Do you want to grow deeper in your relationship with God and with others?
One of the simplest and most powerful ways is to read the Bible one-to-one with another brother or sister in Christ. For me, some of my deepest and most lasting friendships, spanning years and even countries, began with a regular catch-up over God’s Word.
This shouldn’t surprise us, because it is through the Word of God that the living God speaks to us and transforms us by his Spirit. As 2 Timothy 3:16 reminds us:
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Or as Psalm 19 declares:
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
When we stop to hear God speak through his life-giving Word, our souls are refreshed, our lives are changed, and our relationships are enriched.
That’s why we’re excited to launch a new initiative: encouraging everyone at church to give reading the Bible one-to-one a go.
Reading the Bible together is a chance to apply God’s Word to our lives, to pray for one another, and to care for each other in a deeper, more intentional way.
Who could you read with?
Someone of the same gender at church
A younger Christian you’d like to encourage
Someone older you look up to and want to learn from
Maybe you’re thinking: I could never do this. I’m not trained. I’m not a pastor. I’m not impressive. That’s OK! It’s really as simple as opening God’s Word and letting him speak. No preparation is necessary - though to help you, we’ve prepared a one-to-one Bible reading booklet and a short training video, available on our website here.
I’m convinced anyone can do this and as you do, you’ll be richly blessed as you grow closer to God and deeper with others.
At the end of the day, it’s as simple as just asking nine words:
“Would you like to read the Bible with me?”
Let’s do this together, church and let’s watch God work as we open the pages of his Word.
Grace and peace,
Paul