Why pastors should prioritize Bible engagement …
The single most beneficial thing pastors can do for their congregations is help them read and reflect on the Scriptures. Bible engagement is critical for spiritual health and growth. Bible reading coupled with reflection is the primary catalyst for developing mature Christians. In fact, Scripture reflection has twice the power of any other spiritual discipline to advance people in their love for God and others.
Bible reading and reflection on the biblical text are two distinct spiritual disciplines. Pastor, if you’re preaching about the importance of Bible reading and provisioning members of your congregation with a Bible reading plan, you’re not doing enough. Don’t assume that Bible reading will result in reflection on Scripture. Reflection must be taught, modelled and facilitated. The best way to facilitate reflection on Scripture is to equip your congregation with resources designed for this purpose.
So, what resources help people actively reflect on God’s Word? Not devotional books. Books with illustrations or stories tied to a text are not designed to help people chew on and suck the sustenance out of God’s Word. Scripture Union’s Bible Reading Guides are some of the best resources for Scripture reflection. Scripture Union’s Bible Reading Guides, published quarterly, take the reader through the Old and New Testaments in 4-5 years. They’re available for all ages. Uniquely, the reading guides are built on the Scripture Union Bible Reading Method™ – a methodology designed to help readers actively engage with the Scripture text, get caught up in it, receive it, and reenact it.
Bible reading, together with reflection on the Scriptures, results in strong Christians and healthy churches. According to the REVEAL study, 25 significant catalysts help people grow in the Christian faith. Of these catalysts, reading and reflecting on Scripture outstrips the other catalysts by a 75 percentile. Pastor, if you could choose only one thing to help your congregation grow spiritually, reflection on Scripture should be your number one choice.
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Summary
Pastors should prioritize Bible engagement because it’s essential for their congregations’ spiritual health and growth. Bible reading combined with reflection is the most effective way to develop mature Christians and deepen their love for God and others. While Bible reading is important, reflection on the Scriptures requires intentional teaching, modelling, and facilitation. Tools like Scripture Union’s Bible Reading Guides, designed for active engagement, can help congregants reflect meaningfully on God’s Word and foster strong, healthy faith.
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