A Conversation about Explore

Around The Breakfast Table

Rediscovering Family Bible Times

When do you get together as a family? For meals… trips out… watching your favourite TV programme? How about to read the Bible together, and to encourage each other in your relationship with God?

Most parents are used to sending their children to school for their general education. So we do the same for their spiritual education by giving them to the children’s and youth leaders at a local church. If you have good children’s and youth groups at your church, that’s something to thank God for. Your children will benefit hugely from them. But if we check out what the Bible says, we’ll see that the responsibility for the spiritual education of children does not lie with the church, or its leaders. It lies with parents!... continue reading

First Thing

How To Have A Quiet Time

Many people have found that setting aside a regular time each day to read and think about God’s word, and to spend time in prayer, has been the power-house of their spiritual life and growth. Explore is designed to encourage, help and support you in this daily joy and discipline, sometimes referred to as a ‘Quiet Time’.

It's often a struggle to be consistent in finding a daily time to spend with God. Children, the busyness of life, special nights out, holidays, or just sheer exhaustion can all conspire to get in the way. However, there is no substitute for just getting into a good habit.

There are many patterns that suit different people, and yours may change over time. Whatever you choose to do, guard your time with God jealously. If you come to it hungry to learn from the Lord, and to feed on the truth, it will be a place of nurture and growth, and a source of direction and strength for your daily life.... continue reading

Open Up The Bible Video

Confessions of a Backsliding Bible-reader

I have a confession to make. I’m not very good at having quiet times. I know they are important. I believe the Bible is God’s living and active word that equips me for all I am called to do. And I know that building up my relationship with God in prayer is utterly vital. But I’m still rubbish at doing it. And I feel just awful as a result.

I could give you a list of excuses...

• I can’t do it before work because I’m too sleepy (I’m a classic put the dirty dishes in the fridge and the milk in the sink kind of person first thing in the morning).
• I can’t read the Bible on the way to work because I would throw up and I’m guessing that would be construed as more than a little unpleasant by my fellow-commuters.
• Once I’m at work I’m far too busy.
• And when I’m home in the evenings, I barely have time to eat before I go out to some meeting or other. Reading anything just isn’t an option.

But the trouble is, they are just excuses. Excuses that ooze out of my sinful heart.... continue reading

One Big Reason We Should Read the Bible

5 Reasons we don't:

1. I don't have time: life for many of us is increasingly frantic - particularly for those out at work with demanding jobs or at home with young children.
2. It's hard to understand: we prefer to have our teaching handed to us on a plate. Parts of the Bible seem difficult to relate to everyday life.
3. It's not important: In many churches the Bible is seen as less and less central to the Christian life. Other things have stepped in to take its place. I hear a talk once a week at church and go to a Bible study - so what's the big deal?
4. It's 'legalistic': Many people have grown up in churches where a daily quiet time is just one more box to tick in the Christian life - and react against it.
5. It's scary: This reason takes a lot of forms - it's 'uncool'; it doesn't fit with my freewheeling life; it's a bit extreme. Basically it boils down to this: "I'm happy with my Christian life like it is, and I'm secretly worried that starting to read the Bible will bring bigger changes into my life."

1 BIG reason we should

John is on the go from when the alarm goes off at 6:45 to when he drops into bed exhausted at midnight. It makes him dizzy even thinking about all the roles he has to fill: worker, husband, dad, friend. Oh... and being a Christian... