As a pastor, I desperately want the people in my church to read the Bible. Not just when they come to big church or Bible study, but during the week on their own. I want the Lord’s people in my local church to read the Bible regularly and consistently. I also desire them to study, memorize and meditate on the Word. To that end, other pastors have taken two approaches to motivate people toward faithful Bible reading.

Two Approaches to Bible Study

Approach one emphasizes duty. A pastor can stress one’s obligation to read the Bible, focusing on how believers “ought to” read the Bible. I believe literate believers who have access to the Bible in their own language “ought to” read the Bible. However, in my experience, this approach often results in contrived guilt trips for not reading the Bible, legalism regarding the issue of Bible reading, and a general sense of burden in relation to Bible reading.

Approach two emphasizes delight. A pastor can stress one’s opportunity to read the Bible, focusing on the fact that believers “get to” read the Bible. In my experience, this approach results in a healthier approach to the spiritual discipline of Bible reading and a more joyful practice of reading the Word. Additionally, I think focusing on delight lines up more closely with the emphasis in Psalm 119. Repeatedly the Psalmist describes his emotions about God’s Word using words like “joy” and “delight” (Psalm 119:161-163).

Helpful Guidance to Read the Bible with Delight in God

So, if you want to motivate people to read the Bible from a heart of joy and delight, how do you do it? Here are a few thoughts:

• You must model delight for your people. Don’t expect God’s people to delight in God’s Word if they don’t see you delighting in God’s Word. Your preaching and teaching must be driven by a joyous delight in the Word of God.
• You must help people see the big picture. Often our people are frustrated by the Word because they don’t understand the big picture. They don’t know the overarching story of the Bible. Help them see that big picture, then watch them delight in God’s Word as they place each little story into the larger story of God’s grace.
• You must help people see Christ in the Bible. When people think of the Bible as a collection of rules or an anthology of the history, a spirit of duty will prevail. But delight will follow when people see how all of the Bible points to Christ and what he has done for sinners.
• You must be careful when suggesting “tools.” People often ask me to suggest a Bible reading plan. I do so gladly, but I also do so carefully. I never want to present a particular Bible study system to someone as the only right way to read the Bible. You don’t have to read the entire Bible each year to be a faithful follower of Christ.
• The truth is this: There are times when people go through a “dark night of the soul,” and in these times, God’s Word may not feel like a delight. In these moments, encourage people to listen to the Word out of duty and pray that God would change their hearts as they listen. You must encourage delight without ignoring duty.