Weekly Update |   February 22, 2024

A Hard-Copy of the Bible

Dmitriy Zherebnenkov

A love for Scripture can be expressed in different ways. For some it is through daily reading. For others it is when memorizing and learning various passages and doing a deeper study. Yet others love to share the Word or discuss the truths of Scripture with others. While some, strive to always have their Bible with them so that they can run to it whenever possible. But unfortunately, because of the development of technology, this last group of people is becoming rarer and rarer. Firstly, personal electronics have reduced the need to use a printed Bible. And secondly, carrying a printed copy of the Bible has become an inconvenience for some—not modern and traditional. This tendency leads to seeing less and less people with a Bible in their hands. There are a few simple principles that will encourage us to reconsider and potentially begin using a printed copy of the Bible:

1. Photographic memory. When a person sees texts and memorizes their location in their Bible, their memorization and retention of passages increases. We are created in such a way where it is important for us to see, hear, touch, etc. (1 John 1:1).
2. Fighting consumerism. Watching television or anything on a screen of a smartphone, fosters a passive, consumer-esque type of attitude toward the receiving of information, even bordering on entertainment. Fighting this habit, especially during a church service, will be easier by using a hard-copy Bible and a notebook for notes, which will encourage you to use your brain analytically and will grow your skill of note-taking.
3. The skill of independent study. When we bring our Bible to church and use it during Scripture reading and the sermon, we grow in the skill of being able to work with a text by ourselves at home, when no one is there to help us. We also learn how to quickly find important passages, which can help us in a home group or a personal discussion to easily find what we need.
4. Fighting distractions. Using an electronic form of the Bible, whether you like it or not, increases your potential for distraction from the sermon to various text messages, emails, or apps. Ultimately, you lose the train of thought and the opportunity to let the information take hold in you. This leads to “segmented” or “clip-like” thinking that diminishes and eventually leads to the loss of the ability to think criticaly and logically. This is especially dangerous for kids because their mind becomes “lazy” and unteachable.
5. Encouragement of others. If our life belongs to Jesus, then any action that we take, we take with the goal of strengthening and spreading His kingdom. Many Christians testify that they are encouraged when coming to church simply by seeing others with a Bible in their hands. This is a good witness for unbelievers and guests. Of course, they need to see that we use this book.
6. Accountability. By bringing and using your Bible, you also double-check and keep the preacher accountable (Acts 17:11). An electronic form of the Bible, either on your phone or projected on the screens, can’t do this. To see the full context of the passage being studied, it is important to have the whole page open. In this way, you can see everything before and after the passage that the preacher mentions.
7. Witness. When a believer brings a Bible with him or herself, this is another witness that shows that it is valuable to him or her (Ps. 138:2).

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Continue supporting the churches working among the people who have suffered from the war in
Ukraine: https://gfchurch.com/ukraine/

Below are the services and meetings for this weekend:

• Thursday (6:30 PM) – Kid’s Bible School (open to all but required for parents), followed by Bible Study (Proverbs) for the whole church at 7:30 PM
• Saturday (8:00 – 9:30 AM) – Men’s prayer breakfast
• Sunday services:
  • Worship Service in Russian at 9:00 AM
  • Worship Service in English at 11:15 AM

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