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The Church Of The Holy Rood      --      Wool, Dorset, U.K.

October 2006

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Bible Sunday

Sunday October 29th is celebrated as Bible Sunday in the church calendar.  This year’s theme is The power of the Bible to influence and shape lives - in history and now.

We’ve probably all heard of William Wilberforce who in 1787 founded the Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade.

William Wilberforce became a Christian in 1784 a step that changed his life. It not only changed his life but inspired him and his fellow abolitionists to bring radical change in the life and attitude of the nation.

200 years ago the big industry was slavery. It was as vital to Britain’s economy as the IT industry is today. But it trapped 11 million Africans as slaves in cruel conditions. A small group of mainly Christians fought for about 50 years for Parliament to abolish the slave trade, and finally won.

First the Bible impacted a slave trader John Newton, better known as the author of the hymn Amazing Grace. He eventually became a minister of a church in London, and it was here his preaching and teaching had an impact on the life of Wilberforce.

There were in particular two passages from the Bible that especially inspired William Wilberforce, and he built his whole life on them.

bullet One was the understanding in Genesis (1.26-27) that all people are made equally in God’s image.
bullet The second was Jesus’ command to do to others as we want them to do to us (Matthew 7.12).

The word of God, the Bible, has the power to shape lives, attitudes, and actions. The Bible challenges our attitudes, values, choices and priorities today.

Much of our world is still waiting for the bible and its life-changing influence.

There are millions of people denied the Bible’s life changing message because of Bible poverty:

bullet More than half of the world’s languages still wait for even one book of the Bible
bullet A billion people can’t read but only 3% of languages have the Bible in audio format
bullet Every 5 seconds someone goes blind – but Braille Bibles exist in only 30 languages
bullet For a billion people the Bible is a luxury they can’t afford
bullet The Bible no longer shapes our own nation

The Bible is not some dusty old book to be kept on the book shelf. It is to be taken off the shelf and read, it is the living word of God, and God’s word is relevant to us today.

Seize this as an opportunity to take your Bible off the shelf, and start reading God’s word.

bullet Come along to church on Bible Sunday – or any Sunday, and hear how the Bible can challenge and change lives.
bullet Join in one of the various home groups advertised in the magazine and study God’s word with other Christians.
bullet Pick up some Bible reading notes from the back of church to help you read God’s word.

The power of God’s word, the Bible, can influence and change your life.

May God bless you as you read and discover His word for you.

Judy

 

 

 

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Last modified: Tuesday, 16 September 2008