When you open to read the Bible, what might you expect, or look for? I think of what Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote in a letter to his brother-in-law: “This is how I read the Bible now. I ask of each passage: What is God saying to us here? What is God asking of us here? And I ask God that he would help us hear what he wants to say. So, we no longer look for general, eternal truths that are somehow self-evident to us. Instead, we seek the will of God, who is altogether strange to us, whose ways are not our ways and whose thoughts are not our thoughts.”

For Bonhoeffer, we listen for what is strange, what isn’t obvious, what’s at odds with the world, and for what God is asking of us, looking for ways to wed our minds and hearts and lives to God’s. We don’t read for our own advantage, but for what will sweep us up into God’s ways and work.

Great! But where do we plunge in? The Bible is big, sprawling, a thick jungle of genealogies, wonder, wars, teachings, an endless hodgepodge. Quite a few people have told me their bold, noble New Year’s resolution to read the Bible straight through. Way fewer report back later they actually did so. I’ve never done it. I think I’d get bogged down, or bored, or I’d read way too fast. The Bible’s not a page-turner of a novel. You linger over a page. You go slow, chew on a few words, and ponder.

When asked Where do I dip my toe in to the Bible? I often reply with the 5 P’s. Try Philippians, or a Psalm or two, or the Parables, or 1 Peter, or even Proverbs. All are accessible; no prior knowledge is required; and these Ps come in small chunks. Or P #6: Pick a Gospel. Plan to read through slowly over a month or two. Ponder.

You might also dig into and ponder the Bible passages I’ll be preaching on come Sunday – or that I just finished preaching on! That can be interesting. Yesterday I preached on Matthew 3:13-17, and this coming week I’ll preach on John 1:29-42. With either text, as you read you might just ask How amazing, unusual and hopeful is this Jesus? What is his impact on people in the story? and therefore for me, or today’s church? What is God saying to me here? Is the will of God tucked in there somewhere? Is God asking something of me?

Back to the 5 Ps: you could pick a Psalm. I’ll be talking soon here about Psalm 127. Or the beginning verses of Philippians, and the first several in 1 Peter – which I’ll also talk about soon in these emails. Read until you see something intriguing. Stop. Re-read. Ask: What is God saying to me here? Is the will of God tucked in there somewhere? Is God asking something of me?

I’d be delighted if you try your hand at this, and click reply and share thoughts you’ve had, or questions or struggles or little triumphs you’re discovering. Really.

   {Bonus episode: Prof. Ben Witherington of Asbury Seminary in Kentucky and I had a great conversation on How to Read the Bible in this YouTube!}