From Lee Spitzer:  I commend to you this reflection written by Rev. Dr. Dee Dee Turlington on Biblical literacy and the church.  As you all know, this is a real pastoral concern for me, and one of the reasons I wrote Jesus Christ from Cover to Cover, which has been used by about 35 ABCNJ churches over the past two years.  Whatever resource you use, a prime goal of the church is to make Biblically informed disciples of Jesus Christ.

A 2005 Bible Literacy Report found that 90% of high school English teachers say Bible literacy is critical to a good education, and 98% say Bible literacy gives a distinct academic advantage.

Yet, teachers reported  an alarming decline in Bible knowledge which is eroding students' understanding of British and American literature, art, music, history and culture.  

And we at First Baptist would add that ignorance of the Bible is eroding students’ spiritual awareness and limiting the search for life-changing truth.   

Schools are responding to the educational gap by teaching the Bible as literature in high schools and colleges.    We at First Baptist are responding to the spiritual gap by focusing this academic year on Bible Literacy.  Many of our members did not grow up in the church, or did not take advantage of Christian Education opportunities in their church.  Even those who grew up attending Sunday School may have a piecemeal view of scripture.  So this year, we are providing an overview of the entire Bible, starting this fall with the Old Testament (or Hebrew Scriptures).

Here’s how you can become Biblically literate, have fun doing it, and open yourself to spiritual growth in the process:

• Be  in worship 10:15 am every Sunday and pay attention to the sermon series on the  Old Testament Narratives.  We  begin September 7 with a look at the primeval history described in Genesis  1-11.  Outlines will be  provided.  BYOB (bring your own  Bible)!
• Try  to read the sections of scripture that are preached on each week (so find a  Bible now and read Genesis 1-11!)
• Block  out Friday night October 24 and Saturday morning October 25 on your calendar  and save the dates for an interactive “Walk  thru the Old Testament”  conducted right here at First Baptist by a Walk thru the Bible  instructor.   
• Youth,  add Sunday School to your schedule of youth activities, every Sunday at 9 am  in the youth lounge, beginning Sept. 21
• Parents,  bring your pre-school and grade school children to 10:15 worship, where they  will hear Children’s Moments, then go to their own age-appropriate “Bible  Blitz” Sunday School.   

Isn’t it time you made sure you and your family have the knowledge you need not only to understand our culture, but also to understand our God?!  

    
—-Rev. Dee Dee Turlington, First Baptist Church of Westfield