Navigating the Cultural Tides
Renew Bible Study at Hillside Lutheran Brethren Church in Succasunna, New Jersey.
We live in a culture that emphasizes self-help concepts and skepticism. So how do we answer this question: “Is there any doubt where we receive our help?” Is our answer grounded in the truth of God’s Word, or in ourselves?
What has helped us navigate biblical truths is taking part in an intergenerational Bible Study: an intentional practice that builds relationships and fosters learning between people of different age groups. It creates a sense of community with opportunities to share our faith and values with one another under the tutelage of godly teaching and guidance.
Renew, a women’s community Bible study at Hillside Church that has been regularly meeting for more than 40 years, is using Mama Bear Apologetics by Hillary Morgan Ferrer as a tool to actively engage and disciple generations of women.
This book presents biblical and cultural truths to critically think about, so that ultimately we can love others through the changing tides, as well as discern the lies of the culture in which we live. We have found, whether we are “Mama Bears” of our own children, grandchildren, or spiritual children, that this curriculum has been effective in equipping us to share the truths of our biblical worldview.
As we ground ourselves in God’s revealed truth in the Scriptures, we are engaged in overviews of each chapter, followed by a respectful and open discussion. We have been challenged by the sharing of our own experiences. And we have related personal stories of how words such as “tolerance” have been hijacked to serve a purposeful agenda in the culture.
It has not only brought awareness of different ideologies of our times and their roots, but also how easily we can, as believers, be influenced to slip into these ways of thinking.
We also have been encouraged to understand our strengths and weaknesses while building bridges in our relationships with others who may disagree with our biblical worldview.
We have had women attending our study ranging from the age of 30 to over 80, which gives us great diversity in biblical knowledge and life experience.
“As someone who appreciates what I can learn through respectful dialogue, it’s been great to be armed with a strategy of theology in defense of authentic Christianity,” said one woman who has been attending our study for more than 30 years.
A woman with young children relates that this study helps a generation of parents who did not grow up with the internet, to teach and inspire biblical truths in their children’s social-media-driven worldview.
One woman in her 80s said, “In the 1970s I read and listened to a lot of Francis Schaeffer, who covered a lot of this type of thinking. I don’t think my generation had as much difficulty as the recent ones, as we still had a God consciousness.”
Why have we been doing our weekly intergenerational Bible Study? Because it is of utmost importance to entrench yourself in God’s Word and stand firm.
What has helped us navigate biblical truths is taking part in an intergenerational Bible Study: an intentional practice that builds relationships and fosters learning between people of different age groups. It creates a sense of community with opportunities to share our faith and values with one another under the tutelage of godly teaching and guidance.
Renew, a women’s community Bible study at Hillside Church that has been regularly meeting for more than 40 years, is using Mama Bear Apologetics by Hillary Morgan Ferrer as a tool to actively engage and disciple generations of women.
This book presents biblical and cultural truths to critically think about, so that ultimately we can love others through the changing tides, as well as discern the lies of the culture in which we live. We have found, whether we are “Mama Bears” of our own children, grandchildren, or spiritual children, that this curriculum has been effective in equipping us to share the truths of our biblical worldview.
As we ground ourselves in God’s revealed truth in the Scriptures, we are engaged in overviews of each chapter, followed by a respectful and open discussion. We have been challenged by the sharing of our own experiences. And we have related personal stories of how words such as “tolerance” have been hijacked to serve a purposeful agenda in the culture.
It has not only brought awareness of different ideologies of our times and their roots, but also how easily we can, as believers, be influenced to slip into these ways of thinking.
We also have been encouraged to understand our strengths and weaknesses while building bridges in our relationships with others who may disagree with our biblical worldview.
We have had women attending our study ranging from the age of 30 to over 80, which gives us great diversity in biblical knowledge and life experience.
“As someone who appreciates what I can learn through respectful dialogue, it’s been great to be armed with a strategy of theology in defense of authentic Christianity,” said one woman who has been attending our study for more than 30 years.
A woman with young children relates that this study helps a generation of parents who did not grow up with the internet, to teach and inspire biblical truths in their children’s social-media-driven worldview.
One woman in her 80s said, “In the 1970s I read and listened to a lot of Francis Schaeffer, who covered a lot of this type of thinking. I don’t think my generation had as much difficulty as the recent ones, as we still had a God consciousness.”
Why have we been doing our weekly intergenerational Bible Study? Because it is of utmost importance to entrench yourself in God’s Word and stand firm.
Janet Spencer is a member of Hillside Lutheran Brethren Church in Succasunna, New Jersey. She also served as past Chairman of CLB Women’s Ministries and has led Renew Bible Study for 40+ years.
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