Baseline practice: A daily rhythm of reading, meditating on, and obeying Scripture

The practice of Scripture is our regular immersion in the story of the Bible. We immerse ourselves in Scripture not because it is something we are “supposed to do,” but because of who God is: the God who speaks. God spoke the universe into being (Genesis 1). He continued speaking, rather than staying silent, even after humans rejected his words (Genesis 3). The Bible narrates the history of God’s relationship with humanity, a relationship guided by words of law, poetry, and prophecy. All Scripture is telling one unified story, climaxing in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, God’s word made flesh. As we know Jesus through the pages of Scripture, we become like him and live a life shaped like his.

Scripture

Four Ways to Engage Scripture

01 | Read

We immerse ourselves regularly in the text of the Bible, reading it for transformation, not simply for information.

02 | Meditate

We read the Bible slowly and contemplatively to allow God’s message to settle deeply within and lead us to wholehearted, embodied obedience.

03 | Study

We patiently apply our mind and heart to the process of learning what the Bible says and means, trusting the Spirit to guide our understanding with the community of faith.

04 | Memorize

We commit passages of the Bible to memory to learn the quality of God’s voice, to shape our minds, to help us resist temptation, and to draw on God’s strength in times of pain.

  • • What have you been taught about the Bible (what it is, how to read it, etc.)? How have you had to rethink that over time?

    • How do you see Scripture as part of your apprenticeship to Jesus?

    • What are the biggest questions you bring to the Bible?

    • What are your primary feelings about the Bible? Fear? Disaster? Desire for more? Ambivalence?

  • Experience

    The Scripture Practice (a four session learning and practice experience from Practicing the Way)

    Scripture reading plans in Soma’s Community Rule of Life booklet

    The Bible Project (a collection of high quality video teachings on Scripture and theology)

    The Bible Recap (a podcast, plus other resources, for engaging and understanding Scripture)

    Read

    Eat This Book, by Eugene Peterson

    Shaped by the Word, by Robert Mulholland

    How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, by Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart

    Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes, by E. Randolph Richards and Brandon J. O’Brien

    How (Not) to Read the Bible, by Dan Kimball

    Listen

    Unforced Rhythms of Grace: Scripture (Bridgetown Church teaching, 1/21/24)

    Meditating on Scripture (Soma Midtown teaching, 11/6/22)

  • • Read an entire biblical book in one sitting (alone or in community).

    • Practice one small act of obedience to what you read.

    • Read literary fiction or poetry to practice interpreting new genres.

    • Memorize a long passage, or even a chapter.

Rule of Life