Upon the recommendation of a friend, I ordered the book One to One Bible Reading by David Helm.  When the bookstore let me know it was in, I picked it up and read it—thoroughly inking it up—all over a single lunch break.  How often can you say you read a whole book over lunch?  In this little book (around 60 pages of writing and 40 pages resources) David Helm simply shows the effectiveness of two or three people regularly reading Scripture together.  Even the best events, programs, and classes will miss opportunities and needs for true discipleship, but reading the Bible is an opportunity that works with anyone anywhere.  So Helm walks through the why, who, how, and what of reading Scripture one-to-one, giving great practical insight along the way.

I won’t labor over the content anymore, lest reading my review take longer than reading the book.  There is one thought that continually struck me as I read the book, though. How do I view reading the Bible with others?  Too often, it’s a “ministry” thing.  Sure, I’d read with an unbeliever or new believer. But when was the last time I read Scripture with a friend?  Has my unspoken answer become, “We’re beyond that in our relationship”?  How sad, if that’s so.  But reading the transforming Word is not limited to designated times of “ministry” or “discipleship.”  It could permeate all of our relationships if only we’d let it.

My favorite quote:  “If every ministry in the church should be Word-based ministry, then training someone who could assume ministry leadership will be not only a great encouragement to them, but also an effective way to multiply leaders who can bear more weight for the gospel” (page18).

Our prayer is that Willow Creek Baptist Church will continue to grow into a place where the Word saturates not only our ministry, but also our relationships.  And that begins with simply reading it.  Pastors reading with pastors.  Husbands reading with wives. Fathers reading with children. And friends reading with friends.

- Zach