Fishersmen: Easter Thoughts

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Easter Thoughts

I hope you had as good an Easter weekend as I did. Yes, there was family and good food. But I was also blessed around this Easter with encouraging and inspirational messages by God’s people.

At the Billy Graham Evangelical Association meeting I was privileged to attend, Franklin Graham shared an update on his family, and some neat things BGEA and Samaritan’s Purse are doing to share Jesus Christ with the world. He spoke of “Boldness” in taking a little risk to tell others that Jesus loves them before they are lost without Him forever.

Most of my family attended Heartland Church on the Northeast side, and we enjoyed a very uplifting service with a well crafted message for seekers, communicating that to God, “Everyone is welcome,” to receive forgiveness and eternal life. Also, that with God, “Anything is possible.”

They also shared a very simple, but accurate mnemonic for a person coming to Christ, and meeting Jesus through a sinner’s prayer: I Know. I’m Sorry. And, I’m Ready. I know that Jesus is the Son of God, who He said He was. I’m sorry for my sin, and I know I need a Savior. I’m finally ready to accept and receive Him as my Lord and Savior, and ready to stop driving my own life and let Him change me.

In an article in a recent cbmc publication, there was a great reminder of the uniqueness and power of Jesus Christ. Bible stories that tell us:

· Jesus loves the unlovely Luke 19-1-10 (A TAX COLLECTOR)

· Jesus is willing to forgive the lowest sinner John 8:1-11 (A PROSTITUTE, OR ADULTERER)

· Jesus can provide for your need Matthew 14:15-21 (FEED A MULTITUDE)

· Jesus can heal your hurt Luke 17:11-19 (LEPROSY)

· Jesus can give you eternal life John 11:1-44 (RAISING A DEAD MAN)

Finally, in a recent book by Billy Graham, he and son, Franklin explain why millions of people have been willing to listen to Billy over the past 60 years. “It’s not what I have to say, but what God’s Word has to say to them.” That’s why they come out by the thousands into stadiums over all over the world for 3 generations.

Give your friends, family and acquaintances God’s word with boldness. Let them know everone is welcome, and anything is possible. Tell them about Jesus, why He’s special and unique. And , if they know, are sorry, and ready, help them open the door of their hearts to Him.

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About the Bible

Fishersmen is a group of followers of Jesus Christ of the Bible. But, what is the Bible? The following is an outline of facts about the Bible, and different views about this famous work.

About the Bible
· From the Greek “Biblion” papyrus roll or Scroll, the pre-book “Book”, the collection of sacred writings of the Christian religion, comprising the Old and New Testaments.
· The Holy Bible is actually a library of 66 books, ranging from Genesis to Revelation.
· It is the number one best selling literature of all time. It has been published in more languages than any other book, and read by more people than any other literature.
· Forty different writers took over 1500 years to produce it. The human authors included kings and peasants; philosophers and fishermen; poets and scholars.
· It was written on three different continents (Asia, Africa, and Europe) in three different languages (Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic).
· The Bible predates the printing press and was laboriously written on papyrus. Very few owned the manuscripts (hand written scrolls), usually only religious officials.
· There are over 3000 manuscripts, many dating to the 2nd century AD that have been compared and analyzed to provide the modern text.
· Over centuries, the Jews nurtured and preserved the writings, carefully recopying each letter and punctuation mark – in fact, if a letter or syllable was wrong, the copying had to start over!
· The early Christians continued the practice of Precision, passing the written Word along carefully from generation to generation.
· The first major book mass produced on the Gutenberg press.
· Archeology in the 19th and 20th centuries has upheld scriptural accounts disputed by Skeptics in earlier times.
Canonicity – The rules for what is considered “in” or “out” of the Bible!
· Christians and Jewish leaders generally agree about the Old Testament (Hebrew Scriptures) contents, but may refer to books by different names.
· Early church councils of Christian leaders met together at great risk to establish standards for manuscripts to be included in the Bible.
· The basic factor for recognizing a book's canonicity for the New Testament was divine inspiration, and the chief test for this was apostolicity
· Apostolic Origin — attributed to and based on the preaching/teaching of the first-generation apostles (or their close companions).
· Universal Acceptance — acknowledged by all major Christian communities in the ancient world (by the end of the fourth century).
· Liturgical Use — read publicly when early Christian communities gathered for the Lord's Supper (their weekly worship services).
· Consistent Message — containing a theological outlook similar or complementary to other accepted Christian writings
Translations and Transliterations
· The manuscripts were in the original or prevalent Middle Eastern languages.
· Septuagint was an integrated Greek language translation
· Latin Vulgate was used by the Western Church for centuries
· Discoveries of the Rosetta Stone, and Dead Sea scrolls (set of manuscripts) in the 19th Century allowed modern translators to confirm Septuagint and Latin Vulgate, as they prepared modern English translations. Examples: NIV, NAB, NASB, NKJV
· Living Bible and The Message are thought by thought transliterations, versus word for word translations.
Self Validation – What the Bible says about itself
· Psalms 19:7-8 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. [8] The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
· 2 Timothy 3:14-17 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, [15] and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. [16] All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, [17] so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
· 2 Peter 1:20-21 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. [21] For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
· Matthew 5:17-18 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. [18] I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
· John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] He was with God in the beginning.
· Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Views of the Bible
· Historical Fiction – Interesting and entertaining with some correct facts and useful maxims, but not the word of God. (You can disregard.)
· Inspirational, but Fallible – God communicating through fallible men, who might not have everything right. (You can pick and choose what you like.)
· Subject to correct interpretation – God’s word when interpreted properly by trained clergy. (You need to ask a pro what it means.)
· Verbal, plenary – God breathed, word for word accurate and true, able to be understood by the common man. (Good for everybody)

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Easter Thoughts

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