WHAT THIS WEB SITE DOES
1. IT MAKES THE CENTRAL MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE UNDERSTANDABLE.
Why is this important?
The Bible is Creator God's message directly to you! Your eternal future depends on being able to understand it.
A child can understand the Bible's main message, yet it can puzzle scholars!
The Bible is a long book – written over 1500 years by about 40 authors.
In it are as many as 1800 people mentioned by name – God loves people!
It contains many events and personal experiences of people – it is history and biography.
It is a record of God's intimate interactions with people.
There is wisdom and teaching about this life and about eternal life.
Depending on the size of the type, the Bible can be between 1000 and 2000 pages long.
So, with all these amazing details, it can be difficult to grasp its main point.
Some people read the Bible in manga (comic book) form, but when they are asked, "Do you understand the main point?" they are unable to give a clear answer.
So, the Bible often needs an explanation. And that is what this web site does.
After hearing an explanation of the main point of the Bible, one businessman said: I had heard that Jesus was the Messiah, but I did not know why. Now I understand why Jesus is the Messiah.
Amazingly, children often understand this central truth more easily.
They are more trusting
They don't have as many cultural and intellectual obstacles that hinder acceptance of the truth.
They are less weighed down by self-interest: how they look in others eyes, social pressure, personal goals, the responsibilities of life.
How does this web site explain the main point of the Bible?
• It quotes the Bible's own words:
As much as possible, it lets the Bible speak for itself directly to you – so it lets you hear directly from God himself.
The purpose of this is for you to put your faith in God and in what he says – not in some person's interpretation or explanation.
• It pulls out the main thread that runs through the Bible from beginning to end.
It identifies the long, main road that runs through the forest.
• Its goal is clarity and simplicity – but without dumbing down the important truths.
A Japanese Pastor said: I like that this is easy to understand. We can use this.
• It asks you to view things from the Bible and God's perspective!
This web site does not try to fit God and the Bible into your perspective!
Remember: Your salvation is based on God's perspective, not based on your own perspective.
So it does not shy away from cultural or historical events that are unfamiliar to you: for example, the place of Israel in God's plan for you.
Nor does it shy away from view points that might be unpopular today: for example, that we are born as sinners.
But it does try to use illustrations and examples that can make the Bible's perspective more understandable and seem more reasonable to us.
2. IT CAN BE USED ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, BY ANYONE, WITH ANYONE:
Any Format.
• On computer or on a mobile device.
• Printed on paper – you can print copies off the web site.
You don't need to have a Bible with you, because all the Bible quotations are written out in the explanation.
(Having a Bible might be helpful – but, if you don't, you can always access a Bible online on your device.)
Anywhere.
Home, coffee shop, public transportation, park, school, church, etc.
Anyone.
• On Your Own:
It is designed to be understandable on your own – though some things may need further explanation.
• Explainer-Learner: in various combinations –
Japanese Explainer & Japanese Learner
For example, a Japanese person could share the gospel with a family member or friend.
Japanese Explainer & English Learner
English Explainer & Japanese Learner
For example, a new American missionary could share the gospel with a Japanese person.
English Explainer & English Learner
In Multiple Languages (at the same time).
• Currently available in English and Japanese
The same content is in each language.
Each person can access the content at the same time in their own language on their own device.
• So a Japanese and an American could go through the content together!
Each can read the content in their own language.
They can use whatever knowledge of the other's language they each possess to discuss the content together.
For example, an American who knows little Japanese could interact with a Japanese who knows some English.
• The hope is that Bible-on-Center can be translated into other languages.
3. IT WILL FIT ANY TIME FRAME:
Three versions give flexibility:
• 9-Minute Version
It takes only 9 minutes to read out-loud from beginning to end.
It will take less time if you read it silently.
If you discuss it with someone, it will of course take more time.
This version might work well for a one-time discussion over coffee in a coffee shop.
This is a quick, but "complete" overview of the Bible's main message.
• 30-Minute Version
It takes about 30 minutes to read through out-loud.
It has expanded explanations and visual illustrations.
A discussion based on this version would probably take more than one session.
• 180-Minute Version
It is very thorough:
It gives a more detailed picture of God's plan.
It explains things in more depth.
It is ideal for deeper personal learning or for multi-session discussions or multi-session classes.
Extra Topics Deal With Important Questions
See side menu for examples, such as:
I Believe – Now What Do I Do?
Why are Idols & Other God's a Problem?
The purpose of these topics is to:
• Deal with issues and cultural perspectives that can keep us from believing in God and the Bible.
• Answer crucial questions in greater depth.
• Give other information that is also important.
Putting these topics on separate pages keeps them from clogging up the pages that explain the Bible's central theme.
4. IT IS DESIGNED FOR SPECIFIC PEOPLE:
• Those who are new to the Bible –
or are not yet familiar with its message.
• Those who do not yet believe its message.
The primary goal of the 9-Minute Version, 30-Minute Version, and 180-Minute Version is to give each person the information they need to understand who Jesus Christ is and what he has done for them.
(• It also helps those who already know the Bible but want to see the big picture that runs through its entirety.)
5. IT IS A RICH RESOURCE FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO TEACH THE BIBLE'S MAIN MESSAGE:
It provides thorough content.
This content focuses on 2 things:
• How to become a child of God.
• What life is like after first becoming a child of God –
this allows someone to count the cost before committing to Christ.
The teacher can interact with the learner(s), as seems best, to help them grasp the meaning.
It allows for a variety of teaching styles:
• One-on-one.
• Lecture.
• Group discussion.
The teacher can add additional explanations as necessary:
This web site intentionally avoids long, wordy explanations (except in the Extra Topic pages).
