Engagement with the Bible among Christians was obviously higher than millennials in general but only around 49% belivers said they read it more than once a month.
9% of practising Christians said they read it every day and 13% a few times a week, 13% said every week and 17% said they read it a few times a year, meaning around 51% of practising Christians read it less than once a month.
The survey was commissioned the Bible Society, designed by CODEC at the University of Durham, conducted by Comres and analysed by Barna Global.
47% all millennials asked said they haven’t listened or engaged with the Bible in the last year but 29% engage with it once a month or more.
For those who had heard or read a Bible verse in the last year, which could include Christians and non-Christians, the places this primarily happened was at home (29%), at a special service, such as a wedding or funeral (22%), or at a regular church service (12%).
Special services became the most common reason to hear from the Bible once you account for only non-Christians.
The reasons for engaging with the Bible among all categories, which could include simply being at a service, were mostly ‘to comfort me’ (30% of those who’d read it in the last year) and ‘to inspire me’ (29%). Other reasons included to bring them closer to God and seeking guidance.
48% of millennials said they didn’t have a relationship with the Bible.
Ohio Governor Says He Will Sign Fetal Heartbeat Abortion Restriction into Effect
As an Iowa judge strikes down a law banning abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, Ohio’s new governor shares that he will “absolutely” sign a similar bill into effect in his state.
Reportedly, a fetal heartbeat can be detected as early as six weeks into a pregnancy, so, when the law was passed last year in Iowa, Planned Parenthood and the Emma Goldman Clinic challenged the abortion restriction, preventing it from taking effect last July.
Upon review, Iowa Judge Michael Huppert shot down the law claiming that it violates the state’s constitution. Fox News reports that Huppert said, that the law worked contrary to “both the due process and equal protection provisions of the Iowa Constitution as not being narrowly tailored to serve the compelling state interest of promoting potential life.”
Meanwhile, in Ohio, Governor Mike DeWine, who recently made headlines for being sworn into office with his hand laying atop nine family Bibles, announced that he would “absolutely” sign the “heartbeat bill” into effect.
According to Fox News, DeWine, who took office last week, told radio host Hugh Hewitt that despite the former pro-life governor John Kasich’s decision to veto the law, if it passed again, he would not hesitate to sign it.
Still, DeWine noted that even if it did pass there would still be a fight. He told the conservative…
The Supreme Court in Islamabad can approve or reject a call for an appeal against its decision in October 2018 which overturned the Christian women’s blasphemy conviction.
In a deal struck with Islamists – who staged days of violent demonstrates immediately after Ms Bibi was cleared – authorities agreed there would be a final review of the controversial ruling.
Ghulam Mustafa Chaudhry, a lawyer who filed the petition demanding an appeal, told the AFP news agency: “The court will determine if our appeal against her acquittal is admitted”.
Hardliners, who accuse Ms Bibi of insulting the Islamic prophet Muhammad, have been demanding her public execution.
The mother-of-five has always denied the allegation of blasphemy which followed a disagreement she had with a group of Muslim women in 2009 over the shared use of a water cup.
Ms Bibi spent eight years on death row after being convicted of blasphemy in 2010.
Since her acquittal, she has been living in hiding and under the close watch of security forces.
Teaching Players to Be ‘Good Christian’ Men Is Tennessee Coach Rick Barnes’ Goal
Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes has guided his veteran team to the No. 1 ranking in college basketball, but he wants his players to finish their careers keeping sports in perspective.
“I hope we’ve taught these guys how to grow up and be good Christian guys, men,” Barnes, who is known for this faith, told the media this week. “[We] want to understand that this is all kind of fleeting, so we’ve just got to take advantage of it while it’s here.”
Barnes’ team has been one of the surprises in college basketball the past two seasons. The Volunteers were picked to finish 13th in the Southeastern Conference during the 2017-18 season but tied for the championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in four seasons. Tennessee began this season as a Top 10 team and climbed to the top spot thanks in part to a win over then-No. 1 Gonzaga.
Two of his players – junior Grant Williams and senior Admiral Schofield – are on the Top 25 watch list for the Wooden national player of the year award.
Prior to arriving at Tennessee, Barnes coached Providence, Clemson and then Texas, where he led two teams to the Elite Eight and a third team to the Final Four. He coached future NBA players Kevin Durant, T.J. Ford and D. J. Augustin.
Barnes has been a Christian for a long time but became more serious about his faith more…
The members, along with their rabbi, met members of the Emanuel AME Church on Friday, where nine African-American worshipers were killed in an attack by a white supremacist gunman.
It wasn’t the first time the rabbi and church leader had met.
Rev Eric S.C. Manning flew to Pittsburgh shortly after the shooting to offer comfort to synagogue members and the Jewish community.
The Pittsburgh group’s visit coincided with the Dr Martin Luther King Jr. weekend.
Police tape surrounds the parking lot behind the AME Emanuel Church
Rev Manning used his sermon on Sunday to encourage people to love one another even during divisive times and quoting Dr King, he said: “Let no man pull you so low as to hate him.”
