Discover the Bible
Finding Values
Changing our city
Hello and welcome!
Do you sometimes feel “ super dry ”? Are you wondering which direction you should go? Then it’s time to discover with us! What it’s all about? Well, we ourselves and many others have learned that the Bible doesn’t have to remain the old, dusty book that sits somewhere in the corner of our house. It is extremely interesting and sometimes even downright exciting to discover the Bible! We want to do this in small groups, get really practical and avoid high theological doctrines. We want to look for good values for our lives and have a positive impact on those around us. We refrain from any strange teachings or even sectarian ideas.
By the way, we ourselves live in Vorarlberg, Austria. Hans-Jürgen was a sports and biology teacher at a Christian school here and has been married to a nice woman from Vorarlberg for more than 30 years. He understands the “Ländle dialect” almost perfectly, but still finds it difficult to speak it himself. Renate was born in the „Alpine town“ of Bludenz and grew up in sunny Satteins . She worked for a long time as a nurse in Feldkirch. During an extended stay in Asia, we both realized that you don’t necessarily need special buildings or scholars to live a vibrant faith.
"For with God nothing is impossible" Luke 1:37
Curious?
Then browse the following pages and, if you’d like, fill out the (completely non-binding) information form.
But would you like more information about why it’s worth exploring the Bible? You can find it here, among other places:
www.heukelbach.org DE
www.crosspaint.tv DE/EN/FR
www.5fish.mobi more than 6700 languages/dialects!
What we experienced ourselves
Renate from Voralberg in Austria
Growing up with my grandmother, I began to wonder at an early age where she would be after death. I didn’t want to lose her. Later, during my training as a nurse, it was biology that opened my eyes to an ingenious Creator. I told myself: If this God exists, then my greatest goal is to get to know Him!
Back then, I loved going to church; it seemed like my second home. But it was only the desire to get to know God that opened my ears to some of the church’s contributions. Whenever the Gospels were read aloud, something began to stir within me. After church, I often even went to the priest to learn more about this God who had come alive to me in creation. Some relatives, however, made fun of or even ridiculed what they considered to be my excessive piety. But I by myself became more and more aware of how religious practices can sometimes stand in the way of a sincere life with God. Many people pray the Lord’s Prayer, but they don’t put its content into practice: „Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors .“
No, I didn’t want to be a hypocrite and put what I believed into practice!
Over the years, I realized more and more that even the best intentions are of little use without a true connection to God.
I thank God, who came to meet me in Jesus Christ! In His Son, He answered all my questions and needs in all the confusion of my life. Even the question about the whereabouts of my grandmother, who, at that time, was still very old, and who began to read God’s Word:
‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies …’
(John 11:25)
Hans-Jürgen from the Rhineland in Germany
Despite having many acquaintances and a few friends, I was actually quite lonely. Even a „storm and stress“ period with mopeds, cliques, discos, and first relationships with the opposite sex didn’t change that much.
It wasn’t until I was a student at the German Sport University Cologne that I found truly profound friends. What surprised me was that although they were full of joy and, like me, athletes at heart, these young students were concerned with important life questions. And with Jesus, too! … At first, I was irritated and even dismissive (beware of a cult?), but later I at least started to read the New Testament. The person of Jesus, His life and work more than 2,000 years ago, was central. But what did that have to do with me?
Inwardly, however, I felt more and more that Jesus was drawing me. I gained trust in Him. And over time, I realized that the church had withheld very important things from me. A decision was needed, I realized this more and more. What Jesus was offering me was too important to remain unanswered…
One evening in my small student apartment, I prayed something like this: „God, if there’s anything missing between you and me, I want to entrust my whole life to you!“ God must have heard this prayer. Because the very next day, I realized that something had changed tremendously in my life: I had never known such inner joy before. A joy that I simply had to share with others. I can be friends with the one who created me! And this friendship will last—for all eternity…
‘… but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.’ (John 15, 15b)
(These reports are also available here as a 5-minute video in High German/Ländle dialect!
Please note that your data will be transferred to YouTube when you click.)
What else is needed?
Actually, not much. We want to keep our discovery groups as simple as possible. We’ll meet at home, and each of us should be willing to invite the group to our homes. It would be best if you don’t just register on your own, but also ask around among your family, friends, or acquaintances to see if anyone else would like to explore. Individual explorers are also welcome; we’ll then match participants based on their area of residence.
What’s also needed, of course, is a Bible. The Old and New Testaments, dusted off… If you can’t find a Bible in the entire house or under the roof, borrow one or order one from a bookstore or publisher. (The NIV = New International Version, for example, is a good and affordable edition.)
Of course, such a discovery meeting takes some time. After the first round, you’re completely free to decide whether you want to continue or not. There’s no charge for the whole thing, and we don’t promote any particular church, congregation, or even sect. What becomes of such a discovery group in the future is up to each group to decide for themselves. We can provide you with some guidance and advice if you wish.
If you’d like to participate or have any questions, please fill out the information on the next page. We’ll get back to you.
For today with kind regards,
Hans-Jürgen and Renate
Only a few steps and you are with us…
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