RevWrites
The weekly blog from Northmead Anglican Church’s Senior Minister
(This is normally printed in the order of service each Sunday)
(Comments welcome – see below)
Christians know that personal Bible reading is important. Many Christians also know that personal Bible reading is often difficult. While some Christians have little or no trouble reading their Bible every day, that’s not my experience nor the experience of lot’s of fellow believers I talk to.
But you’d expect personal Bible reading to be difficult, surely? The three enemies of godliness – the world, the flesh and the devil – all conspire to prevent us knowing God better.
So, our society relentlessly pushes us to be involved in all manner of activities, mostly good, that take up too much of our time.
Our own sinful nature struggles against our new nature because knowing God better will mean change.
And the devil always wants people to know little about his enemy, so temptations will always be there to lead us away from good, regular personal Bible reading.
Furthermore, because there’s a clear link between personal Bible reading and church growth, you’d expect the devil to be interested in providing plenty of temptations to cause us not to read, wouldn’t you?
So, those of us who struggle, what can we do? Spend a fortune on a new Bible so we feel guilty if we don’t use it? Try yet another personal Bible reading plan?
Let’s put two big biblical ideas together. The first big idea we agree on – we need to listen to and learn God’s word. Second big idea I think we also agree on – God has put us together in this church. We are in fellowship with each other.
So, let’s read the Bible together. How can we do that when we live in different houses and have different lives, etc?
Well, the Senior Minister of St Paul’s Castle Hill might just come to our rescue. (He used to be an assistant minster here at NAC!) John has written a very simple personal Reading plan. OK, so nothing new here. But YouthWorks has printed it, really cheap!
Now, putting the two ideas together, what if those of us who struggle with personal Bible reading all read the same stuff and used the same plan? Then, come Sunday we could encourage each other by sharing what exciting things we’d found that week. We could encourage those in our small group the same way. Our fellowship, our community would help us with our personal Bible reading.
Better than that, there’s versions of the plan for children and for youth. So families could read together. They’re a community too, and could encourage each other. At least one family at NAC is already using it and going great guns.
I’ve spoken with one leading senior minister mate in our diocese who’s started using this plan and he said it is the best thing he’s ever done and it’s revolutionised his personal Bible reading.
I’m willing to give it a go. But for it to work for me, I need you to be on the same page, so to speak. Then, come Sunday morning, I need you to share what you’ve read the last week. And I need you to do that most Sundays.
Neil
