Engaging with the Bible: Practical Tips for Rejoicing

Summary

### Summary

Good morning, everyone! Today, we are kicking off a new series titled "How to Rejoice: Read the Bible." It's fascinating to note that 70% of Americans believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God, and that number is likely higher among us here today. The Bible is not just a book; it's a collection of 66 books written over 1,500 years by 40 different authors in three languages, yet it tells one coherent story. If we truly believe it is the inspired Word of God, then it holds immense value and relevance for our lives. It can answer our deepest questions, provide comfort, peace, hope, and guide us in our purpose and future.

However, despite this belief, only 16% of Americans read the Bible regularly. This gap is not due to a lack of access; we have more access to the Bible now than ever before. The issue is often that people don't know how to read it effectively. Many start at the beginning and get bogged down in Leviticus, or they use the "lucky dip" method, randomly opening the Bible and hoping for a meaningful verse. These methods can lead to confusion and frustration.

Today, I want to offer some practical tips to help you engage with the Bible more effectively. First, choose a translation that you understand. The Bible was originally written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, and has been translated into English by teams of scholars. It's important to read a translation, not a paraphrase, for accurate understanding. At Crosspoint, we often use the New Living Translation because it's readable and accurate.

Second, context is key. Understanding the context of the books and passages you read is crucial. I recommend reading whole books of the Bible rather than jumping around. For beginners, start with the Gospel of Luke, then Acts, and then Paul's letters in chronological order. Tools like the Bible Project can provide helpful context and summaries.

Lastly, read the Bible in larger chunks rather than one sentence at a time. The chapters and verses were added later for reference, but they can sometimes disrupt the flow and understanding of the text. Reading in larger sections helps you grasp the full message and narrative.

Next week, we'll dive into practical ways to apply what you read to your life. For now, let's commit to engaging with the Bible this week, as it is a powerful tool that can transform our lives.

### Key Takeaways

1. The Bible's Unique Composition and Coherence: The Bible is a collection of 66 books written over 1,500 years by 40 different authors in three languages, yet it tells one coherent story. This remarkable unity underscores its divine inspiration and relevance to our lives. If we truly believe it is the inspired Word of God, then it holds immense value and relevance for our lives, providing answers, comfort, peace, hope, and guidance. [24:54]

2. The Gap Between Belief and Practice: Despite 70% of Americans believing the Bible is the inspired Word of God, only 16% read it regularly. This gap is not due to a lack of access but often because people don't know how to read it effectively. Understanding this gap can motivate us to bridge it by learning how to engage with the Bible meaningfully. [26:37]

3. Choosing the Right Translation: It's crucial to pick a Bible translation that you understand. The Bible was originally written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, and has been translated into English by teams of scholars. Reading a translation, not a paraphrase, ensures accurate understanding. At Crosspoint, we often use the New Living Translation because it's readable and accurate. [37:05]

4. The Importance of Context: Understanding the context of the books and passages you read is crucial. Reading whole books of the Bible rather than jumping around helps you grasp the full message and narrative. Tools like the Bible Project can provide helpful context and summaries, making your reading more meaningful and less confusing. [42:11]

5. Reading in Larger Chunks: Reading the Bible in larger chunks rather than one sentence at a time helps you understand the full message and narrative. The chapters and verses were added later for reference, but they can sometimes disrupt the flow and understanding of the text. Reading in larger sections helps you grasp the full message and narrative. [50:03]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[0:15] - Introduction to the Series
[1:00] - The Bible's Unique Composition
[2:30] - The Bible's Relevance and Power
[4:00] - The Gap Between Belief and Practice
[6:00] - Historical Access to the Bible
[8:00] - Common Struggles in Reading the Bible
[10:00] - Ineffective Methods: Starting at the Beginning
[12:00] - Ineffective Methods: The Lucky Dip
[14:00] - Practical Tips: Choosing a Translation
[16:00] - Practical Tips: Understanding Context
[18:00] - Practical Tips: Reading in Larger Chunks
[20:00] - Tools and Resources
[22:00] - Recap and Encouragement
[24:00] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Hebrews 4:12 - "For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires."
2. Psalm 119:105 - "Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path."
3. 1 Peter 1:23 - "For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God."

