Churches develop programs for reading Bible

The words of Psalm 119:11 encourage Christians to hide the Word of God in their hearts in order that they might not sin against Him.
   
Pastors at two Alabama churches say their congregations are doing just that — strengthening themselves through campaigns to help members become more familiar with the Bible. Kevin Hurt, minister of education at First Baptist Church, Cullman, said his church has made available for purchase Bibles that identify daily passages to read for completing the goal.
   
“We’ve challenged people to read the Bible through in the year 2001, from beginning to end,” Hurt said.
   
The second option is that church members will at least read chosen passages of the Bible each day. Hurt said the campaign has other goals beyond members learning more about the Bible. “One target is for church unity, that we’re all doing something together,” Hurt said. “We feel like this is helping us become more unified.”
   
Hunter Street Baptist Church, Hoover, is also encouraging its congregation to become more knowledgeable about the Bible. Topper Reid, minister of maturity, said church members are using journals that include daily devotions written by staff members and church leaders, along with daily passages.
   
“Basically, we read a book a week,” Reid said. Hunter Street Pastor Buddy Gray focuses on the book’s author and major themes each Wednesday and preaches on that book the following Sunday.
   
Reid said Sunday School classes are also having brief “Discovery Moments,” where they discuss verses read during the previous week. Reid said enthusiasm for the campaign, which is expected to last through the spring of 2002, has been reflected in the church’s recent attendance.
   
“Our attendance — in the month of January — we’ve hit record highs, there’s a real excitement about everybody studying the Bible,” he said. Another part of the effort is that members are memorizing at least one verse of Scripture each week, which Gray refers to during each worship service on Sundays.
   
“I think one of the real benefits for us has been that many people had not picked up and read the Old Testament very much,” Reid said. “Everybody’s more New Testament today, so we started reading the Old Testament and they’re beginning to get a panoramic view of the Bible.
   
“They’re seeing some things and understanding some things that they had never
really pieced together,” he said. “Many people are not students of the Bible.”
   
Members of First Baptist, Cullman, who committed to the program also are receiving encouragement by the church to continue studying the Bible.
   
Hurt said a banner was placed in the sanctuary that reads “Year of the Bible.” He added that Pastor Edwin Hayes preaches messages related to what the congregation is reading.
   
Hurt has also placed daily Scripture references at the church’s Web site, www.cullmanfbc.org.
Encouraging response
   
It may still be early in the year, but church members appear to be committed. “The other day, our pastor asked who was up to date on their Bible readings and hands went up all over the sanctuary,” Hurt said.
   
Church members who are participating signed up for the campaign and Hurt said he plans to send them e-mail messages and letters as they complete major sections of the Bible.
   
Hurt said the initiative is important in helping committed Christians who may not have a strong knowledge of the Bible. “I’ve heard people saying how they’re gaining insights about the Scriptures — it’s putting it in better perspective in their lives,” Hurt said.
   
“When our pastor preaches those messages related to the Bible teaching, I think those people who hear that message are more in tune because they’ve just read those Scriptures,” Hurt said. Reid said many may have accepted Christ as an adult and were not brought up in a Christian home, leaving them without a proper knowledge of the Bible.