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INTRODUCING THE NEW
GOC BIBLE-VERSE SEARCH QUIZ ON
"GOD'S PLAN FOR MAN'S SALVATION"
In our August 7 e-newsletter, we announced the addition to our Website of the first four Bible quizzes in our Truth Series. In our next newsletter, we will be announcing the last four quizzes in that series. But in this newsletter, we want to introduce you to a different type of Bible quiz. A number of our readers have requested that we provide some quizzes that are aimed specifically at teaching a person what to do to become a Christian. That is exactly what this new series of quizzes is designed to do.
In addition, the verse-match style of the quizzes can assist with Scripture memorization, as well as serving as a gentle reminder about where certain verses are located within the biblical text. Take a look at the quizzes and see what you think. The four new quizzes can be found on our Website at www.thegospelofchrist.com/quiz. More will follow. As always, your comments are not only welcomed, but encouraged.
TGOC VIDEOS
NOW BEING SHOWN IN
GUYANA, SOUTH AMERICA!
From time to time we like to bring to the attention of our readers various television or radio stations that are airing TGOC programs. This is one such occasion. We recently received an unexpected note informing us that our videos are now airing in Kwakwani, Guyana, South America (on the Berbice River). KTS television is running the programs on Tuesday evening of each week from 7:00 to 7:30 p.m., immediately following the nightly news. In the note we received containing this announcement, the gentleman who wrote went on to say, "KTS is a small station with only one channel. We literally have a captive audience there! And the cost is only $5.00 (U.S.) per week."
Wow! Talk about great news. This definitely qualifies. The people in Kwakwani, Guyana, who watch the evening news can simply "stay tuned"—and see the Gospel presented immediately afterwards. Amazing what $5 can do? We will continue to keep you abreast of new stations around the country (and around the world!) that are airing TGOC programs. In the meantime, have you considered possibly asking television or radio stations in your area if they might be willing to use some of our programs? Many stations will run the programs at no cost on public access channels. And sometimes all it takes is a phone call to make an initial inquiry. If we can help, please let us know. After all, our goal here at
THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST is "to take the whole Gospel to the whole world."
TGOC ANNOUNCES
THE LAST TWO LESSONS
IN ITS NEW
"FUNDAMENTALS OF THE FAITH"
SERIES
In our last e-newsletter, we also announced the availability of the first two lessons ("The Existence of God" and "Jesus Christ—The Son of God") in our new "Fundamentals of the Faith" Series of videos. In this newsletter, we are pleased to announce the next two lessons in that series, "The Inspiration of the Bible" (Parts 1 and 2), once again featuring James Gravelle as the speaker.
In part one of his two-part series, James begins by reminding the viewer that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16-17). The general thrust of the first lesson is to provide evidence to document that the Bible is exactly what it claims to be-the inspired, inerrant, all-sufficient, Word of God. As James goes on to explain, "inspired" means "God breathed." "Inerrant" means that the Bible, in its original writings (known as "autographs") was free from error. And "all-sufficient" means that God's Word is all we need—a point explained quite well by the apostle Peter when he wrote that God's "divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue" (2 Pet. 1:3).
By way of providing proof for the fact that the Bible is inspired, inerrant, and all-sufficient, James discusses at length the following points:
- We know that the Bible is the Word of God because man did not write it.
- We know that the Bible is the Word of God because it is indestructible.
- We know that the Bible is the Word of God because of its unity of purpose.
- We know that the Bible is the Word of God because of its brevity.
- We know that the Bible is the Word of God because of the calmness of its writings.
- We know that the Bible is the Word of God because of the prophecies it contains (along with the proof of their fulfillment).
There are a number of important sub-points under these major categories, of course, in order to provide the documentation corroborating each statement. This is a fascinating study of the inspiration of the Bible, and one that is intended to not only pique the interest of the viewer, but also to set the stage for the second part that follows.
