The Essential Bible Blog

Top 10 Reasons the Bible is True

noreply@blogger.com (Whitney T. Kuniholm) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 18:49:00 +0000

I've got a good friend who's probably a lot like you. He loves the Bible and does his best to read it and live it every day. There's one problem. Some of his friends say the Bible isn’t true, and he's not always sure how to respond. So I've created a list of the best arguments I can find for the credibility of the Bible. Interested? Okay, here are my Top 10 Reasons the Bible is True. (If I missed any that are important to you, please add them in the comment section below. I'd love to hear from you.)

Manuscript Evidence. There are way more copies of the biblical manuscripts, with remarkable consistency between them, than there are for any of the classics like Plato, Aristotle and Socrates. "There is no body of ancient literature in the world which enjoys such a wealth of good textual attestation as the New Testament." F.F. Bruce, The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable?
Archaeological Evidence. Again and again archaeological discoveries have verified the accuracy of the historical and cultural references in the Bible. The more they dig, the more it confirms the Bible. “It is important to note that Near Eastern archaeology has demonstrated the historical and geographical reliability of the Bible in many important areas.” E.M. Blaiklock, The New International Dictionary of Biblical Archaeology.
Eyewitness Accounts. The Bible was written by people who witnessed the events it describes; many were persecuted or martyred but never changed their story. Would you die for something you knew was untrue? “It is no moderate approbation of Scripture that it has been sealed by the blood of so many witnesses, especially when we reflect that they died to render testimony to the faith …with a firm and constant, yet sober, zeal toward God.” John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion.
Corroborating Accounts. There are plenty of references in non-biblical sources to the events described in the Bible. The Jewish historian Josephus, born in 37 AD, “provide(s) indispensable background material for the student of…New Testament history. In them, we meet many figures well known to us from the New Testament. Some of his writings provide direct commentary on New Testament references.” J.D. Douglas, ed., The New Bible Dictionary.
Literary Consistency. The Bible contains 66 books written over 1,500 years by 40 different writers but it tells one "big story" of God's plan of salvation that culminated in Jesus Christ. You can't even pass a secret around a circle of 12 people and get the same message at the end. “There is indeed a wide variety of human authors and themes (in the Bible). Yet behind these…there lies a single divine author with a single unifying theme.” John R.W. Stott, Understanding the Bible.
Prophetic Consistency. There are over 300 specific prophecies in the Old Testament that are fulfilled in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in the New Testament. “The very dimension of the sheer fulfillment of prophecy of the Old Testament Scriptures should be enough to convince anyone that we are dealing with a supernatural piece of literature….God has himself planted within the scriptures an internal consistency that bears witness that this is his Word.” R.C. Sproul, Now That’s a Good Question.
Expert Scrutiny. The early church had extremely high standards for what books were judged to be authentic and therefore included in the Bible. A book had to have been written by an Apostle or someone in their immediate circle, had to conform to basic Christian faith and had to be in widespread use among many churches. This was a careful process of “the people of God in many different places, coming to recognize what other believers elsewhere found to be true”; these writings were truly God’s word. G.J. Wenham, J.A. Motyer, D.A. Carson and R.T. France, The New Bible Commentary.
Leader Acceptance. A majority of the greatest leaders and thinkers in history have affirmed the truth and impact of the Bible. "I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given man. All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us through this book. But for it we could not know right from wrong.” Abraham Lincoln.
Global Influence. The Bible has had a greater influence on the laws, art, ethics, music and literature of world civilization than any other book in history. Can you think of one that even comes close? “Christianity”, as set forth in the Bible “is responsible for a disproportionately large number of the humanitarian advances in the history of civilization—in education, medicine, law, the fine arts, working for human rights and even in the natural sciences….” Craig L. Blomberg, in Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith.
Changed Lives. From St. Augustine to Martin Luther to Joni Eareckson Tada to countless everyday men, women and children, the words of the Bible have transformed lives unmistakably and forever. “As unnamed masses of Christians down through the ages have shown us, the Bible is the most reliable place to turn for finding the key to a life of love and good works.” T.M. Moore, The Case for the Bible.

I hope this list helps you become more confident about the Bible. But don’t forget: whenever you have an opportunity to defend God's Word, be sure to “speak the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15). No one listens to an angry Bible reader. (If I missed any reasons that are important to you, please add them in the comment section below. I'd love to hear from you.)

Watch Out for The Bible!

noreply@blogger.com (Whitney T. Kuniholm) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:41:00 +0000

I bet you're wondering what to do on Sunday nights in March, right? No worries; I've got the answer. You can watch The Bible on The History Channel. This incredible 10-part miniseries premieres March 3 at 8:00 pm (7:00 Central) and was produced by Mark Burnett (Survivor and The Voice) and features Roma Downey (Touched by and Angel). What's unique about the show is that it combines live action and computer generated imagery to tell the whole story of the Bible in a fast-paced, unforgettable way. Scripture Union is one of several ministries involved in getting the word out. Check out the video trailer below. Then watch out for The Bible in March!

NFL Bible Reading Revival?

noreply@blogger.com (Whitney T. Kuniholm) — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 01:46:00 +0000

A recent study by The Barna Group found that most Americans believe pro athletes have more influence on society than pastors or other faith leaders. If that's true, then people like Tony Dungy are among the most influential advocates for God's Word in America today. Just listen below to what the Super Bowl-winning coach and analyst for NBC Sports said just before Super Bowl XLVII. Imagine a nationwide Bible reading revival beginning in the NFL. (For more video about Bible reading in the NFL go to Scripture Union.org)

Reaching Out to Bible Skeptics

noreply@blogger.com (Whitney T. Kuniholm) — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 15:24:00 +0000

Most of the people I hang out with love the Bible. They read it every day and promote it whenever they can. But lately I've been thinking about those who don't like the Bible. How should the Christian community respond to them?

In a recent interview in TIME Magazine, Ian McKellen, the actor who masterfully plays Gandalf in the new movie The Hobbit (as well as in the Lord of the Rings movies), said that as a long-time gay rights advocate he regularly rips Leviticus 18 out of hotel Bibles. A self-admitted atheist, McKellan has sometimes attacked the credibility of the Bible in his public interviews. So how should those who love God's Word respond to such high-profile opposition?

It's a tricky issue, but I believe if we respond in a Christlike way, Christians may be able to turn public criticism of the Bible into effective promotion of it. So let me offer three simple ways we can do this.

First, we need to be regular Bible readers ourselves. It does no good to tell the world to do something the church is failing to do. And to honest, recent studies of Bible reading among church-goers show that we have a lot of work to do here.

Second, we need to make sure the tone of our response is loving. I disagree with Mr. McKellen on his views of the Bible, but if I respond as an "angry Bible reader," then I've missed the point; I'm only a "resounding gong or a clanging cymbal."

Third, we need to pray for those who reject the Bible. In spite of how it appears, Ian McKellen may be spiritually searching. I'm no psychologist, but I know that sometimes external resistance can mask an internal question. I also know that if we ever hope to see "Bible reading revival," then Bible groupies like me need to become more effective at reaching out to Bible bashers like McKellen.

In an odd way, Mr. McKellen's interview may have promoted Bible reading. Thousands of TIME readers are likely to dust off their Bibles to find out what Leviticus 18 says. I admit, it's not the easiest place to begin, but it's a start.

So if you decide to watch The Hobbit over the next few weeks, use it as a reminder to pray for Ian McKellen and anyone else you know who's skeptical about the Bible. Ask God to reveal his love and truth to them, perhaps through you, in a fresh new way.

The Scripture Union Secret

noreply@blogger.com (Whitney T. Kuniholm) — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 15:55:00 +0000

I've just returned from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where I participated in a very unique gathering called Living Hope--five days of worshiping, praying and working with Scripture Union International leaders from around the world.

What a joy and privilege it was to stand with my sisters and brothers from every tribe and every nation; it was a picture of heaven on earth. But I have to say the experience also left me with a question, "Why has Scripture Union spread to 120 countries, and lasted for over 145 years?"

In other words, what's Scripture Union's secret?

I think part of the answer is our Aims: Bible engagement and children's outreach. Since the founding of Scripture Union in 1867, those have been the twin rails that have guided the movement. And as it turns out, research now shows those are two of the most strategic mission opportunities in the world today. Another part of the answer is our commitment to contextual ministry: we encourage each country to develop programs that fit their culture.

But as I interacted with my colleagues at Living Hope, I was reminded that the distinctive feature of Scripture Union is something far more basic: we are a fellowship of people from all countries, cultures and Christian denominations who have built our lives around the simple practice Bible reading and prayer. And we do so not just out of a desire for more biblical knowledge or for greater spiritual discipline. Rather, what drives Scripture Union is a quiet passion for meeting God every day in his Word.

That's what inspires us to help people of all ages read God's Word. That's what motivates us to present God's Good News to the next generation. That's what compels us to reach out to a world in need. And that, I realized as I made the long trek home from Malaysia, is the Scripture Union secret. And I thank God Scripture Union USA is part of such an amazing global family.

