Queer Church Birmingham: What is the Bible Anyway? 24/11/14



Today we are thinking about what the Bible is, what it is to us and how the Bible refers to itself. We will contrast different interpretations of the Bible across denominations.

Facilitator: Chris Mells

Bible Passages for Today:

Timothy 3:16-17

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Joshua 1:8

“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.’’

Hebrews 4:12

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.’’

John 21:24-25

“This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.”

“Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.’’

Questions to discuss:

Q What is the word of God anyway?
Q What does the word scripture even mean and is it infallible? Q Does the Bible lead to prosperity?

Reflection Poem Prayers of Petition:

This is a time for people to ask for prayer from our community. They can be anything from personal prayers for you or someone you know or for national or international events that are on your mind. You can either ask out loud or silently in your heart. There then will be a moment of silent prayer and then prayers for those who have asked and for all those in our community.

Closing Prayer

The Holy Scriptures II

OH that I knew how all thy lights combine,
            And the configurations of their glorie!
            Seeing not onely how each verse doth shine,
But all the constellations of the storie.

This verse marks that, and both do make a motion
            Unto a third, that ten leaves off doth lie:
            Then as dispersed herbs do watch a potion,
These three make up some Christians destinie:

Such are thy secrets, which my life makes good,
            And comments on thee: for in ev’ry thing
            Thy words do finde me out, & parallels bring,
And in another make me understood.

            Starres are poore books, & oftentimes do misse:
            This book of starres lights to eternall blisse.


George Herbert - poem we read today 

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