{"id":1155,"date":"2024-02-07T22:29:21","date_gmt":"2024-02-07T22:29:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.championforest.org\/articles\/?p=1155"},"modified":"2024-02-07T22:29:24","modified_gmt":"2024-02-07T22:29:24","slug":"life-changing-moments-at-champion-forest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.championforest.org\/articles\/2024\/02\/07\/life-changing-moments-at-champion-forest\/","title":{"rendered":"Life-Changing Moments at Champion Forest"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

God is indeed at work at Champion Forest! In 2023, our church baptized 841 people. Each baptism is special because it represents a life that the power of the Gospel has transformed!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Baptism is important. Although it isn\u2019t required for salvation, it is the first step of faith and obedience a believer takes after giving their life to the Lord. Baptism publicly displays this decision to follow Jesus. Think of it like this: Baptism is like a wedding ring that signifies one\u2019s relationship with Jesus. It doesn\u2019t form that relationship, but it does testify about it. Baptism is an outward symbol of everything that has already taken place on the inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are a few encouraging stories from 2023 of lives changed at Champion Forest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Family of Six<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I remember a family of six getting baptized. The dad called me and told me how God changed his life. Recently out of prison, he decided that enough was enough. He said over the phone with so much joy and pride, \u201cI haven\u2019t even had a parking ticket since I got out.\u201d This family was baptized in rounds of three: the father, his wife, and eldest son were baptized first, and the younger three stood behind them and observed from the water. After the first three were baptized, they stayed in the water, turned around, and watched the younger half of their family follow Jesus in believer\u2019s Baptism, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Line Out the Door <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Good Friday was one for the books. We baptized 46 people across three campuses. At the Champions location, I remember lining the baptism candidates up so that we could ensure family members were baptized together. The line was literally out of the room and around the corner! The excitement in that room was tangible and contagious. It was hard to keep everyone in the room quiet as the worship service was underway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Same-Day Step of Obedience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We held a New Members class in November, and we had one lady who decided on the spot that she wanted to be baptized. 30 minutes later, she was in the water. When asked about her testimony, she said, “I grew up Catholic and six months ago asked God to lead me.” She read her Bible and saw Jesus\u2019 words, \u201cFollow me.\u201d She came to church and heard the gospel. Now, she loves and follows Jesus!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Christmas Eve They’ll Never Forget<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This past Christmas Eve, we baptized a mother and son together. The son uses a wheelchair, so we recruited an extra pastor to help with his baptism. These pastors carried the son in the water, and we were able to baptize the mom and son simultaneously. That\u2019s a Christmas Eve that they will never forget. Afterward, the mom repeatedly expressed gratitude that we went the extra mile to care for her son and make his baptism a smooth experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, the public aspect of baptism is remarkable, but the behind-the-scenes experience is cool, too. Our fantastic volunteer team serves each Sunday in the baptism room, greeting candidates and their families and helping the candidates prepare to get in the water. The baptizing pastor comes in and walks them through how everything will go, reiterates the importance of baptism, and prays with the candidate before getting into the water. This is an intimate time as some candidates may have a fear of water or a fear of crowds. However, they press through these fears when they step into the water to be baptized. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As candidates are raised from the water, the range of emotions and responses is wide. Some come out of the water with their hands lifted and big smiles. Others are quieter and more reflective, and some are even moved to tears. They are greeted with hugs and high-fives as they exit the baptistry. Exiting, they are given a shirt that says, “Never the Same,” and a baptism certificate. We also document their big day by taking photos of the baptism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is a blessing and a move of God that the waters of baptism are stirred nearly every Sunday in Spanish and English services across all three Champion Forest campuses. From start to finish, the baptism process is simply beautiful, and we are grateful that God is at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

God is indeed at work at Champion Forest! In 2023, our church baptized 841 people. Each baptism is special because it represents a life that the power of the Gospel has transformed! Baptism is important. Although it isn\u2019t required for salvation, it is the first step of faith and obedience a believer takes after giving […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":1159,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"\n

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I remember the first time I stood up to teach the Bible to a group of women in my local church. I was terrified. Yes, I studied the passage diligently and spent hours preparing pages of notes, but I wasn\u2019t sure if my preparation was effective. Is my teaching structured well? Will the women be interested or learn anything new? Have I interpreted this passage correctly?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many women who are asked to teach a Sunday School class, speak at a Bible study, or lead a small group experience similar fears. They often have little or no training specific to teaching Scripture and feel unequipped and insecure in their preparation. Even so, the abundance of resources available on the subject of teaching Scripture can be paralyzing for a new Bible teacher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s why we need books like Empowered and Equipped: Bible Exposition for Women Who Teach the Scriptures<\/em><\/a>. Julia Higgins, assistant professor of ministry to women at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, seeks to provide women with the tools they need to faithfully and effectively teach the Word of God to other women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Empowered and Equipped: Biblical Exposition for Women Who Teach the Scriptures <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJesus commissioned disciples to teach the nations, and women of the church must take his call seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Men and women alike are given the spiritual gift of teaching, yet few resources are designed specifically for women who exposit the Scriptures. In Empowered and Equipped<\/em>, Julia Higgins steers women through the steps needed to faithfully interpret, apply, and teach a passage of Scripture. By examining both the principles and practices of teaching of Bible exposition, Higgins seeks to prepare women in the local church to make and mold disciples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

