Dedication of Bible
At a Baptist Church in Gateshead, a dedication service with a difference was held last Sunday.
During the morning service on 15th October, Beacon Lough Baptist Church dedicated a new pulpit Bible, which had been donated to the church. A large, leather-bound New International Version of the Bible, it replaces the original “Authorised Version” pulpit Bible that had been given to the church on its foundation in 1963 and will be used for the public reading of the word in weekly services.
It was used for the first time when a member of the church, Aldo Rall, who had recently returned from South Africa, gave the reading from Romans ch3. The pastor, Jeremy Shaw said, “It is an immense privilege to have God’s word.” He quoted verses from Isaiah ch 40, verses 6-8 to demonstrate the eternal nature of God’s word; from 2 Timothy ch 3 v 16 to show its usefulness and from Romans ch 10 v 17, which tells us that faith comes from hearing the message and that the message is heard through the word of Christ. He said, “Its message is eternal and is a message for this generation and the generations to come.”
In a prayer of dedication, Jeremy gave thanks for the Word Made Flesh - Jesus Christ who made God known to man - and for the written Holy Word, which reveals God’s character; nature; holiness; love and compassion. He thanked God for the provision of this new Bible and dedicated it to be used for His glory, honour and praise both by this generation and all who will follow. In giving thanks, he prayed that God would help us to be not just “hearers” of the word but “doers” also.
Joe Snooks, the church Treasurer said, “When we bought the book, the lady in the shop said that this was the first time they had sold this particular type of Bible.”