Happy Reformation Day!

Today is Reformation Day, the day we celebrate the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. luther2October 31 stands as the day that Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the castle church in Wittenberg. Luther, when he did this, surely had no apprehension of just how significant an event this would be. And yet this act now stands as a defining moment in history, a moment which marked a point of no return. With the luxury of hindsight we can see that Luther was now committed to Reformation. There would be no turning back. The true church would rise from the false, the gospel would finally shine forth once more.

English Standard Version

One of the things that brought Luther to the point of posting his 95 thesis was his love for Scripture. This Sunday, you will find in our aisles new English Standard Version Bibles.

I have been using the ESV over the past year for my personal studies and sermon preparation. I have found this translation to be nothing short than a blessing.

You might be wondering, "Why make the change from the New International Version (NIV) to the ESV? Is there something wrong with the NIV?" The short answer is no. The ESV is an "essentially literal" translation thus it seeks to be transparent to the original text, letting the reader see as directly as possible the structure and meaning of the original.

This Sunday, there will be brochures for you to look through if you want more information as well as order forms. If you would like to place an order with the church and have it delivered the following week to church, you may do so. You will need to fill out a provided order form and have a check or credit card ready. Order forms will be due Sunday, November 9.

However, I would encourage you to check out the Crossway's website ahead of time to peruse through the different styles. Children's Bible and an Illustrated Family Bible are available as well.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon once said:

It is blessed to eat into the very soul of the Bible until, at last, you come to talk in Scriptural language, and your spirit is flavoured with the words of the Lord, so that your blood is Bibline and the very essence of the Bible flows from you.

I hope that this becomes true for all of us.

Because of the Cross,

Paul Vroom