SUPPORTING SCRIPTURE

Romans 15:4-6

Do you ever read Scripture and find yourself wondering, โ€œIs the Bible relevant today?โ€ We definitely feel that disconnect. So weโ€™ve set out to make Scripture meditations that give us a framework for how to start reading the Bible. Join us as we let the Bible be the Bible, and learn to engage with it meaningfully.ย 

 

Why Should I Read the Bible?

How can something written thousands of years ago have an impact on my life today? Well, as long as weโ€™ve had language, weโ€™ve had stories. Whether spoken, drawn, or written, stories have been passed on to help give us history, context, narratives, and creative expression that all show us something about what it means to be human. It couldโ€™ve been written 2,000 or 2 years ago, our ability to take a story and learn from it doesnโ€™t change.

And, as Christians, we donโ€™t just have any old story, but words inspired and preserved by God himself!

Some of the stories of the Old Testament were pretty ancient to Jesus and his disciples in the first century, too. Yet, they still recognized that these stories can be used to give us perseverance and hope. While there are definitely some more cultural and historical differences that we need to contend with, the Holy Spirit still works in us and through Scripture to reveal the nature of God and the reason for our hope in Christ.ย 

Romans 15:4-6

โ€œ4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.ย 

5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.โ€

Observations from the Text

  • The examples and stories in the Bible can give us encouragement and hope (v. 4)
  • God is the source of our encouragement, and his Spirit can make us more like Jesus (v. 5)
  • Our shared identity in Christ glorifies God (v. 6)

Prayers of Response

Word of Life, thank you for the encouragement and hope I can find in your word.

Jesus, thank you that the Bible can show us how to live and love more like you.ย 

Prayer Requests

Father, Iโ€™ve seen your faithfulness in Scripture, but Iโ€™m having a hard time seeing it right now in _______. Help me trust you.

Holy Spirit, help me understand how to live out the good and true examples of theย Bible in my life.

Prayers of Readiness

Author of Creation, I want to take more time to meditate on your word.

God, help me see opportunities for unity today.

 

Reading the Bible through Scripture meditations can be an easy way of connecting with God each day. For more Scripture meditations, visit this page!

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Versionยฎ, NIVยฎ. Copyright ยฉ 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.โ„ข Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The โ€œNIVโ€ and โ€œNew International Versionโ€ are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.โ„ข