September 2025 – Coordinators Corner

A Word from the Word

We, as the church, are always mindful of the need of restoration. We look to scripture to try to be like the New Testament church. This has been a process ongoing for generations.

We see this pattern in God’s people in the Old Testament with the Israelites’ need for restoration. In 2 Chronicles 15, King Asa hears from the prophet Azariah that if he turns to the Lord, the Lord will be with him (15:3-4). Asa then takes the idols out of the temple and destroys the idols in Judah. In 2 Chronicles 35, King Josiah hears the reading of the Old Law and is so moved with shame regarding the laxness of Israel that he tears his clothes. King Josiah then destroys all idols throughout Judah. This brave action restores God’s people back to God’s path.

As we look back in more recent religious history, certain individuals tried to move back to the church of the Bible. Martin Luther was a Roman Catholic priest in the early 1500’s who learned and lectured from the Bible. This study brought Luther to understand that scripture was the only doctrine inspired by God. Luther then called for the reform of the Catholic Church. But his efforts were rewarded by a warrant for his arrest being issued. Trying to go back to the Bible takes great courage.

There were several people over history who approached departures from the Bible with efforts to reform existing religious structures:  Ulrich Zwingli (late 1400s to early 1500s) and John Calvin (early 1500s to mid-1500s) to name a few. This led to violence between the Catholic Church and the newly formed Reformed Churches or Protestants. During this time, the printing press was being invented. The first books ever printed were Bibles. The cost of a Bible dropped dramatically. This made Bibles accessible to more people, which allowed more people to study for themselves.

As one studies the Bible, being restored to the ideal in the mind of God is made possible through the powerful event of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. When we obey Jesus’ Gospel, finally being buried with Him in the waters of baptism for the remission of our sins, Jesus adds us to His church!  Through His apostles’ teachings, living under Jesus’ rule is possible today.  But it still takes great bravery to stay on His path rather than the path of man.

I just returned from a WBS follow-up Gospel meeting with over 300 of our WBS Students in Zambia.  I was joined by 20 other WBS Study Helpers.  We shared this exciting history of God’s work in our world.  Twenty-one decided to obey the Gospel and be restored to a relationship with their Creator.  20 others decided to repent and be restored to the church that Jesus built.  What an exciting experience to be a part of; an experience made possible because of your faithfulness in sharing Jesus with our World through WBS! 

The need to be mindful of restoration today is still vital. As humans, we must ever refer to scripture and test what we are doing against it. We are called to study scripture and make sure that our lives and worship to God are what He has set out for us in His New Testament. We are ever to be striving to be His one church that He established in Acts 2.

If you would like a deeper study on this, World Bible School has a new course entitled The History of God’s People.  This book is available for purchase on our website.

Tips, Tricks, and Hacks

As Coordinators, you are there to help your study helpers with any issues that may arise. Questions from study helpers might be “Where is a book on the history of the church?” “This student is struggling with working through the WBS Lite app. What do I tell them?” World Bible School has a department that is set up just for technology issues and assistance in finding materials. If you have a student who is studying and is experiencing a technical issue, please have them email help@worldbibleschool.net. This is the fast way for Coordinators, Study Helpers, and Students to get the technical help they need.

Upcoming Events

Will you be in an area near us and have questions? Do you want to learn more about WBS Tools? Swing by and see us. We would love to see you at any of our events and assist in any way we can!

• Equip Workshop – Brown Street church of Christ, Waxahatchie, TX – September 5-6
• WBS Benefit Dinner – Harding University, Searcy, AR – September 8