By Kathryn Moore
Staff Writer
Every spring, the Office of Spiritual Life begins Bible studies for both men and women that allow students to experience small group accountability and spiritual growth. Klemata, for women, and Man Up, for men, are the backbone of Union’s spring discipleship ministry.
Keely Beasley, director of discipleship for women, said Klemata’s purpose is to learn to study God’s word through a technique called inductive Bible study, which is based on observation of the text, interpretation of the text’s meaning and application of the text to the reader’s life.
“Inductive Bible study is essentially the process of drawing conclusions from the Bible to understand what it says, what it means and how we are called to apply it to our lives individually and corporately,” Beasley said. “We hope that lifelong habits of Bible study will be established and deeply valued.”
Twenty eight small group leaders vary in age from sophomores to seniors, and each small group leader meets with four to eight women weekly to study the book of Ephesians.
Virginia Walker, one of the founders of the Seminary Wives Institute at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., wrote the study.
This year, Beasley said she has added an additional study to explore the background context of Ephesians.
“We wanted to encourage participants to take their time in seeing the book as a whole before diving into each of its parts and to emphasize the importance of seeing how each text we study fits into the greater picture of God’s redemptive story,” Beasley said.
Gracie Wise, junior English and history major, said she appreciates the accountability that comes with studying the Bible with other women.
“I also love how every year I’ve met girls that I’ve never seen before,” Wise said. “It’s people that I don’t have classes with or don’t go to church with, so it gives me the opportunity to hear their heart(s) and pray for them.”
Man Up, the men’s spring Bible study, is not focused on the inductive method like Klemata but instead concentrates on tracing a biblical theology of manhood, with special attention to the centrality of Jesus Christ in depicting and empowering men to live godly lives, said Lee Wilson, director of discipleship for men.
In past years, Man Up participants have met each week together in a large group, but this year small groups will alternate with weekly large group sessions to allow for more accountability and openness. The men will also spend time practicing spiritual disciplines of prayer and Bible study individually.
“I want these guys to look to the teaching of the Bible to understand what it means to be a man,” Wilson said. “I hope that young men grow in their awareness that their lives as men matter to God.”
