At the Feet of Jesus
(Testimonies of students from the Basic Theology for Everyone night classes, FEBC, Jul-Nov 2006)
I PRAISE and thank my most gracious heavenly Father for His mercy and love towards me. I am forever indebted to my Saviour Jesus Christ for being the propitiation for my sins and for earning the righteousness I need to become a child of God. I thank the Lord for His forever inspired, inerrant and preserved Word that we may come to know Him. To be loved, elected and saved are the most wonderful blessings my Heavenly Father has bestowed on a sinner like me. I thank the Lord for being able to attend night classes on the Life of Christ, and through these lessons the Lord has greatly strengthened and comforted me. All the lessons which I have learnt helped me in my teaching of the Sunday School and gave me great confidence not in my knowledge but in God’s Word which is true and faithful, and His Word which is living will work in the hearts of the children. LLS
I HAVE benefited a lot from the study of the Life of Christ last semester and part two was another profitable learning experience. The high standard of teaching from the lecturers of FEBC has made learning more than a mere academic exercise. It is interesting and easy for beginners and for all who are keen to learn more to be grounded and rooted in God’s Word. I am glad my daughter signed up for both Monday night and Thursday night lectures. She told me that she has not regretted coming to the Far Eastern Bible College because she has learned many things that she did not know before. DH
ALTHOUGH I have often read and studied parts of the four gospels, there are many new things I am still learning. Some questions which I have always wanted to ask have been answered through the course of the lectures. Also, there were occasions when the lessons reached not just my head but deeper into my heart, convicting me of attitudes and behaviour I should change. I am glad for the way parallel passages from the four gospels are put together; the student is able to see a clearer picture of the various incidents which occurred during Jesus’ ministry, suffering, crucifixion, and finally resurrection.
Again, I thank Him for a blessed and enriching time of studying His Word here in the Bible College. I treasure these few years and count them very precious because what I learn will be applicable to my everyday life and I want to share the knowledge and spiritual experiences gained with others so that they too may grow in Christlikeness and in their love for Him. RL
IT HAS been a study most necessary for every child of God, to know his Saviour better and to love Him dearer. This has been the affirmative personally. With the current climate of ecclesiastical compromise and apostasy where the situation is not getting any better, knowing the Word of God better than our critics is an imperative. With the release of the Da Vinci Code and the Gospel of Judas, the Bible, in particular its canonicity has been under tremendous attack. In the midst of all this, I have learnt to go back to the Bible itself, knowing that the Word of God is powerful and self-authenticating, and that it will defend itself when under attack. Reading through the Gospel of John, his Epistles, and the few FEBC articles in The Burning Bush in this course helps us realise the need to defend our Christian doctrines biblically—using the Bible. This reading assignment, though quite heavy going, drives home an important lesson of the need to regard the Word of God highly, and not that of human opinions. HWK
THIS FEBC night class on “The Life of Christ II” has indeed deepened my knowledge on the Word of God. It was a great resolve for me to decide to take the course for credit by the wonderful grace of God. The course has built me up doctrinally and devotionally to attain greater heights of spiritual maturity. Doctrine dictates practice, and both aspects must strike a balance.
This course has strengthened my belief and I am even more persuaded that Christianity is the only way to salvation. Previously, I was a Buddhist deep in sin without knowing what the true way or the true “Dao” in Chinese. John 14:6 says, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Indeed, Jesus is the true way, the true “Dao” who gives life to repentant sinners. Hence, Christ is the only way to heaven as shown very clearly in this verse. Moreover, the Bible has answered all my questions that I found no answers in
Buddhism. TCH
TAKING THIS course on the Life of Christ has been like taking a walk back into history and viewing the many events unfold before my very eyes in the life of our Lord and Saviour from His birth to His death, burial, and resurrection. Christ’s life and ministry on earth though short had been fulfilling and significant. He had accomplished the task He was sent to do and had done it perfectly. This course helped me gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of God’s perfect redemptive plan for mankind, to realise that our Heavenly Father is sovereign and in control of everything, past, present, and future.
In the past, as a young believer, I attended a charismatic church which places emphasis on speaking in tongues, healing, and prophecies. Somehow I felt uncomfortable about their practices and thus stopped going to church altogether. After some time, feeling an emptiness within, I was convicted in my heart to seek for a church which will lead me to the truth, and answer many questions that I had about the Christian faith. God finally led me to a Bible-believing church where I found many of my questions answered. I have learned to trust Him more and to draw closer to Him. EM
I BELIEVE sound doctrine and right theology are aspects of knowledge that God would have me learn that I might continue to grow in the grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Pet 3:18). Having to comply to the requirements of the course for credit certainly compelled me to be a more serious student in the areas of attentiveness in class, better management of time, setting priorities right, and having more discipline in keeping Quiet Time. It also helps me to internalise the truth while revising all the lecture notes, and at the same time develop writing and typing skills which are still a struggle.
In the past, I attended a church which actively promoted the “cell group.” But I was saddened by the lack of teaching from the pulpit and from the “cell.” The Alpha course and cells were the “in things” in liberal churches. Unwilling to compromise my belief nor give in to the temptation of glamour, I finally decided to leave the church.
After attending FEBC for 1½ years, God willing, I hope to restart the Bible study class and share the truth I have learned with the homemakers of my former church. By the conviction of the Holy Spirit, I hope they too will be encouraged to become sincere seekers of God through the study of His precious Word. LJH
STEPPING INTO working life is a stressful change I must say. It is no longer just being responsible for myself but being responsible for many other people as well. Thank God that I could still attend night class on most of the Mondays even though I had to be late most of the time. I remember one Monday when I stepped in late for class. It was on the lesson of the adulteress who was caught and was even about to be stoned by the people around her. The Lord’s calm and righteous reply, “He that is without sin among you, let him cast a first stone at her,” really impressed upon me that the Lord was just and wise. Subsequently, when He asked the woman to go and sin no more, it was such a great manifestation of His love. Thank God that the Lord was a person like this because I also have many sins like this woman. Through this lesson, I am even more assured that the Lord does not condemn me of my sins. But I must always remember to “sin no more”! LSH
I WOULD like to thank God once again for enabling me to complete another semester of night studies at FEBC. I count it a great privilege and joy to gather together week after week with like-minded brethren to learn God’s Word systematically and in-depth. I want to praise God for blessing my whole family as we come together to study God’s Word and grow firmly in the faith and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Truly, it has been an enriching experience whereby we could apply what we have learnt to our daily lives. I thank God for enabling all of us to take the subject for credit even though we had to rush and sometimes grab a quick bite to be on time for lessons. Nevertheless, I want to thank God for His abundant grace in providing for all my needs and helping me to persevere on, though on many occasions, I was physically drained and full of fatigue. I must also testify that after studying God’s Word in the certificate programme, my poor memory has very much improved. As a result I have been encouraging others to take the night classes for credit. I sincerely pray that many more will come and join us to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Truly, when you draw nigh to God and delight in His Word, He will draw nigh to you. AK
Editor’s note: Studying God’s Word intensively and systematically will change your life! Enrol for the Basic Theology for Everyone (BTFE) night classes next semester, starting January 4, 2007, with the Book of Genesis on Thursdays, and Calvin Institutes on Mondays. For more information, get a copy of the BTFE brochure available at the reception table, or download it from www.febc.edu.sg.
