Why read the Bible? We must have facts on which to base our faith It is one of God’s means of communicating with us It is the definitive record of what God has revealed about himself and our relationship with him ‘All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that all God’s people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work’ (2 Tim 3:16-17)

66 different books by almost as many different writers The Bible 66 different books by almost as many different writers Not arranged in historical order! Question to ask when you start reading a book of the Bible: What kind of literature is it? Fiction or non-fiction? History, law, biography, letters, prophecy, poetry, science, story? Very important to know, if we are to interpret it correctly

Examples - what sort of literature Examples - what sort of literature?: 1 Kings 6: ‘In the 4th year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, he began to build the temple of the Lord. Inside it was 27 metres long, 9m wide and 13,5m high. The entrance room was 4.5m deep and 9m wide, as wide as the sanctuary itself... The stone with which the temple was built had been prepared at the quarry’

Ecclesiastes 3: ‘There is a season for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: A time to be born and a time to die, A time to plant and a time to uproot... A time to weep and a time to laugh, A time to keep and a time to throw away...’

Jeremiah 1: ‘The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests of Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. The word of the Lord came to him in the 13th year of the reign of Josiah king of Judah... Until the people went into exile. The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “ Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart, I appointed you as a prophet to the nations... Get ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you!”’

Luke 1: ‘Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word... I decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught’

1 Corinthians 1: ‘From Paul, who was called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Sosthenes – To the church of God which is in Corinth, to all who are called to be God’s holy people...’ 1 Cor 7: ‘Now, to deal with the matters you wrote about.’

How to read the Bible: Come to church! You will get at least a weekly diet of Bible readings and talks about them Available to listen again on the church website www.stjamestaunton.co.uk But also try to read it for yourself each day Or listen to it read as you drive / walk / jog Use the Morning Prayer service each day in ‘Common Worship – Daily Prayer’ Also available as a phone app or online – from the C of E website www.churchofengland.org

Start with a New testament book Eg St Mark’s gospel or St Luke’s gospel Read a small chunk each day Don’t give up just because you miss a day or two! Join a homegroup where Bible passages can be read, discussed, thought about at whatever level suits you Use daily Bible reading notes – large variety see the sheet given out this morning Or on your phone / online eg www.wordlive.org Here you can also listen to it read (in an English accent!) or download it as a podcast

‘Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path’ (Ps 119:105) Challenge yourself! It takes a month or so to develop a habit Join a homegroup if you are not in one already Come to Alpha as a way in ‘Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path’ (Ps 119:105)