Bible Bridges: Part 3

Have you ever looked at people's photo albums that are posted on social media? If you really do take a few minutes to scan them, it is likely the ones you pause on for a moment contain people. Photographs grab our emotions best when framed with stunning scenery and staged with people in unplanned, candid sots. That is even truer when it's with our dearest loved ones! As stunning as a rainbow might be, it is more meaningful when shared with other people. It is in living community that our travels yield the most meaning.

As we get a little further on this journey of an interactive Bible study, there is another important aspect about our travel plans: the biblical pattern of Bible study is in with other people. This is precisely why I've described this as interactive. Too often we think of our walk with Christ in isolated individualism. My walk. My devotional time. My quiet time. All these personal moments are not utterly without value, but the early church knew nothing of doing this journey alone.

Allow me to illustrate this:

   “And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:40–47, ESV)

There is so much that could be unpacked here. For now, notice the plural pronouns. The dramatic events leading to Peter's sermon culminated in a mass conversion. This must have been an amazing scene! Can you picture it? 3,000 converts and none of them wanted to do this alone. 

Note that Acts 2:42 shows they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching. It is fair to say, given that many of these converts had a strong background in the Hebrew Bible (we call that the Old Testament), that this devotion was an energized and interactive study. As Peter's sermon unpacked the implications of Christ's death and resurrection, they came to realize their need for repentance -- not only from their sins, but from a false view of Jesus. They sought to be retrained in handling Scripture. That interactive study was not done in isolation, but in the growing community founded on the Good News of Christ!

Questions

1. Do you agree that isolated Bible study is not the ideal approach? Are there risks to doing this exclusively by yourself? How far should this be taken? Should we never study by ourselves? Or just augment our time in the Word with others?
2. What are the best memories you have of a group Bible study that really challenged you to examine the Scripture well? Did it confront a presupposition you held? Did you realize there was a sin in your life that needed the public confession that James 5:16 affirms is a normal way of life for believers?
3. How might we reflect and change our extreme individualism that is so common in our day? What do you think would be different in a Christian community that really did some of what Acts 2 talks about?

Prayer

Lord, I confess that I have been too isolated from the brethren. I seek your help to better live life together with brothers and sisters in Christ. May the Father grant the church a renewed sense of a family that does this journey together, in Christ our Lord. Amen.