Opening the Book of Faith

For many of us, the encounter with Scripture is limited to the excerpts that are read on Sunday morning. Many of us—and many of our neighbors—are biblically illiterate, unsure of how to engage Scripture. Many of us are unaware of the rich Lutheran insights that have been helpful in understanding the many ways that God engages us through the Bible. The challenge of "Opening the Book of Faith" is to address these realities directly and to experience more fully the power of the Word.

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Open Scripture
Four Ways to Approach the Bible*
*Taken from Opening the Book of Faith, 2008, Augsburg Fortress.

Devotional Reading

What scares, confuses, or challenges me in this text?
What delights me in this text?
What stories or memories does this text stir in me?
What is God up to in this text?

Historical Reading

Who wrote this passage?
Why was this text written?
Where was this text written, and what do we know about that part of the ancient world?
How is this text similar to other ancient stories?
When was this text written and what do we know about that time in history?

Literary Reading

What is the plot?
Who are the characters?
What is the theme of this passage?
What is the setting for this passage?

Lutheran Theological Reading

In what ways does this text point to or lead us to Christ?
Can other passages in the Bible help us understand or interpret this passage?
What is the plain meaning of this text?
Is the interpretation we are commending accessible to everyone?

From the Pastor's Pen

Pastor David Halaas pens insights from each Sunday message.

Sunday, August 4, 2024

"Above all for Christians, the Bible communicates the grace of God in Jesus Christ. By speaking and hearing the words printed in the Bible, Christ is made alive for us.

We do not worship the Bible...we worship God who is made known to us Jesus and calls us into service for the sake of our neighbors."

-Pastor David Halaas