Smaller groups, better conversations

Christianity Explored is a course we offer twice a year at Zion Bishan Bible-Presbyterian Church. The objective of the course is as its name suggests — inviting seekers to come to explore Christianity over seven sessions in the Gospel of Mark.

Our Spring session was smaller than past years. We had six table hosts and two tables with five seekers and their friends spread across them. It was a little discouraging at first, but we quickly realised and appreciated the advantages of a smaller group. 

The smaller groups translated to better conversations, as there are more opportunities to hear from each participant. 

This was especially helpful for difficult conversations, about sin, grace, or the cost of following Jesus. Not all of the participants end up accepting Christ by the end of the course. In fact, most don’t! But what is encouraging is that most agree to some sort of follow up by the end of the course. Praise God!

Do join us as we pray for these guests who are being followed up with. Pray for the Spirit to be working as they hear the truths of the gospel. Pray also for those following up that they will continue to speak Jesus to these ones faithfully and patiently.

Finally, let me leave you with a passage we looked at in our last table host training:

But we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
1 Corinthians 1:23-24

One of the big concerns many people have (including our table hosts) is dealing with intellectually difficult questions in evangelism. This passage reminds us that evangelism is not about winning arguments. What we’re most concerned with is faithful preaching of Christ crucified. It might seem foolish to the world, but in reality He is the power and wisdom of God.

May this be an encouragement to us to continue preaching the crucified Jesus!

By Joel Khoo, Zion Bishan Bible-Presbyterian Church in Singapore