{"id":1295,"date":"2019-08-21T15:05:43","date_gmt":"2019-08-21T15:05:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.tyndale.com\/unfoldingfaithblog\/?p=1295"},"modified":"2019-08-21T15:06:43","modified_gmt":"2019-08-21T15:06:43","slug":"how-to-read-the-bible-with-non-christian-friends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.tyndale.com\/unfoldingfaithblog\/2019\/08\/21\/how-to-read-the-bible-with-non-christian-friends\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Read the Bible with Non-Christian Friends"},"content":{"rendered":"

A not-so-scary way to introduce your friends to Jesus, by Laura T. de Gomez.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I had heard through the grapevine that two coworkers, Martha and Claudia, had expressed some interest in spiritual things. So I dropped into their office one day and said, “Hi! I\u2019ve been meaning to ask you both: Would you be interested in looking at the Bible with me?” They looked at each other, then back at me, and said yes.<\/p>\n

I was surprised by their enthusiasm. When I didn\u2019t get back to them as soon as they expected, they called me to find out when we could start!<\/p>\n

From the beginning, they loved it. Their initial nervousness evolved into excitement as they discovered the Bible was relevant to everyday life. By the second or third week, they were captivated by Jesus. In about eight weeks, they had a clear understanding of salvation by faith. That was eight years ago. Both continue to walk with Jesus today and remain my friends. And it all started with a simple invitation to read the Bible together.<\/p>\n

\"Three<\/p>\n

Of course, not all my experiences of reading Scripture with non-Christians have been so dramatic. I\u2019ve also endured plenty of no-shows and disappointments. I\u2019ve met with some non-believing friends for years, and they don\u2019t seem to get it. Nevertheless, I\u2019ve come to believe that looking at the Scriptures with non-Christians is one of the most powerful ways we can help them see Jesus. Here are the main lessons I\u2019ve learned about how to start reading the Bible with spiritual seekers.<\/p>\n

First Impressions<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I first heard about reading the Word with non-believers in Jim Petersen\u2019s book Living Proof<\/em><\/a>. It seemed like a strange idea at the time. I thought the Bible was for believers; I didn\u2019t think non-Christians would understand it or be interested in learning what it says. But I began experimenting with the idea anyway, and I was amazed by what happened.<\/p>\n

\"Three<\/p>\n

Reading the Bible with my non-believing friends gives me a level of spiritual interaction with them that falls somewhere between casual friendship and inviting them to church (which they can find intimidating). It creates a comfortable environment where they can begin to look at Jesus, ask questions, and talk about life issues.<\/p>\n

Reading together also exposes people directly to the power of Scripture. The God who encourages, convicts, corrects, and sometimes bowls you<\/em> over with His Word can do the same in an unbeliever\u2019s life. Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord said,<\/p>\n

\u201cThe rain and snow come down from the heavens
\nand stay on the ground to water the earth.
\nThey cause the grain to grow,
\nproducing seed for the farmer
\nand bread for the hungry.
\nIt is the same with my word.
\nI send it out, and it always produces fruit.
\nIt will accomplish all I want it to,
\nand it will prosper everywhere I send it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014Isaiah 55:10-11<\/a>, NLT<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Three<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t know all of what my friends are going through, or what they are thinking\u2014but God does. When I can create a place of meeting between my friends and God, I have seen Him use Scripture to meet their needs, quell their fears, and dispel their misconceptions.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014Hebrews 4:12<\/a>, NLT<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Scripture can touch the hearts of my friends with wisdom and power in a way that my testimony and perspectives may never do.<\/p>\n

\"Red<\/p>\n

–<\/p>\n

Try also Talking about God, Honest Conversations about Spirituality<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

–<\/p>\n

The Invitation<\/strong><\/p>\n

How do you go about introducing people to the Bible? As I get to know a neighbor or coworker, I look for nonthreatening opportunities to talk about my convictions and identify their source as the Bible. After I\u2019ve told someone I rely on the Bible to guide me in life, I follow up by casually suggesting we read it together. That step may seem like a big leap, but I\u2019ve found it\u2019s a natural progression.<\/p>\n

With my neighbor and walking buddy, Flor, it went something like this. During a conversation about our husbands and marriage, I told her, \u201cYou know, Mauricio [my husband] and I love to read the Bible together. It\u2019s amazing how it helps us think about our lives and our relationship problems. If you\u2019re interested, we would enjoy reading it with you and Guillermo. We could light a fire in the fireplace, make some munchies, talk about what\u2019s happening in our lives, and then read a small portion of the Bible together and talk about it.\u201d So far, they have not taken us up on this offer, but I am confident that the seed I\u2019ve sown will eventually sprout.<\/p>\n

\"Two<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve learned that it\u2019s important to present this idea as \u201creading\u201d the Bible, not \u201cstudying\u201d the Bible. For most non-believers, the idea of studying<\/em> Scripture sounds too intense; reading the Bible sounds more doable. For academic or philosophical types, asking if they want to \u201cinvestigate\u201d the Bible might be an even better way to invite their participation. For nominally religious people, I ask if they would like to take a closer look for themselves at what the Bible says.<\/p>\n

When You Meet<\/strong><\/p>\n

When I meet with non-believing friends, we don\u2019t sing or pray, and I don\u2019t ask them to prepare anything in advance. We visit for a while, open our Bibles, read a passage out loud, and then talk about it. The first night we meet, I sometimes ask people to tell me about their spiritual journey.<\/p>\n

Regarding what to read, I recommend focusing on the life of Christ in one of the four Gospels. My favorite is the Gospel of John, because John presents Jesus as such a multifaceted person and makes a strong case for His divinity.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

You might introduce the book of John like this: \u201cJesus Christ is the central focus of the Bible. That\u2019s why the religion is called Christianity. So, I thought we could start with one of the books of the Bible that describes Jesus\u2019 life here on earth.\u201d Then tell people a bit about who John was: a disciple of Jesus and an eyewitness to most of the events in his Gospel. Briefly explain the mechanics of books, chapters, and verses, then go to the first chapter and read it out loud, taking turns if you like. After you\u2019ve read a chapter together, you can begin to talk about what you\u2019ve observed.<\/p>\n

To help your friend grapple with the text, you\u2019ll need to prepare ahead of time. I always spend some time meditating on the portion we\u2019ll be reading, and then I develop some thought-provoking questions that will prompt my friend to look closely at the passage.<\/p>\n

I know one man who asks simply, \u201cWhat grabs your attention in these verses?\u201d Someone else I know uses remarkable creativity. For example, for the fourth chapter of John, he asks, \u201cIf you were the director of a movie about this woman, who would you cast in her role? Why?\u201d Simple or elaborate, find a style of your own, and choose questions that work for you.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

As I move from discussion toward application, I like to ask the same two questions at the end of every passage:<\/p>\n