Just Get Started

My name is Jeff Raby. Greetings from Calgary, Alberta.

In the Fall of 2011, my wife, mother-in-law, and I started our Precept Upon Precept Bible study journey. We decided to join the Bible study group at Foothills Alliance Church led by Dennis Shantz (who had been leading Precept Upon Precept studies for about twenty years). It so happened that we joined when Dennis was teaching Revelation Part 3. Now that’s what you call jumping in with both feet!

At that point, we were not very familiar with the Bible. We found that the Precept Upon Precept studies opened the door to God’s Truth for us. We were amazed to see how Scripture is so connected and how it all revolves around our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

As time went on, Jane and I started to help Dennis with the administrative and organizational aspects of the class. We also led the class several times when Dennis could not do so.

In January 2020, Dennis announced that he would retire from teaching in April. After earnest prayer and consideration, along with advice from godly friends, I decided to take the Precept Leadership Training class to discern whether this was something I should do. The problem was that I had missed the in-person training at Foothills Alliance a couple of months previously, and Alberta had no new training workshops scheduled at that point. However, God made a way. One positive aspect of the Covid pandemic was that Precept Ministries Canada decided to offer the leadership training class online via Zoom. What a blessing it was! I would strongly encourage anyone who has an inkling that they may want to lead a class to take the training. Even if you are not going to start a class immediately, the training is extremely valuable. You will spend time learning the value of Precept’s Inductive Bible Study Method, how to start and gather a class and, of course, how to effectively lead a study. You will also have the opportunity to lead a class and receive feedback from the trainer and the others in the training workshop.

After I had been leading the class at Foothills Alliance for a year, Beth Schmidt let me know she was starting a monthly leadership mentoring group. We began last September (2021) and went through the different workshops offered by Precept Ministries. After we finished those, we began to take turns leading a class for the group. The experience has been beneficial, providing a solid foundation for leading Precept Upon Precept studies and getting feedback on the positives as well as areas we can improve on from Beth and the rest of the group who are leaders or potential leaders of Precept Upon Precept classes. Again, I would strongly recommend that you seriously consider joining a leader mentoring group as it becomes available to you. I believe that continuous learning is key to growth and maturity. These groups not only allow you to learn, but you also have the opportunity to share your own experiences with leading a class.

One of my favourite verses is Romans 12:2, which states,

 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

By immersing ourselves in God’s Word, we facilitate the transformation which the Holy Spirit is accomplishing in our lives, and we can learn God’s will.

May God bless you all as you study God’s Word and continue your journey with Precept Ministries Canada.

Jeff Raby | Precept Leader in Calgary, Alberta