Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:16-17
Encounter the Bible as a part of the church.
Just as personal Bible study and family Bible study are important parts of our spiritual growth journey, studying the Bible in groups with other believers is important as well. It provides opportunity for fellowship, encouragement, and accountability. We connect with God when we study the Bible. When we study with other believers, we connect with God and other believers in a special place where we can find grace, wisdom, guidance, and support as we navigate the trials of life.
Sunday Pastor Jim gave us some practical ways we can encounter the Bible as a part of the church:
Receive the Word preached as an act of worship. We tend to think of worship as the music we sing, but worship is so much more. Reading, hearing, and receiving the word in corporate worship and Bible study is an act of worship.
Participate in a small group as an act of community. Studying the Bible together in a community gives us the opportunity to learn about the Bible in depth, discuss ideas together, and to talk about how to apply God’s Word to our lives. Perspectives and insights from one another provide deeper understanding and strengthens faith. It also helps to correct wrong theology and misunderstanding of God’s word.
Bring what God has taught you in your personal study time and share it with other believers. Share the wisdom and knowledge he has given you. As believers, God intended for us to walk in his word and in worship with other believers.
Encourage others in the Word as an act of ministry. We hear the word, sing the word, pray the word, we meditate on the word, and we seek to live the word allowing it to shape us as individuals and families. We minister with the word to one another and to a lost world.
God is very clear about how important it is for us to come together in fellowship – in Bible study and worship. We need each other to help learn and understand God’s word, to hear other perspectives, and to bless others with what God has shown us through our personal study. When we hit hard times and we share that with them, they speak God’s word back to us to remind us of our faithful, promise keeping Heavenly Father.
Just like the Gospel, God did not give us His Word to keep to ourselves. We are to give it away. Share it with others. Teach others.
What role does the Word of God play in your life?
Are you actively engaging the Bible by reading, studying, and living it out?
Make engaging scripture a priority in your personal walk, your family, and your church life.
