Here is my fourth review of the Hardcore 1:1 presentation.
To see the UBF presentation that I am reviewing, please see part 1. This review covers section 7:
- Introduction: Why? (slides 5 – 6) 2 slides
- Definition (slides 8 – 9) 2 slides
- Origin (slides 11 – 14) 4 slides
- Importance (slides 16 – 18) 3 slides
- Advantages & Potential (slides 20 – 26) 7 slides
- Obstacles vs. Motivation (slides 28 – 31) 4 slides
- Practical Application (slides 33 – 39) 7 slides
- Conclusion: God’s hope! (slides 41 – 44) 4 slides
Slide 33 introduces this section with a question: How should we practically do 1:1 bible study? This appears to me to be the “meat” of the presentation; what UBF really wants to get you to learn and accept, without much thinking.
Slide 34 – Practical Application
Four things are mentioned here: Observation, Interpretation, Application, In UBF: question sheets, testimony writing.
Apparently this is talking about a Bible study approach. I know that as a UBF insider. UBF 1:1 is all about studying the Bible with question sheets and then writing your testimony. In fact, such things are the essence of the UBF lifestyle. If you do this, you are highly praised. But you must do it faithfully every week, 52 weeks a year.
My questions: Is it possible to form “lasting friendships” and overcome fears and hesitation just by answering question sheets and writing a testimony? Maybe to a point. But this approach is fraught with failure. Relationships built this way become icy-cold, transactional acquaintances that almost always do not stand the test of time unless something else happens in the relationship.
Slide 35 asks us “What is important when you do 1:1 bible study?” Many things are presented in the next several slides:
- Gospel must be the central focus
- Present the whole picture
- Emphasize personal application of God’s word
- Be an example
- Lead people to God!
- 1:1 is a life time mission
- Do your very best!
- Know what your bible student believes
- Pray!!!
- Be a friend
- Share your strengths AND your weaknesses
- Don’t lost focus
- Help bible student to focus on God’s word
- Keep time, smile, eye contact, remember important dates
- Listen.
These are basically good ideas. But what are we trying to do through UBF 1:1? In my experience for 25 years, the goal is to create a “junzi man”, that is, a super-apostle type person (preferrably male) who can inherit the UBF heritage. In the end, UBF directors care almost nothing about the good ideas above, if only UBF heritage is preserved and passed on– that is the goal of 1:1.
Shouldn’t we be leading people to Jesus and making an environment for the Holy Spirit to make disciples of Jesus?