Why reading your bible is important
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Why reading your Bible is important Laindon 8 th September 2013
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An explanation of the significance of the Bible
Transcript of Why reading your bible is important
Why reading your Bible is important
Laindon
8th September 2013
Reading your Bible 5
Hanging on to life…
Reading your Bible 6
The big question…
Reading your Bible 7
Where should we turn?
Reading your Bible 8
Finding the answer to life
• Ask a doctor?• Speak to a psychologist?• Ask a friend?• Study academic literature?• Ask a priest or minister?• Go straight to the very source of life?
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God’s amazing revelation…
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Why should we believe it?
1. Its unity:– 66 books– 40 writers– Written across a period of 1500 years– Written in three different languages and
three different continents– In complete harmony because it has one
author
Reading your Bible 11
Why should we believe it?2. Its historical accuracy:
– It covers a 4000 year period, starting 6000years ago
– Provides historically accurate details concerning people, places and events
– Authentic secular writings corroborate its accounts
– Archaeology has confirmed its accuracy when places and people were often classed as fables
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Why should we believe it?3. Its indestructibility:
– It has survived for thousands of years despite many attempts to supress or even destroy it
– In AD303 Roman Emperor Diocletian commanded all churches destroyed, all Christian scriptures burnt and all Christians stripped of their civil rights
– In the 18th century Voltaire declared Christianity would disappear within 100 years
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Why should we believe it?4. Its scientific accuracy:
– When referring to matters of modern scientific study it is accurate
– It speaks of the circle of the earth long before the earth was known to be a sphere (Isaiah 40:22)
– It contains none of the wild and fanciful ideas of its contemporary literature
Reading your Bible 14
Why should we believe it?5. Its prophetic accuracy:
– The Bible contains 100s of fulfilled prophecies concerning nations, empires, individuals and world events
– The prophecies are detailed and startlingly accurate, such as the founding of the State of Israel
– The prophecies exactly describe the society we live in, identifying our times as the last days of God’s plan
Reading your Bible 15
Why should we believe it?6. Its authentic and truthful style:
– Not a book of heroes– Contains many undesigned
coincidences
7. Its profound theme of Jesus Christ:– Teaching concerning Christ beginning to
end– Promised, symbolised, prophesied, his
thoughts and his life, death and resurrection, followed by his gospel
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Why should we believe it?8. Its intellectual integrity:
– Can still be believed in the 21st century
9. Its unique teachings:– A unique and direct revelation from God
totally different from contemporary religions
10.Its impact on people’s lives:– Over 1000’s of years has deeply
influenced people and in many cases transformed their lives
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Organising to read the Bible
• Use an accurate word by word translation
• The best way is not to read at random• Better to read systematically• Make notes on key topics• Use a concordance to look up related
topics
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Help is at hand…• Come and see us at the Essex
Country Show, Barleylands:– Saturday 14th September 10.00am –
5.00pm– Sun day 15th September 10.00am –
5.00pm
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Join us here at the OBL centre
• For individual study and Bible reading (by arrangement)
• On Sundays at 3.00pm for individual Bible presentations
• On Tuesday 17th September from 6.30pm onwards for our Open Day and an introduction to our Bible study courses
