Jesus, Beginnings, and Science presents twelve guided discussions for Bible study groups. The individual studies are formatted to be used by groups irrespective of their previous training in the sciences or experience with the Bible. The easy-to-follow format includes the texts being discussed, questions to consider, reflections, suggestions for incorporating prayer and worship into meetings, and recommendations for further reading.
With a focus on understanding how the Bible relates to science and with respect for diverse views, this study guide leads participants into courteous dialog. The book encourages unity within the church and offers a balanced perspective, which is necessary for preserving the faith of young Christians when they learn more about science and for presenting a more coherent and compelling gospel to people considering Christianity.
The book begins with introductory comments by the authors, a chemistry professor and a campus pastor, and it offers suggestions for Bible study leaders. Then it moves into specific studies, four in each of these three topic areas:
Part One: What does the Bible say about creation? Surprisingly, several New Testament passages focus on Jesus, science, and creation. The studies in this section explore scriptural perspectives on creation from both the Old and New Testaments.
Part Two: What does the Bible say about human origins? Some people may tell you that there is only one Christian position on origins, but that is neither historically nor currently true. The studies in this section consider what it means to trust the Bible, to be made in the image of God, and to recognize that Christians hold a variety of views about human origins and evolution.
Part -Three: What does the Bible say about science? Scripture affirms that God created and sustains the natural world; Scripture does not tell us how God does all of this. The studies in this section reflect on the ways scientists hope to learn more about God through exploring God's creation.
The book's concluding section, includes closing remarks from the authors, notes, and an annotated bibliography of additional resources.
About the Author :
David A. Vosburg is a Professor of Chemistry at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California. He has a Ph.D. in chemistry from The Scripps Research Institute and was a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard Medical School. He is a Fellow of the American Scientific Affiliation, a Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar, and an Associate of the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion. He has partnered with Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF) since 1993. Kate Vosburg has been a campus minister with IVCF since 1999 and holds a Master of Arts in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. David, Kate, and their three children live in Upland, California and enjoy storytelling, board games, and building castles.
Review :
"Rather than laying out the various positions on creation and evolution, which are probably familiar to most students, this material starts with the other creation accounts that are scattered throughout the Bible, steering the conversation in a helpful direction with open-ended questions and guidelines for gracious disagreement." --Dr. Ruth M. Bancewicz, Senior Research Associate, The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion
"David and Kate Vosburg's book offers a rich resource for campus ministers seeking to dig into this important topic without going down the all too popular path of polarization." -- Thomas B. Grosh IV, Associate Director, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship's Emerging Scholars Network
"Having a conversation about science and faith can be very difficult in churches today. Often we don't even know where to start. The Vosburgs have provided this guide for that conversation in a way that preserves the integrity of both faith and science." --John H. Walton, PhD, Professor of Old Testament, Wheaton College
