Formation · <div id="hs_cos_wrapper_email_title" class="hs_cos_wrapper hs_cos_wrapper_widget hs_cos_wrapper_type_module widget-type-text" style="color: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit;" data-hs-cos-general-type="widget" data-hs-cos-type="module" ><div id="hs_cos_wrapper_email_title_" class="hs_cos_wrapper hs_cos_wrapper_widget hs_cos_wrapper_type_text" style="color: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit;" data-hs-cos-general-type="widget" data-hs-cos-type="text" >Issue 008 — Reading Scripture to Shape Your Soul</div></div>

The science & soul of spiritual flourishing

From

John Ortberg

Eugene Peterson wrote a parable comparing the Bible to a message-in-a-bottle to people trapped on an island (“I-Land”) of isolation and fear. “Help is on the way,” it said. It hardly matters, he wrote, that the message is fragmentary, or unsystematic, or confusing in parts. What matters to us is finding that there is another world, and that world notices our world. The message brings hope; our only hope.

Help is on the way.

— John

In This Issue

Recent Research

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Have you noticed that a lot more people have a Bible than actually read one? A key discovery of The Center for Bible Engagement is that the life of someone who engages Scripture four or more times a week looks radically different from the life of a person who doesn’t (“The Power of 4”).ⁱ

And American Bible Society research indicates that this difference includes higher human flourishing scores. More frequent Bible use and greater flourishing go together. Reading Scripture isn’t just about becoming a smarter Christian; it’s good for people—and essential for becoming a better person.

Even more than just reading Scripture, memorizing biblical passages has been shown to have significant mental health and fitness benefits—in addition to its contribution to growth in godliness and closeness to God. And these good things are amplified when reading the Bible together with other people.ⁱⁱ

i. BTW–reading the Bible four times a week can also malform human character, if we read it to be ‘spiritual’ or ‘right’ or able to out-argue other people. The most important rule I’ve heard when it comes to reading Scripture is to read it in a repentant spirit.

ii. The older I get, the more helpful I find this practice. Mihalyi Czikszentmihalyi’s initial book FLOW included almost a whole chapter on how essential memorization of choice passages is to human flourishing. It was practiced much more in the ancient world than it is today. Why?—Because people had nothing better to do! Now we do! We can binge-watch and doom-scroll!

Read More ↗

From the Archive

In the Field

What if you have a hard time understanding the Bible? BibleProject offers free animated videos with overviews of biblical books and key themes. And their guides, podcasts, and classes take you deeper. The result? A stronger grasp of how the Bible is a unified story that leads to Jesus.ⁱ

Scripture Union supplements that big picture with daily devotions, practical life applications, and long-term Bible reading plans. Their resources are designed to help a wide range of age groups—from kids learning about the Bible for the first time to adults who’ve been steeped in Scripture for years.ⁱⁱ

But suppose you want to remember the Bible’s main plot lines, key themes, and central characters for a long time? Walk Thru the Bible offers in-person, interactive, dynamic learning experiences for just that purpose. Hand signs, body movements, and vocal cues make learning important aspects of the Bible fun and memorable.ⁱⁱⁱ

i. Plus–the cartoons make it fun. Lead Research Scholar Tim Mackie has a wonderful conversation with N T Wright on YouTube; Tim and I had a very helpful conversation when Become New was starting. Also the Bible Project has snagged uber-Leader/Thinker Terry Storch!

ii. When are they gonna bring back the flannelgraph?–greatest teaching device since rabbis coated the text with honey for little Hebrew children.

iii. I went through this decades ago and can still remember great chunks of it: ‘Achan stole the bacon!’

Data Point

Soul Talk

Are you hungry to hear from God? How about feeding on his Word? And while dining on divine bread, let the author of The Message translation serve you up a helping of advice to get the most out of your meal. Eat This Book will fortify your reading of Scripture!

And while you’re eating, remember that this spiritual food is meant to nourish your soul and keep you spiritually fit. And that fitness will enable you to hear God’s voice in the Bible more clearly. Robert Mulholland’s Shaped by the Word explores the power of Scripture to form us.

What does it actually look like to let Scripture shape a life? Renovaré’s Carolyn Arends joins Carla Harding (Lectio 365 and 24–7 Prayer) and BibleProject’s Tim Mackie for a lively conversation about reading the Bible not merely for knowledge, but for lasting spiritual transformation.