Designed to shake Christians from the paralysis of unbelief, "Believing God," a new study from Beth Moore, will also shake up the Internet this fall. Moore, a popular author and Bible teacher, is venturing into new territory will her first Internet-only Bible study. Based on the weekly Living Proof Bible studies Moore leads at First Baptist, Houston, the "Believing God" 10-session series will begin Sept. 26.
Originating from a concept introduced in Isaiah 43:10, "Believing God" will examine what it means to believe God rather than only believe in Him. Participants will study the lives of Abraham, Moses, Joshua and others from Hebrews 11 as examples of people who believed God.
During a recent interview, Moore told Crosswalk.com she believes the Church is showing signs of "the paralysis of unbelief."
She explained: "Christians have gotten further and further from the life of Christ. We are desperate for God to work in our midst and in our generation. We have never needed Him more. We've never live in darker days. We need God to act.
"But," Moore added, "God reserves the right to respond most readily to the invitation of faith."
She pointed out that God can react and respond to anything He wants. He doesn't need to be asked. God is sovereign. But His basic rule of thumb in the gospels is, " ... if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven."
According to Moore, "He wants to see us want it, ask for it, plead for it, fast for it - whatever it takes, God wants us to have faith that is exercised." She added, "Believing is an active verb tense. We are not just called upon to exercise the faith that brings us into salvation.
"Now that is the most critical thing on earth," Moore acknowledged, "but that one step merely brought us into a state of living out the rest of our lives in an active faith. Our salvation is absolutely secured by that first act of faith to receive Christ as our savior. But that's not where it is meant to stop."
She concluded, "It's about seeing God act. I love the verse in Habakkuk that says, 'Renew your wonder, as in the days of old.' We need Him desperately to do that. I think that He is just waiting on our faith."
Moore's study is designed to guide Christians to the next level. "I pray that it will be a message to both the individual and the corporate Body of Christ - anyone who would listen."
LifeWay Christian Resources will be taping Moore's Bible study sessions at FBC, Houston, then putting them up on the Internet in both streaming video and audio format for women to view or listen to from their home computers.
A new session will be posted on the Internet at www.lifeway.com/BelievingGod each Thursday for 10 weeks beginning Sept. 26. For a one-time fee of $13.95, women receive an ID and password that allows them to log into the weekly sessions. The fee includes on-line discussion boards, study tools that include various Bible translations, printable listening and leader guides and session homework.
Believing God participants will need an Internet connection with a Windows Media Player, which can be downloaded to a PC or Mac for free at the Believing God website.
"We've never had Bible study on the Internet before," Moore said. "We're going to make it as easy as possible."
People who want to find out more about the Internet Bible study sessions can visit the website at www.lifeway.com/BelievingGod.