Day One of the Summer Institute: The Women's Conference

The GraceLife London Summer Institute began with the Women's Conference centered around the theme "Bright Hope for Tomorrow." So often we as women can become discouraged, weighed down, and even downcast which is why a correct understanding of true biblical hope is so important. This day was a wonderful day of encouraging and convicting teaching. Many parts of these messages I learned during this conference have drawn me towards godliness this whole week.

Donna Drion began the day with "Understanding Biblical Hope" which outlined what true living hope is compared to the worldly, abandoned, and religious hope that we can often buy into. Living hope is based on having a firm foundation on what Christ has done for us compared to the self-effort or self-confidence that false hope has. By continually responding to and holding fast to the true living hope, our lives will be filled with joy, peace, comfort, endurance, courage, protection and confidence that is not based on our situation but rather the Word of God.

Jennifer Francis continued the day with "Studying Biblical Hope" which taught the women how to do an inductive Bible study on 1 Peter 1. First we pray for the work of the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom and insight into the passage. Then we start by observing. In other words, we are to examine what the text says by asking "who, what, why, when..." questions. Next, we interpret the text by understanding what the text means. Word studies and context rules play a key part of this part. Application was then given through a "homework" sheet where all the women could apply what we just learned with a study on hope from 1 Peter 1.

Helen Varner wrapped up the day with a two part message beginning with "A Biblical Approach to Personal Suffering" from Lamentations 3. Helen began with outlining the aspects of prayer using the acronym of ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication). From there, Lamentations was broken down into three parts: Jeremiah's Afflictions (how he had hope in the character of God in the midst), Jeremiah's Hope (hope found in God's compassion) and Jeremiah's Prayer (a believer's confident expectation).

Part two of Helen's message was "The Believer's Conduct in Suffering" from 1 Peter 4:1-19. Helen pointed out that in the midst of suffering Christians should be: sober, prayerful, loving, hospitable, using one's spiritual gifts, prepared for trials, joyful, law abiding, glorifying God and committed to God despite the hardship. She continued by sharing how she endured her personal suffering I would say in a matter that glorified the Lord and was surely an encouragement to all the women there.

The whole group came together that evening to be taught by Dr. Varner's message on Holy Heartburn. Instead of summing it up, please take a listen.

 

Holy Heartburn - Luke 24:13-35 - William Varner from GraceLifeLondon on Vimeo.

This was just the beginning of what has been so far an amazing week of teaching, learning, and serving by those involved. The Lord is doing much work through this church as people have come from different parts of England to participate in the Summer Institute!

We will keep you updated!