A Christian "October Surprise"

noreply@blogger.com (Whitney T. Kuniholm) — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 21:21:00 +0000

As we come down to the wire in the US election, both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are nervously watching for an "October Surprise," a significant, unscripted event that will push momentum (aka "Big Mo") their way. Well, I've come up with a "Christian October Surprise" that either candidate could use to dramatically influence the tone and outcome of the election. And I'm going to reveal what it is, right here, right now, in this lowly, little Bible reading blog.

Thirty years ago, Ronald Reagan asked, "Are you better off today than you were four years ago?" That tipped momentum his way and propelled him to victory over Jimmy Carter. Ever since, politicians have pounded voters with variations of that question like it was a game of Whack-a-Mole.

So I have my own variation of the question, one I believe every Christian should be asking this political season: "Are you more loving today than you were four years ago?" What if either President Obama or Governor Romney made that the theme of their next debate or stump speech? Better yet, what if they both did? Now that would be an October Surprise.

I know, it probably won't happen. But as Bible-believing Christians, isn't that the question we should be asking ourselves, regardless of our political affiliation? If we don't, then all our well-meaning Christian activism runs the risk of making us sound like noisy political gongs or clanging partisan cymbals (1 Cor. 13:1).

Now Starring...the Bible!

noreply@blogger.com (Whitney T. Kuniholm) — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 14:31:00 +0000

Does it ever bother you that the Bible seems to get such bad PR in the mainstream media? Yeah, me too. But that's why I'm interested in a new TV show that's recruited the Bible as its star.

The show is called The American Bible Challenge (premiering August 23 on the Game Show Network) and it's hosted by comedian, author and television personality, Jeff Foxworthy. He also hosts another game show on the Fox Network, Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?

But The American Bible Challenge is like no other game show because it helps people have fun putting their knowledge of the Good Book to the test. "The thing I loved about it," says Foxworthy, "is the people weren't playing for themselves. They were playing for a charity or a ministry. It's a win-win."

The show has the backing of two ministries that Scripture Union has partnered with over the years: The Salvation Army is the main sponsor, and the American Bible Society is the behind-the-scenes Bible study engine.

The producers of The American Bible Challenge claim it's a game show that's been "3,400 years in the making." Whoa. That's a lot of market research. I just hope it's a big hit because in addition to getting some good PR for the Bible, it'll expose more people to the life-changing message of God's Word.

The Dog Days of Bible Reading

noreply@blogger.com (Whitney T. Kuniholm) — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 18:38:00 +0000

With St. Ignatius "whose heart was
always striding forth in eager desire
for Jesus." (From the plaque)

Do you ever feel like your devotional life has become dry and lifeless, like a hot summer day? You try to read God's Word, and you try to pray. But you feel like you’re spiritually wilting away inside. I've been there, many times. But recently I discovered a way to experience personal Bible reading revival that surprised me because it was so simple.

Here's what happened. I went on a 3-day silent retreat at a Jesuit Center near Reading, PA. I've taken personal retreats before and usually I study a book of the Bible then pray for long chunks of time. But this time I was tired and stressed out, and had to force myself to go. When I arrived, I struggled to get into retreat mode, but it just wasn't happening. I was sitting there in a daze.

So I gave up and went for a walk. After a while I stopped and began reading the Psalms aloud, beginning with Psalm 1. No thinking, no analysis. I just read aloud with expression, then moved on to the next one. I was amazed at how that simple practice made the Bible come alive again for me. Then I started praying aloud too. And the more I read and prayed aloud, the more I felt God was present with me, and that we were having a dialog.

By the end of the 3 days I had done a lot of walking, and a lot of Bible reading and prayer outside. I made it all the way to Psalm 81. I learned that experiencing God's presence comes in "moments," 5 minutes or so when I become very aware of the Spirit's presence. Those are times of pure joy and renewal. But then, the moment dissipates and I realize I'm thinking about golf, or work, or something I want to buy. My attentiveness to God drifts. Instead of feeling guilty, I just say, "OK, that's it for now...", and get up and walk to a new place and begin again.

If you're experiencing the dog days in your devotional life right now, I’d encourage you to take a walk with a small Bible and begin reading it aloud and talking to God. You’ll be amazed at how soon you’ll feel in step with the Spirit once again (Galatians 5:25).

Bible Reading Revival Message Resonates Globally

noreply@blogger.com (Whitney T. Kuniholm) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 20:12:00 +0000

I've just returned from a 23-day speaking trip to England, Scotland and South Korea. Before I left I wondered if my "Bible reading revival" message would resonate outside the USA. Now that I'm back, I realize I received a very clear answer.

