Closed Book - Closed Mind?
How many people have a Bible in their house? I don't know the answer, but the Bible is the most widely available, published in more languages, than any other book. How many people keep it closed, relying on the perception of others that it is old and irrelevant? Sadly, such people are displaying a closed mind.
Open Book - Open Mind
When the Bible is opened and approached with an open mind, the claims of the Bible come to the fore:
• It is the message of the Creator of heaven and earth
• It is the handbook for life
• It tells of future events before they happened
• It gives a promise of a perfected world...
• ...a perfected world that you and I can live in for ever
Worth Testing?
With claims like those listed above, how do we know that it can be trusted? How do we check it out?
Examine the Evidence
If you are considering a purchase or making a decision that could affect your life, it is normal to do a bit of research. In this process you gather information for and against the various outcomes. You then make an informed choice. We believe that the position you take with respect to the Bible and its message will have a major impact on your future life. We therefore challenge you to examine "The Evidence". Then you can decide whether it can be trusted. In five lunch-time talks (no more than 30 minutes each), you will be presented with five lines of evidence. These talks to be held in the YMCA, 151 Brook Street, Broughty Ferry. More info here...
What Next?
Once you are prepared to trust in the Bible, what next? A structured approach, assisted by some basic understanding of the history and general context of the Bible is to be recommended. The "Learn to Read the Bible Effectively" seminar series will help you with this preparation. Then you will be equipped to start testing the Bible for yourself.
The Bible Interprets Itself
In the course, which will also be presented in the Broughty Ferry YMCA, you will get an insight into how the Bible explains itself. You will see the importance of reading the context of a statement or verse. You will explore Bible 'echoes' - that is, where a statement made in one part is clearly referred to and expanded on elsewhere in the book. Here's just one example:
And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Isaiah 53:9
The context of this Old Testament verse tells us that the person referred to did not exist in the time of the writer. An echo of the last part of the verse above is found in the New Testament:
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth :
1 Peter 2:21-22
So we have an indication that the future person was Christ.
Tools for the Job
Whilst careful reading and a good memory will pick out such explanations, most of us are unable to get the best results by relying solely on this method. Fortunately, others who over the years have read their Bibles have left us with some useful tools. The course (which you can subscribe to quite freely and without having to enter into any form of correspondence) will introduce you to some of these tools - cross references, translator's notes, concordances (which help you find a word or phrase quickly) and lexicons (meanings of the words of the original language of the Bible).
To learn how to read the Bible effectively, register now for attendance at this free, no obligation course. You can write to us, or fill out an online form - info below.
For those of you outside the local area or out of the country we may be able to offer more local options for you - email here
Alternatively there is always the distance learning version of the course - register online below!
Broughty Ferry Registration
Write, giving your name and address, to:
Dundee Christadelphians
5 Rattray Street
DUNDEE DD1 1NA
Alternatively, you can
e-mail: christadelphians@21blake.freeserve.co.uk
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