"I think it would be good to start studying the Bible together, a bit deeper than we have before" I said to a couple of local Christians a few weeks ago. "What do you think?"

  

One of these men, Uncle Jit, has been a Christian for a bit over a year now. He has grown in faith steadily since the day he decided to follow Jesus.

  

"Yes - definitely," he replied.

  

"Okay, I have a good Bible study on Genesis," I responded. "Or we can do a more topical Bible study."

  

"Genesis, would be better," Uncle Jit replied.

  

"Ok," I said. "I'll see what I can do."

  

The next day I returned with the Bible study booklet on Genesis. Many years ago, an OMF missionary in Thailand but together Bible study materials for every book of the Bible, and called in Home Bible Seminary (HBS). An important part is the way the books continually focus on the application of each verse and chapter to everyday life. These Bible study books have been used all around the country to build a solid of  church leaders who have a good underlying knowledge of the Bible.

  

Often young people who have gone off to study at Bible Seminaries in Bangkok or overseas never return to serve the church that sent and supported them in the first place. This is great for building the Kingdom of God, but not very helpful for building the local church. So, an important part of church planting is to provide good theological education through the local church - which is exactly what HBS was designed to do.

  

"This looks really  good, Jeff," Uncle Jit said to me when he saw it. "Only, my Bible is too small to read. Can you do anything to help?"

  

"Sure," I said. "I'll enlarge the book of Genesis for  you."

  

So a couple of days later, I arrived at his house with an enlarged copy of Genesis. I was returning from visiting another man in the evening though, so by the time I arrived at Uncle Jit's  house it was already dark and he had gone to bed. So I left the copy of Genesis on his porch and thought I'd visit him the next day.

  

I turned up late afternoon the next day and asked him if he'd found it or not.

  

"Yes, thanks!" he said. "I'm up to chapter five now. Only there's a few things I don't understand."

  

"Ok, I said. "Let's talk about it..." Which just goes to show that anyone can study the Bible.