Arming Manmin Members with the Word of God - The Five-week Education Program for New Comers and Manmin Bible Academy
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January 31, 2010 |
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In this New Year, 2010, our church members are in earnest mood to arm themselves with the word. God puts emphasis on our arming ourselves with the word because everything in our lives will prosper as we know the word of God and live within it. Staying close to God's word is one of the best ways to distancing ourselves from the world, and we can equip ourselves with the power and strength to demolish the camp of the enemy Satan and come forth as a spiritual warrior with the word of God. Our church members are leading their lives of faith filled with the Holy Spirit by experiencing God who fulfills His promises as recorded in the Bible. One of the reasons is thanks to our church's two major education programs. They are the Five-week Education Program for New Comers and Manmin Bible Academy established to systematically arm our members with the word. For members who have yet to participate any of these programs, we introduce the curriculum of the programs in detail.
District leaders are helping with attendees' prayers at the Holy Spirit Prayer Meeting for New Comers.
The Five-week Education Program for New Comers
# There is the Five-week Education Program for those who are newly registered in our church. The new comers learn the basics of God's word and attend the Holy Spirit Prayer Meeting. They can participate in this program anytime after they become a registered member. The program lasts for 5 weeks and newcomers can start at any point in the program. At 2 PM every Sunday at the Newcomers' Welcoming Room, Pastor Timothy Kim gives lecture (1) on 'The Message of the Cross' titled 'Why Is Jesus Our Only Savior'; and Pastor Deborah Lee lecture (2) on 'The Message of the Cross' with the title 'Eating the Flesh and Drinking the Blood of the Son of Man'; Pastor Seungshin Kim lectures on the basics of 'Spirit, Soul and Body'; and Pastor Chongbong Joo teaches the basics of 'the History of Christianity'. The Holy Spirit Prayer Meeting is held at 1:50 PM on the third Sunday of every month at the second sanctuary, and it is led by Pastor Hyungkwon Joo, Pastor Hyukhee Cho and Pastor Crystal Soojung Kim. Through this education program, new-comers are learning the basics of God's word, gaining useful church information, and they adjust to their new life in the church. In addition, because they need to receive the Holy Spirit to become children of God, they attend the prayer meeting and receive the Holy Spirit.
Manmin Bible Academy, a Cradle for Spiritual Warriors
# Manmin Bible Academy (President Pastor Gamaliel Lee) was established in 1997 with the goal to teach the Bible to members. It has served as a cradle for spiritual warriors and systematically teaches the Bible with the explanations from God for the members' growth of faith. Those who have a title of cell leader, group leader, junior deaconess and above are required to finish the courses of Manmin Bible Academy. The education consists of two semesters; in spring and in autumn of every year. The students attend the class once a week from 8 PM to 10 PM and there are the basic, intermediate and upper level classes. Each class is a 10-week-long program. The student studies the 'The New and Old Testaments' and 'The Message of the Cross' during the basic level class, currently held in the third sanctuary; 'The Measure of Faith' and 'Man of Spirit' are taught during the intermediate level class that meets in the first nursery room; and in the upper level course they study 'Spirit, Soul and Body', 'The Power of God' and watch the DVD of 'Thunder with the Original Voice'. After the students complete all the courses, they receive the certificate of completion from Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee at the completion ceremony held during a designated Sunday Evening Service. The first semester begins in next March, and the applicants can register at the lobby of the main sanctuary from 8 PM until 9 PM from 2 weeks before the opening day of this semester.
1. New comers are being served noodles for lunch at the New Comers' Welcoming Room after Sunday Morning Service. 2. The Completion Ceremony of Manmin Bible Academy was held during Sunday Evening Service on December 13, 2009.
"Everyone, How about Studying the Bible Deacon Yoonyoung Go (Completed the courses at Manmin Bible Academy)
When I first registered the church, I was only interested in the messages such as Lecture on Genesis and Lecture on Revelation that explained about deep spiritual realm. So I wasn't really interested in the messages that are basics in our life of faith. However, as I heard Senior Pastor's messages each week, I came to realize about Christian life and wanted to study the word of God more systematically. This is why I registered Manmin Bible Academy and finished all the courses. In the basic class I learned about Jesus Christ and what the Bible consisted of through 'The Message of the Cross' and 'The New and Old Testaments'. During the intermediate level classes I learned what Christian life was and how I could increase my faith through 'The Measure of Faith' and 'Man of Spirit.' Lastly, I studied the messages on 'The Power of God' preached in the revival meeting before I registered in the church, and studied 'Spirit, Soul and Body' during the upper level class. The speakers taught God's word in detail and the lectures helped me better understand the Senior Pastor's sermons along with the messages on the church's website and greatly helped me understand God's will. Particularly, they taught the basic messages in an easy and systematic way with examples so I could get a deeper understanding when reading Senior Pastor's books. I highly recommend those who wish to systematically study the Bible attend Manmin Bible Academy.
To Spiritually Arm Ourselves with the Words
1. You have to diligently read, hear and recite the word of God and engrave it in your heart.
Proverbs 3:3 reads "Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart." The children of God not only should stay close to God's word but also they have to keep it in mind. The reason is because of the changeable nature of humans. They easily forget the word they heard, and to the same extent that they are in the flesh, it is not easy for them to always keep their heart. Thus, you have to engrave the word in your heart and act according to it by reading it again and again until you can recite it. Then, you will finally be able to act by the word as habitually as you eat and sleep.
2. You have to daily meditate on the word of God and pray fervently holding onto the word.
Those who long for the word of God would like to meditate on the word in whatever they do. Even though we know the word, living according to it is not easy only by the will and effort of man. Only when we receive the grace, ability and the aid of the Holy Spirit from God, can we throw away sins and live according to the word of God. This is why it is written in Timothy 4:5 that "For it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer."
3. By keeping and acting by the word, you have to completely cultivate your heart into that of the spirit.
Romans 2:13 reads "For it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified." Once we hear the word of God, it is important to act according to it. Only when we bear the fruit of living by the word, and our faith becomes perfect, not only will we reach salvation but we will be able to enter New Jerusalem.
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