Since mid-August, in my Wednesday night Bible class, we have been engaged in a study of the book, “The Bible & Science,” by Wayne Jackson. This class, being topical in nature, has studied many interesting subjects over the years. This one has to rank as one of the best studies that we have had. My thanks to others who has assisted me in this class, namely Dale Morris, John Griffin, Bill Graddy and Doug Parker.
Next, we turn to a somewhat related study of the newly released book, “The Bible Doctrine of Jehovah God,” by Robert R. Taylor, Jr. Robert Taylor is a careful student of the Bible, and certainly one of the better writers in the brotherhood today. This book of twenty-six chapters will give us two quarters [six months] of very profitable Bible study. We will begin this study on Wednesday night, December 17th.
Belief in the eternal God is basic to a Christian’s faith (Heb. 11:6). Why should we strive to understand God? In part, because of the vast array of misconceptions about God that exist today, ranging from atheism to skepticism. Endless seems to be the strange and esoteric views of New Age devotees, world religions and cults. As the New Testament church battles to maintain her identity in a pluralistic and denominational age it is all the more important that we strive for a proper conception of God.

GIVING A BIBLE AS A GIFT?

[Do Your Homework!]
Dennis Gulledge

As we enter the Christmas season many people will be buying Bibles to give as gifts to family and friends. Well-meaning parents will purchase what they think are good, spiritual, enlightening and enriching gifts for their children in the Bibles that are currently available. In some cases they will make wise choices and in others cases they will not. Their ignorance about reliable and unreliable Bibles will not change a book tainted with error into a safe, spiritual guide for an impressionable child. Hardly, a year goes by that somebody doesn’t ask me about which Bible to give as a gift. I am happy to recommend certain Bible versions, but I’m equally obligated to caution against others.
Why do we need to do our homework on the versions of the Bible? One obvious reason is that we are faced with so many different Bible versions these days that one is hardly wise who remains uninformed as to the strengths and weaknesses of at least some of them. Some translations are better than others, and it behooves us to know which are the more accurate versions and to use them. As for myself I have been studying and preaching from the King James Version for thirty years. I do, however, keep an array of different translations for comparative purposes. Nothing that I say here should be interpreted as restricting others from doing likewise. I find that I rely mostly on the New King James Bible [NKJB], English Study Bible, by Harold Littrell, and the newly released English Standard Version [ESV]. The ESV has received some good reviews among sound brethren in recent years. For those who prefer something other than the KJV any of these would be fine choices for gift giving. Please be advised, however, as the late brother Harold Littrell wrote in his review of the NIV, “All the versions have problems. All were translated and prepared, for the most part, by denominational men, with the error of denominationalism evident in them to one extent or another.” The New International Version, Today’s New International Version, The New Living Translation, Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version are just a few of the newer Bible versions that we would do well to avoid in our gift giving considerations.
Selling the Scriptures is big business. Bibles are created to fill special “niches” in the market. We should exercise extreme care when buying such Bibles. We are also wise to be cautious of the different “study” and reference Bibles that are out there. Many of these are of the NIV variety, which is dangerous enough, but they also contain study materials and footnotes with many forms of denominational bias skillfully embedded therein. Perhaps the best study Bible, and my personal preference, is The Dickson New Analytical Study Bible. It is the KJV with the ASV (1901) in brackets. I have used it for three decades. It is a valuable Bible study tool that is second to none. [For help with your homework I recommend the book, Challenging Dangers of Modern Versions, by Robert R. Taylor, Jr.].

VOLUME 40 NUMBER 47 DECEMBER 1, 2003

OUR SICK

Frances Crow is now at the home of Betty & Dave Tollett.
Richard Lowe is back home from the hospital.
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RESPONSE

Placing Membership on November 30:
Bob & Shirley Brown
4540 Valley Brook
N. Little Rock, AR 72116
758-6463
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THANK YOU

Thank you so much for the care package I received. It was wonderful and it really brightened my day. I appreciate your love, generosity and prayers. It’s great to know that I am being thought of while away at school. Rose Boyd
EVENTS OF INTEREST

December 6………..Hispanic Gospel
Meeting
December 8-10……………..Pictures
December 12……..Keenage Banquet
December 20…...Progressive Dinner
Thank you for the care package you sent to me. I really appreciated it and enjoyed receiving it. Thank you for all you do and your encouragement given to me. It truly means a lot to me. Thanks again. Ashley Brewer.
Thank you for all the cards, calls, flowers and food. Your expressions of sympathy at the passing of Uncle Henry are greatly appreciated. Beth Butler.
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The Food Team for December is:
Kathy Gulledge, Tamera Long, Eva Joe Williams and Lynette Murphy

SERMONS FOR DECEMBER 7

Morning
Faith And The Word Of God (Romans 10:17)
Evening
Choosing A Good Bible Translation (Acts 8:29-33)
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ELDERS & DEACONS MEETING

There will be an elders and deacons meeting on Sunday, December 7th at 2:30 PM. There will not be first Sunday singing practice.
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HISPANIC GOSPEL MEETING

There will be a Hispanic Gospel Meeting here at the building on Saturday, December 6th from 10:30 AM until 12:00 Noon. Taney Castaneda, Hispanic Minister for the Getwell Church of Christ in Memphis, will speak on Community Church and Urban Ministry.
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OUR RECORD NOVEMBER 30, 2003

A.M. WORSHIP 238
SUNDAY BIBLE STUDY 177
P.M. WORSHIP 140
WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY 117

CONTRIBUTION 6470
BUDGET 6351
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MEN TO SERVE
December 7, 2003

Robert Overbey Darrell Orick
Scott Perry Harold Pigue
Doug Parker Dale Morris
Gary Poole Blake Poole

Evening Mike Moore
Nathan Moore
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WEDNESDAY SONG DIRECTOR

December 10 Michael Wilson
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USHERS FOR DECEMBER

Morning Doug Parker & Darren Gowen
Evening Michael Wilson/Wendell Thompson
Wednesday Ken Sullivan & Nathan Moore
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GREETERS FOR DECEMBER

Ron & Lori Douglas
Ray Wehunt
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ELDER CHAIRMAN

December Harold Pigue
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