Article: Bible Reading

Bible Reading

Now reading the Bible, for us Christians, is one of these things in life that on one hand can be so ordinary that it can become one of those everyday little things to us. Like making a up of tea or coffee in the morning. And there’s something lovely about that. And on the other hand, reading the Bible is so vital for our spiritual life and relationship with God that without it we become spiritually malnourished and staved, relationally distant and stunted with God.

Now if you’re anything like me, although we would love to be this addicted to and convicted about God’s word, so that Bible reading did have this everyday presence and priority in our life, that’s not the case. I’m not pointing this out to make us feel guilty. But to press upon us the importance of taking time to check ‘the pulse’ of our spiritual vitality and health of our relationship with God. Or to put this another way, think of this as a you spiritual-diet check-up. You might be having your three meals a day. Although the quantity seems healthy, but is the quality of spiritual-food healthy? Let’s face it, having those Arnotts assorted cream biscuits for morning tea after church together is yum. But they would certainly make a unhealthy meal! As kids we might have gotten away with it. But growing up we learn that to be healthy we need to eat health. So as a part of growing up into spiritually mature people we need take responsibility for how we feed ourselves.

This Do it every day

but

don’t read it at all

vital for life

Thanks for stSo as a part of growing up into spiritually mature people we need take responsibility for how we feed ourselves.

Part of growing up, spiritually mature people.

I’m not pointing this out to make us feel guilty. But to press upon us the importance of taking time to check ‘the pulse’ of our spiritual vitality and health of our relationship with God.

So taking a moment to think about how we read the Bible might even seem strange to you.

Now, it might be tempting at this point to stop reading because you might think you’re Bible reading is healthy enough. If that’s you. Why not keep reading a

If you’ve stuck with me this far, thank you. So let’s think about how we can make sure our Bible reading is health and feeding our spiritual vitality. Here it is in a sentence:

Taking a moment to think about how we read the Bible might even seem strange to you.

But to simply leave it at that would be miss the richness and scandalous nature of Jesus words.

So taking a moment to think about how we read the Bible might even seem strange to you.

Or to put this another way, think of this as a you spiritual-diet check-up. You might be having your three meals a day. Although the quantity seems healthy, but is the quality of spiritual-food healthy?

Checking your diet. You might be eating food fine enough. But what kind of food matters right?

Because we can’t keep putting awake biscuits as our main meal anymore like we did as kids. And so how much more should this be the case for us spiritually?

Think of Checking your diet. You might be eating food fine enough. But what kind of food matters right?

Checking your diet. You might be eating food fine enough. But what kind of food matters right?

I am the bread that comes from heaven.

So how much more should this be the case for us spiritually?

Let’s face it, having those Arnotts assorted cream biscuits for morning tea after church together is yum. But they would certainly make a unhealthy meal!

Having those nice Arnotts assorted cream biscuits for morning tea after church together is yum. But let’s face it, they make a unhealthy meal!

Spiritually healthy Bible reading approaches the Bible with Christ as the substance, subject, and semblance.

Like we just said before, we cant keep putting awake biscuits as our main meal anymore, like we did as kids. And so how much more should this be the case for us spiritually?

So if we’re to be regularly reading our Bible (which we should be) it’s important that we make sure we spiritualy

So how are do we know if our Bible reading is health and feeding our spiritual vitality?

Check your heart-motives? It’s hard reading the Bible.

Know

Let’s take a look at these three convictions behind spiritually health Bible Reading, Christ as the substance, subject, and semblance.

First we need to see that Jesus, the God-man, is the substance of the Bible as God’s Word, because he is the Word of God. The opening words of the Gospel of John makes this clear. We read that the Word of God has no beginning -- the Word “was” (1:1). Also, on one hand, the Word shares an intimate relationship “with” God the Father (1:1,2) and on the other hand the Word “was” God himself (1:1, 9). And so the Word is “light” who reveals God to us (1:4). The Word reveals who God is to us, by coming to us, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” and his name is Jesus Christ (1:14-18). So when it comes to reading the Bible, we come to know God by looking to Christ. Spiritually health Bible reading is do with the understanding that it is utterly woven into a personal relationship with Christ.

2. “And the Word was with God.” The Word is personal and stands in an eternal relationship with God.

2. “And the Word was with God.” The Word is personal and stands in an eternal relationship with God.

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Follow along the opening verses of John chapter 1.

