Reading together

There used to be just three people in our church reading through the Bible — now there are 150.

One older lady, a believer since her 20s, had attempted to read the Bible through for years and every time had given up. ‘Now, together with everyone else, I think I’m going to do it’, she said.

How did it happen?

I was putting the finishing touches to my first book, Bible Overview, when the idea for the RBT (Reading the Bible Together) groups came to me. Here I was writing a book about how the Bible was simple to read, able to be understood by anybody coming to Christ with the right attitude — but what about in practice? I raised the idea with the elders, we put it to the church and within weeks over 80 had signed up.

The idea is pretty simple. We divided everybody up into small groups — of around ten to 15. Each group has a leader, responsible for praying for the members of the group, and each month encouraging them on to read the book for that month.

Reading or listening

Once a month the groups meet — at different times through that week. We hold breakfast groups, evening groups, morning groups, etc. They are mixed and include pretty much everybody — from children in the church right through to the oldest. The youngest is ten, the oldest in the late 80s.

Before the meeting the idea is that everybody has either listened to the book of the Bible on CD or read it. There is a sheet with simple questions to fill in. Everybody comes together and shares what God has taught them from his word.

At the end of the first year we are more than a third of the way through the Bible.

Why we need help

Why do we need help to read the Bible? The Bible is about Jesus. It should be understood and enjoyed by every Christian and yet so many give up on reading it all — feeling it is just too hard. Are we missing something!

Partly yes. The Bible says, ‘Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom’ (Colossians 3.16).

We need to help each other. The Bible is written to be talked about. It grows. It is not bound.

At the end of the meeting of one group on 1 Samuel, a teenager who had recently come to Christ walked over to a lady who had terrible health problems. He stretched over and gently helped her up, saying, ‘What you had to say was just awesome. Such an encouragement’.

In one group on Leviticus, one of the group leaders shared that everybody turned up with pretty much blank answer sheets. Feeling this was going to be a bit of a disaster, they started. ‘It was one of the most encouraging meetings of all. As one person shared a little of what they had learnt, it was as if the lights came on. Everybody started to realise and then to share what God had been revealing to them in his word. It was the most wonderful in-depth study of all that Christ did for us on the cross. We probably would never have attempted Leviticus on our own — but look what we would have missed’.

We need to remind ourselves again what a wonderful thing the word of God is! Christians died so we could have it. Believers across the world and throughout history would have loved more than anything to have a complete Bible, not so that it would sit on a shelf and make us feel guilty but to pick it up and read the words of eternal life.

What about resources?

We provide a short introductory sheet. This simply points to how each book should be read and how Jesus is revealed in the book. It also reminds us that he is the key to understanding the text. We also look at where church is in each book — to help us apply what we read. A second sheet (to fill in) has eight questions which the Bible wants us to ask: what did I learn about Jesus, how was I encouraged and rebuked, etc.

Everyone is encouraged to simply hear what God is saying — so no sidetracking from the text.

For those who struggle to read, we read the book of the Bible onto CDs.

For those who are finding they need a bit more help, we provide additional notes (all the times the Bible quotes the particular book or when it is quoted — with a brief explanation). And we encourage people to sign up for the Bible Overview Course or to read Bible Overview*. John was our first book — we’ve just completed 2 Samuel — and everybody is already talking about what they’re reading.

Originally, around 80 signed up. The numbers have grown to a regular 150 and are increasing all the time.

And the results?

Scripture breaks the barriers down. We have found that the contributions of all ages bring a deep understanding of the Bible and increasing love and unity between the church family.

Our expectancy has also changed. In an elders meeting we praised a 14-year-old for his insightful contribution. His father replied, ‘It’s no good. He only read Galatians, Ephesians and half of Philippians. He didn’t touch Colossians and Thessalonians!’ Then he stopped and realised just what he’d said! For a boy who had never enjoyed reading, this was amazing!

We are more than a third of the way through the Bible — and it is true — it is sweeter than honey.

The Bible promises to give great experiences. It makes me understand myself.

It makes me understand the world. It is my light, my life, my hope, my guide, my joy. It shows me how to clean up the mess I make of my life at times. It gives advice in all circumstances. It gives me strength when I feel weak. It gives comfort. It makes sense of my suffering. It gives purpose to my existence. It saves my life. It makes me wise. It saves from my enemies. It makes me cry, and it is my delight. It makes me solid as a Christian. And it teaches me to praise — because it is all about Jesus. And I was worried Christians wouldn’t want to read it!

For more information on RBT groups or the Bible Overview course please contact: Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, the Kingsway, Swansea (http://www.mountpleasantchurch.org or 01792 412128).

* Bible Overview by Stephen Levy, published by Christian Focus.

A new way of getting people to get to grips with Scripture

How did it happen?

Reading or listening

Why we need help

What about resources?

And the results?

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