Faith and Formation – Reading in Faith Heb. 11:6 (NASB) “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him.” The negative: • It is impossible to please God without faith. • It is impossible to receive from God without faith. The positive: • WITH FAITH… it is possible to PLEASE God! • WITH FAITH ... it is possible to RECEIVE from God! • Faith is where the action is! • God’s Word tells us how we grow stronger in faith. • Faith can be strengthened like a muscle and formed in us by practicing three simple disciplines: Reading the Word of God (the Bible), meditating on the Word, and praying according to the Word. • These three disciplines are Biblical God-appointed means, to strengthen our hearts in faith. • Since it is the nature of faith to look outwardly to God, the goal of faith formation is to look outwardly to pleasing God and receiving from God. KEY: These three disciplines must be done in faith if we are to please God and receive from God. • Read in faith. • Meditate in faith. • Pray in faith. Today, reading the Word of God. Howard Hendricks, In Living By The Book, says some people don’t read the Bible because no one told them what they will personally gain by it. What’s in it for me, they ask? • Four reasons why Bible reading will help us please God and receive from God: We Read for Growth 1 Peter 2:2-3 (NLT), “Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, 3 now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.” • Peter tells us we are to read the Word like a baby craves milk. • Babies get cranky without the bottle. • Christians get cranky without the Bible. • Like milk, the Word satisfies and grows us in salvation. • A healthy baby has an appetite for milk. • A healthy Christian has an appetite for the Word. • If not… someone is sick. Recent polls give some good news about Bible reading (Pew Research, 2025): • Bible sales skyrocketed in the US in 2025. 19 million Bibles were sold in one year (double the sales from 2019). Bible reading is on the rebound… • 42% of US adults read the Bible once/week. • 50% of Millennials reported reading the Bible weekly – a 16-point increase from the previous year. • Gen Z increased Bible reading by 19 points from the previous year. • For the first time, Gen X and Gen Z are now beating the Boomers in weekly Bible reading. • Also, for the first time, younger men are leading younger women in Bible reading. • Good News! • The bad news is just 44% of self-identified Christians strongly affirm the accuracy of the Bible. The Doctrine of the Bible • The Bible is Inerrant – “without error” • The Bible is without error and without contradiction, in its original documents (autographs). • The Bible is Inspired – “God-breathed.” The 40 different authors of the Bible wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Their words are God’s words. • The Bible is Infallible – “certain, not misleading, not deceiving.” The Word of God does not and cannot fail. Martin Luther, “You are to so deal with the Scriptures that you bear in mind that God Himself is saying this.” As we read the Bible we will grow in truth. • Jesus said in John 17, “teach them your word, which is truth.” We Read for Maturity Hebrews 5:12-14 (NLT), “You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word… 13 For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. 14 Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.” • The words, “So long” in v12, tell us that these Hebrew Christians have been Christians for a long time, but they are not maturing in the Word. • These baby Christians need to put down the bottle and eat solid food. What is reading for spiritual maturity? • Reading for spiritual maturity means reading the Bible to be able to teach others. • Reading for spiritual maturity means reading to know right from wrong. • Reading for spiritual maturity means reading to do what is right. • Howard Hendricks, “Spiritual maturity is not how much you know, but how much you use.” • Spiritual maturity comes by reading the Bible with the result of putting what you read into practice. We Read for Effectiveness 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT), “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” • All Scripture, means the Old and New Testament. • Scripture is inspired, is profitable, is useful. For what? • The Bible us useful for Teaching - establishing truth in our lives. • The Bible us useful for Rebuking - confronting error in our lives. • The Bible us useful for Correction - redirecting us when we stray. • The Bible us useful for Training - building our spiritual muscles into obedience. • The end result of the Word of God in our lives is preparation to handle any circumstances and usefulness in every good work for the Lord. We Read for Fruitfulness Isaiah 55:11 (NLT), “It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.” • The Word of God always does its work! • Jesus said in John 15, “… if my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples.” • Faith is where the fruit is… and fruit begins and remains in reading the Word. CONCLUSION Bible reading grows us, Bible reading matures us and Bible reading equips us to be effective and useful for the Lord, and Bible reading makes us fruitful in every good work. Bible reading is the first and most important step in faith formation. QUESTION: How is your personal Bible reading going? Four points for better and more fruitful Bible reading: Never read a Bible verse. Learn to read the Bible in paragraphs, chapters, and entire books). Never say, “I’ve read this before.” This is unbelief. You must read with faith to please the Lord and to receive from the Lord. Never begin reading without praying for God’s help to read/understand. God is the author of the Word. Ask Him to help you understand His meaning (God’s meaning is the only true meaning, but it has many significances and applications). Never forget to look for Christ. Jesus said the Scriptures are about me! Jesus often asked the religious leaders, “Have you not read?” They read the Scriptures but missed Christ in the Scriptures! Read the Bible looking for Christ.