Ralph Drollinger: “Why I am Committed to Written Bible Studies”

Scripture says, “Faith comes from hearing and hearing by the Word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). Fundamental to making disciples in the political arena is teaching the Word of God. It is the irreducible minimum in effective ministry.

In my estimation, people in ministry who are not committed to regularly teaching God’s Word year round are missing the mark. How can you say you are making disciples amongst the political people group of America if you have five or six, a dozen, or two dozen Bible studies with them every year—if any at all? That doesn’t cut it in my book.

The question in the political arena is how best do you unleash the Word of God? I believe the answer to that question must be informed by the lifestyle of public servants: the higher they go in their career paths, the more complicated their daily schedules become—and the more difficult it is for them to maintain consistency in attending a weekly Bible study— wherein I or another ministry leader teach them (in person) the Word of God.

Accordingly, for the past 25 years (and with seminary training) I have been committed to continually perfecting written Bible studies for public servants—Bible studies that have both depth and personalized application to these busy, influential people. Capitol Ministries publishes 52 studies a year, one per week, that average 8 pages in length.

In my way of thinking, if someone is reading my studies every week, he is reading the equivalent of a 400-page college/seminary-level book every year!

Unfortunately, very few people in our culture will read a 400-page book related to biblical theology, commentary, and word studies of the original Greek and Hebrew— and yet that is precisely what they most need to grow in Christ and do their job of leading our nation in a God-honoring way!

By publishing a four-color, beautifully illustrated Bible study every week, I believe that we are creating taste buds for the Word of God in a way that is attractive and palatable to the people who lead our nation! I believe that accomplishing this objective is directly related to one’s overall effectiveness in making disciples. Again, teaching the Word of God is the irreducible minimum in making disciples! Romans 12:1–2 states that we are transformed by the renewing of our minds.

Greatly aiding the effectiveness of producing printed weekly Bible studies is today’s technology. Computer-aided design, color printing, internet distribution, email blasting, and website posting—all aid in creating attractive, applicable, in-depth Bible studies that can be efficiently delivered to public servants throughout America and the world at every level of their career paths. Without such technological advancements such a singular niche approach would not be possible. Such a niche approach to ministry was not available to ministers even a decade ago. That’s to say, as a result, how much greater now—versus in the past—can be our influence for the Gospel amongst the world’s political leaders! My vision is to match in-depth Bible study content with this distribution technology. Capitol Ministries is the first to do this.

Lastly, the other great advantage of niche, in-depth, attractive, written Bible studies is that they can be translated and distributed worldwide at very little cost—with both immediacy and efficiency.

We are so excited about the recent developments that the Lord has enabled us to do in this way: you will notice on our website that we are publishing our D.C. Bible studies in Spanish, French, Portuguese, Russian, and a few in Arabic. This will greatly facilitate and enable the expansion of effective public servant discipleship ministries in other areas of the world.

In 1996, when I first began writing one-page Bible studies for members of the California state legislature, I never imagined this ministry tool would gain such worldwide distribution. We praise God for this, for the team that takes my manuscripts and produces what you see, and for your partnership. All are necessary teammates to make it all happen.

As I contemplate the beauty of this technology that allows worldwide access to deep Bible studies, I think of how a handful of pastors introduced William Wilberforce to Christ, thereby changing his heart and enabling him to change the world. This British lawmaker worked indefatigably his entire career to abolish slavery in Great Britain. July 26, 1833, after Wilberforce had left office and only three days before he died, Great Britain’s House of Commons passed the Slavery Abolition Act and ended the practice of African slave trading throughout its empire. Click here to view my Bible studies on Wilberforce, parts 1 and 2.

The monumental effort and eventual success of Wilberforce’s life work stands as an example of what can be accomplished when God’s Word is planted deeply, nurtured faithfully, and strengthened consistently through biblical discipleship ministries to public servants.

And as Capitol Ministries continues to plant ministries in foreign lands including Latin America, Eurasia, Europe, South Pacific Islands, Asia, Caribbean island nations, and Africa, I marvel at what God will do with an increasing number of public servants who are mature in Christ.

Thank you and God bless you for your partnership.

Ralph Drollinger
President and Founder
Capitol Ministries