Rhythms: Bible

As we kick off our annual Rhythms series, we dug into why Bible reading isn’t just a churchy habit—it’s one of the primary ways God forms a church full of people who abide closely with Jesus. In John 6, the crowd wants Jesus for what He can give—but Jesus presses them to see who He is: the Bread of Life, the only source of true and lasting life.  In the message, we learned about the “hard saying” that caused many to walk away, and why Peter’s response is the turning point: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” We explored what it looks like to crave Scripture not out of guilt, but because we’re convinced Jesus is life—and His Word gives and sustains that life.  Message Highlights:  Main Point: Jesus is life and his words sustain life.  A church people love is built on people who abide in Jesus - Programs, preaching, and ministries matter, but the “secret sauce” is a church full of people who love and stay close to Christ.  The real issue isn’t knowing we should read the Bible, but wanting to - The question isn’t “Should Christians read Scripture?”—it’s “How do we get to the place where we crave it?”  John 6 exposes why many follow Jesus: not for Jesus, but for benefits - After the feeding of the 5,000, the crowd pursues Jesus mainly for bread, not because they want Him.  The “hard saying” is ultimately about Jesus’ identity and authority - Jesus claims to be the Bread of Life with ultimate authority—offensive then and offensive now.  Jesus doesn’t soften offensive truth—He holds the line - He doesn’t apologize, backpedal, or rebrand the truth. He presses deeper.  The Spirit gives life through the words of Jesus - Jesus’ words are “spirit and life”—they give life (salvation) and sustain life (ongoing nourishment).  Two responses to Jesus: walk away or worship - Many leave; Peter stays because there’s nowhere else to go—Jesus has the words of eternal life.    Practical application:  Diagnose what you’re really after when you come to Jesus - Are you following Jesus for what He can give (comfort, ease, solutions), or for who He is (Life Himself)?  Expect the Bible to confront you before it comforts you - If you only read Scripture when it feels agreeable, you’ll treat Jesus like a consultant instead of a King.  Pursue a “Peter” posture: “Where else would I go?” - When life is tired, anxious, lonely, or even going well—train your reflex toward the Word because it’s life.  Build cravings, not just goals - If you struggle to want the Word, consider practices that reshape desire:  Let communion reinforce the point: Jesus is the Bread of Life - Communion is a repeated reminder that our life is sustained not by what we can produce, but by Christ’s body and blood given for us.    Resources Currently Available at the Veritas Church Bookstore:  Praying the Bible A Praying Life A Simple Way to Pray Prayer Praying like Monks, Living Like Fools Inductive Bible Study How to Read the Bible For All Its Worth Reading the Bible Better   Do you have a question you want us to address? Submit it now!