The Auburn Beacon
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works
and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

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All Joy and Peace in Believing 
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One Thing I Do 
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We Must Broaden Our Vision
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Our God He is Alive
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Keeping Our Balance
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The Final Stages of Israel's Apostasy

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University church of Christ

 

Assembly Times

 Sunday

   Bible Classes (9:30)

   AM Worship (10:20)

   PM Worship (6:00 pm)

 Wednesday

   Bible Classes
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Location

449 North Gay Street

Auburn, AL 36830
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1174 Terrace Acres Drive
Auburn, AL 36830

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Enjoying the Bible

by Mark Roberts

Grisham. Clancy. The Oprah Book Club. Hillerman. Amazon. Rowling. Barnes & Noble. Homework.

What do all these have in common? Whether it is Clancy's latest techno-thriller, Grisham and his lawyers, Hillerman's Navajo mysteries or Rowling's wizards they can all be found (with a good cup of coffee!) at Barnes & Noble, ordered online at Amazon.com, or maybe even recommended by Oprah in her book club — and they all show how Americans love to read.

Many Christians enjoy reading the latest bestseller but have never thought of enjoying the reading of Scripture. Yet if we want to spend more time in the Bible the issue isn't willpower or time management but "want to." We do what we want to do. When we learn to enjoy the Bible we will want to read the Bible. Do you know how to enjoy the Bible?

First, appreciate your Bible. For some Bible reading is the Christian's homework. With heavy hearts they open the Bible ready for the drudgery of reading. Of course, with such expectations, it is drudgery! Yet David praises God's word, announcing "Oh, how I love Your law!" (Psalm 119:97). Perhaps we should realize we don't "have to" study, but by the grace of God we have this wonderful privilege.

Throughout history many have given their lives that we might have the freedom to read the Scriptures in our own homes, in our language. Recently I read Alister E. McGrath's book, The Story of the King James Bible. His book reminded me that at one time owning the Bible was against law. Possessing a Bible was punishable by imprisonment or even death!

Have we forgotten what a blessing it is to have a Bible, and with it, the education to read it? Even now a large majority of the world's population either cannot afford a Bible, is not allowed to own one, or could not read it if they could get one. We need to see this freshly: it is a blessing to read the Word of God!

Second, focus on benefits. It is true that we read Clancy and Grisham for enjoyment. Thus, you may be thinking "The Bible isn't to be read for entertainment—so how can it be enjoyable?" Yet we enjoy many things that are not purely fun or entertaining. For example, I run. That is not always enjoyable, but I love the benefits that come to me from doing it. Focusing on those benefits gets me out there to make my runs.

Similarly, the Bible provides notable and significant benefits to every Christian. For example, the Bible teaches us about our God. We can learn some things about our Creator from creation, but we can never know God as He would have us without the written word (1 Cor. 2:11ff). Further, reading Scripture equips me to deal with temptation. Jesus answered every temptation with Scripture (Luke 4:4ff), and if I read Scripture I will know Scripture and can do the same. It is the Word that teaches us right from wrong, and shows us the consequences of wrong so we will want to do right (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Those two benefits just scratch the surface of the value the Bible has for us. Perhaps we would enjoy reading more if we made a list, as we read, of all the good things the Bible does. Try it and see — you'll be surprised at how often you have to stop and note that God's word is working for you!

Third, read what connects. All Scripture has value but not every passage speaks to my situation and circumstances equally well. Someone who works in government and is trying to make a difference for the Lord will read Esther differently than I will, won't they? The Bible is a wondrous book, full of poetry and law and history and songs. In all of that you can find something that dramatically speaks to you, which has immediate force in your life. That material connects with you — and you will enjoy reading it again and again.

