Bible Reading Movement

This week at CtK Augusta we will talk about the importance of the Word in our church community.  In my current reading stack(see list below) I have come across the idea of creating a Bible reading movement within our local congregations over and over again in different formats. The book Trellis and the Vine says,

"Imagine if all Christians, as a normal part of their discipleship, were caught up in a web of regular Bible reading - not only digging into the word privately, but reading it with their children before bed, with their spouse over breakfast, with a non-Christian colleague at work once a week over lunch, with a new Christian for follow-up once a fortnight for mutual encouragement, and with a mature Christian friend once a month for mutual encouragement."  

This is not necessarily a program but a natural, simple movement that starts in our Sunday morning worship, flows out into our week creating Gospel liturgies forming grooves of truth into our lives that we so desperately need in a world that tries to rip us apart.  

The simple act of Bible reading begins and continually sets our hearts aright.  We are allowing the very words of God to inform our minds and to shape our hearts.  There is no way we can live the Christian life apart from this type of rhythm.  

 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.  - Hebrews 10:21-25

Part of my current reading stack: 

  • The Trellis and The Vine by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne
  • You are What You Love by James K.A. Smith
  • Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin