What is scripture?
Scripture is God’s word to us intended to shape our belief, our actions, and our emotions into submission under Jesus and his Kingdom. Here we have provided resources for you and your community to know how to read the Bible, understand the Bible, and shape your life according to God’s truth. Our prayer is that you will experience transformation through the word of God leading you to know Jesus, be with Jesus, and follow Jesus.
Simply Said
What are the scriptures?
The “Scriptures” refer to the 66 books of the Christian Bible. The Bible is a historical book written by man and inspired by God. The words in the Bible are “God-breathed” and for the sake of mankind. The Scriptures are “authoritative and without error in the original writings, complete in its revelation of his will for salvation, sufficient for all that God requires us to believe and do, and final in its authority over every domain of knowledge to which it speaks.”*
*Redemption Covenant Member Packet
Why do trust the scriptures?
We trust the Scriptures because Jesus trusted the Scriptures. Jesus viewed the Scriptures as sufficient, coherent, and authoritative. All the Old Testament points to him and all of the New Testament testifies of his works, words, the establishment of his Church, and his future return.
What is the role of the scriptures in our life?
How do I read the scriptures?
All of life is all for Jesus
prayer + practice
This serves to give ideas on how to add simple and intentional practices to your Scripture study. Some are focused on prayer and others are ways to bring more attention to the moment of reading the Bible. Choose any of these that will help you and apply it to your Scripture practice.
Scripture before...
Memorizing scripture
Listening to scripture
Journaling
Praying Scripture
Reading Long Passages
bible reading plans
Reading the Bible can be intimidating. A simple and helpful way for us to approach reading the word is to have a plan to stick with. Take time to look through this variety of plans and choose one to stick with and commit to for a season.
These plans and more were found here.
52-week Bible Reading Plan
5x5x5 New Testament Bible Reading Plan
“People who keep Sabbath live all seven days differently.”* In order to have a 24-hour day set apart, our other 6 days must be lived out intentionally. We must make sure our necessary work is finished, all the housework is finished, and the day is prepared for. Here are some things to consider to help with preparation:
Plan out a rough schedule for Sabbath and consider what must be done before then.
Wash the dishes before Sabbath.
Plan out your Dinner.
Answer all phone messages and return all text messages.
Clean or pick up your house or apartment.
Make a list of work responsibilities that would interrupt your set apart time and make sure to complete those.
* “Sabbath as Resistance” by Walter Brueggemann
A Bible Reading Chart
Chronological Bible Reading Plan
ESV Daily Bible Reading Plan
ESV 6-month New Testament Reading Plan
ESV A Psalm-A-Day Reading Plan
Every Word in the Bible
Redemptive-Historical Bible Reading Plan
Straight-Through-The Bible Reading Plan
Talbetalk Bible Reading Plan
The Legacy Reading Plan
Two-Year Bible Reading Plan
Bible Reading Plan Generator
APPROACHING THE BIBLE
This sheet is meant to work alongside our Bible plan. Now that we have a plan, we should know how we are reading the Scripture each day. These are three simple ways we can approach our Scripture reading each day.
This is edited from Redemption Tempe’s Word + Spirit Campaign.
SQUID Bible Study Approach
Simple Bible Study
God — What does this passage tell me about God?
Life — What does this passage mean for the various areas of life? (Work, family, relationships, recreation, politics, education, economics, etc.)
Me — How is the Holy Spirit inviting me to respond to this passage? (Worship. gratitude, repentance, serving others, etc.// Is this passage description or prescription)
Practice simple bible study with a scripture of your choice. If you’d like a suggestion, this practice works really well with the gospels.
Lectio Divina
Silence — Prepare your heart. Come into God’s presence, slow down, relax, and intentionally release the distractions to him.
Read — Read a Scripture passage slowly and out loud, lingering over the words so they resonate in your heart. When a word or phrase catches your attention, don’t keep reading. Stop and attend to what God is saying to you. Be open to the word. Don’t analyze it. Listen and wait.
Meditate — Read the Scripture a second time out loud. Savor the words. Listen to any invitation that God is extending to you in this word. Reflect on the importance of the words that stand out to you.
Respond — Pray. Enter into a personal dialogue with God. There is no right or wrong way to do this—the important thing is to respond truthfully to God. What feelings has the passage stirred up in you? Where are you resistant? Where do you feel invited to surrender or rely on God more deeply? Talk to God about these things.
Contemplate — Rest and wait in the presence of God. Allow time for the word to sink into you. Yield and surrender to God. Before you close, consider a way to help you dwell on this word and embody it in your life throughout the day.
scripture worksheet
We created a Scripture Worksheet to help you work through how to practically practice of Scripture in your life.
additional resources
If you want to know more about the Bible here is a compiled list of helpful resources. Because this list has many options it can feel intimidating on where to start. Our encouragement is just to start somewhere. Pick one that seems appealing and start there.
Podcasts + Videos
Podcasts, videos, free graduate level Bible classes, and many more resources can be found at the Bible Project.