Isaiah, the Messianic Prophet

The class already started. We already had a quiz. The serious students really are. I love them. I don't need many, but I need a few. I love the kind that run out and buy the book I say to buy. Whatever they can learn about God and the Bible, they will. If I can teach, I get to teach. When I stop, they'll find someone else or demand that I supply someone else. Sunday School is now GBI, the Goodwill Bible Institute. Institute is a verb. The teachers will be called faculty, no matter what age they teach. They will be asked to sign contracts for the classes they teach. We're a small group within a large church. It's not that lots of people don't want to spend great time with the Bible, but there are other things in their lives. These other things! I'm not even promoting the class. People who want to come have to discover it. Isaiah will take 18 months and the classes will be recorded, so the latecomers will have a chance to finish well. I love that I'm not "selling" the class from the front of the sanctuary. How pathetic it feels trying to convince people that time in the Bible is worthwhile. They'll learn as God leads them to. God is the one who does this in a person. Interest in His Word depends on His Merciful Spirit, not on our efforts or desires (Romans 9:16).

The class already started. We already had a quiz. After a two week hiatus, we'll pick the class back up and have our second quiz.

What do you think?

OK. I guess this blog is still on some radar screens and still alive. This being the case, let me ask you something. What book in the Bible would you like to see taught in a master-class format during the Sunday School hour at Goodwill? It's the next stage in establishing GBI. I had originally planned to do Romans, but the Bridge is airing a former Romans series now, so I need to do another book. Which of the other 65 would you like to see taught? I had been thinking about Isaiah. That will be a long road. Genesis, and possible the whole Torah, is another candidate. An even longer road. Obadiah. Not so long. Let me know.

By the way, I'm reading through The NASB95 this year and loving it. The NASB is closest to the the Greek and Hebrew, hands down. The 1995 redo is well done. Anyone see the new NIV? Not the PC one that was panned last year, but the 2010 redo.

It's my 17th time reading through the Bible in a year. I feel like I'm learning new things every time! The Word of God is truly unique. It is truly anointed. I know most of you reading this know this, but just in case...