Why read the Bible?

Foundations

Read

¹⁴But you remain in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them. ¹⁵From infancy, you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:14–17

Think

The Bible is a library of sixty-six books, written by around forty authors over more than a thousand years, in three languages. Yet it tells one story: God’s rescue of the world through Jesus.

Christians believe the Bible is “God-breathed”. God spoke through human authors, with their own personalities and styles, so that what they wrote is what he wanted to say. That’s why we trust it, and why we read it humbly.

Reading the Bible isn’t only about information. Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” It feeds us.

Find a time and place that works for you. Use a reading plan. Read with others. And when you don’t understand, ask; that’s what the church is for.

Talk it over

What has put you off reading the Bible in the past?
According to 2 Timothy 3, what is the Bible for?
When in your day could you read for ten minutes?

Learn by heart

Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness,
2 Timothy 3:16

Learn this verse

This week

Choose a reading plan and read five days out of seven this week.

Pray

Lord, as I read your word, speak to me. Give me a hunger for it.