A Workshop by Ben Reichert and Prakash Primulapathi
Reading the Bible with someone who knows nothing about Jesus, or the Bible, might be daunting, but it’s easier than you think. The Bible is the living word of God, which can introduce our friends to the God who can meet their every need and give them eternal life. Reading the Bible with friends is one of the best ways to show them what you believe and who God is.
The first thing to do when wanting to read the Bible with someone is to pray for an opportunity to do so. If they say yes, then pray for wisdom on how to lead. Prayer is a key aspect of reading the Bible with our friends, in part because it’s scary and requires us to get out of our comfort zones.
The best place to start reading is John’s Gospel. The first four chapters see Jesus interacting with different people.
Hold the study in a normal place where your friend feels comfortable, not in an elevator like I did one time. It’s important not to overwhelm your friend with a lengthy Bible study, so start with an hour once a week, going through one chapter of John every week for four weeks.Then, see if they’re still interested in continuing.
Keep in mind that many of your friends have had no exposure to the Bible, so be sure to explain what the numbers representing chapters and verses mean. As much as possible, keep from preaching through the text, but instead, ask questions that help them draw out the text for themselves. This requires a deeper study on your part. Consider taking a day or so beforehand and reading the passage yourself. Jot down questions that you want your friend to see as you go.
Ideally, the questions will follow this format:
- What does it say? This way, we get them to engage with it rather than give the answer. The fact that the Bible can be understood by anyone is part of what makes the Christian faith so powerful.
- What questions do you have? Make sure it’s clear that there are no stupid questions.
- What does it mean? This is where we get to the deeper meaning behind the words.
- How does it connect with your life? Make sure they see how this is relevant to them rather than just some good theory.
When you read the Bible with your friends, you are introducing them to Jesus and letting him speak through his word. Your job is to help friends be open to him and to pray and prepare well for the opportunities you are given. Remember, God’s spirit is in you, so you can do this. He will help you reach your friends with the Gospel.