Reading the Bible - some questions to ask

How do you read the Bible?  There is a danger that we read the Bible like we read a newspaper article or novel, skimming over it without stopping to interrogate the text or think about what it is teaching us.  Whilst reading the Bible like that will still do us good, there is a better way; ask questions of the Bible.  But what sort of questions?  Here are some we gave out at church the Sunday before last as we prepared to read the Bible together:

1. What surprises you or haven’t you spotted before?
2. What don't you understand?
3. What is the big story of the passage?
4. What does it tell us about God?
5. What does it tell us about his plan of salvation?
6. What has just happened and is about to happen (context)?
7. So what difference should this make to us?

Its also helpful to have a notebook where you can scribble down your answers.

Reading the Bible together

As a church we are trying to read more of the Bible together, it flows out of two things: 1. Conviction after preparing and preaching Acts 2 that we do not spend enough time reading the Bible together and 2. Reading in The Briefing the statistics that the average morning Bible reading is 15 verses which means you cover 2.5% of the bible in a year.  Taking a staggering 40 years to read the whole Bible if you never repeat verses!  Which means most ministers never do it in their ministry shelf life!

As a result we are going to be trying to read an overview of the Bible by reading a chapter a week.  It has been quite difficult to whittle it down to 52 readings; we don't read Gen 2 which is so foundational to marriage, we miss out on Job and Proverbs altogether, the majestic Romans 8 and Philippians 2 are also missing.  What I have tried to do in devising this is stick to the Bibles big storyline.

Wk	OT Reading	Wk	NT Reading
1	Genesis 1:1-2:3	27	John 1
2	Genesis 3	28	Matthew 4
3	Genesis 12	29	Matthew 5
4	Genesis 22	30	Mark 4
5	Exodus 12	31	Mark 8
6	Exodus 20	32	Luke 15
7	Numbers 14	33	John 11
8	Joshua 23	34	Luke 22
9	Judges 2	35	Matthew 27
10	1 Samuel 8	36	John 20
11	1 Samuel 16	37	Acts 1
12	2 Samuel 7	38	Acts 2
13	Psalm 2	39	Acts 10
14	Psalm 22	40	Acts 13
15	1 Kings 8	41	Acts 15
16	1 Kings 11	42	Romans 3
17	1 Kings 18	43	1 Corinthians 12-13
18	Isaiah 9	44	Galatians 2
19	Isaiah 53	45	1 Thessalonians 4
20	Jeremiah 25	46	James 1
21	Daniel 6	47	1 John 3-4
22	Ezekiel 34	48	Revelation 1
23	2 Chronicles 36	49	Revelation 4-5
24	Ezra 1	50	Revelation 7
25	Nehemiah 8	51	Revelation 21
26	Malachi 3-4	52	Revelation 22

Obviously each reading will need to be introduced and quickly set in its context, but I think the bigger challenge with this will be read it in a way that is engaging. That may mean using different people to play the role of different characters, it will certainly involve reading it more dynamically than we so often read the Bible. But it comes from the conviction that all scripture is God breathed and profitable. And I pray that as we read and get a bit more of God's word into our hearts and minds that God will be speaking to his expectant and reliant people.

E 100 Bible Readings

I mentioned on Sunday morning the E 100 Bible reading Challenge and said I'd link to a downloadable version, here it is: http://e100.scriptureunion.org.uk/files/E100_planner.pdf

Is Reading the Bible a lost art?

I'm thinking of having two readings in services this year, one being the passage we will look at in the bible talk and the other being part of a big overview of the bible which is simply read and not commented on.  This is in part because of a conviction that we read relatively little of the bible in our services but it is the inspired and infallible bit in the service.  Yet interestingly some people have reacted with a weary shrug of the shoulders to such an idea, I wonder if that's because we aren't very good at reading the bible out loud.

I've come across an article in the briefing which helps us think about reading the bible aloud and how to prepare to do so so that it is engaging and alive, there is also on on-line interview and example of the Bible being read: http://matthiasmedia.com/briefing/2011/10/how-to-read-the-bible-aloud/
 

Reading the Bible Differently

The 1st of January is always an opportunity for us to think about reading the Bible, making a new resolution to get into God's word every day.  In light of that this year I'm going to try listening to the bible as well as reading it.  Here is a video showing what I'm going to be using to help me see and hear the bible afresh.

