Engaging with the Scriptures

  • Elliot Grudem
  • Jul 11, 2008
  • Series: Resources

Last Sunday, we considered the way that God the Holy Spirit uses the Scriptures to help shape and make Jesus' followers more like him. We also considered the how God the Holy Spirit uses the Scriptures to grow Jesus' Church in maturity and number. (You can find the sermon here.) To put it more succinctly, the growth of Christ's Church (both as individual members and as a corporate body) is closely tied to the way Christ's followers and their churches use God's word.

In fact, interaction with the Bible is so important for God's people that St. Luke often describes the growth and strengthening of the Church in the following way: "And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem" (Acts 6:7, emphasis mine).

As the minister at CTK, I want to make sure we, as a church, provide our members with helpful tools and beneficial opportunities to rightly engage with God's word. So, each Sunday, we have a sermon that humbly interacts with God's authoritative word. We read from God's word together. And, we sing songs that are based on the truths found in God's word.

During the week, we encourage you to interact with God's word through our Community Bible Reading Program, our Community Groups, and by remembering and reviewing what was discussed on Sunday with friends and family by using our worship guide. As we do this, we are attempting to help you apply St. Paul's encouragement in Colossians 3:16. "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."

One of the challenges in engaging with God's word on a regular basis is understanding what it says. I'm glad I'm not alone in thinking that what I read on the pages of Scripture is, at times, hard to understand. Even St. Peter wrote the following in reference to some of the things Paul wrote: "There are some things in them that are hard to understand" (2 Peter 3:16). (I take great comfort in knowing Peter thought that too!)

One of the tools has helped me understand the Bible is a Study Bible. A Study Bible is a Bible that not only contains all the Scriptures, but also includes notes on passages, articles that condense the Bible's teachings on important topics, helpful introductions to books of the Bible, and many other resources to help readers understand God's word.

This October, the ESV Study Bible will be released. And, based on what I've seen and heard, I think it will be the best Study Bible available. I've already ordered one for myself and ten others to give away to men I am helping learn more about Jesus. Through the end of this month (July 31, 2008), you can order a copy for yourself at a 35 percent discount through this link.

(Now, I know that sounds like a commercial. It's not meant to be. I really think this will be a wonderful tool to help you understand the Bible. But, in full self-disclosure, know that my father, Wayne Grudem, is the general editor for the ESV Study Bible.)

Study Bibles are great for teenagers and adults. But it often can be tough to get your younger children engaged with the Scriptures. One of the things my wife and I have found helpful for our three year-old is the Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones. If you are involved with CTK, have kids, don't have a copy of this book, and would like a copy, let us know by completing the form accessed by clicking here.   

In addition, I would encourage you to find a way to use our children's worship guide to talk with your kids. Use Sunday lunch or dinner to talk through some of the things your kids were thinking about during the service (even if they were only thinking about their basketball); and use their worship guide to give you topics and question for your discussion.

As you engage with God's word-individually, as a family, or with others in your community-if you have any questions or need help, let me know. I have and continue to struggle to engage with God's word in a regular and meaningful way. But, I know it's too important to either quit struggling and too important to try to figure out how to do it on my own. And so I would love to share with you some of the things I've found helpful in my life.