Bible Study in the Congregation

Nancy Koester

Article Type: Article

Publication Date: 10/1/1993

Issue: Biblical Interpretation for Christian Ministry (Vol. 13, No 4, Fall, 1993)

Unlike the merits of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, the worth of Bible study in the congregation is not self-evident. In one denomination, a modest 20.7 percent of laity rated “studying the Bible with other Christians” as “very important." Compare this with a vigorous 67 percent for whom participating in holy communion was “very important.” No doubt there are many reasons for the disparity, not least among them pragmatic. Participating in holy communion typically requires no extra time above and beyond attending the worship service. Bible study, however, does take time. People will invest that time only if they think something important might result from studying the Bible together.

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