The Institute for Bible Reading (IFBR) (@Read_Well) exists to provide tools and frameworks that fundamentally change the way people read the Bible so it can achieve its mission and become the story that defines abundant living.
[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Learning to Read the Bible Well: An Interview with Glenn Paauw]
During the last several weeks, Bible Gateway has partnered with IFBR on a series of brief Facebook Live video events intended to help you “Journey Toward Better Bible Reading.” If you missed seeing these discussions on Facebook, watch them here:
Discussion One: Why We Should Read Whole Books of the Bible
Why is it helpful to read the books of the Bible in their entirety, rather than reading only small snippets or single verses?
Discussion Two: Reading the Bible as One Story
The Bible is a collection of many different ancient texts, representing many different literary genres and historical contexts. Is it possible to read such a diverse book as a single, coherent story? How does doing so affect our understanding of God’s story?
[See the Bible reference resources available on Bible Gateway. Also learn about upgrading your Bible Gateway experience with Bible Gateway Plus.]
Discussion Three: Reading the Bible with Jesus at the Center
What does it mean when we say that Jesus is at the “center” of the Bible? How do we go about recognizing the presence of Jesus as we read?
[Read the Bible Gateway Blog posts, The Jesus Storybook Bible: An Interview with Sally Lloyd-Jones and The Jesus Bible Debuts at Passion 2017 Conference]
Discussion Four: Reading the Bible Together
Personal devotions & quiet times are relatively recent innovations in the practice of reading the Bible. What is the value in reading the Bible communally? What are the rewards of reading the Bible together with friends and family.
[See the Bible Engagement section on Bible Gateway]
Series Introduction
What are the practical, simple steps for you to take toward better Bible reading?
If you’re interested in exploring this topic further, Glenn Paauw’s book Saving the Bible from Ourselves: Learning to Read and Live the Bible Well (InterVarsity Press, 2016) is a natural next step. It goes into more detail about this and other topics related to healthy Bible reading. Many of the ideas in this video discussion series are inspired by Paauw’s book.
[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, Learning to Read the Bible Well: An Interview with Glenn Paauw]
For future Facebook Live discussions, go to Bible Gateway’s Facebook page, then “Like” and “Follow” us. After that, do the same with the Institute for Bible Reading page. Make sure that underneath the Following tabs on both pages, Notifications are checked “On.”
If you believe Bible reading is important for your life and you’d like to do it better, upgrade your Bible Gateway experience by becoming a member of Bible Gateway Plus, where you’ll have access to many additional ways to study and explore the Bible. See what a difference it makes in your reading and study of God’s Word!