B&H Academic. 224 pp. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should Women Teach the Bible?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

First we must ask, Is a book that encourages and equips women to teach Scripture necessary or even appropriate? There\u2019s much discussion today about whether the Bible permits women to teach at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an effort to submit to Scripture\u2019s teaching, many have unfortunately moved beyond what God\u2019s Word prescribes to impose unbiblical restrictions on women. To argue that women shouldn\u2019t teach Scripture in any formal setting misunderstands God\u2019s design for discipleship. Higgins argues that all followers of Christ, including women, are included in the Great Commission and its call to teach other disciples everything Christ commanded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, as Higgins explains, \u201cSome may conflate the spiritual gift of teaching with the office of pastor\/elder and draw a false conclusion that only men are to exercise the gift of teaching. While qualified men are responsible to teach and oversee the local church, that does not negate the fact that both men and women are given the spiritual gift of teaching.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

All followers of Christ, including women, are included in the Great Commission and its call to teach other disciples everything Christ commanded.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Spiritual gifts, including the gift of teaching, are given for the common good (1 Cor. 12:7<\/a>) and for building up the church (1 Cor. 14:12<\/a>). It follows that women are not only permitted to teach in appropriate settings but are needed for the growth and maturity of the body of Christ. This pattern is exemplified in the women in Scripture who are called to teach and commended for their teaching ministries, many of which Higgins references.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In light of the biblical call for women to teach, Higgins writes,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The end of the matter is this: women should be given a context where they can teach the Word in the local church. Why? Because Christ\u2019s church will grow and others will be discipled in the faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her book, therefore, provides \u201ca pathway for women to exercise teaching gifts in the local church,\u201d and specifically focuses on training women to teach women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Helpful Foundation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Higgins provides an accessible yet substantial foundation for teaching Scripture. She incorporates principles and strategies from some of the most highly respected Bible teachers of our day, giving readers a well-rounded introduction to teaching Scripture without information overload.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Higgins has a high view of God\u2019s Word and a Christ-centered approach that highlights the overarching storyline of the Bible. Readers will gain essential tools for expository teaching, learning to base the central teaching focus, supporting points, and application on the main point and structure of the text itself. Higgins even encourages this kind of verse-by-verse teaching for topical messages, so that the teacher is always communicating the text\u2019s intended purpose rather than taking passages out of context as proof texts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Empowered and Equipped<\/em> walks teachers through the process of creating a Bible exposition, from understanding the nature of Scripture all the way to writing an expositional outline. Higgins covers a wide range of content from theoretical to practical, including information on biblical genres, basic doctrinal issues, and hermeneutics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She spends a large portion of the book giving instruction on studying the Bible inductively, including specific strategies for observation, interpretation, generalization, and application and for how that study translates into instruction. The scope of the book makes it suitable for beginners\u2014although they may want to work through it more slowly\u2014as well as for those who have been studying and teaching Scripture for some time but are looking for a process to follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Empowered and Equipped<\/em> covers an impressive amount of ground in a surprisingly manageable page count, readers may leave with unanswered questions. For example, the book includes almost no discussion of incorporating meaningful illustrations or transitions. On other topics, such as the discussion of genre or the overview of theological doctrines, Higgins gives only brief introductions. Anything more, however, would make the book overwhelmingly dense, and readers can continue to explore these topics in more depth as they see fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Empowered and Equipped to Teach God\u2019s Word<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The church needs gifted women who not only speak on a short list of \u201cfemale-friendly\u201d topics stereotypical of women\u2019s conferences or retreats but who teach the whole counsel of God for the good of the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

The church needs gifted women who not only speak on a short list of \u2018female-friendly\u2019 topics but who teach the whole counsel of God for the good of the body.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Higgins appeals, \u201cThis call for women to be teachers of the Word arises from a place of care and concern for over half of the body, so that the church might grow in love for God and his Word, passing it along to others, so that they too might go and make disciples of all nations to the end that Christ\u2019s commands are observed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As this book makes its way into the hands of more and more women who treasure the Bible and long to see it elevated and proclaimed, I pray the church will be edified and God\u2019s glory made known. I pray the teachers it equips will grow in their love for Christ even as the women they teach develop new excitement for God\u2019s Word. I pray that instead of feeling insecure and unprepared, women will be empowered and equipped to teach the Scriptures.<\/p>\n","_et_gb_content_width":"","_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1155","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-spiritual-growth","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\nLife-Changing Moments at Champion Forest<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"God is at work at Champion Forest! 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