I think the best way to help you understand what happened is to let you read my Mission Trip Report which has excerpts from a journal I kept on my trip and photos that were taken along the way (like the one of me preaching in bedroom slippers!) But here's the bottom line: after speaking 4 times in Scotland and 10 times in South Korea I discovered that the vision of Bible reading revival does resonate in different countries. And E100 is transferable to different cultures.

I’m now convinced that Scripture Union's "essential vision" is a global message and E100 is a global program. And it's spreading much faster than I ever imagined when God put the idea in my heart while I was doing my own devotions 10 year ago. Amazing!

Check out the Mission Trip Report I prepared for the folks who were praying for me. And if you were one of them...thanks so much!

FREE e-Book: The Essential Secret

noreply@blogger.com (Whitney T. Kuniholm) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 20:40:00 +0000

How do you get “average Christians” to establish and maintain a habit of regular of Bible reading? That may seem like a rather mundane religious question; aren’t there more important issues for Christian leaders to think about? Maybe.

But I’m convinced that correctly answering that simple question is one of the most significant challenges and opportunities for the Western Church today.

Because the real issue behind the question is not just the renewal of a personal spiritual discipline. Rather, it’s the renewal of the Church itself.

So what I've done is write an e-book called The Essential Secret, and you are welcome to download it free. In it I’ve shared seven principles for getting entire churches reading and enjoying God’s Word. I've discovered that's really possible. For the past 10 years, Scripture Union has helped over 5,000 churches increase the level of Bible reading among their congregants through a program called The Essential 100 Challenge (E100®).

I wrote The Essential Secret because I want to share what we’ve learned from our experience with E100®; in essence, I want to give you “our secret sauce.” My hope is you’ll add some of what we’ve discovered to your ministry so that more of your people will begin reading and enjoying God’s Word.

Here’s a link to the free e-book: The Essential Secret. Feel free to forward it to your pastor or anyone who might be interested. Thanks!

(Much of the e-book content appeared in Uncover Magazine, a quarterly publication from the American Bible Society that is devoted to helping ministry leaders mobilize their congregations to engage God's Word)

Confessions of a Guilty Bible Reader

noreply@blogger.com (Whitney T. Kuniholm) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:05:00 +0000

Let me tell you a secret. I don't read my Bible every day. Maybe I should feel guilty, especially since I’m the president of Scripture Union, a ministry whose mission is to help people of all ages meet God daily in the Bible and prayer. But I don’t, and here’s why.

Every morning, Sunday through Friday, I start my day in God's Word and prayer. But on Saturday morning I don't read my Bible. Instead, I get a cup of coffee and read the newspaper, every section, including all the Sunday advertising inserts, which always come a day early.

Why do I skip Bible reading on Saturday? Because I don't want to let it become a legalistic habit motivated by guilt. I take a day off to remind myself that a meaningful quiet time is not about punching in every day at the devotional clock. It's about developing a relationship with God.

Do you ever feel guilty about your devotional life? I think a lot of Christians do. That’s why I've written a new booklet, Confessions of a Guilty Bible Reader. It’s my attempt to honestly share some of the struggles and breakthroughs I’ve had as a lifelong Bible reader.

If you long for a closer, guilt-free walk with God, then I invite you to check it out. It has lots of stories and practical ideas to help you transform the basic discipline of Bible reading and prayer into an enjoyable daily encounter with God. (Click here to order Confessions of a Guilty Bible Reader.)

Uniting Around the Bible

noreply@blogger.com (Whitney T. Kuniholm) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 03:59:00 +0000

With Lamar Vest and the signed
Uncover the Word Commitment

A lot of people think the Bible is a divisive book, and I know why. They see Christians arguing over it. They see churches splitting over it. They see publishers and ministries competing over it. Wouldn’t it nice if the world began to see Christians uniting over it? Well I’m happy to report there’s a new movement in the church to do exactly that, unite around the Bible. And you can be part of it.

With Pastor Rick Warren at the
Uncover the Word Summit

The movement is called Uncover the Word and it’s sponsored by the Forum of Bible Agencies and led by the American Bible Society. Earlier this month, nearly 300 Christian leaders from all sectors of the Christian church, gathered in Orlando for inspiration, challenge and most importantly, to sign the Uncover the Word Commitment, a document that declares our common commitment to God’s Word, the Bible, and our dedication to reading it, living it and promoting it together, something Scripture Union wholeheartedly supports. If you’d like to be part of this Uncover movement, I invite you to sign the Uncover the Word Commitment yourself.

The Uncover the Word movement will be sharing research and resources for encouraging more people to read God’s Word on a regular basis. But for now, the “man bites dog story” is this: Christians are beginning to unite around the Bible. That's great news!

