Over the course of the next year, our church will examine various scripture passages that have been marked as influential. Some will come out of our tradition. Some will be volunteered from within our congregation. Some have come from lists that have been produced in other settings. We simply acknowledge that the Spirit of God has inspired us to record a story or teaching, and we recognize it as scripture. The church has claimed these passages as the Bible after intense deliberation and conflict. It's an amazing collection of writings that serve in the formation of Christian disciples.
As we engage these passages, the teaching of Paul in 2 Tim 3:16-17, comes to mind. "All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work." NRSV

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