George Grant's Eleven Guidelines for Reading the Bible

What to Remember When Reading the Bible

1. Remember the one, central story: the whole Bible is about just one thing. The pattern of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration runs throughout the Old and New Testaments.

2. Remember that the Bible is its own best commentary. The Word interprets itself; Scripture explains Scripture.

3. Remember to read individual passages in their context—textual, literary, symbolic, historical, cultural, grammatical, and theological.

4. Remember that all Biblical revelation is intended to reveal. Always look for the most obvious literary sense of a text.

5. Remember that all Scripture is inspired and superintended by the Holy Spirit. So, every little detail matters.

6. Remember that Scripture has only one meaning but multiple applications—so, it is important to distinguish between indicatives and imperatives.

7. Remember that we read translations of the Bible. All languages have strengths, weaknesses, and peculiarities—and moving from Greek and Hebrew to one of our modern languages (such as 21st century American English) will always require some additional scrutiny and study.

8. Remember that we must always interpret experience in light of Scripture and history in light of revelation; not the other way around.

9. Remember that the New Testament lies hidden in the Old, and the Old Testament is revealed in the New.

10. Remember that “there is nothing new under the sun.” So, beware of innovative or novel interpretations of Scripture. Steer clear of new “discoveries” in Biblical revelation. We have a rich legacy of wisdom passed down to us from throughout church history so we should consult good commentaries whenever possible--and look to the “old paths” more often than not.

11. Remember that we should always read Scripture prayerfully, submitting to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

[From http://eleventary.blogspot.com/2011/09/what-to-remember-when-reading-bible.html]

All Too True




Note the misspelling of Charismatics in the lower left side.

http://westernthm.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/denomination-interpretation-chart.jpg


Announcements for Sunday, September 25

Today, Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity, September 25, 2011

Sunday School, 9:30am & Worship, 10:40am

Tuesday, September 27

Men’s Bible Study

In the Humanities Room at 7:00 PM. 

See Brian Hawthorne for details.

Wednesday, September 28

Food and Fellowship, 5:30--6:30  ($3 a person or $15 for a family)

Be Sure to Sign Up For The Meal.

Kids’ Quest Catechism Club (6:30--7:30)

Adult Study:  “Recovering the Beauty of the Arts” part 3,

“Is Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder?” by Dr. R.C. Sproul  (6:30--7:30)

Other Events or Announcements

We shall be concluding our theme of “Jesus Shall Reign” and our commemoration of Isaac Watts’ hymns by singing all 14 verses of his hymn “Jesus Shall Reign” today.  This reminds us of the fact that most hymns were originally much longer than the versions we typically sing.

Next Sunday, October 2, we will be having the October Fellowship Meal.

Servant Hosts are the Pickard Family and the McReynolds Family.

Officers Meeting will be at 1:30. 

All members are invited to attend or to convey concerns to the officers.

Tithes and Offerings for the past week were $ 2,369.31. Thank you for your support of the ministries of GCC.  Pray for the growth of our mission.

Calendars for October are available in the foyer and will be posted on the web-site.

  October hymns will be celebrating the Reformers and their Heirs.

Reformation Fall Fest will be October 28-30

Upcoming Events and Themes:

October:  Reformational Healing and Fall Fest

November:  Thanksgiving

December:  Advent

January:  L’Abri (Shelter)--Celebrating the Legacy of Francis Schaeffer (100 Year Anniversary)

Excited About Events

Grace Covenant's Covenant:  God's Word

 

 

Dear Congregation:

 

I don't use the word excited very often, unless I describing a new book.  However, I don't know a better word than excited to use for this month at Grace Covenant Church, unless the better word is thankful.  God has granted us as a church a renewed burst of energy and zeal for His Kingdom.

 

Consider these blessings over the past month:

 

1.  The start-up of Kids' Quest Catechism Club for our children and Recovering the Beauty of the Arts video series for adults. Also, the Wednesday night meals and fellowship have been great.  If you have not yet been able to participate, try to join us for the coming weeks.

 

2.  The Friday night Do Hard Things classes for our young people.  In covenant theology, we emphasize our belief that our children are completely a part of God's kingdom, but sometimes we do little to include or train them for the Kingdom.  Our place is crawling with kids on Friday nights.  These are the teachers, elders, missionaries, deacons, etc. of the Kingdom starting sometime before the end of this decade!  Starting a church and a school were both hard things for those of us who were here in Grace Covenant's infancy.  Now our children are being prepared for the next tasks.

 

3.  Women's Ministries.  The women of our church are plotting and planning.  We have always been sustained and blessed by the prayers and labors of the wives and mothers and young ladies in our congregation.  Now we are seeing even a greater zeal and focus.  As is often the case, we men better watch out: our better halves are going to show us up.

 

4.  Blake Purcell's visit.  Blake is one of the most energetic men I know.  My vision is so often so small (making it through the next Humanities class).  Blake's vision is all of Russia for Christ!  We have been awakened to the fact that we in our rich land need to do more for our brothers and sisters in Christ in Eurasia.  Perhaps you did not know that Grace Covenant began some time back to give monthly support to the Slavic Reformation Society.  Let us seek to increase our support, prayers, and awareness.  I hope some of us can visit a Russian congregation over the next couple of years.

 

5.  Tuesday night Bible study.  The Humanities classroom is generally packed on Tuesday nights with men (both church members and visitors) who gather to discuss God's Word and fellowship over spiritual matters.  My brief encounters with these meetings have been especially encouraging.

