AM the Gate.
I AM the Good Shepherd.
I AM the Resurrection and the Life
I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life
I AM the Vine.
Today I’m inviting you to ponder one or more of these I AM statements. They are assertions that could only truthfully be made by the Son of God. The accusations against Him, against these statements, led directly to His crucifixion. I’d love to hear what comes out of your pondering.
I can’t begin to tell you what a powerful study it was. Every chapter took me DEEP, and I learned so much. I highly recommend it.
Now, to teach in the Fall, or take a rest? Remains to be seen …
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