As Christians, we believe that the Bible is the word of God. We believe that God speaks to us through his Word and that his Word is powerful. The result of these basic beliefs should be that we preach the Word, study the Word, and read the Word in our personal devotionals.
The Word must be part of all of our activities.
In “”, David Helm—pastor of Holy Trinity Church in Chicago and president of the Charles Simeon Foundation—helps us understand that what we believe about Scripture should affect a very basic activity in the life of every Christian: reading the Bible with another person.
One on One: Reading the Bible Together
David Helm
One on One: Reading the Bible Together
David Helm
Big Picture Books. 89 pp.
Big Picture Books. 89 pp.
When we seek to evangelize, disciple, or train, many times we prefer to do special events, but Helm tells us that reading the Bible with another person can accomplish these purposes in a very personal, natural, and mutually beneficial way.
“Why do we read the Bible ‘one on one’ with another person? We do it because we are convinced of the power of the Word of God. When people are exposed to it, they find salvation in Christ, are sanctified in faith, are trained for effective ministry, and become part of a network of relationships that is unparalleled by any other the world has to offer. (p. 15).
The natural response to this paragraph is “Wow! But how can I do it?” This book offers us a very practical answer to this question, in a way that encourages us to be part of a culture of ministry by the Word.
In his explanation of this Bible-reading culture, Helm says:
“This simple idea could profoundly influence the growth of the gospel, not only in your own life, but also in the lives of your family members and your friends” (p.12).
The possibility of all the members of a church reading the Bible one on one with a friend or partner is an incredible dream; Helm says that this type of activity should be part of the culture of our congregations.
How to read one by one
The book contains two main parts. The Part 1 answers basic questions about this important ministry. Why? For whom? How can I prepare? How do I start? Helm offers many practical ideas that span the initial invitation process and the grooming process.
The Part 2 gives the reader two simple strategies for reading the Bible one by one: the Swedish method and the THING method. Both methods can be used to read any passage or book of the Bible. Besides, the Part 2 contains some ideas for reading books of different genres in different contexts; For each genre there are sample questions for context, observation, meaning, and application (the 4 stages of the COSA model).
Finally, the appendix contains handouts that can be photocopied, with questions for both preparation in advance and questions to ask during the meeting. The appendix also includes suggestions for reading programs; for example, the gospel of Mark divided into 8 weeks of reading.
conclusion
By his combination of theory, answers to frequently asked questions, and resources, Helm has provided us with an invaluable resource that can be used in a wide variety of training and discipleship contexts.
But there is a temptation that we have to avoid. We might come to think, “Well, here’s another resource for believers elite, the pastors, the elders, or the leaders.” helm says No; the ministry of the Word is a basic activity for all Christians. This is not a special ministry for the pastor or professionals, but for everyone.
In this way, the book is a practical application of the concepts that Marshall and Payne have presented in the book. . If you have read that book and your answer was “Yes, but how?”, in “One on One” David Helm will help you find out.