It is a privilege to read Scripture together in community. I’m always pleasantly surprised when I gain a new insight because of questions from members of a small group studying Scripture together. This happened last night in my weekly Tuesday night Bible study. We were studying a familiar text in the Gospel of Luke- something I’ve read over and over and over. Something that I’ve preached on in my ministry multiple times. As we were reading this text, one member of the group asked a simple little question. That simple question changed my whole understanding of the text.
At that point, I became so excited about this new revelation in what the text was saying. I love when my mind is blown again for the first time about a familiar text. I became so excited that I couldn’t talk. The group had to urge me on to share that revelation. So as a group, we continued to look at it and everyone was able to see the thread of the text and how the gospel writer of Luke wove this beautiful text together.
That is why we are doing The Year of the Bible together as a church family. Each of us have the responsibility to read the text on our own in whatever wayworks best for us, whether we read it daily or weekly. We have committed to reading the text together as a community. Many of us are engaged in reading and discussing that text on a weekly basis. Reading the Scripture on your own is an incredible experience. Reading the text together makes Scripture come alive even more.
I have so enjoyed The Year of the Bible program, both as a participant and as a Q&A leader. I am amazed at the depth of questions that come in our weekly Q&A via zoom. I’m amazed at the emails and side conversations I have and the questions that you as the members of the church have each and every week regarding the text. Ultimately, I am a Teaching Elder and I love seeing light bulbs go off and revelations happen in the hearts and minds of people who are reading the text.
If you have not yet joined The Year of the Bible, it’s not too late. I would encourage you to reach out to me and pick up a book in the church office. You can start right where we are, whatever day it is. There is no need to feel like you have to go back at the very beginning and catch up. However, if you start with us and you’d like to go back and read, feel free to do so.
Lent is a good time to pick up this discipline in the Christian life. Please feel free to reach out to me at michaelyork@firstpresvero.org if you have any questions about The Year of the Bible, about your own daily reading, or anything else. I am thankful for this journey together.
In Christ,
Michael York