The Case for "Worst Practices"

noreply@blogger.com (Whitney T. Kuniholm) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:11:00 +0000

Next week I'm planning to attend The Uncover Summit, a 3-day event where over 250 Christian leaders will gather to consider the latest research on best practices in Bible engagement. But as I think about which speakers I want to hear, I find myself hoping that someone will make the case for "worst practices." Here's why.

Over the past few years, several ministries involved in the Bible cause, including Scripture Union, have spent time and money researching the most effective Bible engagement methods; we want find out what works. That's a good thing, and it has led to some important breakthroughs in our understanding of the impact of a regular Bible reading habit.

But we need to remember that "what works" is not just our methodologies, or programs or even our research "proving" that one approach is better than another. That's because the active ingredient in any Bible engagement program is God's Word and its ability to change lives.

Think of it this way. How many times have we heard about someone in a hotel room, drunk, depressed and suicidal, finding a Gideon Bible and coming to faith in Christ? And while I'm sure no one at the upcoming Summit would recommend getting drunk, depressed and suicidal as a best practice for an effective quiet time, nonetheless we have to acknowledge that there are times when that "method" has produced a positive outcome. And it has done so simply because "the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Heb. 4:12).

Of course, I'm not saying that we should forget about research, or that we should scrap our good programs and adopt "worst practices". But I am saying that all our efforts to develop and implement effective Bible engagement methods should lead us to a greater sense of awe at the power of God's Word to change lives, and a greater sense of humility about the role we play in that process. Because if we lose sight of that, we've missed the main point.

Church-based Bible Reading Revival

noreply@blogger.com (Whitney T. Kuniholm) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:04:00 +0000

For the past 10 years I’ve been on a mission to share the vision I believe God put into my heart for a church-based "Bible reading revival." I’m convinced that the simple practice of meeting God every day in the Bible and prayer is not just a commendable spiritual discipline. It’s also the key to the renewal of the church itself.

But don't just take my word for it. As it turns out, new research shows that Bible reading is the No. 1 predictor of spiritual health and growth among church-goers. That's why church leaders need to redouble their efforts to help the people under their spiritual care to “read the Bibles they already have.”

That's also why Scripture Union developed the E100® Bible Reading Challenge. It's easy-to-implement program that helps entire churches read 50 Old Testament and 50 New Testament passages together, and it really works.

Scripture Union has an E100® Pastor’s Kit that explains all the details and includes a live samples of all E100® resources. If you're a pastor, minister or priest, and you are interested in E100® for your church, just call our office (1-610-935-2807 x401) or email us (info@scriptureunion.org) and we'd be happy to send you a Kit...FREE. I look forward to hearing from you…soon.

The Bible's Greatest Story

noreply@blogger.com (Whitney T. Kuniholm) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:08:00 +0000

Would you be interested in a Bible reading program on the Bible's greatest story? Of course you would! Well, you're in luck because Scripture Union has just what you're looking for; it's called The Essential Jesus Challenge. It guides entire churches through 100 Old and New Testament readings on the story of salvation. Check out this video from our friends in New Zealand. Through a partnership of the Bible Society, Scripture Union and Wycliffe Bible Translators, The Essential Jesus Challenge is spreading across the country. Soon we'll be doing the same thing in the USA...and, Lord willing, around the world!

God's Word Brings Faith Alive

noreply@blogger.com (Whitney T. Kuniholm) — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 20:21:00 +0000

Do you believe God's Word has power to change lives today? This past weekend I spoke at the annual conference of Faith Alive, a lay witness ministry committed to spiritual renewal in the Episcopal Church. It was a wonderful opportunity to share my vision for church-based Bible reading revival. But the best thing about the weekend was not my messages. Rather, it was was the testimonies from Faith Alive leaders on the impact of reading the Bible.

One attendee shared that for the first half of his life he was afflicted with a debilitating stutter; it was so bad that he carefully planned his education, career and entire lifestyle around one anxious thought: I will never, ever be put in a position to speak in public. Then at age 24, as a Peace Corps volunteer in Africa, he attended a local church and to his shock was asked to read the Scripture passage out loud to the congregation.

The pastor, not knowing about the stutter, pressured him to read. As he stood in front of the church, he braced himself for yet another embarrassing struggle with his stutter. But to his amazement, as he began reading Ezekiel 37 about the Valley of the Dry Bones, his stutter disappeared! He was able to read the whole chapter with perfect clarity...and the stutter never returned. Today, the former stutterer is a parish priest who regularly reads, speaks and preaches in public with great effectiveness.

