Preaching takes place in the pulpit, but teaching God’s Word still takes place in our everyday lives—in our homes, in our small groups, and in our conversations. Can you lead and instruct others safely using Scripture? That’s the question I tried to answer in my new article How to Teach the Truth: A Beginner’s Guide to Being Skilled in Scripture.
In case you missed it: We’re writing a book! We just announced our SOLA Network Book Project: Writing the Next Chapter of the Asian American Church. We believe it is time for SOLA Network to put in writing thoughts that would help the emerging generation of Asian American leaders and churches. Our book will launch at the 2024 Asian American Leadership Conference. More details coming soon. Registration for the conference is now open!
This newsletter is one of the many ways you can keep in touch with us. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For more, check out my Asian American Worship Leaders Facebook group and TGIF Playlist on Spotify. You can reach me on Twitter and Instagram.
Aaron Lee, Editorial Curator
Enter to win! Thanks Harvest House Publishers for providing these books for our giveaway, in partnership with my newsletters for @diveindigdeep and FCBC Walnut. Where can you go when you feel weak? In He Is Strong, Emily A. Jensen shares devotions to remind you that you can rely on the strength and love of Jesus. How can outsiders find a home in the church? In The Gift of the Outsider, Alicia J. Akins writes what living in the margins teaches us about faith.
Articles From Around The Web
1. Katelyn Ho: Bookish Believers
“I had always believed fiction was nothing more than entertainment; reading theology was a better use of my time. However, I realized that fiction can do something mere theology can’t, which makes it especially valuable to the Christian’s intellectual and spiritual transformation.”
2. Brian Ryu: Ministering in “the Middle”: Relating to Students As They Discover Who They Are in Christ
“As our students discover their identities in Jesus Christ, may we point them to the very one who is in ‘the middle’ of every life circumstance. Here are some words of encouragement as we learn to minister in “the middle” alongside Jesus.”
3. Sarah Kuswadi and Laura Oh: Warm Hospitality at Home and at Church
“Our love for God is a response to his great love for us. It must be genuine in action, in thought and in spirit. It is this genuine love for God that equips us to love our neighbour. This commandment is foundational to all that we do for Christ’s glory.”
Asian American Leadership Conference 2024: “Writing the Next Chapter.” April 23-24, 2024, Orange County, CA. Registration and more info can be found at aalc.network.
The vision of this conference is to equip Asian-American leaders with gospel centered, contextual resources that will empower men and women for local church ministry. Our conference strategy is to equip leaders, platform voices, and connect with one another for life-giving relationships.
The theme of our conference is “Writing the Next Chapter: Empowering Asian American Voices for Gospel Ministry”. The Asian American church today is at a unique inflection point with leaders in diverse stations across multiple generations. This conference will be an opportunity to learn from these voices for the sake of continued and future Gospel work together.
Books, Podcasts, Music, And More
1. Ask Pastor John: Should We Consult with Dead Ancestors?
“What do the Scriptures say about communicating with dead ancestors? Pastor John explains four truths about God and the sufficiency of his revelation.”
2. Ryan Kucera: The Pastor as Curator
“Curating resources is a crucial way to shepherd souls and maximize your influence. Many of your people may only listen to one or two of your sermons a month. Even in the best-case scenario, you only have their undivided attention for an hour each week when you preach. Strive to maximize the time you are not with them by pointing them to resources that will fuel their joy in Jesus.”
3. Aaron Lee: Related Works
Book reviews: He Is Strong by Emily A. Jensen, The Gift of the Outsider by Alicia J. Akins. Listen to our TGIF playlist on Spotify. Join my Asian American Worship Leaders Facebook group.
Our new Books and Reviews page is your one-stop resource for all of your reading needs. It features Asian American authors and issues, book recommendations, and interviews.
Featured This Week On SOLA Network
1. Aaron Lee: How to Teach the Truth: A Beginner’s Guide to Being Skilled in Scripture
“When you know what God’s Word says, and when you have lived it out yourself, you will be best prepared to begin teaching others. Faithful stewards are skilled workers, laboring with the Law of the Lord, leading others to Jesus.”
2. Michael Agapito: It’s Not Too Late: A Review of “The Great Dechurching”
“We are currently witnessing the largest demographic shift in American religion since the decades following the Civil War. Nearly 40 million Americans (approximately 15% of the population) have ceased attending church in the past 25 years, a precipitous and accelerating decline.”
3. Faith Chang: Tips and Resources for Teaching Children, Tweens, and Teens How to Pray
Prayer is one of the greatest privileges we have as Christians. As Moses said in Deuteronomy, what other people “has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him?” (Deut. 4:7b). Just like Moses, we want to instill in the next generation a sense of awe that our God hears us as we praise him, thank him, and give him our requests. We want them to learn and experience the joy of going to God in prayer. So how do we help young people who don’t know what or how to pray?
4. Jeremy See: Why and How I Am Giving Back to My Ethnic Home Church
“Over the years, I have constantly been poured into, but I have lacked action to pour into others. I had recently finished my first year of college, and I realized how much of a blessing it was that I grew up in my home church that was rooted in the Word. At the same time, I also realized that growing up in the church was more of me taking in than giving.”
5. TGIF: Roundup for October 20, 2023
As Asian American Christians Decline, Most ‘Nones’ Still Feel Close to Religion / A Brief History of Movements / Counseling in the Community of the Local Church / ‘The Mission’ Documentary Revisits the John Allen Chau Controversy / Church Planting Roundtable: Counting the Cost
6. SOLA Network: TGIF Subscription
Get our TGIF installments delivered straight to your inbox for free every Friday. Join today so you never miss out.
General disclaimer: Our link roundups are not endorsements of the positions or lives of the authors.