Into His Marvellous Light
 

Has anyone here seen good results using IHML? I mean have YOU actually seen its effectiveness? Have YOU actually used it? Does your church use it? What are the results?

Are there any other systems or studies as good as or better than IHML?

Re: Into His Marvellous Light
 

Rightly Dividing the Word is the best I've seen. It had phenomenal success.

Re: Into His Marvellous Light
 

Excuse me. Is IHML another organization or fellowship? Or does it refer to I Peter 2:9?

Re: Into His Marvellous Light
 

It's a short encapsulated bible study that focuses on Acts 2:38 salvation.

Re: Into His Marvellous Light
 

Yes. I think it works well.

It does not work as effective, IMO, when broken up over a few days. For some reason people take too long to teach it but I can do it in about an hour

You have to already know the material and the point it's trying to make, which is essentially to get them to realize they need to find out what the Apostles taught in Acts

Re: Into His Marvellous Light
 

The problem with it is that it literally takes 2 days...if that. It's called "The Two Day Bible Study" too

IHML is about an hour

Re: Into His Marvellous Light
 

The issue was which is more effective.

Re: Into His Marvellous Light
 

So after the study you fill up the tub and start baptizing people? Or is it designed to get a person to come to church, hear preaching, get convicted, and then make a decision?

Also, can you explain how you present it? Do you just read it straight through?

Re: Into His Marvellous Light
 

My point being that dividing it up over two days is less effective. People tend to forget what they learned the previous day

Re: Into His Marvellous Light
 

Yes they decide to be baptized and receive the Holy Spirit. I sort of read it straight through but as I said I pretty much have it memorized so I end up going off script so to speak

I like to begin with basics, explaining why we need to be saved, then I go through the bible study with them.

I won't let them read any verses out loud themselves as I have found most people who are not used to going to church and reading the bible just don't read very well and it can be painfully slow and you have to end up just reading them again anyways

There are sections where there are fill in the blank questions you use to basically remind them what you just examined

Re: Into His Marvellous Light
 

That is not how it went with the study, though. There is a hurdle of sorts since RDTW does spend MUCH time establishing how important the Word is and how we must adapt to it, and not vice versa. But, as I said, the study had phenomenal success.

Re: Into His Marvellous Light
 

Then wouldn't they forget the marvelous light study the day after it was given ? :D
Talk about ineffective...

Razzin

Re: Into His Marvellous Light
 

So for you then you basically give a presentation and the paper itself is more of a read-along for them?

I'm just trying to get an idea how it is supposed to work.

Is the success due to the IHML itself? Or the ability of presenters to efficiently articulate the gospel?

Re: Into His Marvellous Light
 

Can you describe the material covered and basically how it is presented?

Re: Into His Marvellous Light
 

Generally speaking, it begins with AUTHORITY OF THE WORD. It shows the student how God's word is truth and then how Christ was the Word incarnate. It shows where Jesus said His words will judge us in the last day. And then it shifts into high gear when it reads John 17:20 where Jesus said He prayed for the people who believe on Him through the words of the Apostles. He sent them as much as the Father Sent Him.

That prepares the student to realize there is no such thing as preferring Jesus' words over the Apostles' later in the book of Acts.

Then it goes to show the surprisingly many passages where John and Paul and Peter wrote in their epistles how people must cling to the traditions and teachings and doctrines that THEY preached. Reference to the terms "US" and "OUR" emphasize doctrines the apostles taught, while recalling Christ's words about how we would believe on Him through their words.

One powerful point of emphasis is this:

1Jn 4:6 KJV We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

So, it establishes that whatever they preached as doctrine and gospel and salvation must be preferred regardless of church tradition and so on.

It goes from there to Christ's great commission in all three synoptic gospels, showing the little known passages of Luke 24:47-49.

Then finally it wades into the book of Acts, show what the apostles actually did preach for salvation.

It touches on John 3:16 explaining belief on Jesus must correspond to Jon 17:20, indicating John 3:16 is vague to say the least, and cannot be understood without John 17:20 in mind.

It deals with Romans 10 and the references to confessing with the mouth and believing in the heart, which is what many evangelicals leave people with. And tells folks to KEEP READING, where they read it again always goes back to finding out what the apostles preached in Acts, because Romans 10 says a preacher must be SENT before one can properly hear from a preacher. And the Apostles were the SENT ones.