This weekend reminded me that Bible reading revival is not "my" vision. Rather, it's a reality and a spiritual power that has been alive among God's people for a long, long time. Let's pray that God causes it to spread like wildfire in our day.

What It Is

noreply@blogger.com (Whitney T. Kuniholm) — Mon, 02 May 2011 21:33:00 +0000

Bible engagement is on the move! More Christian leaders are talking about it. And more Christian organizations are spending money on it. That's all good. But I've been thinking about what it is; does anyone have a definition of "Bible engagement" that the average Christian can understand and remember? Well guess what? I'm going to take a crack at it.

But before I do, let's consider "what it's not." Bible engagement is not something only clergy can do; it's for everyone. And it's not something for people with lots of Bible experience; it's for Bible newbies too. And it's not just for people who like to read thick, dusty books before the sun comes up; it's for people who are hungry for meaning all day long. OK...so what is it? Drum roll, please...

Bible engagement is"the process of taking in and living out God's Word for the purpose of knowing him better and experiencing him more."

You can remember that, right? Now let me break it down for you:

Taking in...which usually involves reading, but it can also involve hearing or watching or drawing or singing, or you name it. I just got a new iPad2 and I'm discovering there are lots of creative ways to take in the Bible's message (when I'm not goofing around with the other apps).
Living out...it doesn't do any good to be a Bible-know-it-all if it doesn't make a difference in your actions. That's called hypocrisy. Over the years I've discovered the most effective Bible study "method" is to do what it says. That's when I really understand what it means.
Knowing him better...theologians say the Bible is God's "self-revelation." No matter what Bible passage you read, always ask, "What does this teach me about God?" If you want to know God, read his Book.
Experiencing him more...the Bible is like God's personal journal; reading it connects us to his personality, his heart, and we begin to sense he is "with us." For real. That's when the Bible becomes life-changing.

So that's my shot at defining Bible engagement. But I'm not saying it's the only definition. How would you describe it? Add a comment to this blog post and let me know...what it is.

Narnia and the Bible Reading Secret

noreply@blogger.com (Whitney T. Kuniholm) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 18:58:00 +0000

Have you seen the new movie, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader? It’s based on the third book in The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis. I was thinking about Narnia recently when suddenly it hit me that a famous detail in the story contains the secret to making the Bible come alive today. Let me explain.

As you probably know, one of the central images in The Chronicles of Narnia is the wardrobe. It’s through the wardrobe that the four children—Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy—enter into a whole new world where the lion king Aslan is alive, where Aslan is on the move. As the story unfolds, we learn that Aslan represents Christ; he's a picture of God incarnate. And that’s the secret: the Bible is like the wardrobe in Narnia.

Think about it; if our main focus in reading the Bible is relational, that is, to get to know the heart, mind and presence of God every day, then we enter into a whole new world where God is alive and God is on the move. But, if our main focus in reading the Bible is informational, that is, just to learn Bible facts, or gain Bible knowledge, or to stop biblical illiteracy in America, then we find ourselves in a frozen world, where it's more difficult to grow as a Christian.

So what’s the point of reading the Bible? It’s certainly not to become a Bible know-it-all. Rather, it’s to embrace Aslan. That’s what makes the Bible come alive today.

Bible Reading Revival in Albany

noreply@blogger.com (Whitney T. Kuniholm) — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 12:36:00 +0000

Last month I had the privilege of speaking three times to over 500 clergy and lay leaders in the Episcopal Diocese of Albany about the vision God has put in my heart for a church-based Bible reading revival. The truth is, I've been sharing this vision everywhere I can for over 10 years. But last month, an amazing thing began to happen.

My messages covered themes I've pondered for years--examples of Bible reading revival in the Scriptures and Church history, a new approach to Bible reading, a bigger vision for Bible engagement, plus an effective church-wide Bible reading program called The Essential 100 Challenge (E100).

But what amazed me this time is that God began stirring people to action. Bishop William Love took the lead by standing to say, "I'm committing to reading these Essential 100 passages myself and I'm inviting everyone in the Diocese to join me." After that, all 120 churches, reaching some 9,000 parishioners, agreed to take the Challenge with the Bishop.

In addition, people began thinking of creative ways to reach out with God's Word. A woman planned to start several E100 groups at the local university. A man felt convicted that his church didn't have pew Bibles so he made it his mission to find some. A parish priest convinced his Vestry to host a community barbecue where people could share their Bible reading testimonies.

A few weeks later, the Standing Committee in Albany passed a resolution which said, "The Standing Committee unanimously endorses and commends to the Diocese the E100 Bible reading plan by Scripture Union. The Standing Committee members commit themselves to complete the program and to encourage its use in their parishes."

