Weekly Brief is your 1-minute smart and fast report to keep you informed of important Bible-related trends, statistics, articles, and pivotal happenings on the Web and at Bible Gateway. Forward to your friends and share with your followers to encourage them to subscribe.

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Museum of the Bible Unveils What Will Be $42 Million High-Tech Experience

When the Museum of the Bible opens in Washington, DC in late 2017, it will be with $42 million worth of visitor experience technology unlike that of any other museum.

Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, A Collection of Bible Museums & Exhibits.

About 200 Works, Including 6 Six-Figure Bibles, from the Bible Collection of Charles Ryrie Will be Auctioned Dec. 5

One of the world’s best private collections of English Bibles—by Dr. Charles Ryrie—will soon hit Sotheby's auction block. Ryrie is best known for his Ryrie Study Bible.

Browse the Bibles section in the Bible Gateway Store, where everything is always on sale.

See more Bible-related articles in this week's Bible News Roundup.
See previous editions of Bible News Roundup and Weekly Brief.

Test Your Heaven IQ: What Does the Bible Say?

Have fun taking this quiz on the topic of Heaven and the New Jerusalem using the NIV Zondervan Study Bible, which includes study tools that specifically focus on biblical theology—the progressive unfolding of theological concepts through Scripture.

Browse books about Heaven in the Bible Gateway Store.

Devotional Reflections on Handel’s Messiah: An Interview with Jessica Miller Kelley

George Frideric Handel's Messiah is one of the most beloved musical works of the western world, playing an especially sentimental role in many people's Christmas traditions. The libretto of the work, taken directly from the King James Version (KJV) text of 14 books of the Bible, has turned many phrases into memorable, singable, cherished lines of Scripture. Bible Gateway interviewed Jessica Miller Kelley, editor of the devotional book, Every Valley: Advent with the Scriptures of Handel's Messiah (Westminster John Knox Press, 2014). Included in this interview is a list of the Bible verses that comprise Messiah's libretto.

See the Music section in the Bible Gateway Store.

Free Christmas Devotions from Bible Gateway

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to end 2016 experiencing the peace of Jesus Christ that puts all our worries and sorrows in perspective? To that end we have 3 free email Christmas devotionals designed to help you step aside from stress and simply focus on Jesus during this busy time of year.

Browse the Christmas section in the Bible Gateway Store, where everything is always on sale.

Devocionales de Biblie Gateway para la Navidad – ¡Ya disponibles en español!

¿No sería maravilloso terminar el 2016 en una nota distinta? ¿No sería maravilloso experimentar la paz de Jesucristo que deja en la perspectiva correcta nuestras tristezas y preocupaciones?

Ver todos los libros y biblias en español en la Tienda en línea de Bible Gateway.

23 Bible Verses About Thanksgiving and Gratitude

God’s Word challenges us to embrace a spirit of gratitude and thankfulness even in the midst of trials and setbacks; to remember God's faithfulness and goodness throughout the ages. Enjoy these Bible verses and use them to express your own gratefulness.

Browse the Thanksgiving section in the Bible Gateway Store.

Get Our 1-Page Free 'Big-Picture of the Bible' Checklist With Your 30-Day Bible Gateway Plus Trial

Bible Gateway Plus is the powerful new tool that will deepen your understanding of Scripture. It puts dozens of the very best Bible study resources (like the MacArthur Study Bible NKJV notes) at your fingertips. You'll be equipped to explore, defend, and teach God's Word like never before. And when you sign up for the free 30-day trial, you'll receive our Big Picture Bible Checklist: the printable checklist of key Bible verses that give you the "big picture" of the Bible. Learn more and
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Bible Spotlight: American Standard Version

This feature in Weekly Brief is intended to help you become aware of the plethora of Bible versions available for you to freely read on Bible Gateway.
This week:

Trapped in “Either/Or” Thinking

In this excerpt from Evolution: Scripture and Nature Say Yes, author Denis Lamoureux says, "The Book of God’s Words is the Bible. Scripture reveals spiritual truths concerning our Creator, his creation, and us. The Book of God’s Works is the physical world. Science is a wonderful gift from the Lord to explore the heavens and the earth and all the wonderful creatures."

ChurchSource Pastor to Pastor: Effective Criteria for Selecting Lay Counselors

>From Lay Counseling, Revised and Updated: Equipping Christians for a Helping Ministry, authors Siang-Yang Tan and Eric T. Scalise say, "The careful selection of lay counselors is a crucial step in the development of an effective ministry. Minimally we would suggest the following criteria: Spiritual maturity; Psychological stability; Willingness to submit to any required background checks;...."

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