Unlocking the power of Scripture …
How to read the Bible for information.
Information is defined as acquiring knowledge through experience or study.
People who read the Bible for information are focused on facts. Awareness, familiarity, and developing biblical comprehension and understanding are the primary objectives. Reading for information concentrates on collecting data, learning about Christianity, understanding the stories and teachings, investigating Christ, reading Judeo-Christian history, or becoming acquainted with God.
How to read the Bible for formation.
Take away the prefix ‘in’ from information; the stem word is formation. Formation is the act of giving or taking form, constructing or developing, coming or bringing into existence. Reading the Bible for formation opens a person to an interaction and exchange with God. Formation reading is creative, involving growth and shaping that potentially leads to change. When people read the Bible for formation, they’re interested in learning right from wrong, seeking direction and purpose for their lives, wanting to be ‘fed’ and grow in faith, looking for help or hope, in search of inspiration, or trying to build a relationship with God.
How to read the Bible for transformation.
Adding the prefix ‘trans’ to the stem word formation introduces yet another level of connecting with the Bible – reading for transformation. Transformation is a radical change or alteration – a conversion to another form. In biblical parlance, it’s when a person stops conforming to the pattern of the world and is inwardly altered by the renewing of their mind (cf. Romans 12:2). Transformational reading involves a deep-rooted modification of the heart so that a person’s intentions, inclinations and spiritual instincts are directed to Christ and His glory.
How to read the Bible for revelation.
Revelation is the act or process of disclosing something previously hidden or obscure. In the Parable of the Sower, the climax of the story comes when people “hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop” (Mark 4:20). When Reading the Bible results in people becoming living epistles, i.e., being public life words, then reading for revelation has occurred. Producing a crop is the ultimate goal. It’s not enough to hear and accept the Word; the inward must become outward – the concealed must be revealed.
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Summary
Unlocking the power of Scripture involves reading the Bible with different purposes in mind. First, reading for information focuses on gaining knowledge through understanding biblical teachings, history, and facts about Christianity. Moving to formation, the reader seeks spiritual growth, guidance, and a deeper relationship with God, allowing Scripture to shape and influence their life. Finally, transformation and revelation occur when the Bible leads to a radical change of the heart and mind, revealing truths that result in outward change and producing a life that reflects Christ’s glory.
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