 

Looking over all these activities makes me hungry for more.  Watch for and gather your ideas for these upcoming events, programs, and missions:

 

1.  Fall Fest in October.  This is a whole weekend devoted to fellowship, feasting, and celebrating the Reformation.  The central focus is our joy in God having saved us by His grace.  That focus includes our remembering the labors of such servants as Martin Luther, John Calvin, and John Knox (our spiritual fathers).

 

2.  Book ministries.  We have some good books on the shelf in the hallway.  We are wanting to see more group readings, more book distribution, and more sanctification through good books. As Francis Bacon said, "Reading maketh a full man."

 

3.  Advent.  We are not trying to copy the stores that are already putting up Christmas decorations, but we are seeking to think through ways to celebrate all four Sundays in Advent through a worship-enhancing decorated sanctuary, Advent music, and sermons. 

 

4.  The Francis Schaeffer Conference in late January.  This will be a celebration and remembrance of the ministry of Francis Schaeffer on the occasion of the one hundredth year since his birth. 

 

We still have many serious concerns for our church family. In the midst of so much good, many are suffering and hurting in this fallen world.  Good church life is not heaven, but let us labor to make it a foretaste of heaven. 

 

Pray for the ministry teams in our church.  By that, I mean, your pastors, teachers, and servant-laborers.

 

From Russia With Love

What a blessing it was Sunday morning and evening to hear from Blake Purcell. We have experienced a renewed vision of our need to evangelize the world from Texarkana to St. Petersburg to Vladivostok and beyond.

We have also been reminded of the wealth we have in this country in material benefits, and more important, in spiritual heritage and freedom.  God grant that Blake's zeal, energy, and good humor transform us into more faithful believers.

Praise God for the ongoing work in Russia.  Let us continue to pray for walls to fall and doors to open.

Blake Purcell in the center with Ben (left) and Tom (right)



I think Blake was trying to send me to Ukraine and Tom to Siberia.




Re-enacting a scene from Brothers Karamazov:  Ben as Fyodor (without any dentures), Blake as Dmitri (with a sinister smile) and Tom as faithful Alyosha.



Visiting Speaker at GCC for Sunday, September 11



Blake Purcell along with fellow pastors from Russia

Sunday School, 9:30am & Worship, 10:40am Sermon by Blake Purcell from the Slavik Reformation Society God’s Kingdom in Eurasia: An Update on the Slavic Reformation Society by Blake Purcell Tuesday, September 13 Men’s Bible Study In the Humanities Room at 7:00 PM. See Brian Hawthorne for details. Friday, September 16 Women’s Meeting at 7:00 at the House’s house All women and teenage girls are invited to join in the fellowship and discussion about women’s ministries that can enhance Christian growth and the health of the church. Tonight at 6:30 at the Church Announcements for Sunday, September 11, 2011 Today, Twelfth Sunday after Trinity, September 11, 2011 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 Food and Fellowship, 5:30--6:30 ($3 a person or $15 for a family) Kids’ Quest Catechism Club Begins (6:30--7:30) Adult Study: “Recovering the Beauty of the Arts” (video series by R.C. Sproul) 6:30--7:30)

Getting Ready for Sunday's Visit from Blake Purcell



Blake Purcell and his family



Blake and Cathy Purcell with their three children moved to Leningrad in 1990 and became one of the first Evangelical missionaries allowed to live in the Soviet Union post the Communist Revolution of 1917.

Blake Purcell:

• Born in Texas in 1958. Dedicated his life to ministry for Christ in 1974 in Mount Vernon, Virginia.
• Graduated from Texas A&M. Served as an officer in the United States Infantry before going into full-time ministry with the Navigators at the United States Air Force Academy in 1984.
• Ordained in the Presbyterian Church in America in 1998 as a teaching elder (minister) of the Gospel.
• Founded the Reformed Presbyterian Church of St. Petersburg and the Biblical Theological Seminary of St. Petersburg in 1999.
• Has preached on missions in churches in 20 states, Scotland and Canada.

The Purcells were blessed with three more children after they moved to the Soviet Union: Lewis, 16, Zachary, 14, and Laura, 10, are living in Russia with their parents. Emily, 23, teaches in an inner city school in Dallas, Tx; Graham, 21, and John Mark, 19, attend college in the USA.

Blake recommends that you view these two videos on You Tube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8WylMikW50

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PW2mUJuOrJU&feature=related

September 2011 Calendar

Sunday	Mon	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thurs	Friday	Sa
				1	2	3
4 SS: Ecclesiastes Sermon: Great Commission, 8: The Greatness of the Commission Fellowship Meal--Noon Officers Meeting--1:30	5 L A B O R Day	6 Men’s Bible Study 7:00 Humanities Room	7	8	9 Youth Meeting 6:00pm “Do Hard Things”	10
11 SS: Ecclesiastes Sermon: “Owning the World Through the Five Gifts” by Blake Purcell, Missionary with the Slavic Reformation Society Missions Update at 6:30pm	12	13 Men’s Bible Study 7:00	14 Midweek Meetings: Kids’ Quest & Sproul Video Series Meal 5:30-6:30 Classes 6:30-7:30	15	16 Ladies Meeting 7:00pm At the House’s	17
18 SS: Ecclesiastes Sermon: Great Commission, 9: Christ With Us Always	19	20 Men’s Bible Study 7:00	21 Midweek Meetings: Meal 5:30-6:30 Classes 6:30-7:30	22	23 Youth Meeting 6:00pm “Do Hard Things”	24
25 SS: Ecclesiastes Sermon: Great Commission: What is Our Mission?	26	27 Men’s Bible Study 7:00	28 Midweek Meetings: Meal 5:30-6:30 Classes 6:30-7:30	29	30