I know it's just a beginning, but I believe God is igniting a Bible reading revival in Albany. Now I'm praying it spreads to other Dioceses in the Episcopal Church. And I pray it won't stop there. I pray it spreads like wildfire to the Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Catholics and yes, to seekers and non-believers too. I pray that God ignites a nationwide Bible reading revival, and I invite you to join me.

Top 10 Bible Engagement Books

noreply@blogger.com (Whitney T. Kuniholm) — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 17:27:00 +0000

It's the New Year and I bet you're already sitting around wondering what to do, right? Well, no need to panic because I've got the perfect solution, a do-it-yourself Bible Engagement Course based on my top 10 Bible engagement books. I'm convinced that reading these books could literally transform your experience of the Bible in 2011. So...you ready for the list?

Hang on...one comment before we begin. Because some are new to the notion of Bible engagement, I've organized the 10 books into a logical progression; they start with foundational issues and move to transformational issues (but you can read them in any order you want). And now, without further adieu, here are my top 10 Bible engagement books:

1. Understanding the Bible by John Stott. This is the best one-volume summary of the background and context of the Bible that you're ever going to find, written by one of my heroes. First published by Scripture Union nearly 40 years ago, it's a classic that should be on the shelf of every Bible reader. Great starting point in our little course.

2. The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable? Somewhere along the way every Christian asks, "How do I know the Bible is true?" This slim volume focuses on the New Testament (because that's the target of most doubters) and nails the answer. Reading it will make you a confident defender of the Bible.

3. How to Read the Bible for All It's Worth, by Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart. Once you understand the context and reliability of the Bible, you need some perspective on how to interpret the different kinds of writing it contains--narrative, laws, psalms, prophecy, Gospels, epistles and so on--plus a grasp of some basic hermeneutical principles. This book delivers all that in a readable format.

4. Shaped by the Word, by M. Robert Mulholland, Jr. Pastors and preachers often say, "God's Word changes lives." This book, by one of my mentors, helps us understand how that happens. It zeros in on the role of the Bible in the spiritual formation process.

5. Life with God, by Richard J. Foster. Understanding that the Bible is key to spiritual formation is step one. Step two is "re-learning" how to read the Bible so that spiritual transformation is possible. That's what Foster helps us do in this book.

6. Eat This Book, by Eugene Peterson. The author of The Message tackles an important question: how can Bible reading and prayer become a genuine dialog with God? If you're hungry for a Bible engagement experience that's more than just informational, this is the book for you. I love this book!

7. Reading Scripture with the Church Fathers, by Chris Hall. God's people have been reading the Bible for centuries. My friend Chris Hall adds depth to our understanding of Bible engagement by introducing us to how Athanasius, Chrysostom, Augustine and many other Church Fathers approached it. Those guys were good.

8. The Blue Parakeet, by Scot McKnight. To balance our historical perspective, we need to listen to some contemporary voices like McKnight's. His book steers around both liberal and conservative biases so we can catch a fresh vision of the big story of the Bible.

9. Hearing God, by Dallas Willard. How specifically does God speak to us through the words of Scripture, or through any other means for that matter? This book is the best answer to that important question that I've ever found, by one of the great spiritual writers of our day.

10. The Holy Bible. Of course, the best Bible engagement book ever is the Bible itself. No matter how many books you read and study about the Bible, there's no substitute for this: pray it in, live it out, every day. "That's what Bible engagement is all about, Charlie Brown."

OK, that's my top 10 list. What's on your top 10 list...what books would you add? Feel free to share them by posting a comment to this blog. Let's build a list of great Bible engagement books together. Thanks!

Good News About Bible Engagement

noreply@blogger.com (Whitney T. Kuniholm) — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 22:04:00 +0000

In my last post I mentioned a recent survey by The Pew Forum where atheists/agnostics scored higher in Bible knowledge than Christians. Doh! But this time, I want to tell you how I discovered the most significant and surprising outcome of the survey. It happened last week at the annual meeting of the Forum of Bible Agencies-North America, a group of Christian leaders that are in some way involved in "the Bible cause." You might expect such an event to be a real yawner, especially since the Bible is everywhere in North America already. What's to talk about? Actually, quite a bit. We invited Alan Cooperman, the man behind the Pew Survey of Religious Knowledge, to walk us through some of the key findings--that religion is very important to Americans, or that educational attainment is the single leading predictor of higher religious knowledge, or that...I hate to break it to you...a lot of Christians don't know their Bibles very well. So how did we respond? Did we booo, argue or kick him out for sharing such bad news? Far from it. We thanked Mr. Cooperman for helping us better understand the urgent need for Bible engagement among church-goers. Then an unexpected thing happened; at the end, we joined together for an impromptu prayer meeting (see the picture above). We called out to God for Bible reading revival; we asked God to unify us so that we could help people of all ages read and live his Word. Standing in that circle of prayer made me realize God had used a negative secular survey to ignite a positive ministry outcome. That's significant. So I invite you to join the circle; join us in praying for Bible reading revival in your church, your community and your country.

