This is a collection several lessons by Russell Kelfer that have had special meaning to prisoners over the years (based on letters they’ve sent to us.)
Our narrator, the late Wayne Crocker, was an attorney who was convicted of wrongdoing and was sent to jail. While there, he read some of Russell Kelfer’s lessons given through a jail ministry, and this led him to repent and ask Jesus to forgive his sins. After serving his sentence, he came to work for us, Discipleship Tape Ministries, and, among many other things, he recorded introductions for these eight lessons collected especially for prisoners.
We start with an introduction to Russell’s life, then explore the meaning of being “born again”. We then follow Israel’s King David, said to be “a man after God’s own heart”, from his start as a shepherd boy, to becoming a king. He took another man’s wife to please himself, and then tried to cover it up by murder. Finally, we see how he repented, and how God forgave him.
There’s Good News Tonight
This lesson is the personal testimony of Russell Kelfer, and is an introduction to the man who was gifted by God to produce many hundreds of practical lessons which have helped disciple Christians for over 50 years.
You Must Be Born Again
The Bible story of Nicodemus reveals to us just why Jesus came. Nicodemus went to Jesus wanting to know Who He was, but he didn’t understand spiritual truth, because he was spiritually dead. So Jesus told him that he had to be born again. Find out what it means to be born again and not only to know about God, but really know God.
How Can These Things Be?
A deeper look at Nicodemus and his encounter with Jesus reveals what it means to be “born again”. Jesus clearly explains that there are two worlds, the world of the flesh and the world of the Spirit. We have all been born of the flesh, but not until we are born of the Spirit can we see God’s kingdom.
A Man After God’s Own Heart
What is “a man after God’s own heart?” – David was such a man. A look into the life of David shows five important characteristics that revealed his heart.
It Didn’t Have to Happen
King David broke the heart of God when he allowed sin to have its way in his life. He looked at Bathsheba, lingered and then lusted. Sin has a progressive pattern where each compromise leads to a greater compromise. The good news is that God has given us a way of escape.
Dear God: What Happened to David?
After David’s sin with Bathsheba, he began trying to cover it up. Instead of confessing his sin before God and man, he chose instead to hide it – but it wasn’t hidden from God.
Thou Art the Man!
God uses many means to expose our sins – but they all will be revealed some day. When David is confronted by God’s prophet, he repents before the Lord… but the consequences must go on. That’s part of Gods plan, but God allows the relationship to Him to be restored.
Whiter Than Snow
David had fallen so low, he never dreamed that restoration was possible. But when he repented and asked for forgiveness, he heard not the harsh cry of condemnation, but the quiet words of a God whose love transcends man’s understanding of love itself: The words were “I forgive”.
