Would you like to read the bible with me?
We believe God speaks to us powerfully through his word. (2 Tim 3:16)
You don’t have to be a Bible teacher or church leader to read the Bible with someone because God himself does the teaching through his Word and Spirit. Just open the Bible with a fellow brother or sister in Christ and watch God work through his Word. Reading the Bible with one another is a great way to help each other know and grow in our love of Jesus together.
Who could you read with:
Church friends
Someone who is new to church or not well connected
An older or more mature Christian who can disciple you
A younger or newer Christian who you could encourage
It might be helpful to meet in threes, that way if one person can’t make it, you can still meet.
If you’re not sure who to ask feel free to reach out to paul@cityonahill.co.nz and he would love to help you find someone to start reading the Bible with. Also, if you’re looking for something to help you as you meet up with someone feel free to use our 1 to 1 Bible Reading Booklet below.
What might it look like?
Here’s some answers to FAQs
What should we read?
Start with Ephesians, 1 Thessalonians, or for something more challenging, Daniel 1-6.
How often should we meet?
Weekly or fortnightly is best, monthly works for some people. Any less frequent and you might find it hard to keep up momentum. But even if you only manage once a year, it'll still be worthwhile!"
Is this a long term commitment?
Not necessarily — you might just agree to give it a try for a set time. Perhaps give it a try for 3 months if meeting weekly or 6 months if meeting fortnightly!
Where should we meet?
Anywhere that is convenient for everyone: a cafe, park, workplace (before or after work, or during lunch), school, university. The key is to find somewhere you are all comfortable.
How long do we meet for?
1 hour is a good amount of time: 15 mins catching up, 30 mins reading, 15 mins praying. But if you have more or less time, do what you can! A lot can be achieved even in a 30 minute lunch break.
What preparation do I need to do?
The beauty of reading the Bible one-to-one is that you can do it without really doing any preparation. God speaks through His word – we only need to read it to hear him speak. And this is meant to be something easy and relaxed, not a teaching session. However, it can be really useful if both of you read through the passage together before arriving – then you’ll be familiar with it and have questions and insights ready to share.
Enjoy!
Find joy in the friendship, support, and encouragement that comes with meeting one-to-one. God’s Word doesn’t just comfort us, it transforms us - shaping our hearts and lives to be more like Jesus. Most importantly, enjoy God as you spend time with Him in his Word and hear Him speak.