Re: Into His Marvellous Light
 

Is the RDTW materially fundamentally different from IHML? Also, why would it take two days to present the above information?

Do you think either one could be improved? If so, how?

Re: Into His Marvellous Light
 

No, it's just RDTW is far more detailed.

Not sure. RDTW actually puts many passages to read beside an asterisk to indicate that those ones can be omitted to save time, and still get the same point across with what is presented.

I found it such a good study that it inspired me to write a book on salvation which is almost finished now.

I think RDTW was the first small mini bible study of its kind in apostolic circles.

Re: Into His Marvellous Light
 

Not really. You are missing my point though. In order to move on to part 2 it is imperative they recall part 1 because it's a bridge to part 2

the only issue is you have to have 2 days, one right after the other, dedicated to doing this. Not everyone has that kind of time

Re: Into His Marvellous Light
 

Sort of, only because I have a lot of it memorized, but no I do read it too. I just often end up not needing to.

I believe the success is partly the study and partly presentation. You yourself have to understand WHAT the point is you are trying to get across.

This was the first Bible study I went through. Nearly 15 years ago.

Re: Into His Marvellous Light
 

Any one remember the old TEN LESSON Search For Truth? Now there was a Bible study.

Re: Into His Marvellous Light
 

So are you saying it worked, or that it didn't? :laffatu

Re: Into His Marvellous Light
 

It is still good.

Re: Into His Marvellous Light
 

I used it and Light for Living. I prefer Light for Living. .

Re: Into His Marvellous Light
 

Can you give some more detail on how the study is presented? Like, "I show up at the individual's house and..."?

Re: Into His Marvellous Light
 

Yes you can do that or meet somewhere. I often do it at church. You want to be able to devote the time to the study without distractions

I always introduce the study as a topical bible study to explain why we are jumping around and not reading reams and reams of context for each.

And as I said I like to begin by explaining about sin and why we need to be saved.

Not real complicated. Start off with a quick prayer. Ask them to follow along. Keep them involved from time to time by letting them read and ask questions

One very important issue is to remind them that any issues or questions not pertaining to the topic should be held for another time.

Any arguments should be held to after the bible study etc etc

And If they have questions on something that you will later get to, put that off as well. Don't get sidetracked by questions especially ones not pertaining to the topic and ones what will be answered by the end of the study

Re: Into His Marvellous Light
 

How do you conclude? After the last question, do you then attempt to get them to verbally admit the truth of the gospel, and then ask them to "make their decision"?

Re: Into His Marvellous Light
 

It just depends on what Im feeling. I end it with some questions about what they thought. Would they like to pray right now and repent? Do you see your need for repentance and baptism in jesus name..etc etc

You kinda need to go based on the leading of the Spirit or whatever direction you felt that person is going

You can end it how you feel...even praying with them for the baptism

Re: Into His Marvellous Light
 

Prax, can you think of any ways to improve on it? Do you deviate from the specified format on a regular basis, due to a perceived "more excellent way"?

Re: Into His Marvellous Light
 

I think I deviate a little when it come to bringing out certain points about the Samaritans but dont really recall. Honestly a lot of it just comes naturally. I think they recommend the KJV but I never use it. Also they have an NIV version ironically lol

Over all Id say I stick to the main script but you're an intelligent guy, there may be some places you feel there is some other point to be made

BTW their website sells a DVD that shows someone giving it to someone else...actually an impromptu encounter. I wish it was free.

Re: Into His Marvellous Light
 

I used to teach it, my pastor at that time said that I was the best teacher on that Bible Study.

However in the later years I changed some of my beliefs, which means I can not longer teach that Bible study since I no longer believe it is correct.

I still have it, but I no longer use it.

Re: Into His Marvellous Light
 

Search for Truth was good but not many will commit to 10 weeks of lessons. No one has any free time :)

Re: Into His Marvellous Light
 

We still have the chart...worn, rather heavy and awkward.......but still intact!

Re: Into His Marvellous Light
 

One very important issue is to remind them that any issues or questions not pertaining to the topic
should be held for another time.

That is a very important element in (almost) any Bible Study Series. I have stated, from the beginning,
to hold the questions for the first three weeks because they will find most of their questions answered
by that time. Worked out very well.