First Hand Truth Bible Study Seminar, November 6, 2025 / 6:45-8:45pm / Continental Pastries and Deli / Battle Creek, MI

Months ago, I had this dream to do something to encourage people toward growing in their “first-hand” knowledge of the Word of God, and thus encourage people’s development into a deeper relationship with God. Months ago.

Since this seminar is the first one, it is untried. I have no testimonials, nor do I have any word-of-mouth encouragement from others to give it a try. So this first one will be harder than the rest. I need a bit of help from some of you, dear people.

It is not extracurricular; it is critical.  Not the seminar, the idea behind the seminar. We must be people of the Word, we must become people of the Word. This must be firsthand contact. Pastors cannot have a relationship with God on our behalf. There is danger there.

Worse, we can find ourselves superficially connecting to the Bible, not combining it with faith and humility, and becoming like the Pharisees of old. This is dangerous too. Ignorance of the Word might be better than knowledge combined with legalism (making it about merely “do this, don’t do that”) and pride (I’m all that I should be).

However long we have been a Christian, we should find ourselves in need of God’s truth, wisdom, and even salvation. When he speaks to us in the Word about the shallowness of the Corinthians, we should not consider that he is not speaking to us, as well. We need to approach the Word as each of us being needy beggars rather than pompous arrogant know-it-alls who point the finger at anyone but themselves.

We should not rely on others “above” us but develop our own relationship with Jesus that is not encumbered with other people’s opinions and biases — Jesus is our teacher (Matthew 23), the Spirit is our teacher (1 John 2:27, John 14).

Shining like the sun on a brisk fall morning, oh, there is an option. Each of us can come to the Word and find God there, ready to speak directly to us. There is nothing fancy here, just openness and honesty that comes from the desire to open the Bible and ask, “What are you saying here, Father?” and “How should it change my life?”

There are some strategies to help us make the most of these times with an open Bible, open hearts, and a ready pen. These we need to pass on to others!

How you can help!

Prayer. Pray that God would provide a few people who acknowledge their need for encouragement and desire to be equipped in the “how to” of personal Bible study. I am looking for about 12-18 people. Pray for this number. Pray for the right people.

Participation. It would be helpful if a few of you who know me well would come forward and participate. Bring a friend. Be a part. Perhaps you know someone for whom this would be an interest or a need.

Encouragement. You can encourage me and encourage others to be involved in the seminar. Share a Facebook post. Email it to a relative or friend. Be missionary about this.

Simple Help. I’ll need someone to help provide a few snacks or drinks for the participants. Nothing fancy. Just something to offer mid-seminar to be hospitable. 

Just reach out to me and let me know!