#### Observation Questions
1. According to Hebrews 4:12, what are some characteristics of the Word of God? How does it function in our lives?
2. In Psalm 119:105, what metaphor is used to describe the Word of God? What does this metaphor suggest about its role in our lives?
3. What does 1 Peter 1:23 say about the nature of the Word of God? How does it compare to perishable things?
4. The sermon mentioned that only 16% of Americans read the Bible regularly despite 70% believing it is the inspired Word of God. What reasons were given for this gap? [26:37]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does understanding the Bible as "alive and powerful" (Hebrews 4:12) change the way we approach reading it?
2. What might it look like in practical terms for the Word of God to be a "lamp to guide my feet" in your daily life (Psalm 119:105)?
3. In what ways does the concept of the Word of God being "imperishable" (1 Peter 1:23) provide comfort or assurance in your faith journey?
4. The sermon emphasized the importance of choosing a Bible translation that you understand. Why is this important, and how might it affect your engagement with Scripture? [37:05]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current Bible reading habits. Do you find yourself reading in small segments or larger chunks? How might reading in larger sections enhance your understanding and engagement with the text? [50:03]
2. Have you ever struggled with understanding the context of a Bible passage? What steps can you take to improve your understanding of the context, such as using tools like the Bible Project? [42:11]
3. Think about the translation of the Bible you currently use. Is it one that you find easy to understand? If not, what steps can you take to find a translation that better suits your comprehension? [37:05]
4. The sermon mentioned the "lucky dip" method of reading the Bible. Have you ever used this method, and what was your experience? How can you develop a more structured approach to Bible reading? [33:48]
5. The pastor shared that many people give up reading the Bible when they reach difficult sections like Leviticus. Have you experienced this? What strategies can you implement to persevere through challenging parts of Scripture? [31:57]
6. How can you make time in your daily schedule to read the Bible for at least 15 minutes a day? What changes might you need to make to prioritize this practice? [50:03]
7. The sermon highlighted the power of the Word of God to transform lives. Can you recall a time when reading the Bible had a significant impact on you? How can you share this experience to encourage others to engage with Scripture? [54:44]

Devotional

Day 1: The Bible's Divine Unity and Relevance
The Bible is a unique collection of 66 books written over 1,500 years by 40 different authors in three languages, yet it tells one coherent story. This remarkable unity underscores its divine inspiration and relevance to our lives. If we truly believe it is the inspired Word of God, then it holds immense value and relevance for our lives, providing answers, comfort, peace, hope, and guidance. The Bible's coherence and unity are not just historical facts but spiritual truths that can transform our lives if we engage with it meaningfully.

Understanding the Bible's divine unity helps us see the bigger picture of God's plan for humanity. It shows us that despite the diversity of its authors and the span of time over which it was written, the Bible consistently points to God's love, redemption, and purpose for our lives. This unity is a testament to its divine inspiration and a reminder that every part of the Bible is interconnected and relevant to our lives today. [24:54]

Ephesians 1:9-10 (ESV): "Making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth."

Reflection: How does understanding the Bible's unity and divine inspiration change the way you approach reading it? Can you identify a specific area in your life where you need God's guidance and look for answers in the Bible this week?

Day 2: Bridging the Gap Between Belief and Practice
Despite 70% of Americans believing the Bible is the inspired Word of God, only 16% read it regularly. This gap is not due to a lack of access but often because people don't know how to read it effectively. Understanding this gap can motivate us to bridge it by learning how to engage with the Bible meaningfully. Many people struggle with where to start or how to make sense of what they read, leading to frustration and a lack of consistent Bible reading habits.

Bridging this gap requires intentionality and practical steps. By choosing a translation that is understandable, reading in context, and approaching the Bible with a plan, we can move from merely believing in the Bible's importance to experiencing its transformative power in our daily lives. Recognizing the gap between belief and practice is the first step towards a more meaningful and consistent engagement with God's Word. [26:37]

James 1:22 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."

Reflection: What are some practical steps you can take this week to move from believing in the Bible's importance to regularly reading and applying it in your life? Can you set a specific time each day to read and reflect on a passage?

Day 3: Choosing the Right Translation
It's crucial to pick a Bible translation that you understand. The Bible was originally written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, and has been translated into English by teams of scholars. Reading a translation, not a paraphrase, ensures accurate understanding. At Crosspoint, we often use the New Living Translation because it's readable and accurate. Choosing the right translation can make a significant difference in how we comprehend and apply God's Word in our lives.

A good translation balances readability with accuracy, helping us grasp the original meaning of the text while making it accessible for modern readers. It's important to avoid paraphrases for serious study, as they can sometimes oversimplify or misinterpret the original message. By selecting a reliable translation, we can engage with the Bible more effectively and deepen our understanding of God's Word. [37:05]

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV): "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."

Reflection: Have you been using a Bible translation that you find difficult to understand? Consider exploring a different translation this week, such as the New Living Translation, and reflect on how it changes your reading experience.

Day 4: The Importance of Context
Understanding the context of the books and passages you read is crucial. Reading whole books of the Bible rather than jumping around helps you grasp the full message and narrative. Tools like the Bible Project can provide helpful context and summaries, making your reading more meaningful and less confusing. Context includes historical background, literary genre, and the overall message of the book, all of which contribute to a deeper understanding of the text.

