Kingdom Life Writers’ Conference held in Alabama

LOUISVILLE — From Feb. 9-13, a Kingdom Life Writers’ Conference was held in the Auburn-Opelika area of Alabama. A total of 14 writers participated in the meeting, where they reviewed and edited the manuscripts for two New Testament volumes and two Old Testament volumes scheduled to be published in 2027.

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Each day, the writers carefully reviewed the manuscripts from 8:30 a.m. through 6 p.m. Although the schedule was demanding, the participating pastors worked with joy and dedication, striving to improve the quality of the study materials.

The gathering was hosted by Auburn–Opelika Presbyterian Church. The church warmly welcomed the writers and provided several meals prepared with great care, which encouraged and strengthened the pastors throughout the week.

Kingdom Life is a small-group Bible study curriculum available through Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. Its purpose is not simply to convey biblical knowledge but to train believers to live as citizens of the Kingdom of God, which is a central theme that runs throughout the entire Bible. Through this curriculum, the writers hope to contribute to the renewal and revival of the church through God’s Word.

One distinctive feature that sets Kingdom Life apart from many other small-group Bible study materials is its emphasis on helping participants renew their minds by learning to think biblically. For this reason, the writers and editors devote significant effort to crafting what they call “optimal questions.” A well-formed question can open the door to an entirely new way of seeing the world. Without a change in one’s ways of thinking, there can be no lasting transformation in life.

The curriculum is based on several important biblical principles. First, living as citizens of the Kingdom of God means living according to every word that comes from the mouth of God, our King (see Deuteronomy 8:3 and John 10:1–4). Second, such a life requires the renewal of the mind (see Romans 12:1–2). Third, the renewal of the mind involves a shift from a worldly mindset to the mindset of the Kingdom of God (see Matthew 4:17). Fourth, this transformation takes place as believers meditate on God’s Word day and night (see Deuteronomy 6:6–9 and Joshua 1:8). In this context, meditating on God’s Word means allowing God’s Word to remain continually on our lips.

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To help believers apply these principles in their daily lives, the Kingdom Life curriculum uses a three-step Bible study method. The first step is Observation, where participants carefully examine the biblical text — the Word that came from God’s mouth. The second step is Interpretation, where they reflect on what God intended to communicate to the original readers. The third step is a Mirror Question, which invites participants to consider what God may be speaking to them today — the Word that comes from God’s mouth. In particular, the mirror question helps individuals reflect on their own lives in light of Scripture and discover personal application points — what God is saying to them at this moment.

When leaders guide participants according to the intended purpose of the Kingdom Life curriculum, they will likely witness meaningful changes in the lives of believers within a relatively short period of time.

Writers who attended this conference:

• The Rev. Dasol Kang, St. Paul Presbyterian Church in Laurel Springs, New Jersey
• The Rev. Jin Sik Kang, Love Presbyterian Church in Whitestone, New York
• The Rev. Joshua Kim, Korean Central Presbyterian Church near Cleveland, Ohio
• The Rev. Yoon Min Kim, Chicago Covenant Presbyterian Church
• The Rev. Ik Tae Kim, Connecticut Korean Presbyterian Church in New Haven, Connecticut
• The Rev. Ilsun Kim, Nashville Korean Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee
• The Rev. Jong Hyeon Kim, Korean Community Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina
• The Rev. Woojin Shim, United Presbyterian Church of Seattle in Edmonds, Washington
• Gun Ho Lee, Shalom Ministry in North Carolina
• The Rev. Dowhan Lee, The True Love Church in California
• The Rev. Jun Mo Jeong, Auburn Korean Church in Alabama
• The Rev. Won Tae Cho, Woori Church of New York City
• The Rev. Peter Jeong, First Korean Presbyterian Church of San Antonio, Texas
• The Rev. Sunkyoo Park, Presbyterian Publishing Corporation in Louisville, Kentucky

The Rev. Sunkyoo Park is Presbyterian Publishing Corporation’s editor for the Korean language. Presbyterian News Service is grateful for this recap of the work completed during the Kingdom Life Writers’ Conference.