Northcliff Union Church in Johannesburg was witness to a profound seminar on 30th January 2011. The Walk Thru the Old Testament Toolbox training event was hosted here on the day. The event had a total of 98 participants attending, ready to be blessed by Reverend Phil Tuttle’s presentation of the Walk Thru the Old Testament teaching.
The Northcliff Union Church was filled with participants who had come seeking an extensive yet easy to understand overview of the Old Testament. They were in for an afternoon which saw Phil Tuttle (President, Walk Thru the Bible) teaching the Old Testament in a manner which has hitherto not been experienced in this country.
Phil Tuttle ministering to the participants assembled at Northcliff Union Church
The presentation style was conducted in an animated, yet extremely interactive way. This approach allowed the participants to fully comprehend and actively participate in the teaching. In essence, participants were afforded the opportunity to learn – without the usual taking of notes – while having a fantastic time, and experiencing the lessons taught in the Old Testament, on a much more deep-seated level.
Participants being transported through the Old Testament
Getting to know the people, places and events in the Old Testament, and committing to memory all the important lessons, people and their characters, was astounding, and all of this in one afternoon! The greatest blessing is having looked around and witnessing firsthand the intense concentration on the faces of may participants who agreed that the seminar content was “…profound, and made the Bible real, current and practical, while the themes are all applicable to the contemporary global society in which we live.” (Morris Opati)
Another attendee, Kayode Omopariola (Nigeria), goes further to say that, “ This is indeed a great seminar, because it gives a better understanding of the Old Testament because all the books are linked together, and I cannot wait to go back home and teach in this fashion.”
One theme which stood out, is the “Teach-Test” principle. Linked with the different books of the Old Testament, it gives a clear account of how the Israelites were Enslaved (Genesis), Redeemed (Exodus), Taught (Leviticus), Tested (Numbers), Retaught (Deuteronomy) and Retested (Joshua). Participants are, through a series of gestures and hand signs, taken on a journey which aims to allow God to “…embed His story in His story. To show how life has changed for eternity by getting you to place your faith in Jesus Christ.” (Phil Tuttle)
The seminar literally takes you on a walk through the ages while showing you how we fit into it. Through the series of movements and the animated, lively presentation style, many left, once the proceedings ended, feeling “invigorated, and ready to teach in the same way.” (Meinrald Mtitu, Kenya)
Illustrating Gideon squeezing the fleece in the book of Judges
Phil Tuttle highlighted that, “…the goal of today is to light a fire among us, because the coals are gone cold, and the flames were fanned today.”
Looking around at all assembled on the day, I could not help but be in firm agreement with this statement. Parting words which were directed at all of humanity, and acted out in a series of gestures, left the participants with the following words, “ God made it all, we messed it up, if you’ll be quiet, I’ll tell you all about it!”
Fitting words indeed when one considers the similarities between the struggles faced by the Israelites in Biblical times, and the state of the world as we know it. The challenge everyone was left with, was to embark on a 30-day journey during which a new commitment to reading the Bible daily, is made, utilizing the “Walk Thru the Old Testament” workbook as the tool we can use to “…take a walk and change the world.”
If you would like to attend a Walk Thru the Old Testament Toolbox training event, please click here.
Phil Tuttle serves as the senior vice president for international ministries and global teaching pastor for Walk Thru the Bible. He has conducted Walk Thru the Bible seminars for churches, Christian school conventions, home education conferences, Sunday school conventions, and leadership conferences throughout the world. A native of Normal, Illinois, Tuttle received his BA in Christian education and the Bible from Wheaton College in 1980 and his ThM in Christian education from Dallas Theological Seminary in 1984. After graduation, Tuttle served as a pastor in central Illinois for seven years and became a Walk Thru the Bible instructor in 1988. Phil and his wife, Ellen, have two children, Emily and Philip.