Thread:SouthWriter/@comment-5175866-20150828230358/@comment-1777104-20150830203624

Oddly, the devotional guide I used this morning spoke of 'the milk and the meat" when it comes to teaching the Word of God.  Paul and the writer to the Hebrews both use the comparison, and the admonition is for believers to move beyond the milk and move on to eating meat.

The Church is given teachers as God gifts some with the gift of teaching. Others are gifted with the gift of administration, and so on. While it is possible for a Christian to grow in grace, and in power, through the reading of the Word, it is not the primary way one is to be nourished. There must me prayer, preaching, and worship (including the sacraments of baptism and communion).

By developing an interactive Bible encyclopedia, we are leading the reader much as a pastor-teacher does in a sermon. We cannot as easily admonish the reader, for they are not under our oversight (an overseer "bishop" is another role for the "elder").

In this I commend you that you have submitted yourself to your church's staff for guidance. In accepting a "background" check from your pastor, though, it seems that I am also placing myself under his authority. This is fair enough, once I also am granted the same courtesy of a "background" check on him. He is apparently a member of the SBC, and you say he has a seminary degree. What is the local church, and where did he get his degree. Perhaps there is a website for the church. Audios on line would be great as well.

But as for building the encyclopedia, we will need qualified writers and teachers doing the Bible studies by which the articles are built. Sometimes, using a study already available can at least give us the verses from which to form our own article (like that entry from Easton's that I posted). If that is not your gift, that is okay. Your administrative skills are a gift unto themselves. Ask your pastor or Sunday School teacher to assist you. I am here to edit if necessary, but I would love to just write articles.

Yes, we both must bathe this project in prayer. I have removed "comments" from some references and will look for others. Comments probably should actually be incorporated in the body of the text anyway. It is what you call "paraphrase" and I call interpretation.

To God be the Glory!!