Reading the Gospels

Part of the Grace Church discipleship plan is STUDY, knowing the Word of God.  We are to choose a passage from a Gospel each week and answer these three questions:

• What truth is revealed in the passage?
• What does the passage reveal about my spiritual life?
• What does the passage teach you about how to act or respond?

I’d like to provide you with some gentle guidance as to where you might begin.  However, if you are comfortable with your own reading plan, please continue using your own strategies and plan. If you would like a suggestion or two, keep reading!

If you have never read a Gospel in its entirety, I suggest beginning with the Gospel of John; it’s generally a good starting place for the Gospels and the New Testament.

Before meditating and praying with small portions of scripture, try reading your chosen Gospel all the way through at least one time for continuity.  It’s easy to lose track of the big picture when you start and stop each day.  Reading a book all the way through in one sitting helps give us a sense wholeness.  If it sounds daunting, find a YouTube video or audio of the Gospel and read as you listen.  This practice increases our understanding of the text and helps keeps our minds focused. If you choose this practice, after one reading of the Gospel, take your time to read through the text a little at a time.

When you read a small portion of scripture each day, think of quality over quantity.  This method is a different strategy than the first. Don’t feel as though you must read an entire chapter or section, you may choose to read only a few verses at a time.

Before you begin reading, pray.  Most of us were taught to read scripture for information rather than for transformation.  Pray that God will reveal Himself to you in scripture.  Look at the three guiding questions before you begin to read. You may choose to read the passage more than one time; some strategies include reading a passage 3-5 times and at least once out loud as you pray and mediate on the words. 

After reading, pray through the questions and ask God to guide you in your responses.  You may choose to write down your answers or share them with a family member or friend.



Psalm 19:

The law of the Lord is perfect,
    reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
    making wise the simple;
the precepts of the Lord are right,
    rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
    enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the Lord is clean,
    enduring forever;
the rules of the Lord are true,
    and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
    even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
    and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward.