For the past two years, I have had the privilege of working with young people in schools and churches. When I go into schools and meet young people of all ages, I often wonder what the most valuable thing I could do for them might be. My conclusion is that, alongside showing them God’s love through genuine relationships and pastoral care, one of the most important things I can do is to inspire them to read the Bible themselves.
The Bible is unique. It provides the foundation for Christian life and is the divinely inspired word of God. Yet both young people and adults often find this one of the hardest books to read and don’t always know where to start. I have certainly felt this at times.
I want to share some reflections on how we can help our young people read God’s word so they can recognise for themselves that ‘all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work’ (2 Timothy 3:16–17).
Help them become passionate about the Bible
Sometimes it’s helpful to look for their passions and connect those to scripture. What is it they care most about? Their family, their school friends, their church, their sports team? So many of the themes at the heart of these interests are found in the Bible. Begin to show them how the Bible relates to the things they are passionate about. The more they see their life overlapping with the Bible, the more confident they will become in seeking answers from it. You want to show them that the Bible is still relevant and essential for all our lives.
Young people look up to their leaders and so it’s also essential to show your own personal desire for reading the Bible. It would be hard to help them feel passionate about it if you do not feel the same. Be honest with them that it can be hard, but also explain how it has guided and shaped your life. Young people are very observant and they will notice if you have an active relationship with the Bible, which will inspire them to find out why.
Show them how to read the Bible in youth sessions
Sometimes I have asked my group to quickly turn to a Bible verse and realised that for some of them this a terrifying task as they have never really opened a Bible before. It’s important to show them how to find passages, explain what the Old and New Testaments are and get them familiar with the contents page!
Modelling a Bible study is a great way to help them open up the text in a safe and welcoming environment. I tend to prepare questions in advance that will get them talking and discussing passages. I often start my questions by asking them what struck them about the story and then lead into who, what, when, where, why and how questions.
As they become more familiar with it, they will begin to apply it to their own lives, which is key. This can be encouraged by applying the Bible to all you do with them (even in subtle ways). Encourage them to get a Bible app so it’s quick and easy to. Get them familiar with God’s word!
Mentor them as they read the Bible
Find opportunities to meet up, not only to develop relationships, but also to actually read the Bible with them. Make it a regular thing. Sometimes this might mean asking other youth leaders to do the same or asking some of your mature youth members to meet with younger ones. Help them to be accountable to one another; to create a culture where it is normal to ask one another how reading the Bible is going and pray for one another.
If young people can have a relationship with the Bible they can develop a personal and growing relationship with God, learn how to hear God’s voice, engage with the teachings of the Bible and truly live life to the full (John 10:10)!
_Katherine Miller is Schools and Youth Chaplain for the Kensington Area of the Diocese of London._