National Bible Week 2013.doc

7/28/2019 National Bible Week 2013.doc

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I. INTRODUCTION What is National Bible Week Celebration?

It is common for Filipinos at the beginning of the year to review what were accomplished

and we did not. And as we recover from 2012 and its impact in our lives and while bracing for

the surprises of 2013, there is no better season than now to set our paths and ensure we are on the

tamang landas and tuwid na daan.

The Philippine Bible Society has introduced to people the Bibles transforming power.

One way is to celebrate the National Bible Week which is being celebrated annually. This has

started when President Ferdinand E. Marcos signed Presidential Proclamation No. 2242 on

November 19, 1982. This declares that national attention be focused on the important role being

played by reading and study of the Bible in molding the moral fiber of our society. Reaffirming

the proclamation were two noble ex-presidents, Corazon Aquino and Fidel Ramos.

Since then, the nation has set aside a week every year to commemorate the importance of

the Bible in nation building. Many types of prayer-gathering and promotional efforts such as

streamers and distribution of Bible for free were made possible.

Amidst this world of temptation, we are all invited by our Pope Benedict XVI as he

declared October 2012-October 2013 as the Year of Faith to relive and strengthen our faith.

With this years theme: Proclaim the Word, Profess the Faith, the celebration is slated on

January 21-27, 2013. The theme was inspired by Psalm 119:105: Your word is a lamp to my

feet and light to my path, and 2 Timothy 4:2, Preach the word; be ready in season and out of

season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

II. DEFINITION OF TERMS

Faith belief and trust in and loyalty to God; belief in the traditional doctrines of a

religion

Discipleship following Christ

Apostleship representing Christ

Profess to confess ones faith in or allegiance to; to practice or claim to be versed in


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Proclaim to declare publicly, typically insistently, proudly, or defiantly and in either

speech or writing

Sacrament a Christian rite (as baptism or the Eucharist) that is believed to have been

ordained by Christ and that is held to be a means of divine grace or to be a sign or symbol

of a spiritual reality

III. CONTENT

JOHN 1:1 In the beginning, the Word already existed;; the Word was with God and

the Word was God.

Most people may not have ever heard of National Bible Week. Some people may actually

not even think that it really exists. It can be certain that some people in this country dont want it

to.

During these days, students like us spend most of our time for schooling. As a matter of

fact, we even burn the midnight oil just to finish reading school books, writing reports and doing

other necessary things in order to pass a subject. Whenever we look around us, we see so many

people giving their hearts out for their chosen crafts. Teachers, engineers, accountants, architects,

managers, doctors, nurses, politician, and all sorts of other people with different kinds of jobs

endure long days of hard work, but for what reason? Truly, we live in a time where people strive

for financial and economic progress. Some strive for it so much that they willingly take

overtimes but refuses to spend an hour to go to church. Some students even read variety of books

to pass a subject but often times, take f or granted the Bible which is the main source of wisdom.

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its parts form one body, so it is with

Christ. For we were all baptized by one spirit so as to form one body whether Jews or

Gentiles, slave or free and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not

made up of one part but of many.

Stated is a Bible verse taken from 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, this verse talks about unity and

diversity of the members of the body of Christ. This verse is very inspiring for it makes us feel

blessed that God welcomes us as part of this Christian body even though we are just students


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with limited capacities. It will make us realize that no matter how small a body part is, it still

plays a significant role to the whole body. As Christians, we all have responsibilities in this

body. All of us have God-given potentials to take part in forming a stronger and better Christian

community. The main fact that we were given this life is already enough for us to know that we

can help in proclaiming the Word of God. As students, we can do this by encouraging our fellow

students to read the Bible. Even the simplest things such as talking how the Words of God has

helped us to overcome challenges in life can already inspire people to seek for His words.

This year, the celebration challenges Filipinos to proclaim Gods Word and profess the

faith towards national transformation. The basic call is for each one of us to honor the Bible by

reading, studying and living its precepts. However, this challenge has been stepped up and now

calls on all Filipinos who believe in the Bible to proclaim Gods Word and to profess their faith.

These times call for boldness and determination, for collective efforts and action to bring people

back to God and His Word if they aim for the betterment of our nation.

The celebration encourages churches, local government units, schools and organizations

to help create awareness and the importance of the Bible in peoples lives. The celebration aims

to make every citizen realize that the Bible is a source of strength and wisdom and is not just

being read during trials. It serves as a guiding light all our lives. Wisdom becomes attractive if

intellectual people ask for it. But this wisdom can be achieved through the reading and living the

messages of the Scriptures. The call for us now is to heed Gods Word and obey its precepts if

we really want to see true development and lasting change in our lives as a people and as a

country.

Psalm 119:14 - I delight in following your commands more than having great wealth.

