This week we begin a new series for Lent that the whole church are following, "Experience a Better Story" - it focuses on the bible and how it's story changes lives - this week we introduce the bible. To join in with the video you will need a musical instrument and a bible. Enjoy Blessings Claire.
Thankful Thought Thursday 18th February 2021 : The Bible
Isaiah 40.8 ‘The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.’ (ESV)
Hebrews 4.12 ‘For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword.’ (ESV)
Luke 24.32 ‘They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”’ (ESV)
This week we join the whole church to start a new series for lent. It is called “Experience a better story” produced by the bible society. There is a book to accompany the series that I can fully recommend too Andrew Ollerton’s “The Bible a Story that makes sense of Life” if you want to go deeper this Lent. This first week we consider what the Bible is.
I am hoping we focus on the quotes above and really embrace the truth that the Bible, God’s word is everlasting, is living and can cause our hearts to burn within us.
During this pandemic when so many things have changed at speed and regularly it is good to have the Bible and its truth that God is unchanging. We need an unchanging anchor in such a storm. The Bible is full of storms too and how through trials and pains God’s loving grace and mercy finds a way to reach out to us all. With the older children’s groups I am encouraging them to chose some scripture to put on their walls in this season. Something that can really become alive to them and change them from the inside out. Perhaps that is a challenge to you to – what words of God would it be good to have on display around you?
How else do you engage with the Bible? Perhaps this lent you can find a new way to engage with it. I would guard against being too ambitious and deciding to read too much too quickly but focus on little ways to let the living word minister to you each day. Perhaps an app that send you a verse a day or a daily bible reading reflection – there are loads of books or websites out there with ways to connect. Perhaps as we have just done David here at Thankful Thursday – try a Psalm a day before bed or first thing. Whatever you decide – as our new song says “Come on now and open up the book, come on now and take a good long look – and see God is giving you all you need – to be free!”
Blessings Claire xx