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The Good Book
- Date: Fri, Oct 15, 2010
- Author: Linda Roddis
This Sunday our 4th graders will receive a Bible. When we give our young people a Bible, we will refrain from telling them what they should believe about its content.
Our children will learn the history of the Bible, the content of the books, and the various ways people understand the Bible today. Then, in keeping with our basic belief in a loving and welcoming God, we will encourage each child to explore and express their own personal beliefs about the Bible.
Our view of God shapes the way we approach the Scripture and how we approach the world around us. For example, we believe God loves each and every individual and celebrates diversity. We welcome all people and encourage our children to develop their own beliefs. According to an article in USA Today (October 7, 2010), our beliefs represent only 22% of Americans who believe in God. Nine out of 10 Americans believe in God yet only 22% of them believe in this Benevolent God. Others believe in a Authoritative God or a Critical God. Those who embrace this view of God read the Bible as the definitive word of God.
We are different. For us, “God is still speaking!” Yes, the God of the Bible is still speaking and teaching us how to welcome, include, and love all people. I believe it is important that we who embrace a Benevolent God continue to explore the scriptures, learn the context of the bible, and even quote it once in a while. What a difference it would make if, in public places, signs were held up quoting Bible verses which build people up and promote love. Consider a sign quoting Ephesians 2:10, “You are God’s poetry created to work alongside the poet.”
This Sunday as our little ones receive Bibles, perhaps, we can dust off our own Bibles and join our 4th graders in reading the Good Book again.
Rev. Linda Roddis
These are the scripture readings in the Revised Common Lectionary for the forthcoming Sunday:
Psalm 119:33-41
He
33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes;
and I will keep it to the end.
34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
and observe it with my whole heart.
35 Lead me in the path of your commandments,
for I delight in it.
36 Incline my heart to your testimonies,
and not to selfish gain!
37 Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;
and give me life in your ways.
38 Confirm to your servant your promise,
that you may be feared.
39 Turn away the reproach that I dread,
for your rules are good.
40 Behold, I long for your precepts;
in your righteousness give me life!
Waw
41 Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord,
your salvation according to your promise;
Luke 18:1-8
The Parable of the Persistent Widow
18:1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
Preach the Word
4:1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
