Column Entry, “Christian Family Practice: Bible Study,” by Jonathan Pettigrew and Diane Badzinski

Column: Let’s Talk Family: Conversations about Faith and Family Flourishing

Column entry: “Christian Family Practice: Bible Study”

By Jonathan Pettigrew, PhD, Arizona State University; Diane Badzinski, PhD, Colorado Christian University

Column Description: Let’s Talk Family: Conversations about Faith and Family Flourishing is a monthly column offering a space to consider research-based, biblically-sound practices for family communication. We all have families. And we all experience messy family communication from time to time. Our column focuses on what works and doesn’t work for helping families be a little less messy and a lot more rewarding. Please join the conversation.

August-September 2024

I [Jonathan] have been leading Bible studies since my teens, but a recent study has been my all- time favorite. My family and I were preparing for a cross-country road trip to see a play about Daniel developed by Sight & Sound Theater (It was awesome, by the way – I highly recommend all of Sight & Sound’s productions). To make sure we were firmly grounded in what is recorded in the Scripture, we read the book of Daniel as a family.

Together with our 16, 14, 12, 11, and 9 year-old children, my wife and I started reading and discussing the text. We didn’t read a lot at a time—usually about 10 verses in a sitting. And we didn’t do it every night—more like once or twice a week. Instead of watching a goofy movie or doing the dishes (which no one wants to volunteer for anyway) or reading a novel, we took 30 or 45 minutes to read a few verses, pause, and then share with each other what stuck out from the verses. The insights were rich! Sometimes convicting, sometimes encouraging, sometimes funny, sometimes enlightening, each person shared from time to time, and we all walked away with a deeper understanding of God, the book of Daniel, and even how we see God at work in our family.

So why is Bible study so important?

The Bible is the word of God, one of the primary means through which He communicates with us. To cultivate a relationship with God, we must dig deeply into His Word. Studying the Bible can both enrich our understanding of God and deepen our connection with Him. May we be like the Berean Jews, who “received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:10-11, NIV).

Scripture forms the bedrock of Christian faith, anchoring beliefs and serving as the standard against which spiritual experiences are measured. The Bible is solid, reliable, and trustworthy. Throughout history, Christians have championed literacy in general and Biblical literacy particularly (see “How the Irish Saved Civilization”). This can be evidenced by the number of ancient manuscripts preserved—thousands more and with more internal consistency between manuscript copies than any other work of antiquity. Reading and studying the Bible are integral to Christian heritage.

Bible study isn’t just academic, though, it can profoundly shape our lives. Scripture offers both guidance and conviction, leading us away from sin and towards righteousness. It can transform our hearts, nurturing a desire to emulate Jesus in thought, emotion, and action. “For 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” (Hebrews 4:12, NIV).

Studying the Bible collectively, whether as couples, families, or with a small group, brings additional benefits such as sharing wisdom, holding one another accountable, and developing deeper intimacy with God and with each other.

How do we get started studying the Bible?

Plan logistics. Some practical suggestions include setting a time for study and sticking to the schedule the best you can. Select a place free from distractions (and this includes technology). Articulate expectations. Start small, perhaps a 30 or 45 minute time slot.

Choose a text. Discuss and select a text— want to study the book of Daniel or the book of Acts or one of the four Gospels? It may go without saying, but to do a Bible study, you need to select part of the Bible to study. As basic Bible anatomy, there are 66 books (73 in the Catholic Bible), divided into old and new testaments. The Old Testament mainly shares how God works with the Hebrew people, including books of history, prophecy, philosophy and poetry. The New Testament mainly focuses on Jesus and the development of Christianity through the first-century. It contains four Gospels, the history of early missions movements and the church, as well as letters of instruction and encouragement to believers and congregations.

It is nearly impossible to study the entire Bible all at once (although there are excellent New and Old Testament survey courses), so it can help to select a book or a part of a book to begin your study. One recommended plan, especially for those with little biblical context. is to read passages “From Creation to the Cross.” The goal is to lay a sound foundation for understanding the need for redemption and Christ through a complete discovery of the Biblical narrative arc: Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration. This can be a seminal Bible reading plan for children and teenagers in a family.

Select a method. There are lots of ways to study the Bible. We present a couple of different types. To get started, it can be helpful to select one method. Then you can change the method for the next study or go through the same selection of the Bible using a different method. Keep in mind that the goal of the study is not to be a Bible scholar but to know God. Jesus lamented that some of the Bible teachers of his day knew the Scripture but did not recognize that the Scriptures testified that Jesus was the Messiah (John 5:39). So, whatever method you choose, we encourage you to select one that gets you into the Bible and helps you connect with God.

