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Brothers, I couldn't talk to you as spiritual people but as worldly people, as mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, because you weren't ready for it. Why, you're still not ready for it! That's because you are still worldly. As long as there is jealousy and quarreling among you, you are worldly and living by human standards, aren't you? For when one says, "I belong to Paul," and another, "I belong to Apollos," you are merely human, aren't you? What is Apollos anyhow? Or what is Paul? Mere servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord gave to each of us his task. I did the planting, Apollos did the watering, but God kept everything growing. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is significant, but God, who keeps everything growing, is the one who matters. (1 Corinthians 3:1-7, ISV)

When Paul wrote this epistle the Corinthian church was somewhat divided. Paul had preached the gospel, having baptized a few, and Apollos had continued the work (chapter 1).

While he was there in Corinth, Paul had given only spiritual milk to these infants in Christ. Now, he still must speak to them as babes. They are not ready for solid food because they are still worldly. What a wake-up call this must have been to some!

What about today? Do you think parts of the Church need a wake-up call? Do YOU need a wake-up call?

Stay tuned for a closer look at this passage!

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Christianity Today has announced the winners of its 2006 book awards. Below are a selected few as seen at CBD:

Apologetics/Evangelism

So Much More: An Invitation to Christian Spirituality (Award of Merit) By Debra Rienstra / John Wiley & Sons "A gentle and winsome introduction,"---Christian Century. Rienstra takes us on a tour through basic Christian doctrines and such important practices as prayer, Bible study, worship, and service. She flavors her lively presentation with personal anecdotes, literary allusions, and a number of practical suggestions. 288 pages, hardcover. Jossey-Bass.

Christian Living

The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience By Ronald J. Sider / Baker Subtitled "Why Are Christians Living Just Like the Rest of the World?" this book makes a strong case for why faith should make a difference in areas such as racism, materialism, hedonism, egotism, and more. Are we truly dedicated to the Lord or simply questing after money, sex, or personal self-fulfillment? 144 pages, softcover. Baker.

Biblical Studies

Dictionary for Theological Interpretation of the Bible By Edited by Kevin J. Vanhoozer / Baker Today's biblical interpreter, whether scholar, student, or pastor, is faced with a plethora of philosophies and methods for interpreting Scripture. Postmodern trends have emphasized one's community identity in shaping interpretation, leading to differing conclusions. In addition, modern biblical interpretation has too often been characterized by a schism between the disciplines of exegesis and theology. The Dictionary for Theological Interpretation of the Bible is a groundbreaking reference tool that seeks first of all to marry the tasks of exegesis and theology with the goal of theological interpretation of Scripture that is, interpretation that has recovered a focus on the subject matter of Scripture: the nature and activity of God and the gospel. Second, it aims to provide a guide to understanding various interpretative approaches and a tool for evaluating them in light of this goal. The dictionary covers a wide range of topics related to biblical interpretation with both depth and clarity. Topics include the theological interpretation of individual books of the Bible, issues of hermeneutics, various biblical interpreters and interpretative communities, and the interplay of interpretation with various doctrines and doctrinal themes. The contributors represent a diverse range of theological backgrounds and interpretative approaches and are experts in their respective fields.

The Last Word: Beyond the Bible Wars to a New Understanding of the Authority of Scripture (Award of Merit) By N.T. Wright / Harpercollins Publishing According to Wright, evangelicals and liberals are misreading the Bible. He explains why both overly literal and politically correct positions are indefensible, then sheds light on how Christians have grappled with the authority of Scripture over the centuries. Crucial reading for guiding the church through its many controversies. 144 pages, hardcover from HarperSanFrancisco.

Fiction

This Heavy Silence By Nicole Mazzarella / Paraclete Press Spite and loyalty, not affection, prompt Dottie Connell to adopt her best friend's daughter. But as she struggles to farm her family's 300 acres, she grows to love the child as her own. When the farm is put on the block, she faces a difficult choice---either buy back the property or betray her daughter. A luminous first novel shedding light on the mysteries of grace. 240 pages, hardcover from Paraclete.

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As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. (1 Timothy 6:17-19, ESV)

Your money is not your own. Neither is anything you have. Everything you possess was given to you by God for your enjoyment. As such, God provides some guidelines on handling material goods.

In 1 Timothy, Paul is writing to Timothy, whom he had left in Ephesus as his representative to the church. This passage comes near the end of the letter, following shortly after a brief discussion of the dangers of riches.

First, Paul warns those who are rich not to be haughty or to rely on riches instead of God. Then, he describes the lifestyle the rich should have. Do good, be rich in good works, and be generous and ready to share. Note that these apply not only to how to spend money, but to one's overall character as well. Finally, he describes the benefits of following such guidelines: storing up treasure in order to take hold of what is “truly life” (i.e., eternal life).

Are you rich? You may not think it, but just look at all the things God has provided for you. Things like your home, land, and other possessions.

What is your attitude toward your material wealth? Are you haughty, proud, arrogant? In other words, do you think you are better than others because you have such things? Even a little better? (Be honest!) Do you trust in your possessions instead of in the God who has given them to you? Pray for God to show you any wrong attitudes toward the things you possess and ask Him to replace them with the right attitudes.

