Why the Bible Feels Complex
The Bible unites and divides Christians—debates over free will, ethics, or church structure create confusion. Doubts, manipulations, or rigid rules can unravel our desire to read it.

Key Question: How can we approach the Bible to find Jesus, not just complexity?

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What Am I Doing When I Read the Bible?
Reading the Bible isn’t about submitting to a book but surrendering to Jesus, whose authority is expressed through Scripture.

Goal: Learn Jesus’ story and way, letting them shape your life.

Why?: Jesus’ love—dying for enemies, washing feet—moves us to follow Him (John 13:14-15: “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”).

Submit to Jesus, not a book or interpretation, trusting Scripture as His voice.

Allowing Jesus
to be authoritative in my life
by learning his story and way of life.

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The Bible as a Worldview Creator
The Bible shapes how we see reality, aligning us with Jesus’ perspective, not the world’s.

Biblical Worldview:
The world is good but broken, longing for redemption (Rom 8:19-21: “For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed… in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay…”).

Humanity is sinful, needing a Savior (Rom 3:23: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”).

Practical Step: Critique the world’s values through Jesus’ teachings.
Shift: Let the Bible critique the world, not vice versa, even if it leads to deconstructing cultural beliefs.

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How to Read the Bible: With Humility and Community

Reading the Bible requires humility, tradition, community, reason, and experience (Wesleyan Quadrilateral) to avoid misinterpretation.

Scripture: 2 Peter 3:16 – “His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.”

Warning: Our hearts can deceive (Jer 17:9: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”).

Lean on others (Prov 3:5: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding”).

Practical Step: Join a study group or ask a mentor to discuss tough passages.

Approach: Read with others to stay grounded, like the Ethiopian eunuch needing help (Acts 8:31).

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The Bible as God-Breathed
The Bible is God-breathed, written by humans under the Holy Spirit’s guidance, carrying divine authority.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16 – “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”

Early Church: By the 2nd century, Paul’s letters were called “Scripture” (2 Pet 3:16).

Practical Step: Trust the Bible’s inspiration by praying for the Spirit’s guidance before reading.

God’s breath animates Scripture, validated by those who encounter Jesus through it.

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How to Read: Meditative and Imaginative

Read the Bible meditatively, inviting the Spirit to speak, not just powering through.

Scripture: Mark 10:46-52 – “Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples… were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus… was sitting by the roadside begging… Jesus asked him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’…”

Practice imaginative contemplation:
Close your eyes, picture the scene (e.g., Blind Bartimaeus).
Read slowly, highlight words, ask questions, and journal what you sense.
Use senses (dusty road, crowd’s noise).
Ask: What does Jesus say to me? (Luke 24:32: “They asked each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’”).

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Moving Forward with the Bible
Doubts and complexities don’t disqualify the Bible—they invite us to seek Jesus.

Challenge: If you’ve struggled, start small with the Gospels, one passage at a time.

As you read meditatively, you’ll sense God’s voice, growing in love for Jesus.