Best Practice #2: Embed the Bible
Engagement with scripture:
At every stage of spiritual development engagement with scripture is transformative. When Episcopal congregations go through the Renewal Works process, one of the most common responses is to find a way to engage with scripture as a community. Forward Movement has published The Path, which has been particularly useful for Episcopalians. The key is to embed the Bible into mission and ministry groups to help ground people in God’s love and empowerment in scripture for the work they are called to carry out. Within Scripture we find the voice of God providing comfort, encouragement, and inspiration. We find God’s wisdom and advice about how to handle whatever needs and obstacles confront us. In scripture we hear the voice of God inspiring us in the present day to carry forward the life and work we are called to do.
But transitioning that voice to congregants who have mixed levels of trust, experience, and confidence in reading and interpreting the Bible for themselves is not easy. This is the distinction of the best-practice churches - not their love of Scripture, because that’s common. It’s how they execute the transition of that love to their congregants. Based on our review of the top REVEAL churches, three key strategies appear to make that happen. Make the Bible the main course of the message. While there is great debate over the most effective way to teach God’s Word, a number of best-practice churches lean toward the expository-teaching style. However, the most important takeaway about teaching from best-practice pastors is that they all start the preparation of their messages with Scripture. Even if their teaching is topical in nature, their goal is to transfer a life application from Scripture. Their starting point is the Word, followed by application to the world. Take away the excuses. Best-practice churches make Bible engagement practical, meaningful, and accessible - something that can fit even into the busiest of schedules. Model Scripture as the church’s foundation. Everywhere you turn in best-practice churches, you see the Bible as core to the church and its leadership. This includes everything from worship to serving experiences to leadership selection and training - virtually every ministry activity is founded and depends upon biblical guidance and inspiration. Diocesan Resources
Overview of "The Path - A Journey Through The Bible"}Building on RenewalWorks, in the Fall of 2019 we will launch a Diocesan wide reading of The Path: A Journey Through Scripture, a selection of the stories and scriptures that show the arc of God’s path to restore us to the full embrace of God’s love in Jesus Christ.
Beginning with Creation, right on through the Book of Revelation, The Path: A Journey Through Scripture shows God’s long commitment, a living plan to restore our relationship with God, here and now, in this life. Available through Audio books, all ages and reading proficiency levels can enjoy The Path/La Senda. This intergenerational reading of scripture means the whole family, at home and in church, will be reading and engaging our common family story in Scripture from ancient times until now.
From Genesis to Revelation, see how the Old and New Testaments hang together, show a clearly intelligible path and what it says about our story in God’s story. With adult, youth and children’s curriculums, coloring books, and a suite of resources that will be available online, open scripture in a variety of creative and thought-provoking ways. We’ll grow together in our understanding of God’s love and our ability to encourage one another and the world that God cherishes. “The Book of Books Book Club” by the Rev. Craig Townsend
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More Ideas from RenewalWorks
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2 Timothy 3:16-17
All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. Scriptural Reflection: Include a scriptural reflection in every meeting of the church, out of the conviction that the scripture is a lively word, and one of the ways we deepen our relationship with God. One vestry committed to beginning its meetings with scripture reflection, led each month by a different vestry member each month. The intent behind this practice is to shift the culture to the expectation that the word of God will be incorporated in the work (the business) of the church, and that every member of the church is capable of “reading, marking, and inwardly digesting scripture,” to borrow a phrase from a famous collect. While we recognize that in The Episcopal Church, there will be a wide range of interpretations of the meaning of the word of God, this practice of allowing groups to be “Shaped by the Bible” helps differentiate the ministries of the church from all the other volunteer efforts with which people will be involved. See Shaped by the Bible by Will Willimon. Bible Challenge: Take the Bible Challenge, a program gaining great traction in the Episcopal Church, offering a variety of ways for individuals and congregations to dive into the scriptures. As one pastor famously told his congregation: I can’t read the Bible for you. From that point of view, the responsibility lies with each individual Christian to engage with the scriptures and to find those points of intersection with life outside of church. The Bible Challenge offers an exciting way to work with congregations. For more information about this dynamic effort in the Episcopal Church: www.thecenterforbiblicalstudies.org; www.forwardmovement.org Bibles in the Pews: Put Bibles in the pews and use them during worship on Sundays. One rector challenged congregants to find the passages as they are read during worship. For many, this is a most basic introduction, as this rector was heard to say: “Romans is to the right of John and to the left of I Corinthians.” Other parishes offer weekly bible studies that focus on the scripture readings for the coming Sunday. These kinds of studies (see what St. Stephen’s Church in Richmond does in this regard in its weekly Wednesday night study groups: www.ststephensrichmond.net) provide not only background on the gospel for the coming Sunday but thoughtful questions for reflection. Such studies not only deepen biblical literacy but also make the experience of worship more engaging and elevate one’s expectations. Daily Devotionals: Encourage daily use of Forward Day by Day, an instrument in spiritual growth familiar to many if not most Episcopalians. Derived from the lectionary found in the Book of Common Prayer, this daily devotional takes its cue from scripture passages and invites readers to find their way in the Bible, out of the conviction that the Bible is relevant not only in church but in the home and workplace. This devotional underscores the Anglican tradition of scripture embedded in all we do. Indeed, our own Prayer Book is permeated with passages from scripture. www.forwardmovement.org 
Transforming Questions is an exciting adult formation course designed to help both new Christians and longtime churchgoers move into deeper life in Christ. Over the course of ten sessions, participants engage the basic questions of the Christian faith through a combination of teaching and conversation.
Participants gather to share a meal, then a leader gives a presentation about a central question of faith. In small groups, participants are invited into deeper reflection on and engagement with the topic through discussion questions. Participants will wrestle with some of the most basic questions of our faith: Who is Jesus? Does God answer prayer? Why do bad things happen? The Transforming Questions downloadable course includes: Facilitator's Guide: Includes a course overview, step-by-step instructions and guide for each session, and a bonus session. If you are using the guide on a computer, tablet, or smartphone, the hyperlinks are enabled. Participant's Guide: This guide equips participants to listen, follow along, read and reflect on the class throughout the week. Includes bulleted topics, key points, scripture citations, and a place to write notes and personal reflections. |
QUICK LINKS
> Welcome Page
> The Path
> Get People Moving
> Embed the Bible
> Create Ownership
> Pastor the Community
> Leaders Heart
> Welcome Page
> The Path
> Get People Moving
> Embed the Bible
> Create Ownership
> Pastor the Community
> Leaders Heart
