On Ramp is our five-week worship series imaginatively exploring central topics in Christian faith. We turn from Religion to Bible this week in worship. We are drawing upon and adapting some of the framework of a series called Animate (Faith) by SparkHouse Publications as we prepare this worship series for our particular context.
Outline for On Ramp
▪July 12: Religion (Mark 6.14-29)
▪July 19: Bible (Acts 17.10-12)
▪July 26: God (1 Timothy 6.16, John 1.18, Matthew 6.9, Revelation 4.1-11, Luke 13.34)
▪August 2: Jesus (John 6.24-35)
▪August 9: Salvation (James 2.14-26)
Lauren Winner, Assistant Professor of Spirituality at Duke Divinity School and author of Girl Meets God, believes the church has groped for ways to keep the Bible central throughout history. Lauren uses her own eye glasses as a metaphor for the ways the Bible can improve our vision. Lauren gropes for her cat-eye glasses in the morning so she can see clearly like the church has groped for clarity through the Bible. We may honestly struggle with its contradictions and misuses, but it’s a book Christians keep reading because of the radical worldview it offers: “See what love the Creator has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are” (1 John 3.1) (as quoted in Animate Facilitator’s Guide, 81).
How would you describe your own interaction with the Bible? When has the Bible improved your vision?
Read Acts 17.10-12. In this short reading from Acts 17, we are reminded of the task of searching scripture as opposed to the popular perception that the Bible is a book for quick and easy answers. Lauren Winner argues the Bible is worth re-reading over and over and over. When, if ever, have you found re-reading of the Bible to be meaningful in your own life?