INTRODUCTION to the Bible
What can we trust?
In this era of scams and fake news there is a lot of scams and fake assertions that say that they are "christian" or "biblical" but are a very minority personal opinion.
Here are two GREAT RESOURCES that will give you quick and easy answers as well as lead you nearly as deeply as you may want to go:
Luther Seminary's Enter the Bible is solidly Lutheran which means it is in agreement with most Christians churches teach and have historically taught. Luther Seminary is the larges Lutheran seminary in the world and so has access to the best of Lutheran teaching.
Christian Bible Reference is by a couple not speaking for any particular denomination but who are very involved in a Catholic church and who have Baptist and Presbyterian background along with Roman Catholic. It is excellent since it offers a down-to-earth summary of well-researched mainstream, historical understandings of the Bible. It gives us non-Lutheran viewpoint that is right on to how Lutherans interpret Scripture.
Here are two GREAT RESOURCES that will give you quick and easy answers as well as lead you nearly as deeply as you may want to go:
Luther Seminary's Enter the Bible is solidly Lutheran which means it is in agreement with most Christians churches teach and have historically taught. Luther Seminary is the larges Lutheran seminary in the world and so has access to the best of Lutheran teaching.
Christian Bible Reference is by a couple not speaking for any particular denomination but who are very involved in a Catholic church and who have Baptist and Presbyterian background along with Roman Catholic. It is excellent since it offers a down-to-earth summary of well-researched mainstream, historical understandings of the Bible. It gives us non-Lutheran viewpoint that is right on to how Lutherans interpret Scripture.
How can I learn?
Grace offers many ways to learn and engage with the Bible:
- use this website
- 1st Wednesday at Grace - each November will be a "Bible BASICS" in which in cross+generational groups around the Fellowship Room round tables we dig into a few truths and practices with the Bible. In 2017 we dug into Psalms and the Goslpels.
- Bible Presentation on the Sundays in October introduces 3rd graders and older children with their parents to the background and use of the Bible as God's Word.
- weekly in the bulletin Grace has:
- "Taking Faith Home" - this insert has prayers, blessing and Scripture readings as well as the four keys to go deeper each week into 1) Caring Conversations, 2) Devotions, 3) Service, and 4) Rituals & Traditions
- "Scripture Sheet" - this insert has the "Prayer of the Day" and readings that most churches are using that week all around the world.
- September-May Grace has two hour-long Bible Studies on Tuesday, both in the lounge at Grace:
- 9:30 AM - led by the pastor
- 7:00 PM - led by Mark Gaedtke, a graduate of our Synod's Lay School
- June - August Grace does a "Summer Study" which is intended to guide us into prayer & Scripture. We want this but don't often know how or have an occasion. This is an easy to use beginning to enter into and invite others to join you.
- Christ in Our Home is a daily devotion booklet available in the Grace Gathering Space. It's free! Help yourself!