Snow doesn’t phase us, but we’ll close whenever the roads or our parking lot are too icy for you to get here safely. On Tuesday, the wet snow was coming down too quickly to clear it so we could reach the ice below to deal with it. Enjoy the pictures from earlier this week as we move back into our typical winter rain…

We also handed out a document at the end of each service, available below. See more resources — online articles and books — linked to at the bottom.

Did you know that …

• … approximately 6,000 ancient handwritten Greek New Testament manuscript copies still exit today? The earliest dates to 130 AD. Homer’s Iliad ranks 2nd in terms of the number of remaining copies, with 650 still in existence (but the gap between Homer’s writing and the earliest copies we have is 500 years).
• … as of the 1950s, the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls has confirmed archeological evidence for the Old Testament text preserved through the centuries?
• … evidence for Jesus Christ comes many written documents from the first century, including 39 ancient sources in addition to the New Testament and early church leaders?
• … the text of the Bible is far better preserved than the writings of Caesar, Plato or Aristotle?

Download: Did You Know? [PDF]

Additional Resources:

Online Articles:

• “Can We Trust the New Testament as a Historical Document?” article on the Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry website
• Archaeology and the Bible Q&A, ChristianAnswers.net website

Books:

• The Case for Christ: A Journalist’s Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus, by Lee Strobel [Kindle]
  • Also see Strobel’s video “Is the Bible Reliable as a Historical Document?” an interview with Jerry Johnston on the Investigating Faith website

• Can We Trust the Gospels?: Investigation the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, by Mark D. Roberts [Kindle]
  • Also see his blog series, “Are the New Testament Gospels Reliable?” the first draft of his book

• Rose Book of Bible Charts, Maps & Timelines (a reference book available in WCC library)
• The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? by F.F. Bruce [Kindle]
• The Historical Reliability of the Gospels, by Craig L. Blomberg (more academic; deals with every supposed contradiction and discrepancy in the Gospels)
• Reinventing Jesus: how contemporary skeptics miss the real Jesus and mislead popular culture, by J. Ed Komoszewski, M. James Sawyer and Daniel Wallace (more academic)

For the next two months we will focus on God’s work and our response in becoming the people and church He created us to be. I cannot tell you how excited your church leaders are to join your on this journey, a revolution of our souls.

Here’s how you can join the revolution:

1. Re-connect with your Community Group or join one!
2. Get the book Uprising (a helpful resource for growing deeper). Follow the link for more about the book and the best online price for paperback or Kindle versions. Get a copy ASAP! A limited quantity of paperback copies will also be available for $15 in the WCC Lobby after each service the next Sunday (9/18). Any way you buy it, be sure to grab a series bookmark in the Lobby, a guide for our weekly readings.
3. Worship together each Sunday as we explore six key themes asking God to grow our character and make us like Him. Fall is a great time to invite a neighbor, co-worker, family, or friend.

The themes of BECOME:

• 9/18 » GRATITUDE {then read ch. 6 in Uprising}
• 9/25 » HUMILITY {read ch. 3}
• 10/2 » INTEGRITY {read ch. 4}
• 10/9 » global mission focus {we welcome Charles Buregeya of Africa New Life}
• 10/16 » WHOLENESS {read ch. 7}
• 10/23 » GENEROSITY {read ch. 8}
• 10/30 » COURAGE {read ch. 5}

Uprising is suggested reading for following the teaching themes and intentionally responded to God’s work for us and in us. While not required reading, those taking up the challenge will ‘cross-train’ through the book, reading some of the chapters in a non-sequential order.

Be sure to grab a series bookmark, and over the next two months follow along with the readings and reflection questions posted weekly at willamettegroups.com.

If you are interested in learning more about serving in any of these areas, please contact Rhonda Johnson.

Also, with the growth in attendance, our Children’s Ministry is growing!  If you love children and are interested in serving as a teacher or teaching assistant, please let Pastor Robben know!

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