There’s no greater joy than reading the Bible with a non-Christian who is keen to learn.
I’m reading through the book of Genesis at the moment with a non-Christian man named Sam. Sam is an accountant working in the city. We meet in a food court near his work and are slowly building a friendship. Sam has no biblical background and is fascinated by the stories of Genesis. He has good comprehension skills and asks lots of questions (some of which I can’t answer straight away). I’m trying to get Sam to see that Jesus is Abraham’s descendant (his ‘seed’) who fulfils God’s promises to bring blessing to the whole world.
Meeting with Sam to read the Bible is one of the highlights of my week.
Stop and consider: What do you think are the advantages of reading the Bible one-to-one?
Here are some that I can think of:
- It’s flexible. If someone can’t make it one week, that’s fine. You can just pick up where you left off the following week.
- It’s tailored to the individual. It’s a good environment for your friend to ask questions and to raise objections freely. You can also tailor your answers to best suit your friend’s circumstances and background.
- It’s relational. Meeting one on one is a good way to get to know someone well.
What to read?
Anything in the Bible will do—it’s all God’s word and it all points to Jesus somehow. That said, starting with one of the four Gospels is probably the best place to begin*1.
How to run a one-to-one Bible discussion
- Allow time for a bit of chitchat at the start.
- Read the passage. Stop at the end of each logical section to discuss it.
- Ask questions to give some structure. Here are some I use:
- What stood out for you? Anything surprising?
- Who are the main characters in the story and what do we learn about them?
- What do we learn about God or Jesus?
- What questions do you have?
- What do you think is the main point of the section?
- If it’s true, what are the implications?
- Say a short prayer at the end if your friend doesn't mind (most people are okay with this). This helps to communicate that it’s not just intellectual learning but relationship with God that’s on offer.
- Organize your next meeting.
Leading styles
My preferred leading style is not just to tell my friend the answers (and therefore end up preaching to them) but, where possible, give them time to dig out the answers themselves. This will help them remember what they learn and be more engaged. But some people don’t like being put on the spot and may prefer you to point out key truths (this is the approach of The Word One to One studies in John’s Gospel).*2
There’s nothing more satisfying than reading and discussing God’s word with someone who’s willing to learn.
Action: Can you think of a non-Christian friend or work colleague you could invite to read the Bible with you? How would you go about asking them?
Pray: Ask God to give you the right words and opportunity to invite a friend to read the Bible with you.
Note 1. If you’re looking for a guide on one-to-one Bible reading, I’d recommend One-to-One Bible Reading by David Helm (Matthias Media) or One-to-One: A Discipleship Handbook by Sophie de Witt (Authentic Lifestyle).
Note 2. The Word One to One is an excellent resource that helps you to walk through John’s Gospel with your friends or colleagues. It gives you everything you need for a one-to-one Bible study—the passage, questions, answers and side notes. For more information and free downloads visit the website: www.theword121.com/]
