Theme: The Spirit-Filled Community

The theme of the 2024 Summer Bible Conference is The Spirit-Filled Community. The theme of our last Spring Retreat was The Spirit-Filled Life. Therefore, this Summer Conference can be seen as a continuation of the Spring Retreat. The reason we have chosen a theme connected to the Spring Retreat is that it is critically important for our church to become a Spirit-Filled Community.

What is a Spirit-Filled Community?

1. A Church Filled with the Presence of the Holy Spirit

A Spirit-Filled Community is a church abundant with the presence of the Holy Spirit. While the presence of the Holy Spirit is entirely a gift of God's grace, we can earnestly seek it. Luke 11:13b says, "How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" The Holy Spirit comes not only when we ask for His presence but also when we are ready to follow His leading. The most significant pattern in the Acts of the Apostles is the leading of the Holy Spirit and the obedience of the believers. When we faithfully follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can become a Spirit-Filled Community.

2. A Church Where the Gifts of the Holy Spirit Are Exercised in Unity

A Spirit-Filled Community is a church where the gifts of the Holy Spirit are effectively exercised in unity. The Holy Spirit grants each of us spiritual gifts so that we can serve God fruitfully. According to 1 Corinthians 12, these gifts include a message of wisdom, a message of knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, speaking in different kinds of tongues, the interpretation of tongues, apostles, prophets, teachers, helping, and guidance. These gifts should be used for the common good and must be exercised in unity, respecting each other as members of one body. Only then can we build up the church, the body of Christ, and become a Spirit-Filled Community.

3. A Church Where the Fruits of the Holy Spirit Abound

A Spirit-Filled Community is a church abundant in the fruits of the Holy Spirit. What are the fruits of the Spirit? "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control" (Gal 5:22-23). If each member lives a Spirit-Filled Life, they will bear these fruits, and our church will also be full of the fruits of the Spirit. We need all nine fruits of the Spirit, especially love, which is the first mentioned. I believe that our church urgently needs the love of Christ. I have been praying for this.

We have chosen The Spirit-Filled Community as the theme for the upcoming Summer Conference. We pray that our church will grow to be overflowing with the love of Christ and exercising the gifts of the Spirit in unity. Accordingly, we have selected the following Bible passages for the conference.

Bible Passages

Saturday Morning, July 6

Passage: John 13:1-17, 34-35

Tentative Title: "You Also Should Wash One Another's Feet"

Overview: Jesus loved his disciples to the end. He was about to die on the cross and ascend to heaven, leaving his disciples behind. The Holy Spirit would come to them, but before leaving, Jesus wanted to give them a final teaching. He got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, cleansing them of all their faults, weaknesses, and sins. Then he said, "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet." Jesus showed them how to treat one another before leaving. He also gave them a new command: "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." We are Jesus' disciples and must follow his example on earth. When we see the sins and weaknesses of our church members, it is easy to judge and hard to forgive. However, Jesus commands us to wash one another's feet. By forgiving and covering each other's faults in truth, we can become a Spirit-Filled Community.

Sunday Morning, July 7

Passage: 1 Corinthians 12:1-31

Tentative Title: "We Are The Body of Christ"

Overview: The Corinthian church had many spiritual gifts, but they did not use them properly. They became proud and despised others with different gifts, causing division and falling into many sins. In response, Apostle Paul taught them about the diverse gifts and roles within the church and emphasized the need for humility in using their gifts to build up the body of Christ. As members of Christ's body, we must respect one another, work together in unity for the common good, and pursue the greatest gift, love. Then we can become a Spirit-Filled Community.

We pray that through the upcoming Summer Conference, we will receive and obey Jesus' teachings, becoming a Spirit-Filled Community that builds up the church, the body of Christ, with love and unity.