Spiritual Growth - Week 2 - Reading Your Bible

The Bible…it’s a hard read…almost 2000 pages, tiny print, and let’s be honest, piece by piece it’s not very exciting. Even more, it’s a story we know. Most of us have been told the same stories over and over again…why? 

• Why read the Bible?
• When you think about the Bible, about studying it, and about reading it, what are some thoughts that come to mind?
• What keeps us from knowing the Bible as well as we should?

It's daunting. We don't understand the words or the big picture. It was written a long time ago. Is it still relevant? Read the following passages. What do they say about the importance of God’s word? 

John 6:63

John 14:23-24

2 Timothy 3:16-17

We don’t read scripture just because we are supposed to or just because it draws us closer to God (although it will), but we read because it gives us life, it shows God our love for him, it reveals the truth, and God uses it to prepare us for what he has in store in each of us. God has been writing this We are all a part of his story.

Watch the Thread

The Bible, although not written in chronological order exactly is one big story. It’s God’s story, but it’s our story. Think of an author who writes a book and you are the character in that book. The Author knows the beginning, the end and everything in between. Generally, in the end of a book, things turn out ok for the main characters. As a character, we only know what’s happening to us right now. That’s kind of what it’s like with God. God is the author of our story. He knows the path we will take, the beginning and the end for each of us. God knows us better than we know us and getting to know him will help us understand us better.

Small Groups

Read Psalm 119:172-174.

·         When we talked about our thoughts toward Scripture earlier, did any one mention singing about the Bible? What does this say about the way the psalmist feels about God’s Word?

·         But what does this passage say about God’s commands?

·         Do you delight in God’s Word? If not why not? What needs to happen for you to begin to “delight” in it? 

·         God has given the Bible to us so that we could know Him and His ways. What changes do you need to make in your life to begin to read the Bible more?

So, we have a choice: we can choose to continue to be in the dark about what we believe (which is really no way to believe at all), or we can choose to truly embrace knowing God’s Word. Check out the current Bible reading plan we are doing as a church and considering joining us on the journey to know God's word better.