WEEKLY COMIC: On the Go!

MUSICAL INTERLUDE: In the Presence of Angels

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: Well-Worn Bible

VERSE OF THE WEEK: Matthew 11:28

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. - Matthew 11:28 (ESV) http://biblehub.com/matthew/11-28.htm

DID YOU KNOW: Does the New Testament refer to the Old Testament?

"DID YOU KNOW?" will be a summer series where we review issues of the Bible and the Christian faith of special interest. If you have a suggestion/question that you'd like addressed in a "DID YOU KNOW?" segment, please e-mail the coaches.

Does the New Testament refer to the Old Testament?

Some Christians tend to focus only on the New Testament when studying the Bible, but the whole Bible is the Word of God.  And the New Testament makes references to the Old Testament all the time.  As a matter of fact, Jesus knew the Old Testament by heart, and quoted from it often.

The most commonly quoted books of the Old Testament in the New Testament are:

1. Isaiah: referred to 419 times in twenty-three New Testament books.2. Psalms: referred to 414 times in twenty-three New Testament books.3. Genesis: referred to 260 times in twenty-one New Testament books. 4. Exodus: referred to 250 times in nineteen New Testament books. 5. Deuteronomy: referred to 208 times in twenty-one New Testament books. 6. Ezekiel: referred to 141 times in fifteen New Testament books. 7. Daniel: referred to 133 times in seventeen New Testament books. 8. Jeremiah: referred to 125 times in seventeen New Testament books. 9. Leviticus: referred to 107 times in fifteen New Testament books. 10. Numbers: referred to 73 times in four New Testament books.

JUST FUN: Who wants to be a (Bible) Millionaire?

It's a vacation time of year, so why not have some fun?  This series will put up something fun (and Bible related) every week for you to enjoy!

This week is a Bible-themed version of "Who wants to be a Millionaire?"  Click here or on the image below.

HUMOR: Little Ones

Not mine.  From here.

  A father was reading Bible stories to his young son. He read, "The man named Lot was warned to take his wife and flee out of the city, but his wife looked back and was turned into a pillar of salt."
      His son asked, "What happened to the flea?"

WEEKLY COMIC: Pun-tastic!

MUSICAL INTERLUDE: Unbroken Praise

DID YOU KNOW: The Feast of Mary Magdalene

"DID YOU KNOW?" will be a summer series where we review issues of the Bible and the Christian faith of special interest. If you have a suggestion/question that you'd like addressed in a "DID YOU KNOW?" segment, please e-mail the coaches.

I heard July 22 is the "Feast of Mary Magdalene".  What is that?

Unlike our tradition, Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Lutheran churches celebrate feasts for the great heroes of the Faith (whom they call "Saints").  The Feast on July 22 commemorates Mary Magdalene, the sister of Martha and Lazarus.  She is the most commonly mentioned woman in the New Testament, and was at both Christ's crucifixion and resurrection.

VERSE OF THE WEEK: Proverbs 18:10

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe - Proverbs 18:10 (ESV) http://biblehub.com/proverbs/18-10.htm

DID YOU KNOW: Were there ever any misprints in Bible editions?

"DID YOU KNOW?" will be a summer series where we review issues of the Bible and the Christian faith of special interest. If you have a suggestion/question that you'd like addressed in a "DID YOU KNOW?" segment, please e-mail the coaches.

Skeptics are often looking for errors in the Bible.  Were there ever any documented misprints in Bible editions?

The Holy Bible, as written, is inerrant and inspired by the Holy Spirit.  But various editions printed by humans - copied from the originals or copied from copies - have had errors over the years.  But, as you'd expect, these errors were quickly discovered and resolved.  This article covers some famous misprints.

The "Placemakers" Bible The second edition of the Geneva Bible, published in 1562 has been given the name the "Placemakers" Bible because it printed: "Blessed are the placemakers" instead of "peacemakers" in Matthew 5:9.The "Wicked" Bible In a 1631 edition of the King James Bible, in Exodus 20 verse 14, the word "not" was left out. This changed the 7th commandment to read, "Thou shalt commit adultery." Most of the copies were recalled immediately and destroyed on the orders of Charles I. But there are 11 copies still remaining. They are known as the "Wicked" Bible. The Bible museum in Branson, Missouri, has one copy of the "Wicked Bible". Fortunately for this interesting Bible fact the printer was fined heavily for his mistake.
The "Sin On" Bible In the 1716 King James Version John 8:11 should read: "Go, and sin no more." However, the printer accidentally inverted the "n" and the "o" in the word "on," so it read, "Go and sin on more."
The "Fool" Bible The printer of the 1763 KJV was ordered to pay £3,000 for his inadvertent printer's error which he made in Psalm 14:1. There he printed: "the fool hath said in his heart there is a God," instead of: "the fool hath said in his heart there is no God." As soon as this error was spotted all copies of this Bible were suppressed.