A New Vision for "National Bible Week"

noreply@blogger.com (Whitney T. Kuniholm) — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 16:45:00 +0000

Guess what? This is National Bible Week, the one time each year when US Christians unite to give three cheers for the Good Book. I'm all for that. There’s only one problem. It doesn't seem to be making much of a difference.

The most recent evidence came this fall when The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life released the results of a major survey on religious knowledge in the United States. Among many questions about religion, participants were asked about their basic Bible knowledge. When all the data was tabulated, the findings were surprising:

A higher percentage of Mormons could name all four Gospels than Evangelicals
A majority of Protestants couldn’t identify who Job was
Atheists and agnostics scored higher than Christians in overall Bible knowledge

That’s not good. The question is, how should Christians respond? Should we all get copies of The Bible for Dummies so we can pull ahead in the next survey? Maybe. But I think a better response would be to begin planning now for a different kind of National Bible Week next year. Here's what I'd suggest.

First, let's start with a press conference to confess that the church has lost touch with its own Book. Second, let's all take a vow, that's right, an old fashioned vow (Psalm 116:14), not to buy another Bible until we've read through one we already have. Finally, let's announce a 10-year effort to get more church-goers reading the Bible. If we really want to ignite a Bible reading revival, that's what it'll take.

But does that mean we should forget about sharing God's Word with a needy world? Not at all! I'm convinced the best way to get non-believers into the Bible is not to post the 10 Commandments in the courthouse, or to fight for Bible reading in the public schools, or even to give out Bibles on the street corner. Rather, it's for believers to become passionate about reading and living God's Word themselves. When that happens, the church will have the spiritual credibility and power to say "come and join us." I can't wait for that kind of National Bible Week in 2011. How about you?

Archbishop Leads Bible Reading Campaign

noreply@blogger.com (Whitney T. Kuniholm) — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 22:21:00 +0000

Want to see how one church leader is working for Bible reading revival? Anglican Archbishop Robert Duncan is promoting The Essential 100 Challenge (E100) throughout his entire Diocese of Pittsburgh, and he's hoping to expand the program nationally in the future. Check out this 3-minute video clip of his remarks (click the triangle in the photo below).

Devotional Lab Rats

noreply@blogger.com (Whitney T. Kuniholm) — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:15:00 +0000

My friends at the Center for Bible Engagement (CBE) have researched how the Bible affects personal behavior. They call their key finding "scientific evidence for the power of 4." The bottom line is that reading or listening to the Bible four or more times per week leads to positive moral choices. More so than church attendance, or even prayer. That's significant. There’s only one problem: the research may tempt us to overlook the most important part of Bible engagement.

The CBE’s study isolates the frequency of a person’s engagement with the Bible; the goal, as stated in their conclusion, is “four scriptural touches a week.” But is frequency alone what makes the difference?

What if a study found "scientific evidence" that kissing one’s spouse four or more times per week produced a good marriage? I'd get right on it. Every Monday morning, first thing, I’d give Carol four pecks on the cheek, plus one extra for good measure. Bingo! I’d have a good marriage, right? I guarantee you, Carol wouldn't think so.

What makes kissing significant is not just “the number of touches.” It’s also the nature of those touches and the quality of the relationship behind them. That’s the perspective we need to hold in balance with the "4 or more" finding.

The CBE has done the church a great service in researching what faithful believers have known for centuries: regular Bible reading makes a big difference. But let’s be careful not to respond by reducing Bible engagement to frequency alone, otherwise we may increase the number of devotional lab rats in the church, but decrease the number who meet God every day in his Word. And ultimately, that's the most important goal.

Luis Palau Recommends Scripture Union

noreply@blogger.com (Whitney T. Kuniholm) — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 16:15:00 +0000

Scripture Union recently celebrated its 50th Anniversary in the United States (internationally SU was born in 1867 and is now active in 121 countries). As part of the festivities, we invited international evangelist Luis Palau to tell the story of how Scripture Union helped him begin the daily Bible reading habit. Check out this 2-minute clip of his remarks (click the triangle in the photo below).