Precept Bible Study

Precept Upon Precept
New Session Begins on Wednesday, September 9
9:30 am
Multi-purpose Room

	*Course 5: Workbook - $6 Where Are You Going?* Jonah (2 lessons)** Have you ever tried to run away from God? Can a mere man hide from the presence of an all-knowing, all-powerful God? God used a reluctant prophet to tell an evil city of His compassion for them. When God calls you to deliver a message to someone you don't love, will you run, or get angry, or comply? Would it take a great calamity, an earthquake, or flood for God to get your attention?
	*Course 6: Workbook - $8 Prepared to Meet Your God* Amos (3 lessons)** As the Lord prophesied warnings about coming judgment through a shepherd named Amos, He can also send forth His Word through you to save others from coming judgement. Study how people can be prepared to meet their God, and your heart can be stirred to proclaim the warning with hope for those who heed it.
	Course 7: Workbook - $10 Revival or Captivity? 2 Kings 15-20/2Chronicles 26 - 34 (4 lessons) This dynamic four-week course from the Kings and Prophets Series will have a major impact on your walk with the Lord. We'll watch God raise up a Gentile threat (Assyria) to Israel as its kings continue the spiritual descent begun by Jeroboan - compromising with idols and refusing to repent at the warnings of prophets Elijah and Elisha.

Childcare available with reservation to the church office:
704-872-4139
Workbooks available in the church office
Purchase all three workbooks for $23

Do you long for a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God but feel lost when you open your Bible? Do you read portions here and there, but forget what you read just five minutes later? Are you frustrated with getting everyone else’s opinions about what the Bible says on a certain subject and wondering what’s really the truth? Do you think it’s really possible to understand Scripture even if you aren’t a trained theologian? If you feel this way, Precept Bible Study is just the thing you need in your life!

Precept Ministries International is a transdenominational organization dedicated to the sole purpose of teaching people to study God’s Word for themselves and apply its truths to their daily lives. This is achieved through the inductive study method, a highly effective way of seeking out answers and understanding Scripture.

What Is Inductive Bible Study?
Inductive Bible Study involves the use of inductive reasoning to study God’s Word. This method of study includes the observation of evidence, the thorough examination of evidence and a conclusion based upon the evidence. Inductive reasoning goes from the specific to the general. On the other hand, deductive reasoning proceeds from general to specific. You have probably heard of deductive reasoning in science classes and in reading the exploits of the great detective, Sherlock Holmes. There is nothing wrong with deductive reasoning but it is not recommended for Bible study.

DEDUCTIVE REASONING
Deductive reasoning begins with a hypothesis, which basically means a “good guess.” After this guess is made, a person would gather evidence to prove the point. If the hypothesis is correct, the evidence will support it. If the hypothesis is wrong, the evidence will not support it. We all use this line of reasoning every day to draw conclusions about our world. Deductive reasoning is basically a “trial & error” method.

INDUCTIVE REASONING
Inductive reasoning demands that one studies, observes, gathers evidence (the specific part) and then draws conclusions (the general part) based on all the above. This is a much stronger way to establish truth than any other method of Bible study. Deductive reasoning is used at every stage of observation but the main idea is stated only after all observations are made. In this way, each observation leads to a new discovery of truth.

Precept Ministry at Western Avenue Baptist Church
Knowledge and application of God’s Word is an essential component of the Christian walk. Since 1992, Western Avenue has offered twenty-two Precept Bible study courses as part of our continuing commitment to help equip believers in this vital area of growth. These classes started with a small group of ten students and have grown the following years to average nearly eighty men and women attending each week.

Two separate classes are offered for each course that is taught. We meet on Monday nights from 7:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M and also on Wednesday mornings from 9:30 A.M. until 11:30 A.M. Childcare is available by reservation. There is no cost for the childcare but donations are welcomed for this service. Both classes are open to men and women and we would love for you to join us.

The first hour of each class is a lecture based on the passage of Scripture assigned that week and the second hour consists of watching a video from the Precept Ministries team of teachers. During the week, students are encouraged to spend up to one hour each weekday on homework to prepare for the weekly class.

Susan Crouch teaches the Monday evening classes. Susan, a member of Western Avenue since 1995, has been taking Precept classes since 1994 and has been teaching these courses since 1996. Susan is a homemaker and loves the challenge of studying and teaching God’s Word.

Caroline Cartin teaches the Wednesday morning class. She is the wife of our pastor and the mother of three children. While working locally as a pharmacist, Caroline has taught Precept courses since 1992.