Time to break out the Bible
By TERRI COFIELL
“I have never met a Christian youth or adult who did not ‘want to want’ to study the Bible.” The late Dick Murray, faculty member of Perkins School of Theology and one of the developers of the original Disciple Bible Study wrote these words more than 20 years ago, and they still ring true.
We “want to want” to dig deeper into the recorded witness of our Lord’s life, death and resurrection; we “want to want” to learn more about the story of salvation that
unfolds from Genesis through the book of Revelation. We “want to want to.” So why aren’t we?
As with most facets of church life, the question of how to study the Bible can beget controversy: do we believe in inductive or deductive methodology — will we study the Scripture ourselves or rely on what others write about Scripture? Will we use the tools of exegesis (from the Greek “to lead out”), setting the passage in its historical, cultural and biblical context; learning about the author, the original audience or the nuances of meaning in Hebrew or Greek? Add to that the questions of which translation and which study Bible, it’s no wonder that those who “want to” are often exhausted before they begin!
For Bible study to be life-transforming — and, oh, can it be — both head and heart come into play. Knowing all that we can about the “when, where and why” of God’s sacred story brings Scripture to life.
Discovering why Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman was scandalous confronts us with our own prejudice and judgmental attitudes as well as with the depth of God’s grace. Understanding the implications of Jesus healing on the Sabbath or eating at the home of a tax collector reveals a fierceness in God’s yearning for our redemption that humbles and inspires. Asking “what does this passage mean to me?” is not the first step or ultimate goal of Bible study. Asking “how can these biblical truths shape my discipleship?” opens our hearts to the working of the Holy Spirit.
So why aren’t we engaging in Bible study? Lay people have shared that they’re afraid to join a group because they “don’t know enough about the Bible.” Pastors have confided that they don’t want to “stir up discord” among congregants with opposing social or theological viewpoints. Some simply cannot participate in read-and-discuss sessions that unintentionally exclude those who don’t read, hear, or see well.
Time to break out the Bible: “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear….” (1 John 4:18) Gather a group of others who are seeking, nudge your pastor if necessary; work together to learn the tools of biblical study, share your insights, look for ways of encountering Scripture with your heart, mind, soul and senses.
Blow the dust off your Bible, get up off your want-to-want-to and go for it. Get into the word and let the word get into you.
The Rev. Terri Cofiell is pastor of Harmony UMC in Marlow, W.Va.
The conference Board of Ordained Ministry is sponsoring a Planning and Teaching Transformational Bible Studies event Thursday, May 20, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Conference Center in Columbia. Contact Debbie Albrecht at dalbrecht at bwcumc.org.
“I have never met a Christian youth or adult who did not ‘want to want’ to study the Bible.” The late Dick Murray, faculty member of Perkins School of Theology and one of the developers of the original Disciple Bible Study wrote these words more than 20 years ago, and they still ring true.
We “want to want” to dig deeper into the recorded witness of our Lord’s life, death and resurrection; we “want to want” to learn more about the story of salvation that
unfolds from Genesis through the book of Revelation. We “want to want to.” So why aren’t we?
As with most facets of church life, the question of how to study the Bible can beget controversy: do we believe in inductive or deductive methodology — will we study the Scripture ourselves or rely on what others write about Scripture? Will we use the tools of exegesis (from the Greek “to lead out”), setting the passage in its historical, cultural and biblical context; learning about the author, the original audience or the nuances of meaning in Hebrew or Greek? Add to that the questions of which translation and which study Bible, it’s no wonder that those who “want to” are often exhausted before they begin!
For Bible study to be life-transforming — and, oh, can it be — both head and heart come into play. Knowing all that we can about the “when, where and why” of God’s sacred story brings Scripture to life.
Discovering why Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman was scandalous confronts us with our own prejudice and judgmental attitudes as well as with the depth of God’s grace. Understanding the implications of Jesus healing on the Sabbath or eating at the home of a tax collector reveals a fierceness in God’s yearning for our redemption that humbles and inspires. Asking “what does this passage mean to me?” is not the first step or ultimate goal of Bible study. Asking “how can these biblical truths shape my discipleship?” opens our hearts to the working of the Holy Spirit.
So why aren’t we engaging in Bible study? Lay people have shared that they’re afraid to join a group because they “don’t know enough about the Bible.” Pastors have confided that they don’t want to “stir up discord” among congregants with opposing social or theological viewpoints. Some simply cannot participate in read-and-discuss sessions that unintentionally exclude those who don’t read, hear, or see well.
Time to break out the Bible: “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear….” (1 John 4:18) Gather a group of others who are seeking, nudge your pastor if necessary; work together to learn the tools of biblical study, share your insights, look for ways of encountering Scripture with your heart, mind, soul and senses.
Blow the dust off your Bible, get up off your want-to-want-to and go for it. Get into the word and let the word get into you.
The Rev. Terri Cofiell is pastor of Harmony UMC in Marlow, W.Va.
The conference Board of Ordained Ministry is sponsoring a Planning and Teaching Transformational Bible Studies event Thursday, May 20, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Conference Center in Columbia. Contact Debbie Albrecht at dalbrecht at bwcumc.org.
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