Keep Looking at Your Fish: This Sunday at 6

Dear Student Ministries Parents,

Last Sunday evening, I taught from James 1:18–25 on A Heart Prepared to Receive the Word. James calls us to receive God’s Word humbly and become doers of what we hear. Looking intently at His Word must lead to doing His Word.

You can watch the message, listen to the audio, or read the transcript here.

If you missed it, I encourage you to listen before Sunday, perhaps together with your student. And if you were there, take some time to talk about how it should affect your Bible reading this week. What have you read? What did you learn about God? How are you responding to it? And if you have any questions, write those down and bring them Sunday.

I would love for you and your family to join us this Sunday, September 20, at 6 p.m. at the Avion Center for another evening service together with the whole church.

In Student Ministries, we have a Q&A box where the students can ask anything, so we regularly have little “Ask Pastor Jake” sessions. I’ve received quite a few questions about how to actually read the Bible, understand hard passages, and more. This Sunday, we’re going to focus on a topic I think will be helpful for all of us: “Ask Pastor Jake (and Smed): Keep looking at your fish.”

This builds on the story of Agassiz and the fish that I shared at the end of last Sunday’s lesson. It illustrates how prolonged, focused observation helps us truly understand a subject. There is nothing more worthy of that careful observation and study than God’s very Word.

Smed and I are looking forward to a fun, interactive evening where the whole church can learn alongside Student Ministries how to actually read and study the Bible. Bring your Bible and your questions!

Also for your planning: We will not gather for evening service or Student Ministries on Sunday, September 27.

Please reach out to me or your student’s discussion group leader if there is a way we can better serve your family.

Your servant for His glory,
Jacob Hantla