Why read the Bible?

Introduction

82% Of American Christians only read their bibles while in church

The Bible is like a telescope. If a man looks through his telescope he sees worlds beyond; but if he looks at his telescope, he does not see anything but that. The bible is still a thing to be looked through to see that which is beyond; - Phillip Brooks

Looking into the bible, changes the way we look at the world around us.

Reading the bible benefits us in so many ways, here are a few

Body

It helps us to see our path

Psalm 119:105 (CSB)

105 Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.

God created his word as a guide for us in every aspect of our life.

In a dark world, God has given us his word as an easy to go to source for light and relief in our lives.

God has commissioned each of us into the world with the great commission, the bible shows us how to live that out.

What is a Narrative?

are stories of people, who have a problem, and how they resolve their problem.

Narrative shapes our culture

Romeo and Juliet

Space Jam

David and Goliath

Finding Nemo

God has given us a divine narrative, 40% entire bible, 60% new testament are made up of narratives. God shows us in scripture how he uses people in their struggles and how he resolves the problem.

2. Helps us to be fruitful

Psalm 1:2–3 (CSB)

2 Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

When we are in God’s word, not only in it, but thinking about it and praying about it then we begin to bear fruit

Why?

God’s story, the bible, is a story that all points to one thing, Jesus.

God’s word does not return void, it always causes a response

That response is ultimately that we point to Jesus in our lives, similarly to the bible in its words

3. Shows us how to imitate God

Ephesians 5:1 (CSB)

1 Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children,

Children imitate their parents actions and words

The bible shows us the character of God in the flesh, Jesus

If we are in the word we begin to think like Jesus, Walk like Jesus, Be the Friend that Jesus was, and we start to have the same Mission as Jesus

To see a lost world come to know God

Conclusion

When we read the bible we become Christlike

Make it a mission today to read the bible, it could start with 5 minutes a day, but anytime we are in the word we begin to be shaped like Jesus