Reading the Bible
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#READOUTLOUD
#READTOGETHER
Greetings from Hawai’i,
In 2021 we have taken on the challenge of reading through the Bible using the SourceView Bible Reader (the web app that Rob built as a part of our ministry).
Why read the Bible together?
In Christian circles today we have disciplines. These disciplines are private and public…well, almost all of them.
| Private Discipline | Public Practice |
| Prayer (behind closed doors) | Prayer (in church/in small groups) |
| Worship (singing in the car?) | Worship (in church) |
| Read the Bible (devotional time) | … ? |
Before and after Jesus’ time on earth the people of God gathered together around the Scriptures. They would be read and told orally again and again. The public reading of Scripture was an integrated part of the culture of the people of God.
Since the innovation of the printing press and the Bible being made available personally for many, the practice has shifted from public Scripture engagement to private Scripture engagement. And while the benefits of personal Bible study are many, in our generation today we’re missing the benefits of corporate Bible engagement through the reading of God’s word in community. Click this video below:
The challenge
We are taking up the challenge of publicly reading the Scriptures through with others. The SourceView Bible Reader has the entire Bible divided into 365 segments. We are reading 5 segments every week with others. Our reading groups are 4+ people.
The concept is very simple:
1. Read a segment of Scripture (about 10-15 minutes)
2. Share the answers to the questions at the bottom of the segment with each other
3. Pray together
Each week this month we’ve been able to connect with family and friends and read through the Bible together. Some people join us for one day and others for an entire week. The experience has been very positive for our relationships (both with each other and with God). We always leave the time encouraged and built up.
Here are some snapshots of our groups:
. They both live in Chile now.
The invitation
We want to extend a two-fold invitation to you:
- Join us for one of our readings. We’d love to connect with you and read God’s word with you. Reach out by email/Facebook/etc. and we’ll set aside a time.
- Start your own Bible Reading group: grab a few friends, open the Scriptures (can I recommend the SourceView Bible Reader?), and dive in together.
Prayer Requests
- Cy’s Passport situation:
We’ve been able to submit all the requested documents for Cy’s permanent residency application for Canada. Now we wait for approval or more requested documentation. It could be a few months or up to more than 1 year.
We’re also in the middle of extending our visas for the U.S. and that could take up to 15 months because of the delays of COVID.
Pray for God to provide long-term solutions to Cy’s passport situation (her passport expires in 1 week). We’re called to be international missionaries and we expect to be in the nations again in the future, but we need to get Cy a passport with which to travel. Your prayers are welcome for this. - Deep engagement in Scriptures and relationships around the globe as we connect with others to read the Scriptures together.
- Creative wisdom:
Rob has been working on quite a few Bible projects and they are all on the front lines of innovation and multiplication of translation, distribution and engagement. He’s always needing to find creative solutions to obstacles along the way.