Invitations to read the Bible abound at the beginning of a New Year.
You can: read the Bible in a year, meditate on a verse a day, or tackle a chapter a day.
There are an abundance of reading plans to choose from.
We know reading the Bible is of utmost importance – God’s Word tells us so.
See Psalm 119:105, Joshua 1:8, James 1:22-25, Romans 12:2, Psalm 119:18, Proverbs 2:1-5, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12, Psalm 119:10-11, and Psalm 19.
But reading the Bible consistently is a challenge for almost every woman I know, myself included.
The State of the Bible 2017 report by Barna reports that “despite most Americans’ desire to read the Bible more, two-thirds of them (67%) say their level of Bible-reading is about the same as it was one year ago.”
All of our New Year’s resolutions to read the Bible more aren’t really sticking.
By February most of those attempting reading plans are seriously struggling or have given up altogether.
What if this year, we each made a point to gently encourage the sisters in Christ God has placed in our path to regularly feast on God’s Word?
I’ve got 10 ideas to get you started – from subtle to direct.
Pick one that’s easy to get started.
And pray about which one you should choose that’s a bit outside of your comfort zone.
Here are 10 Ways You Can Encourage Women to Read the Bible
1. Model reading the Bible – bring it to church with you and open it!
2. Share scripture verses from your daily reading on social media.
3. Give women interested in reading God’s Word a good study Bible (see my recommendations below). Create a line item in your women’s ministry budget for Bibles so you can give them to your women for free. Make Bibles available to your women – for free!
4. Read the Bible with your women’s ministry team. Set aside the first 10 minutes of your meeting to read thru a small section. Maybe you want to work your way through Titus as a group this year. Ask 1 or 2 questions about the verses before moving onto the business portion of your meeting.
5. Teach other women HOW to read the Bible. Use the READ Bible Study workbook as you mentor or disciple another woman.
6. Use the Bible when you teach, share a testimony, lead a devotion, or facilitate a Bible study. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat in a small group meeting and the Bible is never opened!
7. Invite women to read the Bible with you. “I’m going to read through the book of Matthew this spring, would you like to study it with me?”
8. Ask women what they are learning from God’s Word. Take care that you ask in such a way that’s encouraging and not accusatory.
9. Share how the reading the Bible is changing your life. What fresh Truth has God recently revealed to you? How is reading God’s Word helping you to better love others?
10. Offer the READ Bible Study for Groups in your neighborhood or church.
Not sure your invitation or encouragement will make a difference?
It can! The Barna report (referenced above) reports increased Bible engagement by 30% of adults when they see how the Bible changed someone they knew for the better. When someone they know asks them to read the Bible, engagement with the Bible increased in 20% of those surveyed.
God can use YOU to encourage women to read the Bible regularly. Are you willing?
I’ve seen firsthand the difference reading God’s Word on a regular basis can make in the lives of the women in my church. In the fall of 2016, God led our women’s ministry team to put down the Bible study books for a season and to focus on teaching our women how to read the Bible.
Out that experience was born the READ Bible study method. You can use that same method during your personal study time or as you study with a group.
To find out more information on the READ Bible study method click here for the individual or mentoring workbook and click here for the 4-book READ for Groups Kit (with a brand, new permanent price decrease).
You may also want to read:
Why I’m Tired of Bible Study Books
6 Reasons Your Women Aren’t Reading the Bible
READ Bible Study for Groups
Teaching Women to READ the Bible
My Favorite Bible Study Resources
One year ago: Favorite Posts from 2016
Two years ago: Vision Casting for Your Women’s Ministry – Part 1
Three years ago: 5 Tools to Use to Organize Your Women’s Ministry
Four years ago: How to Build a Women’s Ministry Binder
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