Beth Kissileff Perlman, the rabbi’s wife told news website Post and courier: “I’m sad in 2019 that Jews and African-Americans are united by having been slaughtered in their houses of worship in the United States of America.
“We share many bonds and, unfortunately, this is one of them.”
Rev Manning also told the congregation to “love thy neighbour” and promised the visitors from Pittsburgh that the church members will always support…
Justin Welby made the comments in a statement on Thursday after the Church’s national safeguarding team published findings of an inquiry which found the latest allegations against the late former bishop of Chichester were “unfounded”.
In January last year, the Church of England handed “fresh information” to Sussex Police about Bishop Bell.
This followed news a woman, only known as Carol, who claimed she was abused by Bell in the 1950s when she was aged between five and eight, was paid £15,000 in compensation and received an apology from the church.
The latest inquiry was commissioned by the Church and carried out by senior ecclesiastical lawyer Timothy Briden, the vicar general of Canterbury.
In the report, he said his finding “excludes any reconsideration of the validity” of original allegations made against Bell and instead focuses only on the fresh information handed to police last year.
He concluded: “Concentrating exclusively upon the allegations remitted to me, I have decided that they are unfounded.”
Most Rev Welby said Bishop Bell was a “remarkable role model”, adding: “I apologise unreservedly for the mistakes made in the process surrounding the handling of the original allegation against Bishop George Bell.
“I recognise this has been an extremely difficult period for all concerned and I apologise equally to…
RCCG Sunday School TEACHER’s Manual 27 January 2019 Lesson 22 – Christian Couples and In- Laws
TOPIC: Christian Couples and In- Laws
OPENING PRAYER: Father, help couples to treat their in-laws with the fear of God. (Scroll down for RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL 27 JANUARY 2019 HYMN)
MEMORY VERSE: “And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.” – Ruth 2:11 (scroll down for RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL 27 JANUARY 2019 HYMN)
BIBLE PASSAGE: Ruth 1:1-18 KJV (RCCG Sunday School TEACHER’s Manual 27 January 2019)
1 Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehemjudah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehemjudah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
3 And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.
4 And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.
5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.
6 Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread.
7 Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.
8 And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother’s house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.
9 The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.
10 And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.
11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;
13 Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.
14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
15 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.
16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
18 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.
LESSON INTRODUCTION:
Christian couples are expected to live according to the dictates of God’s word. For instance, the bible tells us that a man should leave his parents and cleave to his wife. Gen. 2:24. This shows that a line must be drawn between the families from which both parents originated and the new family the couple is building. However, bible admonishes us to honour our parents. Exodus 20:12; Deut.5:16 and do good to all men especially the members of our household. Gal.6:10. It should be noted that in-laws are people related to us by marriage and we should deal with them with godly wisdom. James 3:17.
TEXT REVIEW: RUTH 1:1-18 – “SPONTANEOUS SYMPATHY AND EMPATHY”
i. The farewell speech of Naomi elicited sympathy from her daughter in-law, Orphah and Ruth. Both women from the country of Moab (Ruth 1:4) lifted up their voices and wept Ruth 1:9-14.
ii. In their sympathy, both women wept, kissed their mother-in-law and promised to return to Judah with their mother-in-law. Ruth 1:9-10.
iii. But soon, one of the women, Ruth empathized Naomi hopeless condition and saw light in the cloud of emptiness. She was moved to declined the offer to return to Moab. She made up her mind to go to Judah where God has visited the people with abundance and she said, I will lodge where you lodge….your God will be my God. Ruth 1:16-17.
iv. The other woman, Orpah was beclouded with reality of sympathy. She must have concluded that truly, the situation was hopeless as posited by Naomi. She decided to go back to Moab and that was the end that was ever heard about her. Ruth 1:14.
v. But for Ruth, a new story line has just begun. Because she was steadfastly minded (Ruth 1:18), her story lingered on to New Testament and till today. God granted her true rest according to Naomi’s prayer. Matt.1:5; Ruth 1:9
2 LESSON OUTLINES
LESSON OUTLINE 1: BUILD A CORDIAL
RELATIONSHIP
i. Teacher should sample the kind of relationship which exists in our society between the spouses and in-laws.
ii. Teacher should use Ruth & Naomi’s relationship to buttress the scriptural pattern of relationship between spouses and their in-law.
iii. Teacher should enumerate some guidelines which can foster good relationship between spouses and their in-law as indicated below:
a. Avoid preconceptions: Do relate with your in-laws from a biased perspective. Be open in your dealings with them. Rom. 12:10, 16; 1 Peter 3:8
b. Avoid acting like strangers: Do well to let your in-laws see you as another child of theirs and not a stranger. Prov.18:24; John 15:15.
c. Avoid damaging rules: Make sure you avoid rules that can destroy the relationship with your in-laws.(Tim.5:1-2). Be wise in all decisions relating to your in-laws especially in speech. Psalm 34:13; Col. 4:6
d. Treat in-laws as important people and avoid strife.( Phil. 2:3). Exhibit maturity and patience with in-laws. 2 Cor. 6:4.
e. Remain humble and encourage mutual submission. 1 Pet. 5:5; Eph. 5:21. f Always seek peace and pursue it. Psalms 34:14; Rom.12:18
CLASS ACTIVITY 1: Identity advantages/benefits of relating well with in-laws.
