Looking at Christ

“One Christian taking the initiative with another individual to help them know Christ better and obey him more fully, through studying the scriptures, prayer (for and with them), and sharing one’s life with them – and leaving the results to God.” (Sophie De Witt, One-To-One: A discipleship handbook ) A church in North London has as it's vision for the church members - "Walking with others so that they might come one step closer to Jesus." I love that. Reminds me of an Australian article I read years ago which encouraged us to "seek to leave people one bit better than you found them." Just one bit better. One step further on with Jesus.  And the Bible is our key resource in doing that (2 Tim. 3:14-17). This is where the answers are. These are the words of eternal life. This is where people see the glory of God in the face of Christ in the pages of Scripture and are rescued, liberated and transformed (2 Cor. 3:15-18).  Often 'discipling' is b...

In this season of Covid-19 lockdown I'm struggling to read the Bible. And yet I know it's more vital than ever. So here is me re-preaching to myself some stuff I've read and come across over the last few years to get me/us back into the Bible for the right reason. Why do I read the Bible? Because I know I should Because I want to grow and change Because otherwise I'll feel bad when the guys in small group ask me how my Bible reading is going Because I want to build an impressive reservoir of Bible knowledge For other people - so I can share/preach/minister to them For an experience of God's presence and comfort For guidance in the decisions I need to make today Some of those are rubbish reasons. Some of them are right or at least half right. But none of them are a good first approach to God's Word. Turning to the Lord's Word for guidance is a good instinct. We do need his wisdom, a right fear of him, a right perspective, a right valuing of thi...