What's Happening in Adult Bible Fellowships?

Adult Bible Fellowships are essentially Sunday School Classes for adults. But we desire them to be so much more than "classes." We want to them to be "Fellowships" and all that that implies. It appears to be working. . .

I lifted this encouraging bit from Pastor Steve's Weekly Email Update to our Adult Bible Fellowship Leaders.

This has been an exciting Fall Quarter in our ABF Ministry. As you know we often answer the question “Where is God @ Work @ Grace?” when our staff gathers each week. I find myself regularly sharing about Adult Bible Fellowships of late. Let me encourage you with some examples:

• We have seen successful leadership transitions in Heritage Builders from Ted Malley to Jeff Mundorf, Tim Nugent and Ted.
  
  
• In light of Leon’s sabbatical, Tim Arlen has stepped into the lead role in Harvesters and has been gathering a team of others who are serving in areas of prayer, welcome, socials and more.
  
  
• Harvesters has launched our first ever ABF-based Growth Group and we are hearing great reports that this is greatly facilitating deeper relationships. We anticpate a couple more from Harvesters for the Winter Quarter.
  
  
• 2:42 began the Fall with a contacting blitz to reconnect with folks scattered during the summer. They followed this with a picnic in Mitchell Park after church a couple weeks ago allowing families (most of whom live outside SLO) to get to know each other better in a casual environment.
  
  
• Heritage Builders hosted a “Back to School BBQ” a couple weeks ago and began reconnecting with each other.
  
  
• I hear reports that Living Stones has grown to standing room only and is busting at the seams of their room on Sunday mornings.
  
  
• Bereans, Harvesters, Heritage Builders and 2:42 all began new series this Fall including Hebrews, James, What Jesus Demands form the World and Daniel.
  
  
• Numbers of personal stories of folks finding a significant place of connecting and belonging in our ABF Ministry.

Are you a "two service" family yet? Perhaps this is the next step into Grace for you. Our vision is that you'd worship together as a family in one of our 3 worship services, but then also enjoy some age-segregated fellowship and instruction in our outstanding Sunday School program for kids and our Adult Bible Fellowships.

Grudem on Women in Ministry

Since we're talking about what's offensive to some. . .

No doubt some might be offended by Wayne Grudem's thoughts on women in ministry. I think Grudem expresses well my own convictions and the convictions of our leadership here at Grace.

Grudem on Women in Ministry

My favorite paragraph is at the very end. . .

The Bible only restricts leadership to men in the home and in the church. It does not make similar restrictions in regard to government or business or other areas of life. The principle here is the sufficiency of Scripture: We need to remain true to everything that the Bible teaches, but not require more than the Bible teaches and not try to become "more conservative" than Scripture itself. We have the principles of male headship in the home and the church, but the Bible also has the principle of equality in the image of God. As men and women we both bear God's image equally (Genesis 1:27), and that means we have equal value and importance and dignity before God and with each other. That principle gives us great freedom to have both men and women lead according to gifts and abilities and callings in areas such as government and business and nonprofit organizations.

It's just as easy to become "more conservative" than Scripture itself. I think we have more places here at Grace where women can and should serve, but because of history and tradition have not. I think we're making slow, but healthy and Biblical progress.

I have had some great conversations about what the Bible says about this issue with those who have come to me asking questions. Most of the time these folks leave my office understanding and encouraged, if not always agreeing completely.

So . . .. (here we go again)

What do you think of Grudem's observations and thoughts?
What do you think about how these principles are or are not being applied at Grace?