How does Closer to God work?

The Bible is alive. Its covers contain the most powerful force in the universe: the Word of God. That's why when we read it the words can leap off the page and speak to us personally. These words have the ability to bring about change.

The Bible is the handbook for life. Although it doesn't have a precise answer for every question we might ever ask, through reading it we come to know God's perspective and are able to make choices which will bring about good for ourselves and for our world.

Reading your Bible with Closer to God, you're part of a worldwide family of people who read the Bible - God's message to the world. To get the most out of the Bible you need to do two things: you need to read it expectantly and you need to read it regularly. Closer to God is designed to help you do this. The notes that accompany each reading are structured around the prompts laid out below. Many have found this to be a helpful pattern for meeting with God in his Word. As you listen to God each day, you'll get to know him better and learn to respond to him in love and obedience.

Prepare

yourself to hear God's voice. Open your life to him. Ask his Holy Spirit to give you an understanding mind and a responsive heart. Read the Bible passage carefully, listening for what God has to say to you.

Explore

the meaning of the passage before you read the comments in Closer to God, asking yourself: What's the main point of this passage? What is God showing me about himself or about my life? Is there a promise or a command, a warning or example to take special notice of?

Respond

to what God has shown you in the passage in worship and prayer for yourself and others. Decide how to share your discoveries with others in word and action.

In each weekly series of Closer to God you will find:

A scene-setting introduction

Five main Bible readings with comments

Usually these form part of a comprehensive exploration of the Bible, but we also regularly feature theme weeks on a range of subjects relating to church life, doctrine and spirituality, such as spiritual gifts and disciplines, evangelism, grace, community and so on.

‘Going deeper' meditation

A more experiential approach to a Bible theme raised during the week.

‘Looking outwards' conclusion

A practical challenge for how to live out the Bible truths you've been examining in the real world.

Two extra Bible readings with shorter notes

If you read the Bible every day these will fit into Saturday and Sunday. If you don't have time to include these, the overall sense of the week's readings won't be affected, but if you do manage to read them you'll find they shed some further light on issues raised.