As we face challenges as individuals and as a nation, we are reminded that genuine

transformation is only possible through the grace of the Lord. If we allow God to rule in our

lives, then we open the doors to His grace. Psalm 119:27 Help me to understand your laws,

and I will meditate on your wonderful teachings. A daily encounter with the scripture gives us

the opportunity to be attuned to His love and grace. This is the key to the renewal of our lives.

Sharing His words to others is a great way to live the faith of a Christian. Celebrating the

sacraments is also one of the ways to renew our faith, for whenever we gather together in His


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name, we receive Him. And as we receive Him, we also receive the strength in making this

society spiritually active.

IV. EFFECTS

We gather together and celebrate as a family to listen to Gods Word. Proclaiming the

Word and professing our faith as Christians can do wonders in the community. There are many

positive effects and change why we celebrate National Bible Week. The commemoration gives

witness to our firm hope in the bright future of our country. The reading of the Bible helps bring

the light to settle conflicts and confusion in the country. The celebration will also encourage

people to read and engage with the Bible. It aims to bring a lasting impact in our lives as people

of God. This also aims to inculcate in the youth a love and zeal for God and His Word, to bring

together people from different regions. This gives an opportunity for parents to build and deepen

their relationship with their children and other people. It will stimulate the interest of Christian

educators in the value of studying the Bible.

Having faith in God helps us see ourselves as a valuable creature whos given numerous

potentials in making this world a better one. Being knowledgeable of His words will help us

make decisions that will not only benefit ourselves, but also others. Our faith in Him will make

us see the world in a whole new perspective. Trials will no longer be seen as hindrances; instead,

they will be seen as Gods way in molding us into the Human Person He wants us to be. Through

His words, we can all be transformed into new persons who believe that nothing is impossible

through Christ, Our Savior.

These effects brought about by the powerful book, the Bible, will help every one of us,

whether young or old, become better and worthy citizens of this country.

V. CCF ADVOCACY AND CHALLENGE.

The Center for Christian Formation advocates and challenges everyone to faithfully read

the Holy Bible and to become part of ones everyday activity. Amidst all the difficulties and trials


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of our time, may we find peace in reading the Bible. May the Sacred Scriptures inspire and move

us to work in solidarity with one another, in particular, to achieve a genuine social and moral

transformation in our society. We believe that the Word of God is powerful. We can see Gods

power works in us if only every Christian who listens with it, live the values and truth of the

Gospel, then we can transform and make our country a home of Gods kingdom where every

citizen feels the power of the Word of God.

As Christians, another challenge for us is to be vocal and aggressive in sharing and living

our faith and be able to inspire others specifically our respective families, friends, and co-

workers.

We are all called to become true followers of Jesus. To be a follower of Jesus is to be

faithful to the Word of God. We should make The Word alive in our everyday lives, May we be

one in proclaiming the Word and professing the faith by becoming more MABUTI,

MAGALING AT MAY MALASAKIT SA KAPWA.

VI. CONCLUSION

The Bible will serve as an everyday manual and instrument for transformation in our

personal lives and as well as in the life of the society. One CFE professor often says, Faith with

no action is dead. Therefore, as Christians and as members of the body of Christ, we must act

on our faith. True discipleship comes from reading, studying and living with the Word of God.

By sharing or proclaiming the wisdom of God and His messages to us, and by putting those

messages into our hearts, teaching them to people we encounter is the real essence of the

National Bible Week Celebration. By obeying the timeless principles of the Bible, a nation can

change for the better. One must not only know the words and the gospel written in the Bible, for

in line with knowing is a responsibility to act as living bread to others a living bread that will

help them nourish their faith in their Christian lives.

Midterm examination is fast-approaching. Despite the fact that we are expected to

achieve and attain excellence in our studies, may we not forget the values from the teachings of

our Holy Bible.


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The Bible will serve as an everyday manual and instrument for transformation in our

personal lives as well as in the life of the society. We can proclaim Gods grace and salvation

through the Scripture. May the celebration of the National Bible Week inspire us to read, live

and share the teachings of God. In conclusion, this celebration invites all Filipinos to realize that

the Word of God is alive. Therefore, we can go forward as we learn the importance of its

principles, and bring our new day to its fullest. We must never take for granted our spiritual life,

for worldly attainments may fade, but the word of God will never perish.

This celebration is a call for unity. Let us join hands in making the Word known to the

world so that real transformation in our nation and within ourselves may indeed happen.

Come let us walk into the side of the Lord. Isaiah 2:5

V. References:

http://cbnasia.org/home/2013/celebrate-national-bible-week/

http://www.tempo.com.ph/2012/0T/the-national-bible-week-proclaiming-god

CCF Advocacy Paper
http://cbnasia.org/home/2013/celebrate-national-bible-week/http://www.tempo.com.ph/2012/0T/the-national-bible-week-proclaiming-godhttp://cbnasia.org/home/2013/celebrate-national-bible-week/http://www.tempo.com.ph/2012/0T/the-national-bible-week-proclaiming-god

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