In part two of his series on the inspiration of the Bible, James begins by (as he refers to it) "setting forth a few basic facts." He reminds the viewer that the Bible is not strictly a history textbook, yet it nevertheless contains truthful history. The Bible is not strictly a science textbook, yet it contains accurate scientific information. The Bible is not strictly a world atlas, but it contains accurate geography. These facts help the viewer to understand the underlying point that James is making—i.e., the Bible is inspired of God. Throughout both the Old and New Testaments, in fact, we frequently are reminded that God has—with a specific purpose in mind—given us all the information we need to know about specific things. For example, the apostle John wrote, "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God" (1 Jn. 5:13).As James correctly notes, if we cannot
know that God exists, then we certainly cannot know that the Bible is His Word. And if we cannot know that the Bible is His Word, then we cannot know that Jesus Christ is God's Son and that He died for our sins—since it is only within the pages of the Bible that we find that specific information. And if we cannot know that Jesus is our Savior, then we obviously cannot know that we are saved. Yet John specifically said, "These things I have written to you ...that you may know that you have eternal life." Thus, being able to prove the inspiration of the Bible is foundational to the Christian Faith.
There are many different ways to prove the Bible's inspiration, of course. One can examine what is known as the "phenomenology" of the Bible (i.e., the internal and external evidences which show that the Bible could not have been written by mere men alone—which was the approach that James adopted for part one of this series). One could examine the Bible's prophecies and their fulfillment. One could examine the Bible's historical and geographical accuracy. And so on. But for the second part of this series, James specifically chose to examine the Bible's scientific foreknowledge. Dr. Jean S. Morton, in her classic text, Science in the Bible, commented:
- Many scientific facts, which prove the infallibility of Scripture, are tucked away in its pages. These proofs are given in nonscientific language; nevertheless, they substantiate the claims of authenticity of the Holy Scriptures.... In some cases, scientific concepts have been known through the ages, but these concepts are mentioned in a unique manner in Scripture. In other cases, scientific topics have been mentioned hundreds or even thousands of years before man discovered them (1978, p. 10).
It is those "scientific topics that have been mentioned hundreds or thousands of years before man discovered them" that James uses in this lesson to prove the Bible's inspiration. He discusses, for example: (a) Isaiah's statement (Is. 40:22) about the sphericity of the Earth (at a time when everyone thought that the Earth was flat); (b) David's statement (Ps. 19:6) regarding the fact that the Sun has "a circuit" (
i.e., an orbit—which today we know to be true); (c) Job 38:19, which explains that light travels in a "way" (literally a road or a path), which we know today is correct, since light is a form of energy known as radiant energy that travels in electromagnetic waves in a straight line; (d) Genesis 2:1, where Moses stated that the creation was "finished"—which fits perfectly with the first law of thermodynamics (which states that neither matter nor energy may be created or destroyed in nature); (e) etc.
James presents numerous other examples of scientific foreknowledge contained within the Bible—all of which confirm the Bible's claim to be "inspired of God" (2 Tim. 3:16). Both of these lessons are now available on our Website, where you will find them in video, audio, and written transcript formats. We invite you to examine them for yourself, and to share them with others.
TGOC BREAKS ALL PAST RECORDS
FOR SENDING OUT FREE MEDIA!
From time to time in our newsletter, we like to share with our readers important milestones that we experience here at THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. This is one such occasion. As of approximately August 1, we have broken all past records regarding the number of pieces of free media (such as DVDs and CDs) that we have sent out. In 2005, we received 322 requests for media. In 2006, we received 1677 such requests. But in just the first eight months of 2007, we exceeded 1677—and we still have four full months yet to go!
Furthermore, you may find the following information interesting (we certainly did). So far in 2007 we have sent media to 45 states in America (plus Washington, D.C.). In addition, we have sent media internationally to places such as Puerto Rico, Iraq, South Africa, Philippines, England, Germany, Korea, Belgium, France, Mexico, India, El Salvador, Kenya, and Guyana, South America. [NOTE: When we send media within the United States, both the media and the shipping are free. When we send media internationally, the media are free but those who are ordering the media must pay the shipping costs.]
Statistics such as those above help us realize that we are succeeding in our goal to "take the whole Gospel to the whole world." If you would like to take advantage of our free media offer (which comes with certain restrictions on the number of items that may be requested in a single shipment), please visit our Website to submit your request. [And why not forward this newsletter to someone else whom you think might benefit from our free media offer, too?]
A special note, too: THANK YOU to all of our financial supporters who make this work possible. We don't say it often enough, but without your help we could not do what we do.
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