Dear Trinity Family & Friends:

I don’t know about you, but I am finding our Let’s Be Real series extremely refreshing as we spiritually wrestle God with these challenging questions and heavy emotions. I am so grateful that God is not only our Almighty, glorious, and powerful Creator, but also our understanding, relatable, and loving Redeemer and our wise, steady, and trustworthy Guide. A God who meets me in the trenches, is patient with my deepest questions, compassionate to darkest struggles, and faithful to offer Light and a pathway forward into greater peace, fulfillment, and good. 

As we continue our series, this Sunday we’re going to wrestle with the question we’ve all asked at some point or another: “Is the Bible Really Useful?” How can a book that was compiled thousands of years ago by people in ancient and less advanced civilizations actually be relevant to my life today? How can a book that includes inaccurate scientific facts and words that have inspired such hatred and evil in humanity’s history be trustworthy for my life today?

As we wrestle, we will turn to Hebrews 4:11-16 and 2 Timothy 3:14-17 to consider what the Bible truly is, what God intends for us to do (& not do) with it, and how reframing our expectations of the Bible can free us to encounter the Living God through its pages.

Here are some questions to consider, as we prepare:

What are you expecting when you read the Bible?

Based on your experience of interaction with the Bible, what analogy best represents how you relate to the Bible?

Consider a time when the Bible - through personal devotional reading or through the preached Word - came alive for you. What was the passage? What did the passage say to you and/or your life circumstances? How would you describe God’s presence in that moment?

Our faith isn't about having all the answers neatly tied up but about engaging with God in the complexity of life and Scripture. As we approach the upcoming discussion, I encourage you to bring your honest doubts, your deepest questions, and your willingness to see the Bible in a new light. Together, let's seek to understand how this ancient text continues to speak truth, offer hope, and reveal the heart of God to us today.

Blessings,

Pastor Carrie