Navigators·Beginner
How To Read the Bible with Friends
Reading through the Bible together can be an effective way to share the gospel with your friends who don’t know Jesus. You’ll want to approach the study in a different way than you would with believers. How this helps: Here are six tips for how to read the Bible with friends once they’ve accepted your invitation.
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One of the most effective ways to reach friends with the truth of the gospel is to read and talk about the Bible with them. Doing so allows them to discover truth for themselves.
1. Set the atmosphere.
Choose a comfortable, normal meeting place, like a home or a coffee shop. Keep it simple.
2. Small is beautiful.
Participants can number from two to 10 at the most. If it gets bigger than that, true discussion becomes difficult.
3. Timing.
Don’t be late and don’t go over time. Stop talking before people stop listening. The schedule should be predictable so that people can plan accordingly.
4. Stick with the Bible even if people are unfamiliar with it.
Don’t assume that people have any prior knowledge.
5. Subject matter.
There are several good options as starting points, but “Who is Jesus?” is a great place to start. The Gospel of John is a great book to start with for that.
6. Create an environment in which questions can flourish.
Everyone will be wondering, Is it safe to ask my real questions around here? Make sure it is.
Adapted from Reading the Bible with Friends Who Don’t Believe It by Jim Petersen. Used by permission from NavPress.
