FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THE BIBLE
We understand by faith that God has inspired the Bible. 
It is our responsibility to interpret the Bible.  Pronouncing its authority does not rid us of our commitment to work at it.  We have four major areas of work:

Exegesis - WHAT IT MEANT:  understanding the background, history, culture, and literature as written.

Hermeneutics - discernment of what it MEANS for today--making the leap from THEN to NOW.

Prayer - listening and responding to God speaking through it.

Obedience - application-Christian living, personal discipleship, and ethics.

Over the coming weeks, I will be placing a number of resources, recommended by me and others, for further reading and study. These will include websites, books, and interesting things you won't find at the Christian Book Nook! Some will be challenging, some more devotional.  Look at them, use them, or, if they are too hard, try something else.

Why Resources Matter

Of course it is an axiom of Baptist life that nothing can replace God's grace. We are saved by saying "Yes" to the one who says, "Come to me." Nothing more is ever needed to enter into God's life. I grew up hearing many preachers quote Ephesians 2:8-9. "By grace are you saved, not of works, lest anyone should boast." It is gift and pure gift.

But note, Bible listeners. There is more!

1. God's gift to us (vv. 8-9) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God-- not the result of works, so that no one may boast.

2. God's design and intention for us (v. 10) For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life In other words, we are, if you will "scholarshiped" into the school of discipleship, Jesus having generously spoken in recommendation of us. We are enrolled in God's school of life and our needs provided. End of story? No, beginning.

This is a serious university of life we are in together. There is much to learn. If the way has been prepared and our entry was presented to us, it still falls upon us to take up that life from here, with the help of God's Spirit, and learn.

I think of the church as the school of Christian discipleship for its members. They are reached and brought in, taught, welcomed, socialized, given opportunities to learn, grow and try out this life. The end is that we become productive, thinking, well-trained, serious, dedicated followers of Christ.

Our job is the take care of the community where this is happening and help in the work of producing experts in Christian living. Resources are part of that responsibility-in our programs, our educational opportunities, and our staff and leaders.

We are here to help each other in growing in Jesus Christ. We are in the process of seeking how to strengthen not only resources when you are here, but on the web for our people on the go. Keep looking at the website in weeks to come as new features and connections become available.

Upcoming Prayer Retreats

In April, I am part of a team, along with Norfleete Day, that is leading a five day retreat in Atlanta. This retreat is for Clergy and Lay Leaders. It will take place on April 11-16, 2010. I would love to have you join me if interested. Space is limited, but if you are interested in it, go to this website for more information.
http://www.thefellowship.info/fiveday

Mark Your Calendar for May 20-22. We are planning a churchwide Prayer retreat for our congregation here at the church. Dr. Norfleete Day and Cynthia Insko will be helping me to lead this experience, open to anyone who wants to grow in the basics of the Christian life. More to come!