If you’re anything like me, one of the things that limits the enthusiasm you put into encouraging regular Bible reading is the state of your own Bible reading efforts. It’s something we all struggle with at some point, and often ends up with us wallowing in guilty feelings rather than coming up with a new strategy.
Just do it—as Nike’s adverts annoyingly told us a while back. Set yourself a time which you can fully commit to reading your Bible and praying most days. Make sure you have daily Bible notes or a reading plan—it’s much easier to jump into it every day if you’ve got a plan laid out. And if you miss a few days, or weeks, or even months, don’t wallow! Pick up where you left off, and get stuck in again. If your last Bible notes or reading plan weren’t your cup of tea, try something else.
Once we start reaping the benefits of regularly reading the Bible, it’s so much easier to encourage children and young people to do the same. Then we can start creating a culture of Bible reading within the Sunday School class, kid’s club or youth group. Encourage them to bring Bibles along to meetings, so that they expect to be reading the Bible. Show them that reading God’s word is normal and natural for young Christians. If any of them don’t have Bibles, give them one!
It’s obvious, I know, but we can be guilty of expecting unchurched kids to fit straight into our churchy ways, without meeting them half way. So you might want to give them a crash course on the Bible: what it is, who wrote it, what’s in it, how to find different books, the big picture etc. You could do a short Bible overview spanning a few weeks. And when you mention Bible passages or verses, get them to turn to them (and read them out loud), so they get used to handling the Bible and reading it for themselves.
If we take the alien-ness out of the Bible, it becomes a normal practice to turn to God’s Word, not a last resort.
Overhearing children or teens talking about the Bible is one of those rare treats—the great realisation that they’re reading it for themselves, plundering God’s Word, and it’s having an impact on their lives and their friends’ lives. We can spend so much of our time teaching and talking about the Bible with them, yet we’re surprised when they take it in and start delving into it by themselves. We sometimes forget the power of God’s awesome word, and the work of the Holy Spirit in opening up the Bible to them.
Perhaps we’re even guilty of not expecting them to read the Bible for themselves at all. There can be the assumption that young people hardly read books anymore, so they’re not going to open up a dusty old Bible. And because we don’t expect them to get stuck into the Bible, we don’t encourage it as much as we could. Let’s not sell God’s Word short.
If our heart’s desire is to bring children and young people to know Christ and to live for Him, then we need to employ the best home tutor we have available—the Bible itself. Let's strive to get them into the habit of reading the Bible for themselves—it’s the best teacher they’ll ever encounter. Over the next few days on the blog we're going to be encouraging each other to do just this.
Need any further reasons? Well, it pleases God, as they get to grips with the word of truth (2 Timothy 2 v 15); they need it for growth, just as a baby craves its mother’s milk (1 Peter 2 v 2); it aids their discernment of spiritual truth (Acts 17 v 11); and will build their knowledge and understanding (Psalm 119 v 130); so they can share their faith more effectively (1 Peter 3 v 15); and it helps them to fight against sin (Psalm 119 v 11).
So what are we waiting for?
Classic moment at my class for 3-7 year olds last Sunday. We were explaining about Jesus clearing the Temple, and saying: "this is a house of prayer". My friend Tom, leading , asks a brilliant question: "What is prayer?"
Big smile (minus front teeth) from 7-year old Grace with an eager hand in the air. "It's the quickest way to get a message through to God"
Fabulous answer from left of field, which was meant as simply as it was said. And over coffee in the church lounge afterwards our conversation turned to the alternative. If prayer is the quickest way, what are some of the "less quick" ways we try. I could think of at least three:
Thanks Grace for a brilliant answer, and a timely reminder that I should always take the quickest route when I need to get a message through to God.
Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
(1 Corinthians 10 v 31)
If you're anything like me you'll be spending at least part of your weekend taking in the sights and sounds of the various social-networking sites. Between Facebook, Twitter, Google-plus and the blogs, there will be moments that amuse, a few that inspire, the odd one that makes us think... and the inevitable gaggle that shock, dismay, offend or simply make us shiver at their inappropriateness.
Words are powerful - they can build up others (Ephesians 4: 29) or they can wreak great evil (James 3:5-6). And, as such, should never be typed lightly. But how often do we, as Christians, sit and think about the effect our posts and status updates have on those around us?
Earlier this week, local pastor, Gavin McGrath wrote an interesting article calling for a return to modesty on social networking sites.
Earlier this month another minister, Mark Meynell helpfully suggested that before we post our thoughts on the internet we need:
They're principles worth pondering as we engage in the very public world of cyberspace.
Or maybe next time we log on, we should simply discipline ourselves to read a spot of Colossians 3 before we begin to type:
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
There are lots of books around that give us good ways of answering tough questions. In Confident Christianity, Chris Sinkinson takes us to the next level. This thoughtful and exciting race through archeology, philosophy, science and more shows how the Christian faith stands up under heavy fire. It will not only give you greater confidence in speaking about Christ to others. It will help you stand firmer in your faith, knowing that the Bible and the Gospel are built on solid rock, not sinking sand.
Confident Christianity is for you and Good Question is perfect to give away
At checkout enter the discount code 'confident' or 'question'.
The Command of 1 Peter 3 v 15-16 seems reasonable enough:
always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you…
But the reality, at least for me is always a little more flustered. My problem is that often I have too many answers - attacking the question from different sides! Where do I start?
That's where Chris Sinkinson's latest book is a real God-send (via IVP!). Confident Christianity is a breezy survey of the many faces of apologetics that makes real sense of all the competing approaches that we are offered. The concise chapters look at and compares the various merits of different approaches to how we answer questions, and applies them to some key questions that are raised.
I loved the helpful chapters overviewing Philosophy, Archaeology and "presuppositional apologetics". It put together for me (for the first time), the different ways these arguments can be helpful, and, crucially, when they are best deployed. The tone throughout is not judgmental over any particular approach, but seeks to ark the thinking Christian with a better understanding of how arguments work, and how to use them to lead people to Christ. It is robust and scholarly, but very accessible and applied.
And Chris understands the limits of apologetics. Because no-one can ever be argued into the Kingdom of God. But careful and caring answers are of real value in removing roadblocks to faith, in our own lives as well as in others. A right rivetting read. Check back later for a great deal ...
The story about doctors giving abortions on the basis of gender, “no questions asked”, must be one of the saddest news items of recent years. Let’s be thankful it has come to light, and is being dealt with.
But there’s something illogical about the outcry, too. If an unborn baby girl has the right to life, then surely surely any unborn baby does—whether the sex is known or not, whether the baby is a girl or a boy.
It seems strange to accept you can terminate because you are upset at the prospect of having a baby—but not because you are upset at the prospect of having a baby who happens to be a girl.
And just another thought… in the UK you can opt to find out the gender of your child when he/she is 20 weeks old. You can opt to terminate a pregnancy up to 24 weeks. Which means you can easily abort a girl you don’t want—you simply have to say it’s for social reasons, not sexist ones.
Let’s pray that this news story means no baby loses their life ever again in the UK simply because they’re of an unwanted gender. But let’s also pray that no baby loses their life again in the UK for any other reason. And let’s pray that women, and men, who find themselves in difficult, unplanned situations receive the help and love they need—and that women, and men, who look back at difficult decisions they wouldn’t take now accept and appreciate the forgiveness that Jesus offers all of us.
For some more in depth biblical reflection on the issue of abortion, scroll down a few blogs and see last week's series ...
