New Believer’s Path · Lesson 3: Bible Reading · Letting the Word of Christ Dwell in You
This lesson in one sentence: Reading the Bible is not only understanding it but living by it; start with John, one chapter and one sentence at a time.
Timing (about 60 minutes)
- Opening5 min
- Read Together10 min
- A true story5 min
- Discussion25 min
- This Week10 min
- Pray for One Another5 min
Opening
Of the sentences you have read recently, which made the deepest impression? (Any book will do.)
Read Together
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.
Colossians 3:16 · WEB
A true story (ask a group member to read it aloud)
Before Hudson Taylor came to faith, there was a time when he did not believe and spent time with friends who were sceptical of the faith. One of their favorite arguments was that many Christians say they believe the Bible, yet live as if there were no such book.
He told himself then that if he ever said he believed the Bible, he would at least try to live by it and put it fairly to the test; and if it proved unreliable, he would throw it overboard altogether. When he came to faith, he kept that resolve. Looking back years later, he wrote, ‘I have put God’s Word to the test. Certainly it has never failed me.’
Source: Hudson Taylor, A Retrospect, chapter 1
Discussion
- Hudson Taylor said that if he believed the Bible, he would at least try to live by it. What is the difference between ‘reading the Bible’ and ‘living by the Bible’?
- “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Colossians 3:16)—what helps a verse ‘stay in your heart’?
- What difficulties do we most often meet in reading the Bible? How can we help each other?
This Week
Read one chapter of John’s Gospel and write down one sentence that moves you.
Each person chooses which chapter of John to read this week; next session, everyone shares the ‘one sentence’ they wrote down.
Closing
In pairs, pray one sentence for each other’s Bible reading this week.
Tips for the leader
- Don’t compare who reads more. One chapter, one sentence, is a very good start.
- If someone doesn’t understand, invite them to bring their questions and look at them together; the leader doesn’t need to know everything.
- In the story, ‘throw it overboard if it proves unreliable’ is what Taylor said while he did not believe; it is not an invitation to ‘give up if it doesn’t work’. The point is that he went on to live by it.
General principles for leaders
- The leader is not a teacher but someone who walks alongside everyone.
- Give everyone a chance to speak; with someone who talks a lot, you can gently say, ‘Let’s also hear from friends who haven’t spoken yet.’
- Don’t rush to give answers. If someone is silent, wait a few more seconds.
- For a question you can’t answer, you can say, ‘I don’t know either; let’s look it up together,’ and note it down for next time.
- What is said in the group stays in the group.
- At the opening, the leader can give their own answer first, showing that it can be simple and honest.