In the beginning was the Word, and Word was with God, and the Word was God...
In Him was life, and the life was the light of men...
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory... (John 1: 1, 4, 14)

The Word is a precious gift that helps us learn about the Lord. For the Word is from the Lord, about the Lord, and IS the Lord. He speaks to us in His Word and teaches us how to follow Him. It is written in John that the Lord is "the way, the truth, and the life" (14:6). And it is by means of the Word that He shows us the way, teaches us the truth, and offers us spiritual life.

In the Word, the Lord is "calling" us to heaven. If we respond to His call by trying to serve Him in our life, then He can help us understand the teachings of His Word more and more clearly. As we grow in this understanding, our ability to see the Lord's living presence in His Word will increase.

We hope that this month's collection of resources will help you and your family reflect on ways that you can receive the truths of the Word into your lives.

Highlights for this month include:

The Word Is Like...
Explore striking analogies that can help us understand the nature of the Word by watching a flash animation and making projects inspired by quotations from the Lord's Word (PDF).

"A Deeper Meaning to the Bible," a sermon by the Rev. Peter M. Buss, Jr.
People throughout the ages have...known that the Bible is the most holy book ever written – not only because God wrote it, but because they have seen its power to teach them how to be good.

Activities for Families – An Overview (PDF)
Projects and activities about Reading the Word, How the Lord Teaches Us, The Internal Sense of the Word, and other topics.

"What Is the Word?" by the Rt. Rev. Peter M. Buss
When you pick up the Word and read it, the Lord is talking to you. Because it is His Word, He wrote it, and it is as if He was speaking to you in His own voice.

The Word Has Layers of Meaning Project (PDF)
Make a special book illustrating the beauty of the inner meaning of the Word.

The Story Basket (PDF)
A hands-on way to review the stories of the Word

FEATURE: Rise Above It!
One of the parts of the Lord's Word that offers us very clear directives to follow is the Ten Commandments. Rise Above It, a book developed by Rev. Ray and Star Silverman from a series of seminars, leads you on a spiritual journey through the meaning of the Ten Commandments. Filled with candid and inspiring journal entries and enriched by the teachings of the great religions, this book invites you to enter into a life of ever increasing love, wisdom and service. As it is written in the Gospel of Matthew, "If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."

Read a sample chapter (PDF) from Rise Above It or order the book from the New Church Bookstore.

Reading About the Concept

Teaching the Concept