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When you come to reading the Bible you’re coming with the mindset of seeking how God’s written word if fulfilled in God’s incarnate word, Christ?

But one matters the most, is you answer primarily centred on the Word of God as Christ (). When you come to reading the Bible you’re coming with the mindset of seeking how God’s written word if fulfilled in God’s incarnate word, Christ?

This then leads us to the second conviction that, Christ is the one subject of the Bible. Jesus understood that the whole Bible’s primary and central focus is on him.

Listen to what Jesus says in Luke 24:27,

God the Father, clearly directs us listen to his Son. In Mark chapter 9 verse 7 God says,

God the Father, clearly directs us listen to his Son. In Mark chapter 9 verse 7 God says,

“This is my beloved Son; listen to him.”

This is my beloved Son; listen to him.”

This then leads us to the second conviction.

And so to listen to God and glorify God means we’re to listen to Christ Jesus.

“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.”

what is the one subject of focus of the Bible? Regardless of where we’re reading from in the Bible, the Old or New Testaments (, ; ; )

Feast on Christ — Spiritual vitality is found in Christ.

44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”

Feast on Christ — Spiritual vitality is found in Christ.

We get this same foundational truth in John 5:39,

We get this same foundational truth in John chapter 5 verse 39.

what is the one subject of focus of the Bible? Regardless of where we’re reading from in the Bible, the Old or New Testaments (, ; ; )

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me.”

English Standard Version Chapter 5

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me

If you’re still unconvinced, the Apostle Paul says the same, you can go a read for yourself. The Bible, testifies itself to the fact that spiritually healthy Bible reading has its primary and central focus on Christ. What this means is that, regardless of where we’re reading from in the Bible, the Old or New Testaments, our primary focus is to see that God’s intention for us is to see Christ. Jesus even says in John chapter 15 verse 26 that this is the role of the Holy Spirits,

If you’re still unconvinced, the Apostle Paul says the same, you can go a read for yourself. The Bible, testifies itself to the fact that spiritually healthy Bible reading has its primary and central focus on Christ.

“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.”

Regardless of where we’re reading from in the Bible, the Old or New Testaments

Second, Jesus as the subject, what is the one subject of focus of the Bible? Regardless of where we’re reading from in the Bible, the Old or New Testaments (, ; ; )

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), .

So when we come to the Bible what (or who) is the one subject of our focus? If you’re reading in the Old Testament ask, “How does this passage anticipating Christ?” If you’re reading in the New Testament ask, “How does this passage point back to Christ?” Or another helpful question is, “What is the good news about Jesus (the gospel) in this passage?”

what is the good news (the gospel) in this passage?

Vaughan Roberts, in his book ‘God’s Big Picture’ says, “The whole Bible points to him [Christ Jesus] from beginning to end. In the Old Testament God points forward to him and promises his coming in the future. In the New Testament God proclaims him to be the one who fulfils all those promises.” We must see that spiritually health Bible reading focus on seeing Christ throughout the Bible.

so we might see him, believe, belong and become.

Vaughan Roberts, in his book ‘God’s Big Picture’ says, “The whole Bible points to him [Christ Jesus] from beginning to end. In the Old Testament God points forward to him and promises his coming in the future. In the New Testament God proclaims him to be the one who fulfils all those promises.”

what is the good news (the gospel) in this passage?

So where ever you might find yourself in the Bible, here are three questions to make sure we’re our spiritually vitality is being feed with healthy food, with Christ.

Finally, the third conviction that it’s Christ's semblance that reading the Bible should produce in us (, ). Reading the Bible in this spiritually healthy way, we begin to bear Christ’s semblance. Prayerfully reading the Bible, guided by the Holy Spirit to see Christ as the substance and subject will cause us to resemble Christ. So the other important question we must be asking ourselves as we read the Bible is, “How should my life look more like Christ’s? If I lived with this good new more front and centre today, how could I bear more semblance to Christ?”

what is the good news (the gospel) in this passage?

How could my life look more like Christ’s if I lived with this good new more front and centre today?

relieve some guilt or shame — expectations for Bible reading. Now, just to be clear, what I’m about to say isn’t to discourage you from reading the Bible, it’s my deep desire to encourage you. For many of us (including me) we can beat ourselves up over not reading our Bibles everyday or at the same time everyday. I just want to point out that this is really a modern problem.

I don’t think the average Christian in the early church has their own copy of the Bible (it was still being written).