David said, “I was glad when they said unto me; let us go into the house of the Lord.” I am sure you said that. Welcome!
A report in The Christian Post of a study by Barna Group explored the faith profile of 131 cities in America to identify the top 10 most Bible-minded cities as well as the least Bible-minded cities in 2017. Barna’s annual Bible-Minded Cities report, in partnership with American Bible Society, is based on interviews with 76,505 adults over a 10-year period. And it found that Chattanooga in Tennessee is the most Bible-minded city in America, for the second year in a row.
The evangelical polling organization determined “Bible-mindedness” by asking the respondents how regular they were in reading the Bible and what they thought of its accuracy. Based on the results, the group found that 50 percent of the population of Chattanooga is Bible-minded. Birmingham, Anniston and Tuscaloosa in Alabama have taken the second spot, with 49 percent. In 2015, these cities had the first spot. Roanoke and Lynchburg in Virginia, with 48 percent, are the third most Bible-minded. Then it’s back to Tennessee, with the Tri-Cities area, also around 48 percent, coming in at fourth place. Shreveport in Louisiana (47 percent) has taken fifth place.
The next five are also from the Southern “Bible belt.” They include Charlotte in North Carolina (46 percent); Springfield in Missouri (46 percent); Little Rock and Pine Bluff in Arkansas (44 percent); Knoxville in Tennessee (44 percent); Greenville, Spartanburg and Anderson in South Carolina and Asheville in North Carolina (44 percent).
Nationally, only 25 percent of the population is considered Bible-minded, according to Barna. Individuals considered to be Bible-minded are those who report reading the Bible in the past week and who strongly assert the Bible is accurate in the principles it teaches.
As we celebrate 241 years of independence, let us be reminded that this great nation was built on the principles of the Bible. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 33:12) should always be our guiding light.
SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK
THE KINGDOM MEN’S MINISTRY MEETING
Today, 6:00 p.m.
LUNCH HOUR HOTLINE /WARFARE PRAYER
Wednesday, 12:00noon
5:30p.m.- Warfare Prayer
PRAISE & ADORATION PRACTICE
Friday, 6:30p.m.
HOUR-OF-POWER PRAYER SESSION
Saturday, 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
NEXT SUNDAY
Worship & Ministry Service, 9:00 a.m.
Board Meeting, 6:00p.m.
Living Word Family Ministries Activities:
*Caribbean Convenant Ministries: A believers, pastors, and ministers conference. “The Kingdom of God Revealed 2017”, nightly sessions 7:30p.m. from July 6 to 8 (Saturday at 8:00am.)
*CCM 2017 Youth Day “Stand true and never deviate” the activities are a seminar, food sale, carwash & concert. For more information, please see the bulletin board or call at (340)344-9211 // (340)774-5400.
**The Unity group (Sister Sandra Reed Dancers) will be part of this activity on July 6th at 7:30p.m. and July 8th at 5:30p.m.**
Deacon Joseph Francis, Wishes to publicly express his sincere appreciation to the Music Ministry for their willingness, consistency, and dedication to our assignment. May God continue to bless us all.
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John
What’s the big idea?
While the other three gospels portray Jesus as the King, the Servant, and the Son of Man, John portrays Jesus as the Son of God. John stated his theme more clearly than any of the other gospel writers. He wrote so that his readers might “believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,” so that they may have life in His name (John 20:31). To accomplish that goal, John presented a riveting and distinctive picture of Jesus Christ, one in complete unity with the portraits in the other three gospels, but one that also adds significantly to the Bible’s revelation of Jesus Christ, the God-man.
John used a variety of techniques to communicate to his readers the nature of Jesus. These include his citation of Jesus’s seven “I am” statements, in which Jesus spoke of Himself in terms such as “the Light of the world” (8:12), “the resurrection and the life” (11:25), and “the way, and the truth, and the life” (14:6). Much of John’s gospel (chapters 2–12) might be called the Book of Signs, as it recounts Jesus’s performing of seven different miracles—such as the turning water to wine at Cana and raising Lazarus from the dead at Bethany. These miracles illustrate His identity as the Son of God.
How do I apply this?
Jesus’s identity as the divine Son of God sets Him apart from any other man who ever lived. He carries with Him the transcendence that comes only with God Himself. Therefore, His work on our behalf makes our salvation sure. Because He is God, His sacrifice on the cross has eternal implications, unlike the limited effect of the animal sacrifices in the Old Testament. Jesus, the God-man, has atoned for our sins. We can place our confidence in Him because of His divine nature.
For readers of John’s gospel, the question is a simple, though significant, one: Do you believe that Jesus is Lord? If you believe, you will receive eternal life, claiming the truth that you will one day live in the presence of God in a place with no more pain, no more tears, and no more death.
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MEDIA MINISTRY
World Overcomers: WSTA 1340 AM station: Sundays at 12:30 p.m. & Tuesdays at 6:00 a.m.
•Website: http://www.wom.vi & Email: info@fea.vi
•On our Website you will find: Live Streaming, free copies of our audio message & radio broadcast.
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OVERCOMER: Living a Life of Victory!