Click on the "Before You Begin" link below to identify your first steps.
And watch for new pages each week to provide resources for you in your reading and studying.
I'm thinking that the picture blocks below can become your "tile navigation." Some possibilities include...
-- Reading Calendar
-- Links
-- Q&A
-- current week
-- most recent weeks -- perhaps the bottom row of links should be the last week, then the last two weeks, and then finally the last three weeks
Meanwhile, the "Before You Begin" stuff may best belong on the 'home' site -- or perhaps it even becomes the initial email!
-- Reading Calendar
-- Links
-- Q&A
-- current week
-- most recent weeks -- perhaps the bottom row of links should be the last week, then the last two weeks, and then finally the last three weeks
Meanwhile, the "Before You Begin" stuff may best belong on the 'home' site -- or perhaps it even becomes the initial email!
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Dear Fellow Bible Students,
Welcome to Week Forty-Nine! As we continue to work our way through the New Testament epistles, let me take a moment to remind us of this important principle in Bible study: the story always comes first. So much of what we read in Scripture is story. The Bible begins with the profound and memorable stories of Genesis, and the story-telling continues through the first part of Exodus. Virtually everything from Joshua through Job is story, as well. And then, when we turned the page to the New Testa-ment, we found ourselves reading stories again. First, the Gospels told us the stories of Jesus, and then the Book of Acts followed the story of His followers. Lots of stories. Meanwhile, however, in both the Old and New Testa-ments, we have other material that does not read like stories. Much of the writings of the Old Testament prophets, for example, as well as the New Testament epistles. These chapters don't seem to have the same quality of plot, character, and dialogue. And yet, in order to read them well, we must recognize the fact that they are all still rooted in stories. Behind every Old Testament prophet's message and behind every New Testament letter, you see, there is a story. None of those things occur in a vacuum. There are still the elements of plot, characters, and dialogue involved, but they are just not always at the surface. As you continue to read the epistles, therefore, keep in mind the people and the stories behind each. For the story always come first. |
Paul on Scripture"All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteous-ness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work."
(2Timothy 3:16-17 NRSV) Helpful LinksThe web is full of resources to help you in your reading, studying, understanding, and applying of God's Word. Here are a few that we have found helpful and responsible.
Bible Translations There are SO many different translations of the Bible. But why? What's the difference between them? Shouldn't they all come out the same? This online PDF provides an excellent explanation of the different kinds of translations that are out there and what each is designed to be. Bible Versions And, in addition to there being so many translations, there are so very many different Bibles. Each one has its unique benefits. Here is a pretty complete selection of what's available today. Online Bible Here is a great site for searching the Bible online, including a wide variety of translations and search methods. They've also added other helpful resources, and now they offer a very cool app, as well. Bible Places A number of sites provide photographs of the lands of the Bible. This site has an excellent collection, well-organized, and featuring helpful captions. Bible Software If you ever decide that you would like a high-end piece of Bible software, with an incredible array of translations, search capabilities, study devices and resources, original language tools, and more, we enthusiastically recommend BibleWorks. |