International Bible Studies: Choosing and using the Bible

A. Choosing (what version?)

For most internationals (except university and post-grad students), a simplified translation of the Bible is best. The NIV may be suitable for students who have reached an advanced level of English (roughly corresponding with British university entry level). Otherwise, think about using one of the following:

• New International Reader’s Version
• New Century Version
• Contemporary English Version

Advantages

1. A limited range of vocabulary— important, because 10 is said to be the maximum number of new words most people absorb effectively in a day. Having to plough through endless items of vocabulary can be demoralising for language-learners and reduces time for opening up the Bible’s message.
2. Breaks up long sentences into bite-sized ones. Language-learners find it difficult to hang onto the “thread” of meaning in long, complex sentences (like some of Paul’s).

Praying for The Good Book Company

It's a busy time of year. It's an incredibly busy time of year for us here at The Good Book Company. And we would really appreciate your prayers over the next week or so.

We're going to be running 8 big bookstalls at 8 events across England and Wales in towns from Cwmbran to Southampton and London to Manchester. And there are going to be some brilliant deals along the way ...

We're going to be launching fantastic new books like A Man's Greatest Challenge, Purity is Possible as well as Engaging with Hindus and Engaging with Atheists.... continue reading

You are what you watch

It was an unpleasantly hot autumn afternoon on the London underground. Having read all the adverts and glanced one too many times at my neighbour's newspaper, my eyes settled on the man opposite. His t-shirt was blue, slightly grubby and bore these words: "You are what you watch"

I imagine it was a commentary on film or TV watching. If so, that would make me James Bond or a character from NCIS - for better or for worse. But the concept intrigued me - a deeper truth lurked in those crumpled words.

Where we put our eyes impacts our Christian walk:

• If I watch the attitudes of the people around me to find my identity, I will live in fear of man rather than fear of God.
• If I look to my job to find security I will store up riches on earth rather than riches in heaven.
• If I set my eyes on my hobbies (even church activities) to bring fulfilment, I will sideline the life in all its fullness brought by Christ
• If I gaze upon my family as a source of hope, I will push the wonder of eternity into the periphery of my view

I guess, in part, that's why the writer of Hebrews encourages us to live our Christian lives with our eyes very carefully positioned:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

It's an inescapable fact: you are what you watch.

Porn: the battle women face

It's a subject that's taboo. A reality that many find shocking. A fact that some would prefer to deny. But the truth is out there: women use porn too.

Accurate statistics are difficult to source but a quick trawl of the web seems to suggest that about a quarter of those who visit internet pornography sites are female. Some pages suggest that up to 60% of women have used porn at some point in their lives. And while we might prefer to think otherwise, it's fairly safe to assume that some of those surfing such sites will be Christians who are confused, ashamed, addicted or desperate. Indeed over the last decade I've had quite a few Christian sisters confide in me - each convinced that they are the only one. Far from being a solely male pastoral issue, porn is something that affects women too and those involved in women's ministry need to be addressing the subject proactively.... continue reading

Growing old gracefully

Are you looking forward to getting older?

Not the aches and the pains or the more serious bodily deterioration. Nor the reduction in energy. Those things are no fun at all. But the wonderful benefits of age - are you looking forward to them?

We live in a culture obsessed by youth - looking young, living young, feeling young - but the Bible has a different perspective.... continue reading

My heart laments

I’ve just come back to the office after having spent two months in South Asia with Serving in Mission. Here I tell the story of one of the believers I met there—I’ll call her T. As I sat in her living room eating the traditional sweet dessert she’d served me (like many things there, it was made from rice), I asked her how she had become a believer. This is what she said:

“It all started with my husband.”

As a young woman, T had an arranged marriage. This would have been very normal, except for the fact that—unlike herself, her family, and almost everyone else in the region—her new husband was not the Muslim T had assumed he would be. It was only after she married him that she discovered, to her alarm, that he was in fact a Christian.

Her family advised her to get divorced at once, but T knew she would have no hope of getting married again. In any case, her husband seemed like a good, caring man. “I was on this path”, she told me, “so I thought I might as well see where it led.”... continue reading

Jesus-centred notice sheets

Where would we be without our weekly notice sheets? They’re an invaluable hub of communication. But all too often they don’t get read or they don’t get read with joy.

The problem is, church notice sheets tend to be quite good at setting out what is happening or needed. But they are often very bad at focusing us all on why such things are happening and why our involvement is so vital. Week after week, they invite us to ‘do things’ rather than encourage us to reflect, pray and function as the body of Christ is called to do (1Cor 12:12-31). They encourage us to become burdened instead of inspiring us to serve.

It’s time to put Jesus back at the centre of our notice sheets!

Next time you are advertising a service or event, try to avoid merely saying where and when it’s happening. Remind people why it’s happening. And how it fits with the overall mission and vision of the church. Is it an exciting opportunity to get to know Jesus better? Or an event that is great for introducing non-believers to Christianity? Let people know how it will enhance their personal relationship with God or equip them to serve him more.

And the next time you are looking for a volunteer, be clear that you’re not just looking for someone to do a task, but that the role is a chance to serve our heavenly Father, using Spiritual gifts in ways that glorify Jesus. It’s an opportunity to be part of the mission of God and the mission of the church. And prayerfully getting involved will help both personal growth and progress the gospel.

With Jesus right at the centre, we might just find that people start reading the notice sheet that little bit more enthusiastically!

This blog post was originally posted on The Good Book Blog on September 28th 2011.

Everything is under control

Atrocities in the world flash across our screens daily. Newspapers detail the horrors of terrorism, torture, murder and injustice. People around us crumble under the weight of relationship strife, bereavement, illness and more. Our own lives too, at times, plunge to the depths.

And sometimes, just sometimes, the question crosses our mind: has God really got everything under control?

Paul, in his letter to the Colossians, couldn't have been more convinced about the answer.... continue reading