Certainly, there is a place for deeper study and for taking in the "whole counsel of God." There is, however, also a place for returning to familiar ground, passages that always seem to contain something new and potent for our walk with God. For me, it is the Psalms. I love them. They have variety, color, and depth. I never have a "ho hum" attitude with the Psalms. When I am preparing a sermon from the Psalms I will look forward all week to the time I get to spend in that Psalm. I enjoy it! Find the parts of the Bible you like and you will enjoy them too.

Fourth, reflect on your reading. Reading novels may be interesting but that kind of reading doesn't necessarily change us. Even reading history, like Stephen Ambrose writes, can be a profound experience but it doesn't compare to what happens when we read the word of God. Some of the greatest enjoyment we will ever gain from the Scriptures will come after we have closed the Book and we are thinking about what we have read. That is the process of reflection spoken of in Psalm 119:97: "Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day." Meditation has come to mean something esoteric or bizarre but in the Bible it simply means deep thought about the text. This is the key to making the Bible part of everything we do. I must think about the context of the passages I have read, and who the characters are and where they are geographically — all the fact parts of the text. Yet beyond that I must then prayerfully ask God to bless my reading so I can see from this text what I need to change, repent of, or even do more of. I must think about how this reading changes me. That is what separates reading the Bible from reading a bestseller.  

Other Articles by Mark Roberts
Four Flaws in the Four Spiritual Laws


 

 

Should the Lord's Supper be taken like a meal? May women speak during the Lord's Supper as they would at a common meal at a table?
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Student Sunday Night Home Study and Singing

 

 

Our God He Is Alive! (Evidences From DNA by Buddy Payne)
PowerPoint
Audio of Lesson
 

Making God Real to Us by Joshua Carter - Nov. 27, 2011
Outline
Audio of Lesson
Audio of Singing

The College Christian by Harold Carswell - Nov. 6, 2011
Outline
Audio of Lesson (Part 1)
Audio of Lesson (Part 2)
Audio of Singing

My Struggle as a College Student by Kyle Gibson- Oct. 23, 2011
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When Evolutionist Tell the Truth by David Tant
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PowerPoint
Audio of Lesson
Audio of Singing
 

For Additional Information and Past Audio and Outlines Click Here


Click Here to Hear:

A Friendly Discussion on Mormonism

Held at the University church of Christ -
February 17, 2011


 

Monthly Bible Study in Lagrange
at the Eastside church of Christ in LaGrange, Georgia

Overcoming the Present Apostasy by Larry Rouse

 

Saturday October 9, 2010


9:30 AM
- How do We View the Bible?

Outline
PowerPoint
Audio

 

Saturday December 11, 2010

9:30 AM - How Do We View the World?

Outline
PowerPoint

 

 


University church of Christ

 

Assembly Times

 Sunday

   Bible Classes (9:30)

   AM Worship (10:20)

   PM Worship (6:00 pm)

 Wednesday

   Bible Classes
(7:00 PM)

 

Location

449 North Gay Street

Auburn, AL 36830

Click Here for Specific Directions



 

Overcoming the Present Apostasy

Sermon Series by Larry Rouse

Piscataway, NJ Nov 20-22, 2009

 

 

Friday Night 7:30

Lesson1 - How Do We View the Bible?

Outline
PowerPoint
Audio

Saturday Night 7:30

Lesson 2 - How do we View the World?

Outline
PowerPoint
Audio

Sunday Morning 9:15
Lesson 3 - How do we View God's Order for Leadership?

Outline
PowerPoint
Audio

Sunday Morning 10:00
Lesson 4 - How Do We View the Local Church?

Outline
PowerPoint
Audio

Sunday Morning 11:00
Lesson 5 - How Do We View God's Instruction on Fellowship

Outline
Audio

For Additional Information, Audio and Outlines Click Here

 


Recent Bulletins:

The Auburn Beacon - Dec 26, 2010 Edition

The Auburn Beacon - Dec 19, 2010 Edition

The Auburn Beacon - Dec 12, 2010 Edition

The Auburn Beacon - Dec 5, 2010 Edition

The Auburn Beacon - Nov 28, 2010 Edition


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