Home Again, Still in Jet-lag recovery mode, Great Trip!
This video below says it all.
I had an amazing time in Sierra Leone with the pastors. They are improving. We had many students give their 7 minute “sermon” with great success. The students taught from a variety of texts in Revelation. We teach this approach for verse by verse exposition:
1) Authorial intent: what is the writer intending to communicate. What does the text communicate about the character, work, and plan of God.
2) How does the text fit in the message and story of the Bible. How does this text text help us to know and love Christ.
3) What does this passage mean to them personally, This is a step they usually never even think about. However, with their personal experience the next step is really not possible.
4) What it means to the congregation.
We return in late October for our final course on 2 Timothy.
We are planning to start a new group in Freetown in March with Sierra Leonians serving as team teachers with trainers from the U.S.
Thank you for praying and reading and giving.
Bob
Here’s a cool Psalm for listening pleasure! Enjoy.
On the Road Back to Sierra Leone, New Member Care role at TLI, and some excellent books
Tomorrow morning I leave for another week of training in the capital of Sierra Leone – Freetown. This will be my eighth week of classroom instruction in Freetown over the last two years. The students have grown tremendously and I’m excited about teaching apocalyptic literature from the book of Revelation. It’s an amazingly practical book, especially for the church in Africa. I taught this course in South Africa and in Makeni – it’s impact on the students was impressive.
Below are some excerpts from our training manual.
“Biblical apocalyptic writing reveals supernatural realities—what is really happening and what will really occur—to help God’s people patiently endure.”
“The opening verses of Revelation identify it as one kind of apocalyptic writing called an apocalypse, a prophecy, and a letter. In these ways, Revelation paints an engaging and dramatic picture of God’s sovereignty, wisdom, and goodness over everything happening in heaven and on earth—both now, in the glorious end, and beyond.”
- “As an apocalypse (Rev. 1:1), Revelation uses vibrant symbolic visions to reveal a supernatural reality meant to change how people think about the situations they are in.
- As a prophecy (Rev. 1:3; 22:7, 10, 18–19), Revelation tells God’s new covenant people what he requires of them, encourages them to repent for living differently, and announces judgment and hope.
- As a letter (Rev. 1:4, 11), Revelation helps God’s people live wisely in any situation by contemplating their lives and the new covenant with God in King Jesus by the Spirit. Its recipients were real people
in a real time and place with real struggles.”
Please pray for the students, especially their ability to see the truths related through the images.
I’ve added member-care to my duties at Training Leaders International which includes one week in Minneapolis every month. I’m looking forward to contributing to the ongoing vitality of our US based trainers and staff. My Africa travel will not be as extensive as it has for the last seven years, but I will keep traveling to strengthen the church and train leaders.
Most of us read. But finding good books is sometimes difficult. So… if you purchase and read any of the books below, and are disappointed, let me know, I’ll reimburse you. Reading good books is good. These are my newest, most excellent, and insightful ones from this year.
Here’s a picture of a not-so-recent family outing – 36 years ago.
Thanks for reading and praying and giving. Our ministry would not be possible without your generosity and prayer support.
Bob and Vickie
I love Sierra Leone, and I love being home
I’ve had a pretty long stretch of trainings in South Africa and Sierra Leone. I’m finally home and it feels good.
In Freetown all of the students’ presentations stayed in the biblical text which the students were assigned. There was no wandering. There was no outside influence. They stayed with what the Bible said. It was amazing, and encouraging.
During the second week of training, in Makeni, we taught skills for understanding apocalyptic literature. Revelation! It was an exciting week of learning about symbols and signs and what is happening in the supernatural world. The students were amazed, especially with the final chapters. Christ triumphs over all His foes; there’s a wonderful joining of the church with Christ, and a new heaven and a new earth. As we finished reading the last chapter they clapped.
Two amazing weeks of training. Here are a few pictures.
And link of the month. It’s a good one.
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevin-wax/listening-that-hurts/
Thanks for reading and praying and giving.
Bob and Vickie Burris
South Africa training, Mini-safari, Mission resources
I’m back. South Africa has been a wonderful experience. The students have grown in their teaching and preaching abilities. This will be my last trip to South Africa for now. We are looking to open up new training sites in new countries so stay tuned.
Students in Queenstown.
David Garland’s comments on Luke 24:25, the road to Emmaus. The Psalms are God’s guidebook to change our feelings and emotions to align with the godly feelings and emotions of Jesus. Our decisions are emotional decisions, and so our emotional life becomes crucial to the life of a disciple.
Thank you for reading. It truly is a great work God has allowed us to be a part of.
Bob and Vickie
Training Pastors Worldwide 