Reading in context prevents misinterpretation and helps us see the Bible as a cohesive story rather than a collection of isolated verses. It allows us to appreciate the richness and depth of God's Word and how each part fits into the larger narrative of redemption. By investing time in understanding the context, we can unlock the full potential of the Bible's transformative power in our lives. [42:11]

Nehemiah 8:8 (ESV): "They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading."

Reflection: Think about a passage or book of the Bible that you find challenging to understand. How can you use resources like the Bible Project to gain better context and clarity this week?

Day 5: Reading in Larger Chunks
Reading the Bible in larger chunks rather than one sentence at a time helps you understand the full message and narrative. The chapters and verses were added later for reference, but they can sometimes disrupt the flow and understanding of the text. Reading in larger sections helps you grasp the full message and narrative. This approach allows us to see the broader themes and connections within the Bible, making our reading more impactful and coherent.

By reading larger portions, we can avoid taking verses out of context and gain a more comprehensive understanding of God's Word. This method also helps us develop a habit of consistent and meaningful Bible reading, as we immerse ourselves in the story and message of the Scriptures. Committing to read larger chunks can transform our Bible study experience and deepen our relationship with God. [50:03]

Acts 17:11 (ESV): "Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so."

Reflection: Can you commit to reading a whole chapter or book of the Bible this week instead of just a few verses? Reflect on how this approach changes your understanding and engagement with God's Word.

Quotes

1. "Think about the implications of that for a second. This isn't just a book, which it's not just a book anyway, right? Um, this is 66 books written in three different languages across 1500 years by 40 different authors. And it still tells one coherent story. That's incredible. But if this isn't just that, if this is the inspired word of God, then the implication is that the things in it are true. That it is, it is applicable to our lives. That this book can, can impact our lives daily." [24:54] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "It can answer, answer some of the most difficult questions that we face, that it could speak to where we can find comfort, where we can find value, where we can find peace, how we can find hope. It can speak to our purpose. It can speak to our future. It, it can define so many things for us. I mean, the Bible speaks about the power of the word of God. And that's what we believe this is. The inspired word of God." [25:30] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "And yet that same study that said that 70% of Americans believe that this is the inspired word of God, that same study saw that only 16% of Americans read it regularly. And that's not daily. It's just a few times a week regularly that they would open the word of God. Think about that gap. I mean, if this is the word of God, why would we not be reading it? Why would we not read the Bible?" [26:37] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "During my last 12 years of ministry, I have talked a lot about the importance of reading the Bible. I have spoken to middle schoolers on it. I've spoken on it in here and I have talked to, it feels like every one from sixth graders through people that are well beyond sixth grade about why they struggle to read the Bible. And what's interesting is whether they are well beyond sixth grade or in sixth grade, the conversation goes about the same, right? I hear the same things back. Well, I tried. It was kind of boring, right? It was really confusing. I tried but I just didn't feel like I was getting anything out of it. I didn't know where to start." [28:34] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "If you're reading the Bible, I am thrilled that you are reading the Bible. I'm trying to give some practical tips that will help people start to engage in God's word. All right. The other thing is I do have some practical tips that will help some resources that I'm going to reference through this. They are all available in the message notes today. So if you go to the cross point Cape app and open that bad boy up, uh, one of the, I think it's the second category. The second button is message notes. If you click on that, it has all the resources I'm going to reference, uh, linked in there. And so, uh, these are really, really helpful things." [35:36] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Pick a translation that you understand. People really struggle with the translations thing. How do we get them? Why are there more than one? How did this happen? So the Bible was originally written in three different languages. I told you, but, uh, it's biblical Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic. I don't speak any of them. I don't know. Maybe you do, but I need the Bible in English. That's the one I speak. That's the one I understand." [37:05] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Context is key. Context is key. Context is key. This is part of the reason that the lucky dip method is not a very good method of reading scripture. Because when we hop into random places, we don't even know who he is in the sentence necessarily. Is he God? Is he Jesus? Is he David? Is he Paul? Is he King Herod? Who is he in this sentence, right? Context. It matters. It's a big deal. So I would really encourage you to read whole books of the Bible, all right?" [40:23] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Read the Bible in some larger chunks, to really dive into these letters and these stories in a way that makes sense and that lines up with how they were written to be engaged with, right? These authors assumed that when people would read their letters, they would read the Bible in some larger chunks. And so, I want to read their whole letter. That's just what would make sense." [50:03] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "This is the inspired Word of God. And it is powerful. It is a powerful, powerful, powerful, powerful, powerful, powerful, and it is an incredible gift that any time that we want to, day or night, we can open the Bible and read the Word of God, guys. The Word of God. Truth for all time. Truth for all situations. Truth that applies to us thousands of years later. Truth that is beyond anything that we have access to. We have access to this. And it's never been easier. And so this week, read the Bible. It is a powerful, powerful tool for us." [54:44] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?