Read a Bible? I don’t read

Why should I read a Bible?

Reading the Bible helps me know God better.

During the second half of the NFL season, one the Lion’s player leaked part of the playbook on his social media account. Dan Campbell was asked about the incident in his Tuesday morning phone call with a local radio station. Would the player be punished for his decision? The coach said he was disappointed in the action, but it would not change how the Lions played their game or the available knowledge of the offense. He said, “If a team thinks having our playbook will help them win, they can have the whole thing. At this point in the season, there is so much video of what we’re doing that no NFL team should be surprised at our offense. They just need to pay attention to what has been made available.”

If other NFL teams what to know the Lions offense, they needed to pay attention to what was available. Church, if we want to know God better, we need to pay attention to what is available.

Show picture of Lincoln books

According to Ford’s Theatre, this stack of 6,800 books stands 3 1/2 stories tall. But 15,000 books have been written. If a person wants to know the history of Abraham Lincoln, there are thousands of options available. President Lincoln is the second most written about person in all of history.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 - “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Reading the Bible gives me an appetite to read the Bible more.

Matthew 5:6 - “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

Reading the Bible helps me to change my thinking about God’s law.

Psalm 1:1–3 - “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”

What version of the Bible should I read?

The answer might seem complicated because there are dozens of English Bible versions and various groups have their personal preferences. Some groups say that one version is superior to other versions and you must not be a Christian if you don’t read my version. Let’s keep at simple as possible. Are you ready?

Read the version that you are actually going to read.

How should I read the Bible?

Let’s begin this answer with the wrong ways to read the Bible. Completely ignoring the Bible is a wrong way. Forcing the Bible to say something it doesn’t is a wrong way. Concluding the Bible contradicts itself is a wrong way. Ignoring parts of the Bible because we don’t like them is a wrong way.

There a dozens of reading plans, you can browse www.biblestudytools.com for a reading plan of any length and on any topic. I’ll give you one suggestion in a moment.

Pray prior to reading

Lord Jesus, I’m here to spend time with you. Would you draw me into your presence? Would you help me to focus on the Bible? Would you open my heart to learn something new?

Acknowledge author intent

Why was the book written? Why did the original audience need to hear that message? What were they supposed to learn from it? What am I supposed to learn from it?

Stop when convicted

John 16:7–8 - “if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment”

Romans 12:2 - “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Share Scripture with others

Certainly, our lives should spill the Bible as we go throughout our day. I want to lean into Christian mutual edification by inviting to be a little more intentional about sharing what God is doing your life.

What did you read this week?

What does it mean?

How are you applying it to your life?

What if I am confused by something I read?

Stay there and keep reading the same chapter over and over while you ask the Holy Spirit for discernment and understanding. I think one step before that would be to read the small books of the New Testament. Choose one book for the month and continue reading it over and over so the Lord can give you a transformed heart and biblical understanding.

Galatians - 6.

Ephesians - 6.

Philippians - 4.

Colossians - 4.

James - 5.

1,2 Peter - 8.

1,2 Thessalonians - 8.

1 Timothy - 6.

2 Timothy - 4.

1, 2, 3 John - 7