H7 Story: The Word Does the Work
In Awe of Your Words: The Power and Freedom of Teaching & Trusting the Text was a highly interactive conference held October 30–November 1 at Longview Ranch. Designed for pastors, teachers, ministry leaders, and everyday believers, the workshop equipped participants with practical tools for studying, teaching, and preaching God’s Word—while renewing confidence that the Word itself accomplishes the work God intends.
The workshop was intentionally structured around participation, questions, and hands-on learning rather than one-way communication. From the very beginning, attendees were encouraged to ask questions, seek clarification, and engage the process together—because learning happens best when we slow down enough to think, wrestle, and apply.
First-time attendee Melissa Marrs was one of the “regular folks” who participated in hopes of learning principles for developing a deeper, more faithful personal Bible study. “Being there was a tremendous blessing,” she shared. “I was able to hear many different perspectives on various passages and participate in the work of ‘wrestling it down’—examining context, comparing passages, and allowing Scripture to interpret Scripture.”
Melissa went on to explain that one of the most meaningful lessons she learned was that when sharing Scripture, we do not need to soften it or reinterpret it. Instead, we need to allow time for the Word to sit with the one hearing it—to “leave enough whitespace,” even with ourselves. “The Word does the work,” she reiterated. “It guides, convicts, and transforms on its own.”
While some sessions moved quickly—at times feeling like “drinking from a firehose”—the goal was never information overload, but formation. Questions were welcomed throughout, ideas were discussed openly, and space was created for conversations beyond the sessions themselves. The conviction driving the conference was simple: participation leads to learning and growth.
Whether participants arrived feeling confident or unsure, experienced or just beginning, In Awe of Your Words aimed to leave them with deeper trust in Scripture, greater clarity in handling the text, and renewed freedom and joy in letting God’s Word speak for itself.
“What stood out most to me,” Melissa reflected, “was that this was a mixed-community seminar—brothers and sisters in Christ studying together, reading Scripture, working through meaning in groups, and learning not only from Scott’s insights, but from one another. It was an enormous blessing and deeply fruitful for me. I would encourage everyone to attend—and to attend again.”
Melissa went on to explain that one of the most meaningful lessons she learned was that when sharing Scripture, we do not need to soften it or reinterpret it. Instead, we need to allow time for the Word to sit with the one hearing it—to “leave enough whitespace,” even with ourselves. “The Word does the work,” she reiterated. “It guides, convicts, and transforms on its own.”
While some sessions moved quickly—at times feeling like “drinking from a firehose”—the goal was never information overload, but formation. Questions were welcomed throughout, ideas were discussed openly, and space was created for conversations beyond the sessions themselves. The conviction driving the conference was simple: participation leads to learning and growth.
Whether participants arrived feeling confident or unsure, experienced or just beginning, In Awe of Your Words aimed to leave them with deeper trust in Scripture, greater clarity in handling the text, and renewed freedom and joy in letting God’s Word speak for itself.
“What stood out most to me,” Melissa reflected, “was that this was a mixed-community seminar—brothers and sisters in Christ studying together, reading Scripture, working through meaning in groups, and learning not only from Scott’s insights, but from one another. It was an enormous blessing and deeply fruitful for me. I would encourage everyone to attend—and to attend again.”
Posted in Tell the Story