Last night I was sitting at my kitchen table reading the Bible in the local language with a young South East Asian man.

On one hand this felt so normal – I have sat at tables and read the Bible hundreds (maybe thousands?) of times before. But on the other hand, this moment was thrillingly strange and new – I was watching someone engage with biblical truths for the first time!

We were reading 2 Timothy 2:10–17. I wanted to let the Holy Spirit speak to this young believer as he read the text for himself. But I also wanted to help him understand by asking a few guiding questions. Why was Paul writing these words to Timothy? What was the original context? What is the main point of the passage?

As we discussed these questions, it became clear that some of the things this young man was experiencing closely related to the context of the passage. He has been meeting with a group of local believers who, while having good intentions, seem to be taking his focus off the Gospel. It seems they have been adding extra things he needs to do in order to ‘complete’ his salvation. To this Paul would say that salvation comes only by trusting in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 2:15).

As we continued to think about the passage together, I asked what he thought we should do in response to his situation. Taking the opportunity to use his growing ability in English he responded, “We need to back to Bible”. I cannot tell you how excited I was to hear him say that. He wasn’t just giving a ‘Sunday School answer’ either (he had never been to Sunday School!). He had read the passage for himself and come to understand verses 16 and 17.

This young man is an example of two of the four key causes we have at Baptist Mission Australia. These are (1) flourishing faith communities and (2) passionate missional leadership. You can find out more about these key causes by clicking here>>

I invite you to join me in giving thanks to God for the seedlings of a flourishing faith community. Also join me in asking that this young man would grow in his ability to become a Christ-like leader in his local community.