In a bit of a unique scenario, I’m home and not traveling globally for about seven weeks through the last part of July and all of August. What a treat, and Holly and I want to make the most of it. Certainly I’m occupied every weekend preaching in churches all over the Pacific Northwest, and I’m preparing for and taking a class in “coaching” (not sports coaching but a biblically-based program in how to help others learn through asking questions and accomplishing the coachee’s goals.) I’m also trying to develop some new curricula or orally-oriented learners. But Holly and I have also decided to open our home to various people. As Holly frequently mentions, Romans 12:13 says we must “practice hospitality.” We don’t need to be perfect at it, but we should practice it.

After our kids left following Andrew and Ivy Jo’s wedding, we had missionary friends of ours who stayed with us for a week – so fun seeing their kids running around! We also had one of our teammates stay the night while she was doing work in the area. But the main group we’re having in our home is a newly forming study group targeting young families. We have many new young families who have started attending our church, but it can be tough to get to know others, so we’re inviting them into our home each week for a Bible study, prayer time, and an opportunity to get connected. Our heart is to see these young people just starting out with young kids establish healthy patterns in their families that will bless them for years to come. We certainly don’t have it all figured out, but with our Bibles open we can have a good time together and “spur one another on to love and good deeds.”

So we started last week, and will be going through the book of Titus (because I think we can get through it before I start traveling again in September.) I’m not sure what we will do about childcare as the group grows, but we’ll figure it out. It was sweet last Thursday hearing stories of how couples met, and what they are hoping for in this group. Some of their answers included:

• Connection with others at similar stage of life,
• Interact together around God’s Word,
• Build skills in how to study the Bible,
• Learn some patterns that could be useful for family and personal devotions,
• Pray for each other,
• Build relationships with others at LCF,
• Have fun together,
• Develop potential leadership skills and work as a couple together in leading a study.

We dove into the first four verses of Titus after discussing some about the background of the book (author, recipient, purpose of the book, etc.) It was good to explore Paul’s motive for this letter to his dear pastor friend Titus that he shares in 1:1-3: To build faith of those chosen and knowledge of truth leading to godliness, with end result of eternal life. This is a great synopsis of our spiritual journey (faith grows in knowledge of truth producing godly behavior that ends in eternal life.) This is a theme that runs through Titus. All of this is rooted in God, who cannot lie (He is faithful and true), who promised the Gospel long ago (throughout the Old Testament), and has now revealed His Word by the preaching of the Gospel and in His Son (1:4). Last night we continued in Titus with the next section focused on qualifications of elders and pastors in the church. The conversation was lively and engaging, and we had a productive time in God’s Word, praying for one another, and growing together.

We’ll have a great time working through this book with these dear people through the rest of the summer. And who knows, maybe they’ll want to keep going after I return to training globally. Please be in prayer for this group, and also consider opening your home for a small group Bible study through your church. There is a great blessing when God’s people get together regularly with Bibles and hearts open ready to learn and encourage each other.