“I’m thrilled for us to embark on our next ancient Practice of Jesus—Scripture. This is not just a habit or a discipline; it’s an intentional act of weaving the Word of God into the very fabric of our lives.
Jesus and Scripture are inseparable. To follow Him is to immerse ourselves in the words that reveal His heart, His mission, and His way. For our purposes, we’re defining this Practice as:
Slow, prayerful, contemplative reading of Scripture with the goal of formation, not only information.
Over the next four weeks, we’ll walk together through four aspects of this Practice: Read, Meditate, Study, and Memorize. Each will give us a different way of engaging with the Word—not just to know about God, but to be formed by Him.
When I first stepped into the role of Senior Pastor, I was asked many questions about theology, beliefs, and values. Again and again, my answers found their way back to this core conviction: The Bible is infallible and inerrant.
Across Catholic, Protestant, and Eastern Orthodox traditions—and in the many denominations that have grown from them—there are differences in theology. But for me, it begins with the reliability and authority of Scripture. Without that foundation, our faith becomes unmoored, like trying to navigate without a compass.
I often liken it to asking, “Do you believe in a universal moral law?” As a former atheist, and in ongoing conversations with those who doubt or wrestle with faith, I find this question essential. Without shared ground—without some unshakable truth—our conversations drift into an “anything goes” reality, where it’s hard to find clarity or direction. If the Bible were merely a collection of human ideas open to any interpretation, it would lose the power to guide, correct, and transform.
But my own life tells a different story. I see a world of intelligent design and deep purpose—a world in which the God of the Bible is actively present, speaking, shaping, and redeeming. Scripture is not just ancient wisdom; it is God-breathed truth that invites us into a spiritual reality overflowing with life.
And Jesus himself affirmed this again and again:
- “Scripture cannot be set aside” (John 10:35)
- “David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared…” (Mark 12:36)
- “I have not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill them”(Matthew 5:17)
- “Not the smallest letter… will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished” (Matthew 5:18)
To be with Jesus is to read Scripture daily, allowing it to soften and open our hearts.
To become like Jesus is to adopt His worldview, letting the Word shape our thinking and our living from the inside out.
To do what Jesus did is to let Scripture move from the page into action—into the way we love, serve, and live in this world.
I’m deeply excited for this next season of practicing Scripture together—not as an academic exercise, but as a living, breathing encounter with God. I need more of this discipline in my own life, and I look forward with great anticipation to what God will reveal to us as we slow down, open His Word, and allow Him to transform us. And, like the early church, we do this Practice together in Community. How appropriate then that we engage in The Scripture Practice immediately following The Community Practice.”