Are you using what God has given you to do good? Are you rich in good works? Are you generous with what you have and ready to share your belongings? Pray about how you can use your blessings to bless others and glorify God. Pray also for the opportunities to do so.

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There's both bad news and good news for Israel in the following passage. See if you can spot the two most important words a reader should pick up on. Here's a hint: Both are in the same verse.

Deuteronomy 4:26-31, ESV: I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that you will soon utterly perish from the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess. You will not live long in it, but will be utterly destroyed. (27) And the LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the LORD will drive you. (28) And there you will serve gods of wood and stone, the work of human hands, that neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. (29) But from there you will seek the LORD your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul. (30) When you are in tribulation, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, you will return to the LORD your God and obey his voice. (31) For the LORD your God is a merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them.

Over and over again we see in the Bible that Israel has failed God. At the beginning of Deuteronomy, the Israelites are on the verge of entering the Promised Land. In chapter 4 Moses recounts Israel's past and prophesies the things that will come about as a result of their lack of faithfulness. It's not good news. . . at first.

Verse 29 has two all important words for us to note. The first is the word but. This marks a transition from the bad news to the good news. "Things are gonna be bad, BUT things can get better."

The second is a tiny word, but critical to notice: if. Things will get better IF you seek YHVH (LORD) wholeheartedly.

As you read your Bible, don't skip over the "big" little words. God put them there for a reason: It's a point He doesn't want you to miss!

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The release of The Da Vinci Code has a lot of people talking. For churches, it's a great time to share the truth behind the outrageous claims made by the runaway bestselling book. Discussing the Da Vinci Code DVD Curriculum works with the Discussing the Da Vinci Code Participants Guide to help participants learn more about the topics in four sessions:

• What Can History Really Tell Us?
• Can We Trust the Four Gospels?
• What's the Role of Women in Christianity?
• Is Jesus the Son of God?

If you're looking for more on The Da Vinci Code, see the link on the right side of this page. You can also catch the tv special Discussing the DaVinci Code on the Liberty Channel or on their streaming video 9 pm EST Wednesday, May 17th and 10 pm EST Saturday, May 20th. In addition, if you have the SkyAngel family of networks, they are airing a number of additional programs about the Da Vinci Code.

See Discussing the Da Vinci Code Curriculum at CBD:

Discussing the Da Vinci Code, DVD Curriculum By Lee Strobel & Garry Poole / Zondervan Corp. The Da Vinci Code has captivated millions with its dramatic claims about Christianity. Do the novel and movie unearth explosive facts, or are they merely colorful but inaccurate depictions of ancient events? This first-ever DVD-driven small group study guide stimulates animated discussion over one of today's hottest topics. This DVD-guided small group forum is designed for use with an accompanying participant's guide that includes discussion questions, sidebar information, background material, Bible verses, and relevant quotes. Each session includes interviews with experts and concludes with facilitator Lee Strobel's perspective.

Discussing the Da Vinci Code Participants Guide: Exploring the Issues Raised by the Book and Movie By Zondervan Corp.

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Moms, this is for you! A Mom's Ordinary Day Bible Study Series is a collection of 8 Bible study guides aimed at moms who want to be the best they can be toward their children, others, and God.

Winner of the Silver Medallion Book Award, this collection includes the following volumes, also available separately:

• Finding Joy in All You Are
• Gaining and Being a Friend
• Growing Strong with God
• Mothering Without Guilt
• Making Praise a Priority
• Managing Your Time
• Entering God's Presence
• Winning Over Worry

See it at CBD:

A Mom's Ordinary Day Bible Study Series, 8 volumes By Zondervan Corp. 8 award-winning Bible studies by Jean E. Syswerda that help women discover God's wisdom on how to be the best mothers, women, and disciples they can be. Each study contains 6 sessions divided into 5 flexible portions: For You Alone, For You and God's Word, For You and Others, For You and God, and For You and Your Kids. The last section helps moms share each week's nugget of truth with their children. These are designed for group study but can also be used for individual reflection.

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If you're looking for a Bible that will help you grasp what life was like when the Bible was written, this is your Bible! Let's face it. It's not exactly ideal to carry both your Bible and a handbook of Bible customs. Zondervan's new Archaeological Study Bible combines the bestselling NIV with historical notes to "Bring the Bible to life. Your life."

See it at Christian Book Distributors:

NIV Archaeological Study Bible, Hardcover By Zondervan Corp. An Illustrated Walk Through Biblical History and Culture, The NIV Archaeological Study Bible sheds new light on the Bible. From the beginnings of Genesis to the end of Revelation, this new study Bible is filled with informative articles and full-color photographs of places and objects that will open your eyes to the historical context of the stories you read and the people you meet in Scripture. From kings and empires to weapons of war to clay pots used for carrying water, the archaeological record surrounding God's Word will help contextualize and inform your personal study. Purchase any style before June 30th and receive a $10 rebate from Zondervan! The NIV Archaeological Study Bible is available in nine different cover styles.

Check it out
at Amazon:
 

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