Untitled Sermon (9)

I -

Y- We know we should but...

Bible By the Numbers

Best seller lists don't include it because it would be the #1 best seller every month.

More than 168,000 are sold or given away in the US every day.

9/10 US homes have at least one. Average is 4.7.

Roughly 1/3 read it at least once a month. 1/3 read it occasionally. 1/3 never read it

It seems to me that:

We know we should be reading it, but...

Every day in the United States, more than 168,000 Bibles are either sold or given away.

Every day in the United States, more than 168,000 Bibles are either sold or given away.

9/10 American households have a bible. (avg. 3)

It's hard. When we open it up

its confusing

its boring sometimes

its long

There are so many barriers. So many things that get in our way. So many chances to get discouraged and give up.

We hit difficult translations.

Confusing stories.

Strange Structure - Not chronological.

We give it a try and we don't get much out of it. So we quit, take a break, and someday feel guilty enough to try again.

Where do I start?

How am I supposed to read this?

If this is God's Word why am I not getting anything out of this? Why doesn't it make more sense?

Why doesn't it come easily?

G - Your bible comes from both heaven and earth.

Dropped from heaven OR Concocted by people

Why its so hard.

The bible is a Devine Human project

We read it Like a magic book that dropped from the sky in English

Like a magic book that dropped from the sky in english

like an answer key.

like a rule book.

I think part of the problem comes from how we see the bible.

magic book. Or a human book.

Dropped from heaven -

We read,

looking for heroes to emulate

looking for rules to follow

looking for answers to questions

looking for certainty about historical events and timelines.

looking for nice encouraging quotes

Ignoring the context, our translations, and the things that just don't quite fit.

Skipping over things that seem confusing or dont immediately make sense.

Getting discouraged when we stumble on parts of the bible that are hard to understand. Ending more confused than when we started. Giving up

Concocted by people.

We read like eating at a salad bar. Skipping around gross stuff and picking out what looks nice.

Piling up sunflower seeds and leaving the mushrooms.

We end having learned something. But not really challenged or changed. Looking for more interesting information.

Remember to read the bible in light of both.

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W