A new teaching programme in a group of rural churches has been put together to explore and understand some of the most important symbols in the Bible.
Churches in Peasedown St John, Foxcote, Shoscombe and Wellow over the next year will look at ‘Salvation symbols’. They aim to explore the 12 symbols of;
- Land
- Vine
- Ark
- Lamb
- Gold
- Breath
- Stone
- Water
- Bread
- Light
- Fire
- Name
All of these symbols are mentioned many times in both the Old and New Testament scriptures, and through understanding their meanings have a lot of significance for our lives today.
Revd Matthew Street, who leads the set of churches known as the St J’s Group, said: “The Bible is a powerful book with information that not only tells us about historical events, but has teachings that can be applied to our every day lives.
“The symbols are no different. For instance ‘Land’ is used in scripture many times to point to the creation of the earth, the promised land for the Jews, and the prophetic new heaven and new earth.
“The value of water is also paramount with the word appearing almost 400 times in the Bible. Examples include life-giving water in John’s Gospel, and the water of baptism.
“During 2014 we shall be challenged in the St J’s Group to dig deeper and understand more clearly the meanings of these symbols and their relevance for life in the 21st century.”
For further details visit: www.stjsgroup.org/salvation-symbols-sermon-series-2014
The ‘Salvation Symbols’ teaching programme will run every Sunday at these services:
· 10.00 am – Morning Service at St Julian’s, Shoscombe
· 10.30 am – Morning Service at St John’s, Peasedown
· 11.15 am – Morning Service at St Julian’s, Wellow
· 4.30 pm – Soul Food at the Youth Centre, Peasedown
Recordings of each talk will also be available after each Sunday on the St J’s Group website – www.stjsgroup.org, which also includes details of future events, the church’s work in the community, and details of activities going on during the week.