It leaves room for the teacher to clarify things that the learner does not understand or might have further questions about.
The content can be broken up into almost any number of lessons.
So it can fit most any study schedule: single session, or multi-session.
The content attempts to be denominationally neutral ...
... by attempting to let the Bible speak for itself.
This, of course, is the very purpose of this web site – to let the Bible speak!
So, this web site attempts not to favor any particular denomination's interpretation of the Bible.
So, this content will hopefully be very useful to any Bible teacher who believes in:
The divinity of Jesus Christ.
Salvation through Christ's death and resurrection alone.
Denominational differences are rarely the crucial issue in someone's decision to put their faith in Jesus Christ.
So this web site leaves the discussion of denominational questions up to the discretion and timing of the explainer.
USING THE MANGA BIBLE SERIES & THIS WEB SITE
manga = comic book
The Manga Bible series is a great tool for people new to the Bible.
It is illustrated, written and printed in Japan:
Japanese manga artists created it.
It contains almost the whole Bible story:
There are 3 Old Testament volumes –
From: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" ...
To: the last prophet in the Old Testament.
There are 2 New Testament volumes (soon to be 3) –
That cover the Gospels and Acts ...
And soon will include Revelation.
Each volume is about 290 pages.
The volumes follow the text of the Bible with some additions to dialogue to make the individual stories sound natural.
Each volume can be read in 1 to 3 hours.
So a person who knows nothing about the Bible can get the whole Bible story in a relatively short period of time.
A preacher could hardly cover the same breadth of content in 10 years of Sunday sermons!
But people who read the Manga Bible series don't necessarily understand its central meaning.
So Bible-on-Center is designed to explain the main meaning of the Bible to:
• Those who have read the Manga Bible series –
or have read or heard about the Bible in some other form.
• And even to those who have never read any of the Bible –
Hopefully, there is enough context in the 9-Minute, 30-Minute, and 180-Minute Versions, so that people who have heard nothing about the Bible can also grasp its central meaning.
COPYRIGHT & USAGE
STATEMENT OF FAITH
For about 8 years I have been using the Manga Bible series with Japanese people in Chicago. (It is the 5-volume series published in Japanese by 新生宣教団 / NEXTmanga). I loan them to our students. Probably over 150 people have read them. I do not pressure them to read it. I just ask, “This is the Bible in Japanese in manga form. Do you want to read it?” Many are eager to read Volume 1. When they return Volume 1, I loan them Volume 2, etc. They easily read all the Bible stories in a short time! So it is very good. (Even in 10 years I could not preach about every Bible story in the Manga Bible series!)
But when I ask them, “Do you understand the Bible's main point?” they do not understand it. They do not understand about sin. They do not understand the reason that Jesus Christ came to earth. Like the Ethiopian eunuch whom Philip talked to, they need an explanation.
So if they are interested, I explain the main meaning of the Bible. I start in Genesis and go to Revelation. It takes 20-40 minutes.
After talking with one Japanese businessman, he said: I heard that Jesus was the Messiah, but I did not know why. Now I understand why Jesus is the Messiah.
So my goal is to make a web site to explain the main meaning of the manga Bible for non-Christian Japanese people. It will explain why Jesus needed to die on the cross for them – and what was accomplished when Jesus died and rose again. The main purpose is for evangelism — it is not a Bible study for Christians. The idea is to use it with the Manga Bible series, but it could be used in other situations as well. So the plan is as follows:
Target Audience: non-Christian Japanese. (But the English version can be used to reach other nationalities.)
Purpose: (#1 is the primary goal)
1. That non-Christian Japanese will understand the meaning of the Bible – so explain it (a) simply and clearly, (b) without diluting the depth of its message.
2. That witnessing can take place at the non-Christian’s pace in the context of a personal relationship with them – "Manga Bible + Online Guide" facilitates this.
(In other words, without unnecessary pressure on the relationship it speeds up and facilitates the “evangelism” side of “friendship evangelism.”)
3. To make it useable anytime, anywhere – on computer, iPad, or smart phone – without a Bible available.
4. To make it useable by anyone:
a. Japanese Christians (who witness to non-Christian family or friends).
b. American Christians (who witness to Japanese people) and may or may not be able to speak or read Japanese.
c. Japanese non-Christians (who want to understand the main point of the Bible on their own).
5. To provide a tool that doesn’t seem to be currently available on the web.
Unique Characteristics of Online Guide:
1. There will be 6 versions – 3 in Japanese, and the same 3 in English.
a. A bullet-point outline of the Bible’s meaning – that gives a 5 minute overview of the gospel.
b. A short explanation of the Bible’s meaning — that explains the gospel in about 20 or 30 minutes.
c. A long explanation of the Bible that thoroughly explains the gospel – that can be used in a multi-session study.
2. Content is arranged with the following goals in mind:
a. Scripture is prominent and (as much as possible) explains itself – so the unbeliever's focus and faith will be on God’s Word, not a teacher’s words or viewpoint.
b. Content guided by key questions – so hopefully thought inducing.
c. Comments are succinct – human explanations hopefully don’t drown out the focus on scripture.
d. Formatted in a way that allows it to be taught or studied in a variety of styles – discussion, lecture, one-on-one, group, or privately.
e. Illustrated to make it interesting and easy to understand – with images from Manga Bible, and with illustrations that explain biblical concepts.
Responses:
Japanese Pastor in Japan: I like that this is easy to understand. Most things written in Japanese are too scholarly. We can use this. I will help translate it into Japanese.
Veteran Missionary in Japan: We could use this to help our new missionaries share the gospel.