Searching the Scriptures (March 2025 at First OPC)
Bible sales are soaring, cultural conversations are thriving, and our Vacation Bible School is on the way!
The Bible seems to be making a comeback in popular culture. In December, the Wall Street Journal reported that Bible sales are booming. Last month, a biblical scholar called Wesley Huff appeared on the Joe Rogan show, with a fascinating three-hour conversation about Christianity, biblical manuscripts, Jesus's resurrection, and many other topics (warning: Rogan uses some foul language throughout the episode). It's amazing to think that millions and millions have people heard from Wesley Huff about the Great Isaiah Scroll, P52, and the detailed evidences for the reliability of the Gospels. This is the sort of thing we love to talk about in Adult Sunday School (at least I do), and now it's cool!
Another recent testimony to the spiritual power of Scripture is the conversion story of Larry Sanger, "How a Skeptical Philosopher Becomes a Christian." Sanger was one of the founders of Wikipedia, and he is an incredibly brilliant man. A few years ago, he realized his long-held atheism was not adequate, and he started reading the Bible. Now he is using his brilliance to serve Christ by writing works of Christian apologetics and even biblical commentaries. He runs a group chat with hundreds of members all carefully and enthusiastically studying Scripture together.
Developments like these prompt a few thoughts:
- What a privilege it is to have a whole church community full of Bible study! We already have in our daily lives what people like Larry Sanger never knew about. Every week, our Sunday School classes cover material that Joe Rogan's listeners only got to hear once. Amazing.
- The future is bright for the Gospel. The word of God is just as powerful today as it has been in centuries past. We should be praying for a great harvest, and ready to do the work of bringing it in, with God's help.
- With all this attention on the Bible, it is an excellent time for an announcement:
Vacation Bible School is July 28-August 1!
Parents and kids, please mark your calendars. I'll send out the registration page when we have it ready.
VBS is like "Bible boot camp" where little kids come out knowing the books of the Bible, all sorts of Bible verses, Psalms and other bible songs, and key Bible stories (this year from Jesus's life in the Gospel of Luke).
Bring your children if you want them to grow up to be like Larry Sanger or Wesley Huff! And if you're not a kid or a parent, please join us in prayer for this ministry, and be ready for announcements about volunteer opportunities.