LESSON OUTLINE 2: THE THIN LINE
The following guidelines would help parents or in-laws in relationship with their sons/daughters in marriage:
i. In-laws to give breathing space to their married sons or daughters to enable them build a godly home. Col. 3:21.
ii. External interference should be avoided or be kept at lowest level. Matt. 19:4-6.
iii. In-laws can give godly counsels to their married sons and daughters without imposing their views Ep.6:4; Prov. 11:14; 19:20-21.
iv. In-laws can support their children in prayers. 1Tim.2:1
v. Couple should be allowed to take their own decisions.
Class Activity 2: Class should discuss why it is important to allow couples to take decisions on matters that bother their families.
Summary: Christian couples should dignify their in-laws with respect and honour while the in-laws too should reciprocate same gesture.
Conclusion: Christian couples must relate with their in-laws in love and as light/salt of the world ( Matt. 5:13-14).
Live at peace and remain humble at all times – Heb. 12:14.
Evaluation: Mention four (4) ways by which thin line and cordial relationship can be maintained by in-laws and married sons and daughters.
Closing Prayer: Father, help our in-laws and spouses to maintain scriptural-based cordial relationship with appropriate caution.
Assignment: Identity five(5) things that can cause disaffection between in-laws and their married sons and daughters.
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RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL 27 JANUARY 2019 HYMN
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
O how I love Thee well,
I am happy, it makes me glad
To rejoice at Thy birth.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day, Thy friendship suits me well,
Both young and old will sing Thy song,
We long for Sunday School.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Christ was Thy first teacher,
The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
Does manifest in thee.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
This testimony is sure,
That God, the Father Almighty,
Poured His blessing on Thee.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Though the sun be so bright,
Or if the clouds black with rain,
I’ll be in Sunday School.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
I rejoice to see Thee,
Will thou pass over me today?
Without my being blest?
The long-term illness leaves 75 per cent of those affected unable to work and 25 per cent housebound or bedridden.
Tanya Marlow – a Christian with ME, told Premier many people do not understand what it’s like living with it.
“ME varies in severity but one thing that is core to everyone is that it’s like having a very low battery in your system that keeps on crashing very quickly and is not recharged properly,” she explained.
“At the very severe end, it is absolute hell and it means even light and sound [is] interpreted by the body as pain.
“You can’t move, you can’t speak, you can’t feed yourself and it is a life of darkness and pain for years and years.”
The NHS lists a number of specialist treatments for ME, which is also described as Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
These include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), medication, diet and supplements, sleep, rest and relaxation.
Graded exercise therapy (GET) – is a structured exercise programme that aims to gradually increase how long you can carry out a physical activity.
Marlow and other ME activists disagree with GET being offered in a treatment plan.
She claimed: “It’s just cruel – graded exercise therapy is like prescribing sugar for diabetics. It’s harming patients everywhere.”
Marlow described the debate MPs will have about ME as a “victory”.
Churches in need of revitalization often need facility help, too. Today we discuss ways to improve your facility without too much expense.
Today’s Listener Question from Morris:
Our facility is our biggest weakness as a church. It’s not used during the week, and we don’t have much money to improve it. How do we maximize its use and are there people who can help us improve it without it costing an arm and a leg?
Some highlights from today’s episode:
It’s often easier for churches to share facilities with religious non-profits due to sharing a common mission.
When you make your church facility available for public use, make sure you do it with a ministry-centric purpose.
Consider what immediate improvements could be made to your facility and see if your church could be the subject of another church’s missions project.
The easiest way to know what improvements your facility needs is to conduct a church facility audit.
The six ideas that we discuss are:
Share space with a non-profit
Create a partnership with an ethnic church
Find out what you can do immediately to a facility
Seek an renovation ministry to come to your church
Use the facility for community events
Ask the city if they could use the church facilities
Resources mentioned in this episode include:
Revitalize & Replant is sponsored by the North American Mission Board and ChurchReplanters.com. More than 10% of churches in North America are at…
Emre Günaydin, Abuzer Yildirim, Hamit Çeker, Salih Gürler and Cuma Özdemir killed two Turkish Christian converts and a German man in Malatya by tying them up and slitting their throats.
President Erdogan called it “savagery” at the time.
The murderers were sentenced nine years later, with three consecutive life sentences each.
The two Turkish victims, Ugur Yüksel and Necati Aydin, were in their 30s. The German man, Tilmann Geske, was 45.
Tilmann Geske and Necati Aydin both had young children and partners, and Ugur Yüksel was engaged.
This week, the Supreme Court upheld the decision of the lower court, saying the men ‘deprived the person of liberty’ and attempted ‘qualified plunder’.
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