Cultivating Bible engagement …
The challenge of Bible engagement.
Many pastors urge their congregations to read/hear the Bible personally. Many local churches freely offer Bible reading plans or daily devotional books. Now and again, churches have special events (e.g. Bible Sunday) to encourage individuals to get into the Word. Yet despite what’s being done to boost regular engagement with the Bible, most Christians only read/hear the Bible in a Sunday service.
So, what can we do to ramp up Bible engagement?
The importance of oral preference learning.
First, we should recognize that 80% of people worldwide are oral preference learners. That means, regardless of education or background, most people learn and absorb information not through literate means but through oral methods of storytelling, drama or song. The implications are critical: If most people aren’t wired to engage with the Bible through literate means, urging them to focus mainly on reading or studying it will be counterproductive. However, using oral preference approaches, like group discussions or acting out a Bible story, strengthens Bible engagement.
The role of self-discipline.
Another consideration is self-discipline. It’s one of the 20% of skills that contributes 80% of results. In fact, self-discipline is a vital personal attribute needed for Bible engagement. It’s vital because self-discipline directs a person internally rather than externally. When external factors motivate Bible engagement, it’s more likely to fizzle out, but when internal motivation drives it, it’s more likely to be sustained. Unfortunately, self-discipline is something of a Cinderella value today. People are generally inclined to go with the flow rather than develop habits that rule their lives. So, we must figure out how to actively help each other cultivate Bible engagement habits.
Communal Bible engagement.
We should also pay attention to communal Bible engagement. The Scriptures emphasize Bible engagement as “we with the Word” more than “me with the Word.” When people get together to focus on the Bible in small groups, be it a family at the kitchen table during supper or friends meeting once a week in someone’s home, the relational dynamics enhance engagement with the Word.
Communal Bible engagement may be the best thing we can do to help people jump into the Word b
ecause it creates an ideal environment for oral preference learners and provides opportunities to develop Bible engagement habits.
Active Bible engagement.
Everything mentioned above is only well and good if it’s put into practice. People need opportunities to hear, talk about, act out and sing the Word together. That’s easier said than done. It takes effort to prepare and incorporate a Bible drama in a church service, to invite people into our homes for a Bible study, to ask an open-ended question to prompt discussion about the Word, or to corral the children to share a Bible story with them. But when we make the effort, people get to meet with Jesus in and through His Word.
Cultivating Bible engagement. What are you doing? If you have some practical suggestions, please comment. Your input could make all the difference!
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Summary
Daily Bible engagement is challenging, as most Christians primarily engage with Scripture during church services, despite efforts like Bible reading plans and special events. To boost engagement, it’s crucial to recognize that 80% of people are oral preference learners, meaning methods like storytelling, group discussions, and Bible dramas can enhance their connection to the Word. Self-discipline is also key, as internal motivation leads to sustained Bible engagement, making it essential to help one another cultivate habits. Lastly, communal Bible engagement, such as small group discussions or family Bible studies, strengthens relational dynamics and creates an ideal environment for deeper engagement with Scripture.
© Scripture Union Canada
