Right now, we’re reading Ephesians—a small, positive, powerful little book.  So, to all of our reading partners, I’m suggesting that we approach it like talking with a friend.  (Most of us know how to do that.)

Some people are not sure how or what to do when reading the Bible.  For them, it's a massive (and maybe overwhelming or intimidating) book.  “Where do I start?”   So, I’m making a suggestion:  Just treat it like a friend.  And I'm offering very specific ideas for how to do that.

Some other people don’t want to be told how to read anything, let alone the Bible.  “I’ve been reading the Bible all my life—I don’t need somebody telling me how to read!”  Fine with me!  Like I said, I’m not telling anyone what you’re required to do.  I’m just making a suggestion.  Try approaching the Bible like you approach a friend who has something s/he wants to tell you.  Just try listening for a while, and don’t be so insistent in “well, what do I get out of this!”   A friend doesn't act so selfishly.  A friend knows that you get more from giving than demanding.  

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Reading the Bible is not a panacea . . .
it won’t pay your bills
or grab you by the shoulder and say,
“Hey, get out o’ bed!” 

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Maybe you are neither of these people above.  Wherever you’re coming from, I’m just trying to help you pick up your Bible and read it.  Why?  Because I know for a fact that it can help you

• find God,
• discover purpose and meaning and joy and love,
• be a better person,
• be more productive,
• overcome your weaknesses,
• reach out to others,
• and many more things just like that. 

Is reading the Bible a panacea?  Of course not.  That’s not what I said.  Reading the Bible won’t pay your bills or grab you by the shoulder and say, “Hey, get out o’ bed!” 

Even so, reading the Bible sensibly can help you get in touch with the fact that you’re not alone in the world.  It can help you discover that, despite all of your doubts and fears and failures (and yes, even those failures that neither you nor others will let go of!) there is hope even for you (even though—way down deep—you doubt it).  The Bible can be your friend.

My question is, do you treat it like one friend treats another?

Gary
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Institute for the Art of Biblical Conversation (IABC)
In pursuit of responsible, contextual, and conversational biblical text study