God’s Word as a Catalyst for Community
Let me take off the pressure: you don’t have to read the Bible in a year. You can if you want to, but you don’t have to.
I’ll add: if reading Scripture is difficult for you, you’re not a bad Christian. It’s a hard book. A large chunk of it is categorically outrageous to a postmodern audience. Just yesterday, I realized that no one in the Bible had ever read the (full) Bible that we read today. A 52-part series is a lot! …and the Catholics go even harder. The volume can be mentally intimidating and exhausting.
And yet, within its pages, God has given us the full history of His promise to humanity: to rescue us from death and infuse us with life. Despite its density, we need to read it …and read it regularly.
Admittedly, I’ve struggled to do this on my own. In past moments of conviction, I might binge-read Exodus or Luke or Romans. And then I’d shelve the book for months and convince myself that hearing a sermon on Sunday was “close enough” to reading the Bible.
I’ve always wondered, “If this is the source text for my worldview, why do I barely review it on my own?”
A NEW METHOD
So… now I’ve taken a different approach. This method might not work for you, but I’m sharing it because it has helped me immensely. I don’t have a name for it but it involves the following steps:
Find 1–4 others who want to read Scripture. I’ve invited many people who I’ve never met before, people in others states and countries. (I’ll add: as a married man, I’ve only invited other males — but that’s my preference.)
Create a text thread (or a thread in a messenger app) for the group, for the sole purpose of the journey.
Pick out 1 book of Scripture. When I’m starting with a group of guys I may not know very well, I typically pick something easier, like the Gospel of John. Do not start with Ezekiel… or Revelation… those books are long, weird, and don’t make much sense out of context with the whole of Scripture.
Schedule 1 chapter per weekday. Over time, this has turned out to be the most important component of this method. For many people, weekdays and weekends have a very different rhythm to them. By only reading on weekdays, this gives the group a chance to incorporate their reading into one of those rhythms, and to rest on the other.
Skip federal holidays: Thanksgiving, July 4th, etc. I do this for the same reason as listed above.
When the day for Chapter 1 comes around, everyone reads the passage on their own, at whatever time works for them. Some do it in the morning; some at lunch; some late at night. If someone misses a day, it’s not a big deal. Just jump in on the next one. The group is not an obligation; it’s an invitation.
After reading the chapter, everyone picks 1 verse that encouraged them, surprised them, convicted them, informed them, etc. In some chapters, there are 15 verses that I want to select. Other times, every verse is equally confusing to me. Regardless, this step is specific: pick 1 verse.
In the text thread, share the 1 verse (copy/paste it, if even just a portion of it) and then follow it with 1–3 sentences as to why you picked it. Sometimes I share how grateful I am. Sometimes I share how much I need to grow. Sometimes I ask the group if they know what the verse means. This is not my time to sound ultra-religious; it’s my time to genuinely meditate on the Scripture. Keeping it contained to a few sentences does 2 things: 1) it makes the text thread manageable for everyone to read, and 2) it helps me get to the point. And by getting to the point, I can carry that thought with me throughout the day.
Optional: as time permits, read what others share and respond. When someone else’s reflection has never occurred to me, I text, “Wow, that’s good.” I’ll mention the significance of this later.
Repeat steps 6–9 for each chapter of the book, and then when the book nears the end, ask if anyone in the group would like to start another one.
If you read through the entire Bible with this method it takes about 5 years. (It took me 6 because I repeated the Gospels & Epistles a few times along the way). About 200–300 different guys joined me; some for a couple of months, some for a few years. At its peak, 100+ men (all in separate text threads of 5–6 people) were reading through a single book of Scripture together.
THE OUTCOME
When I started using this method, the goal was somewhat selfish: I wanted a method that would help me read the Bible more regularly. And as I expected, it also helped several other men to achieve the same thing.
However, over time, several other unexpected benefits emerged from using this method:
It develops a language of Scripture.
Just like we learned in grade school, analysis (reading) to synthesis (writing) is a powerful mental tool. If we write about Scripture 250 days a year, talking about Scripture becomes more natural.
It develops a celebration of Scripture.
Every time I send, “Wow, that’s good.” to a text thread, it’s a celebration of God speaking to us. The more I do it, the more others do it; and soon, every day my phone buzzes several times with the rejoicing of God’s Word over our lives. Should we fake this emotion? Absolutely not. Should we encourage the genuine expression of it? Absolutely yes.
It elongates the opportunity for comprehension.
I have read Genesis many times… but I had not read it slowly over a period of 70 days. The temptation to “get to the good part” is removed and each page becomes its own resting place.
It provides a constant place for prayer.
Call me a monster, but I didn’t want these groups to be open for prayer requests. But they became one, and I’m glad they did! When people connect around Scripture daily, it’s natural that the struggles and challenges of their individual lives become interwoven in the conversation. …and that’s a good thing. As we receive hope and instruction from the Word, we do well to confess our sins and share our petitions.
It inadvertently develops a Scripture journal.
It wasn’t until I’d finished all 52 books that I realized I had amassed 1,189 personal reflections on Scripture, as did many of my peers. I don’t even like to journal!
FINAL THOUGHTS
There are more things I could add about this method — things like the responsibility of older men to mentor younger men, etc. etc. — but I trust the bigger point is already made. As I said before, this method may not be helpful to you or to others you know, but it has been a very effective means for me to engage with Scripture on a regular basis and to better understand the holiness and the heart of God.
If you’re a guy and you’re reading this, and you want to be in a group like this, hit me up on Instagram: @JasonDyba.
