Pull up a pew and join the Christian chat thread, continued...

[EddSimcox]

Church chat and all related things... weak coffee, dodgy tunes, rubbish attitudes... and the uplifting, inspirational, and hilarious too.

Hello all. Welcome MrsFT and yawning.

hey MHD its amazing you're so close to publication, well done, you are an inspiration and I'm sure you aren't ill-equipped at all...

yeah, it's exciting. and terrifying. but it's long road and I'm only at the start, so no panic yet

Thank you for that verse pickle, turns out it's one of my friend's favourites!

So I have bought myself a very nice little Bible from WHSmith and read all the Gospels, Corinthians, and Genesis. I've been reading in the garden surrounded by beautiful flowers and feeling very grateful 🙂.
Sometimes it is hard to interpret what is being said, so I'm thinking of joining a Bible study group.

That sounds wonderful slippermaiden and I think it is best to let the Bible speak for itself. I think we all need to accept that there are things we do not understand, howver much we have studied and sometimes study groups and Bible study notes do not make it any easier.
People have argued for centuries about certain passages in the Bible and frankly your guess is as good as anybody’s. Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit and keep reading. What is next?

Also: what translation are you reading? That can make quite a difference. At the moment I am using a Bible app where you can have many translations and languages.

Hi Dutchoma it's an Anglicized English standard version. Next I might try Romans, mainly because the titles of the chapters appeal to me.

Interesting what you say about Bible study, I thought I would gain a lot from going to a small women's group at a church near me. They meet on for an hour and a half each week to study together and once a month spend the meeting praying. I perhaps could read more by myself before going to the group.

I find Romans quite a difficult book, see what you think. There are beautiful bits in it.
If you know a particular group of ladies and join them for prayer and Bible study you should be alright. I was a bit concerned you might fall into a group that is very literally minded in their interpretation of the Bible. See how you go.

Have you discovered the psalms yet? I had a while that I read through the psalms, one a day, together with other Bible reading.

Hello slippermaiden. Oma has wonderful advice, as usual. I agree about Romans, although it is a fascinating book which sets out Paul's theology of salvation. I really like Philippians, it is a much shorter book and might be good to read?

The study sounds nice, but as Oma says you'll only know if you go and feel comfortable there and like it's an open and welcoming group. Also agree re translations, the ESV isn't the most acessible, but God speaks through all versions.

Great to have you on board here.

How is everyone else? BES?

Thanks for your kind words, Edd. It's been a journey to get here. Just read through the final version back from the copy editor and just felt grateful to God for bringing it this far. I just pray it will help others and speak to them.

Oma you weren't wrong about Romans! I did read some of it, then I quickly moved on to Galatians and Philippians, they were easier to read, and I recognised some verses from Quaker Faith and Practise.
Any recommendations from the Old Testament?
I have Quaker meeting tomorrow morning, I might see if I can talk to someone there about reading the Bible.
I can't quite explain how I feel about all this, exploring Quakerism last year and reading the Bible these last few weeks feels like everything is falling into place and I'm so eager to learn.

I'd really recommend the letter of James from the NT. As for the ot ,I find it much more difficult. It's so disparate. There's a wonderful piece on Wisdom in proverbs, perhaps someone else knows the reference.

@slippermaiden I have a soft spot for Phillipians. Especially (excuse paraphrasing) do not be anxious about anything but in prayer and petition present your requests to God. Which I have highlighted and kept me going through a massive wobble earlier this year.

We're looking at Exodus in our sermon series and ladies bible study at the moment, and (surprisingly, as I struggle with the OT 😳) the theme of God working in the background has really made me think.

Philippians is my very favourite book, Mrs FT. :) I love that verse!

Also agree with recommendation for James. A great practical book.

OT is harder! There's so much to wade through. Definitely start with Psalms as there is so much honesty there and engaging with God in messy lives. Proverbs has some good stuff too. I'm fond of Isaiah but there's loads of woe is me stuff which can be hard to read through. The second half of the book is more positive and hopeful (from chapter 40 onwards) .
I really like the book of Ruth. How about starting with that? Esther and Nehemiah also worth a read and have some brilliant themes.

I would second Ruth Slipper I'm very early in my faith and bible reading journey. I got so much from Ruth and it was definitely a journey but one I'm very glad I did. I think I will try MHD suggestion and try Esther next.

Glad to hear you left Romans for another day slipper. In the Old Testament, apart from Ruth and Esther as Cishand MHD suggested, I love Isaiah. It’s a long read and bits of it are obscure, but that is something you have already encountered and goes for the whole of the Bible. You have to let it speak where it can and realise that God is speaking to you through it.

How is everyone today?

Continued prayers for all of you.

Hello! Good advice here for reading the bible. As for joining a group, go along and see how it feels. If someone is giving out the 'right' answers, it's probably not the best place for exploring. We need to learn and judge for ourselves, through discussion and reading around. I'm uncomfortable with any telling me what The Truth is.

The Old Testament is in different chunks. Some of it is history, so fairly narrative. Some is law, so a bit dry and obscure. Some is poetry/prayer, so beautiful to read and find bits which speak to you. Actually, I need to revisit it. Try flicking through reading a few verses here and there, until you find something you want more of.

I so agree Pickle about people telling me what The Truth is. I had a very uncomfortable converstation with someone who was kind enough to cook Sunday dinner for me, but very uncomfortable indeed with the view that you have to be a Christian to ‘go to heaven’...whatever that means. “There have to be rewards for good deeds”’ she said, “and judgment on those who have not loved God in their lives”. In the end we agreed to differ and not let it cloud our friendship, but I’m afraid it does.

I always just remember that the God I love is a God of justice and mercy and longs for all to be reconciled to him, and so trust him completely that all are given that choice in whatever way that means - I suspect some people will be shocked when it comes to the reality! God is so much wider than we can imagine and so much more loving. I hate it when people narrow God, but also remember God is holy as well as just so do believe in judgement etc but know it will be just judgement. I love what Jesus said about judging, though. Look at yourself before you judge others. I always try to do that and find myself wanting...

There’s a wideness in God’s mercy....

Also on Sunday I quoted the parable of the workers in the vineyard where al the workers were paid the same. “Are you angry because I am good?”

Love that story, Oma. The wideness and wildness of God's scandalous grace. Amazing. :)

I love the vineyard parable! Are you jealous because I am generous? I listened to a podcast on exactly that the other day too.
We have the ultimate gift of Grace and the endless invitation of relationship with God through Christ and still some people think that only 'some' people are 'in'. I just don't understand how you can know grace and yet not comprehend that it is a gift to everyone...

I don't know this parable, will have a look for it. I have stumbled across Proverbs this morning, I really like 3, Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Quite relevant as I was just at my allotment.

Oh I've found the labourers in the vineyard and read it. I like it too, having only recently come to Christianity it's a very positive read!

Reassuring, isn't it?

Yes, very.