Transcript
Don’t get lost in reading Scripture just for the sake of reading it or because you think you should. Let God’s Word shape and mold your understanding and relationship with God, aligning your life to his revealed will.
Hi, I’m Christine Jolly, overseer of our Fellowship Groups here at Uni Fellowship. In this week’s Leadership Development video I’m going to discuss some practical tips to help you centre your life in God’s Word.
Most Christians understand that it is good to read God’s Word. Many even try to do it daily, developing a discipline of reading the Bible every morning or night or during a break in the middle of the day. Have you tried to read the Bible straight through from beginning to end but get a bit lost in Numbers or alarmed in Judges?
I firmly believe that every follower of Jesus, if they can, would benefit from reading all of God’s Word. Every word, sentence, idea is precious and God-breathed for our benefit, useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.
But how? What? When? Where and for how long should I read it?
Well, I’m going to present to you some different ways we can consume God’s Word, how we then process it and apply it, and finally how we can centre ourselves in his Word throughout the day.
Read - Why not read along with the rest of your church the book of the Bible you may be focusing on that month? Some books you can easily read in one 15 minute sitting. Reading good chunks of Scripture is an excellent approach to getting at the big picture and main themes that are being communicated. Too often we confine ourselves to the man-made headings or chapters. Push beyond that. After reading it in one translation, why not read the same Scripture in a different translation the next day. There are many apps or free online tools to read a variety of translations. I even sometimes read it in German if the english meanings become too familiar and I need a fresh perspective.
Listen - Listening to audio of God’s Word is another great way of consuming Scripture. You can record yourself reading it or use an audio version or app to listen to on the way to Uni on the bus or walking to work in the morning.
Write - For those who find it difficult to focus and are easily distracted when reading or listening, copying God’s Word by writing it out is a great way to zoom in and focus. You’ll pick up on things you didn’t notice before.
Memorise - If you do the first 3, you are well on your way to memorising God’s Word making it accessible to you every day. Break out of memorising your favourite, feel-good verses and internalise whole passages that magnify Jesus as the centre of God’s story. Returning to these portions of Scripture over and over again throughout your life is a great gift.
Now one day you might read it, the next in another translation, another day you might listen to it, and yet another you might write and during all that be memorising it. There’s not one set method or technique. Find one or two that works for you or use them all.
Now when we read it, how do we process what we read?
I like to ask myself four questions when reading a passage of Scripture.
Can I summarise the passage and main ideas in my own words
Do I have any big questions I need to examine? It might be time to put the Bible down and do some research. Ask your pastor, church small group leader, or Uni Fellowship staff if they can point you to some good, trusted resources to help with your questions.
How does this passage communicate the Bible’s message of good news in Jesus? Where does it fall on the timeline of God’s good news story? What does it tell me about God and how people respond to him?
What actions, pattern of thinking or beliefs or motivations do I need to change because of these words I’ve just read and what they reveal about God’s good will for his creation? Should I be Thankful, repent, respond to God in awe and wonder at his power and majesty
After we’ve read God’s Word and processed it, how can we internalise and centre our life on it?
How to centre your life on God’s Word
Pray - reflect back to God the words that you’ve read and respond to him your desire to align your actions, thoughts, beliefs and motivations to his Word
Discuss - and because we’re in communion not just with God but with other Christians, brothers and sisters in Christ, let the word of God shape and influence our own speech. Process God’s word in community. Encourage one another in it. Keep each other accountable.
Reflect - while you’re in line waiting for you your lunch or washing the dishes at the end of the day let your thought turn to God’s word again and again, praying, meditating, aligning yourself with God and his revealed will.
All you need is access to a Bible, whether a printed copy or a free online version. However, if you want to dig deeper into this ancient collection of God-breathed texts, we can recommend a whole range of resources to help you understand what you’re reading so you can know God, know his story of good news and how you can respond to it with your life.
There’s so much out there. We might recommend:
Online videos
Audio Apps
Creeds
Confessions
Catechisms
Commentaries
All can be useful tools to help you centre your life on God’s Word.
Why not begin this week:
Read John 1:1-15
Listen to it
Write it
Begin memorising it
Pray it
Discuss it with your Fellowship Group
And Reflect on it
Next week, Andy is going to help us understand what prayer is. Join us then. In the meantime, you can watch past Leadership Development videos to catch up.
At University Fellowship of Christians we are in a unique position to speak into the University realm of conversations and ideas and worldviews and point those who are questioning, confused by the world's lack of answers where authenticity becomes the ethical standard.
Christians and churches (both local and further afield) partnering with us in this important work makes a massive difference in young people's lives as staff and students are showing up and are here for these types of conversations.