One of my goals this month is to spend quality time with two local Christians who have both professed faith in Christ for at least a couple of years. Both of these young men (mid-twenties) are almost completely without Christian fellowship with people who speak their language and belong to their culture. One comes from a strong Buddhist background. He is the only believer in this city. The other comes from a Muslim background and is one of only a couple scattered believers in a region that is home to more than 1 million Muslims.
I see these guys fairly often and have spent a good deal of time talking and praying with them during the past couple years, but rarely have I taken the time to sit down with them and study Scripture in a deep and meaningful way. Recently, I have felt the Holy Spirit convicting me of not spending more time doing just that.
My goal in studying the Bible with these guys is two-fold. First, I want them to have assurance that they are truly saved.
“Put yourselves to the test to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize regarding yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you ¡§C unless, indeed, you fail the test!”
2 Corinthians 13:5
The book of 1st John was written for this purpose. John wrote in chapter 5, verse 13, “I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” So we will be studying this book in depth in order to examine ourselves. For those interested in learning more about assurance, here are some amazing mp3 messages and a Youtube video on Biblical Assurance from Paul Washer. (Also, see Paul preaching to “Reformed Rappers” below)
Second, after studying 1st John so that these guys are encouraged that they are truly walking with Christ, I will be able to focus on discipleship in whatever area of their lives that is lacking the most. You have to realize that these guys do not attend church, because there isn’t one. They do not go to Sunday school, they do not have Christian radio, and they only have a very small handful of Christian books. They desperately NEED the discipleship and deep Scripture study that I want to help them with.
Please pray for me! I have already spent quite a bit of time with one of these guys, and tomorrow I am departing on a short trip where my primary focus will be to spend time with the second brother.