JUST FUN: Names of God

It's a vacation time of year, so why not have some fun?  This series will put up something fun (and Bible related) every week for you to enjoy!

This week is a word search on the Hebrew names of God.  Click here or on the image below.

HUMOR: Sibling Rivalry

Not mine.  From here.

  After explaining the commandment to honor your father and mother, a Sunday School teacher asked her class if there was a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters.
      One boy, the oldest in his family, immediately answered, "Thou shalt not kill."

WEEKLY COMIC: Let it go!

MUSICAL INTERLUDE: King of My Heart

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: Bible in the Center

VERSE OF THE WEEK: Psalm 34:8

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! - Psalm 34:8 (ESV)  http://biblehub.com/psalms/34-8.htm

DID YOU KNOW: Where was the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament?

"DID YOU KNOW?" will be a summer series where we review issues of the Bible and the Christian faith of special interest. If you have a suggestion/question that you'd like addressed in a "DID YOU KNOW?" segment, please e-mail the coaches.

Where was the Holy Spirit in the times of the Old Testament?

We previously discussed where Jesus was before the New Testament, but it is even more logical to ask that question about the Holy Spirit.  Jesus and the Apostles are very clear that the Holy Spirit is God and is part of the Trinity (along with the Father and Jesus, the Son).  If that is the case, why did it take until the New Testament to learn about Him?

But it turns out that - like Jesus - the Holy Spirit is all over the Old Testament, once you know what to look for.  The first mention is Genesis 1:2.

The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.  (Genesis 1:2 ESV)

And it pops up again just a few chapters later in Genesis 6:1-3.

When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not abide in[a] man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” (Genesis 6:1-3 ESV)

The "Spirit of God" or "God's Spirit" or "My Spirit" appears all over the Old Testament.  The last reference is in Malachi 2:15.

Did he not make them one, with a portion of the Spirit in their union? And what was the one God seeking? Godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth. (Malachi 2:15 ESV)

So, if the Holy Spirit appeared all over the Old Testament, what the special significance of Pentecost?  Before this event, the Holy Spirit would endwell or empower just one person at a time.  For instance, it came upon King Saul when he was anointed king of Israel by Samuel, but then left him and eventually came upon King David when he was anointed king.  After Pentecost, anyone who became a Christian received the Holy Spirit, and could be empowered by Him.

God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Anytime you think the Old Testament and the new Testament might be in conflict, check again!

JUST FUN: David vs Goliath

It's a vacation time of year, so why not have some fun?  This series will put up something fun (and Bible related) every week for you to enjoy!

This week is a self-quiz on David vs Goliath.  Click here or on the image below.

HUMOR: Aces High

Not mine.  From here. 

Another Sunday School teacher said to her children, "We have been learning about how powerful the kings and queens were in Biblical times. But there is a higher power. Who can tell me what it is?" Tommy blurted out, "I know, Aces."

WEEKLY COMIC: Long week!

MUSICAL INTERLUDE: Have Everything

PHOTO OF THE WEEK: Ring on Bible

VERSE OF THE WEEK: Psalm 119:165

VERSE OF THE WEEK: Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble. - Psalm 119:165 http://biblehub.com/psalms/119-165.htm

DID YOU KNOW: *More* Biblical Stats

"DID YOU KNOW?" will be a summer series where we review issues of the Bible and the Christian faith of special interest. If you have a suggestion/question that you'd like addressed in a "DID YOU KNOW?" segment, please e-mail the coaches.

What are some MORE interesting statistics about the Bible?

People seemed to enjoy the first list of interesting stats about the Bible, so here's a follow-up with even more statistics for your ledger.

• Number of books in the Bible: 66 
• Chapters: 1,189 
• Verses: 31,101 
• Words: 783,137 
• Letters: 3,566,480 
• Number of promises given in the Bible: 1,260 
• Commands: 6,468 
• Predictions: over 8,000 
• Fulfilled prophecy: 3,268 verses
• Number of times the word "God" appears: 3,358 
• Number of times the word "Lord" appears: 7,736 
• Number of languages the Bible has been translated into: over 1,200

HUMOR: Not quite the Trinity

Not mine.  From here.

Several children found a dead robin. Feeling that a proper burial should be performed, they secured a small box and some cotton batting, dug a hole in the back yard, and made ready to dispose of the deceased. The minister's 5-year-old son was chosen to say the prayer. And so with great dignity, he intoned, "Glory be to the Father...and unto the Son...and into the hole he goes."

Happy Independence Day!

Thank you, Lord, for a country where we can freely practice our religion and follow you.... even with Bible Quizzing!

WEEKLY COMIC: It's "Magic"!

MUSICAL INTERLUDE: Cast My Cares

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: Districts 2015 Quiz Meet