Studying a passage with someone: reading the Bible together
We often read the Bible alone, which is good. But some things can only be seen by two: a nuance, a question, an objection. This quest invites you to study a passage with someone else, during the week.
What it looks like in your day
You don't need to be a theologian. All it takes is a passage, a person and twenty to thirty minutes. Here is a simple outline:
- Choose the person. A friend, your spouse, a brother from church, an open-minded colleague. Suggest: "Would you like to read a passage together?"
- Choose the passage in advance. A short story, a psalm, a paragraph from a letter. Send it ahead of time.
- Read it aloud, each taking every other verse, or one after the other.
- Ask three simple questions:
- What does this text say? (observe) - What does it mean? (understand) - What do I do with this? (apply)
- Pray briefly together, to give thanks and ask to live what you have seen.
A few tips: let the other person speak first; don't try to be right; accept not understanding everything; stay in the passage rather than wandering off to side topics.
If you are in a hurry, twenty minutes is enough. If you are a beginner, take a Gospel story. If you are shy, suggest it to someone you know well: studying in twos is simpler than a group.
What the Bible says
The story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus shows Jesus himself drawing near to two disciples in the middle of a discussion:
“And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?”
They were walking, talking, discussing what had happened. It is in this dialogue that Jesus joins them and explains the Scriptures to them (Luke 24:27). A conversation between two believers is a place where he makes himself present.
In the book of Acts, Priscilla and Aquila take aside a man who spoke with eloquence and expound to him the way of God more perfectly:
“And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.”
This couple did not make a grand speech: they took him with them and shared what they knew. And in Hebrews, the instruction is to watch over one another:
“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:”
Studying in twos is exactly that: provoking one another to love and to good works, thanks to the Word.
Pitfalls to avoid
Wanting to teach. If one of you "gives the lesson," the study becomes a class. Keep a spirit of equality: you are searching together.
Getting lost in debates. Some passages stir up disagreements among Christians. Stay with what the text says, rather than the controversial topics.
Staying on the surface. Avoid talking only in generalities. Ask specific questions: who is speaking? To whom? Why at this moment?
Lacking follow-up. A single study time can be precious, but the best thing is to keep going. Suggest doing it again the following week.
Revealing what is shared. The other person may share personal things. Respect confidentiality.
Today, think of one person and send them a message: "How about we read a passage together this week?"