Grace Lutheran's INTRODUCTION to the Bible
Bible Milestone
Grace specifically introduces the Bible to 3rd graders each October Purpose of Milestone:
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Each October for third graders & parents and children who have not been introduced to the Bible.
- Bibles are blessed on the first Sunday in October
- People are invited to highlight their favorite Bible verse in these verses throughout October Bibles are presented by parents to their child on the last Sunday
Bible Review - 1st Wednesday at Grace in November
Grace specifically engages all generations in the Bible first Wednesday every November
Grace specifically engages all generations in the Bible first Wednesday every November
Purpose of Bible Introduction & Review
To learn the gift and necessity of listening to God’s Word!
A. Trust in Jesus as the living “Word of God”.
2. To trust in Jesus as the living “Word of God”!
3. To receive , personalize, and absorb the Bible as God’s written Word to you.
4. To center your family on God’s Word.
A. Trust in Jesus as the living “Word of God”.
- Understand the unique purpose of the Bible and Christianity is NOT information about God but trust in Jesus as Lord.
- Understand the Bible is inspired and called Sacred Scripture NOT because of our right belief, right doctrine, right works, etc. but because it is God's work transforming us to trust God, love others, and live in God's hope, peace, and joy.
- Learn the unique contribution of Martin Luther on the Bible centering us on Christ, grace, good translations, faith practices, hearing law & gospel, and participation in worship.
- Consider 5 minutes of daily devotions as the most important action for life.
- Be introduced to tools that help us understand the Bible - commentary, concordance, Bible Dictionary, maps, and translations
- Recognize common Bible misuses/abuses of the Bible - emphasizing certain beliefs and argurments for it rather than trusting in God's salvation and actions of love because of it.
- Realize www.gracelutherantomahawk.org and other websites and apps to use and how to determine the quality of tools.
- Hear this Word as the greatest message for our good given in Law and Gospel. L.
- Understand God’s Law shows us how far we fall short of perfection yet also guides us to live well. God’s Gospel is the message of God loving and saving us.
- See the Bible as ancient words meant for all time and people so that we listen with respect using devotions and interpretations of others.
2. To trust in Jesus as the living “Word of God”!
- Understand the uniqueness of the Bible and Christianity as leading us to faith in Jesus as Lord. Inspiration and sacredness is centered in Jesus.
- Learn the unique contribution of Martin Luther on the Bible centering us on Christ, grace, good translations, faith practices, and participation in worship.
- Be introduced to tools that help us understand the Bible - commentary, concordance, Bible Dictionary, maps, and translations
- Realize www.gracelutherantomahawk.org and other websites and apps to use and how to determine the quality of tools.
3. To receive , personalize, and absorb the Bible as God’s written Word to you.
- Understand the two parts of the Bible as Old and New Testaments. Both containing Law and Gospel and having a variety of books and literature.
- Be introduced to the Spark Bible and its resources.
- Be given a highlighter, encouraged to mark your Bible and wear it out, and guided in doing so.
4. To center your family on God’s Word.
- Receive this Bible as blessed in worship, marked with favorite Bible verses and presented in worship
- Be given Bible verses for every book in the Bible arranged as a guide into the literature, division, content, and canon of the Bible.
- Learn the value of “home devotions” what to include and how to do it
- Form community for children, parents, and cross-generational activities to grow in faith and life as God’s people.
Word of God
The Bible is fundamental to who we are. It is “the authoritative source and norm of our proclamation, faith, and life (C2.02 of Grace Lutheran Constitution).”
Yet people’s interpretation of the Bible is too often a source for division, exclusion and even hate. We need to be ever humbled by the disciples’ slowness to grasp Jesus’ mission (Mark 8:29-38; 9:30-37; 10:32-45), and ever wary of our pride in view of the scribes and chief priests action in crucifying Jesus (Mark 10:33, 14:1; 15:1).
Thus, whenever you think and hear “God’s Word”:
Yet people’s interpretation of the Bible is too often a source for division, exclusion and even hate. We need to be ever humbled by the disciples’ slowness to grasp Jesus’ mission (Mark 8:29-38; 9:30-37; 10:32-45), and ever wary of our pride in view of the scribes and chief priests action in crucifying Jesus (Mark 10:33, 14:1; 15:1).
Thus, whenever you think and hear “God’s Word”:
- May our first thought always be Jesus. The gospel of John emphasizes this in its very beginning: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. … And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1, 14) God choosing us and our love for God is also the central point of the Old Testament: Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deut.6:4-9)
- May God’s Word always connect us to God’s community. Not to know about God, but to be about God’s work and will: Whoever says, "I have come to know him," but does not obey his commandments, is a liar, and in such a person the truth does not exist; but whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has reached perfection. By this we may be sure that we are in him: whoever says, "I abide in him," ought to walk just as he walked. (1 John 2:4-6)
- Whenever we open this ancient, treasured, written Word of God may it lead us to Jesus: The Father who sent me has himself testified on my behalf. You have never heard his voice or seen his form, and you do not have his word abiding in you, because you do not believe him whom he has sent. "You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf. (John 5:37-39)Click here to