Howard Hendricks, a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary for more than six decades, suggests a three step process.

Observe: Here we need to be curious, asking questions and digging for answers. What does Scripture say? We might ask: Who is the audience? What type of literature is this? Why was this written? Why were these specific words or phrases used? Hendricks warns against relying on other sources at this point in the process. Make your own observations and hear what God is revealing uniquely to you about the text. Here you “sit” with the text. Take time to soak it in, meditating on the Word.

Interpret: What does it mean? What was the original author’s intent to the original audience? What cultural, contextual factors help us understand the passage? As a principle, letting the Bible interpret the Bible is a good practice, so draw your understanding of the text from the Bible itself.

Apply: Hendricks says, ask the question, “How does it work?” In other words, what ways does the Biblical passage inform how you live, what you do, or how you think?

Another method which is widely used in places with limited Biblical literacy is the “Discovery Bible Study” (DBS). DBS helps build community, friendship, and comradery among those studying, so it also can be done with a family or a few families. It does not have to be done with Christians. It is a useful method for people from different faiths or backgrounds. DBS focuses on understanding who God is, and in living a life of connection to Him, alignment with His Word, and a missional approach. A typical DBS involves reading a passage, having one or more people in the group paraphrase the passage, and then discussing:
What does this passage teach us about God?
What does this passage teach us about humanity?
If we believe this passage is from God, how must we change?
Who are you going to share this passage with before we meet again?

A guide for leading your own DBS can be found at: contagiousdisciplemaking.com/post/discovery-bible-study-questions

Make it fun. Volkswagen recognizes the power of fun, and to prove it they conducted a number of experiments. Their first, and arguably the most famous, is referred to as the “Fun Theory Piano Stairs” study. In this experiment, they installed a staircase in the shape and form of piano keys, and the stairs made the sound of the piano as people walked on them. This unique staircase was right next to an escalator, so people had the choice of taking the piano staircase or the escalator. You guessed it—Volkswagen was successful in changing people’s behavior, taking the stairs rather than the escalator, when making the desired behavior “fun!”

Making Bible study engaging is great for everyone, but it can be particularly impactful for kids and teens. Consider incorporating activities like Bible charades or acting out passages. Drawing scenes or characters – or having everyone draw what they imagine and comparing pictures – can also bring stories to life. Competitions or prizes for memorizing Bible passages can add an element of fun and motivation.

Another way to make Bible study fun is a reward system. The AWANA program is a great example of offering children and teens awards for Bible memorization. Within the family, we heard one inspiring story about parents who offered their son a hunting rifle as a prize for reading through the entire Bible. The boy loved to hunt, so he took up the challenge. He was motivated, at first, by the rifle, but through the process developed a deep love for Bible study and eventually became a pastor.

Another reward idea is to host a family movie night featuring a dramatization of Scripture (of course, Jonathan highly recommends Sight & Sound Theatres). Such visual presentations can enhance understanding and enjoyment of biblical narratives. There are lots of ways to make Bible study enjoyable, and when you encounter God in the process, they can become self-reinforcing and deeply meaningful experiences.

A story is told about a young man who asked the evangelist Charles Finney how he could defend the Bible to those who were disinterested or critical? Finney reportedly replied, “How would you defend a lion? Let it out of its cage and it will defend itself!” We encourage you to start a Bible study today and ask your family or neighbors or acquaintances to join. It can become delightfully consuming.

We look forward to continuing the conversation with you.

Jonathan Pettigrew and Diane M. Badzinski

References

Ancient Manuscript Comparison Chart from Christian Apologetics and Resource Ministry (https://carm.org/) retrieved July 17, 2024, https://www.thecollegechurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/HANDOUTS-Is-Scripture-Reliable.pdf

Discover Bible Study, https://www.dbsguide.org/

Howard G. Hendricks and William D. Henricks, Living by the book: The art and science of reading the bible (Moody Publishers, 2007).

Volkswagen. The Fun Theory 1 – Piano Staircase Initiative | Volkswagen. 26/10/2009. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SByymar3bds&t=1s

Paul Watson, “Discovery Bible Study Questions,” May 2021, retrieved July 17, 2024, https://www.contagiousdisciplemaking.com/post/discovery-bible-study-questions

Paul Watson, “Discovery Bible Study: Creation to Christ Scripture List, March 2021, retrieved July 17, 2024, https://www.contagiousdisciplemaking.com/post/discovery-bible-study-creation-to-christ-scripture-list

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