Getting Ready for a New Year

Last year I did the E 100 Bible Reading challenge http://www.e100challenge.org.uk/ and found it really helpful as a way of getting a bible overview and of doing 1-2-1's.  Next year we are going to try it with the boys using the Big Bible Challenge which you can take a sneak peak at here: https://www.scriptureunion.org.uk/publications/books/bigbiblechallenge/index.html

Though amazon is the cheapest place to order it from at the moment, you can click to it through my sidebar.

Starting the year off right

The Good Book company have some Bible reading notes for individuals and families at half price now. Why not prepare for your new years resolution at half price. http://www.thegoodbook.co.uk/specialdeals/

Bible overview final weeks readings

1. Revelation 1
1. What does this chapter tell us about God?
2. What does it tell us about people?
3. Revelation is written as a comfort and encouragement to God’s people facing uncertain times. What is there here that provides comfort and encouragement?

2. Revelation 4
1. What is John being allowed to see?
2. Why is God worshipped and how?
3. What here is there that you can use to help you worship God today?

3. Revelation 5
1. Who worships whom and why?
2. What does this teach us about who the Lamb is?
3. God is on the throne, the lamb has won and secured this future for his people – how will you respond to that?

4. Revelation 21
1. What is the believer’s future?
2. What are the defining marks of the new creation?
3. What is the key to the new creation?
4. How will knowing this is your future secured for you in Christ shape the way you live your life as worship?

Readings for next week in Bible Overview

1. Jeremiah 7
1. What are Israel relying on?
2. What does God require of Israel is they are not to be carried off into exile?
3. What disgusts God about Israel’s behaviour?
4. What does this chapter teach us about worship?

2. Jeremiah 31:31-40
1. What is God’s promise?
2. List the benefits of the New Covenant?
3. How is it different from the Old Covenant?
4. What does it mean for us to be under the New Covenant? Praise God for those things now.

3.Amos 5:18-27
1. What shouldn’t Israel long for and why?
2. How does God feel about their ‘worship’?
3. What would God rather have? How does this help us understand what worshipping God really is?
4. Examine your own worship; am I in danger of going through the motions? Do I do worship on Sunday but not during the week? Is worship The activity of my life or an activity in it?

4. Malachi 2:17-3:5
1. What is the question Israel ask of God?
2. What is God’s answer (note: look for the two comings)?
3. What will the Lord do when he comes to his temple?
4. How does this help us understand what Jesus comes to do?

Bible Overview Readings

Here are the 4 readings that go with teh Bible overview for next week.

1. Deuteronomy 17:14-20
1. What are the requirements God sets for a king?
2. What is the job of the King?
3. What is the promise that comes with obedience?

2. 1 Samuel 8
1. If God has set the pattern for kingship, why is it wrong for Israel to ask for a king here?
2. As God reviews Israel’s history what is his conclusion about Israel (v7-9)?
3. How would you describes Israel’s attitude to God?
4. What does this chapter teach us about God, worship and the human heart?

3. 1 Samuel 16:1-13
1. What is God’s concern as he looks for a king?
2. What does God provide for David, how does this help him rule (c/f Psalm 51)?
3. Yet even David was not perfect, Read 1 Sam 11, what causes David to fail?
4. What lessons can we learn from the life of David about worship?

4. 2 Chronicles 36:15-23
1. How is God’s grace to his people seen?
2. “God is faithful to his word, even when we would rather he wasn’t”, how is this seen here?
3. How serious is not worshipping God rightly? What ought this to teach us?
The book ends with a note of hope, as Cyrus allows the people to return. God is not finished with his plan yet.

Bible Readings for next week

1. Joshua 1
1. What does God call Joshua to do? What promises does he give him as he does so?
2. What phrase is repeated in this chapter? What do you think it looked like in practice?
3. How is worship seen in this chapter?

2. Joshua 24
1. In Joshua’s recounting of Israel’s history what stands out about God and the people?
2. Joshua calls them to fear God and serve him with all faithfulness, what does that mean they give up and what do they replace it with?
3. Why do you think Joshua initially says they cannot serve God (v19-20)?
4. What does this chapter teach us about us, God and worship?

3. Judges 2:1-19
1. What recurring pattern does this summary of the book set up?
2. What is the purpose of the judges?
3. What does this chapter teach about the hearts of Israel and the grace and love of God?

