A highlight in my week is seeing the assistant small group leaders (ASGLs) patiently guide and teach students, to read the Bible for themselves.

“No spoon-feeding” is one of the skills that I love seeing Ninoy, Nicole and Lily thoughtfully apply.  This Bible reading skill is counter-cultural for many of our international students at euFOCUS (EU’s ministry to international students).  With the deeply rooted influence of Confucius on education in many East Asian countries, spoon-feeding has become the default mode of instruction.  East Asian students esteem the authority of experts.  Such education philosophy has extended to the way Christians read the Bible. Greater weight is placed on the “right answers” of the pastor, scholar and author.  The ordinary Christian submits to the proven wisdom of the learned.

But God’s word is clear to every believer.  It is our prayer at euFOCUS, that students learn to read the Bible for themselves.  Here’s one example.  In small groups this past semester,  students took time examining the book of John 15; the relationship between the vine and the branches, of Christ and his followers.  Ninoy, Nicole and Lily used the prop (a vine, of sorts, with branches and fruit) to help students consider the differing outcomes of branches within and without the vine.

In order to equip international students with the skill of reading the Bible for themselves, I have been working on a two-year Bible study curriculum for our small groups (‘Express Groups’). It includes a range of biblical genres, key doctrines and ethical issues relevant to Christian international students, particularly those returning to their home countries. We hope to see these students train others to read the Bible for themselves, in whatever setting God places them in the future.

Will you join me in praying, that the students and staff of euFOCUS will partner well in this ministry; to “proclaim Christ, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ”?