4. Ruth
1. Read through the book – what do you see of the character of Ruth and Boaz?
2. How is Boaz worship of God seen practically in the way he acts?
3. What is the purpose of the genealogy in v18-22? (c/f Matthew 1) What does it show us about the place of the Gentiles and God’s promise to bless all nations?

Bible overview readings for next week

1. Gen 50
1. On what basis did the Patriarchs worship God?
2. How far has God fulfilled the Quad promise he has made to Abraham at this point?
3. How is worship seen in Joseph’s final words? What similar promises do we have about our future?

2. Exodus 3
1. List the ways Moses responds to God in this chapter. What do we learn about his character?
2. How does God reveal himself and what does this mean?
3. What is God’s purpose in bringing Israel out of Egypt? (esp. v12, 18)
4. What does this chapter teach us about God and about worship?

3. Exodus 20
1. Why is the law given? (c/f 19:3-8, Deut 5:1-4)
2. Looking at the commandments they cover most of life. What does that tell us about true worship?
3. Read Ex 32 – What do we learn about the people, the law, worship and God?

4. Deuteronomy 6
1. How is worship defined in Deuteronomy? (c/f 11:1, 8, 13, 22, 26-8)
2. How is worship to be learned?
3. What does this look like practically today? What changes does it mean making to our priorities and diaries?

Readings for next week in Bible Overview

I've spent some time this week putting together readings to accompany the series we are doing on Sunday mornings. I've decided to do 4 a week and include questions with them to start people thinking about the material we'll cover on Sundays.

1. Gen 4
1. Why does God reject Cain’s offering? (I John 3:10-15, Heb 11:4, Jude 11)
2. What do we learn about worship, and about God, from Genesis 4?
3. How in Genesis 4 is worship seen to be the activity of life rather than just an activity in it. How does my life stand up to this? Pray about it, ask God to by his Spirit help you change?

2. Gen 12
1. What is the cause of Abram’s worship of God? (12:1-9, Acts 7:2-3, Joshua 24:2-3)
2. How like us is Abram and why?

3. Gen 22
1. What does this incident teach us about worship? (Heb 11:17-19)
2. “the faithful worshipper, will obediently surrender to God whatever he asks, trusting in God’s promises of provision and blessing” How is Abram exercising faith here?
3. What things would be hardest for God to ask of us? Examine your heart are they an idol? Pray about this.

4. Gen 39
1. How is Joseph’s worship of God seen here? What practical actions does it result in?
2. What is his ‘reward’ for his worship of God?
3. (v2, 23) What hope is there in the despair? How does that affect Joseph? What similar hope do we have, and how ought it to effect us? Does it?

The Battle for Worship Begins

Bible Readings to accompany Bible Overview series - week 2:

Day 1: Genesis 2 (Recap)
1. How is Adam and Eve's worship described?

2. Why is marriage given? How should that affect our marriages and thoughts about marriage?

3. Worship is not an activity in our life but the activity of our lives. How will that change your thinking, actions and living this week?

Day 2: Genesis 3
1. How does Satan subvert worship?

2. What are the consequences of wrong worship for Adam and Eve?

3. What would it have looked like for Adam and Eve to have worshipped God rightly in Genesis 3?

Day 3: Genesis 4
1. Why does God reject Cain's offering? (1 John 3:10-15, Heb 11:4, Jude 11)

2. What does Genesis 4 teach us about worship and God?

Day 4: Genesis 5
1. Why do you think the genealogy is included?

2. What does the character of Enoch teach us about right worship?

3. What does it mean to walk faithfully with the Lord?

Day 5: Genesis 6-9 (part 1)
1. What is emphasised about Noah in contrast to the rest of humanity?

2. What is the context of Noah's relationship with God (6:8)?

3. Is sin serious? How is it seen?

Day 6: Genesis 11 (part 2)

1. What is emphasized about the building materials(v3)?

2. What does the incident at Babel tell us about man and his worship?

3. Sin is failure to worship God, how does this failure keep repeating itself?

Day 7: Review
1. What does Genesis 3-11 teach us about sin? How does that apply to us today?

2. God has shown tremendous grace to mankind despite its failure to worship and ruin of creation. List all the instances of grace.

3. "The God of the Old Testament is vengeful and judgemental, whereas in the New Testament we see a loving and gracious God." How would you use Genesis 3-11 to counter such a wrong view?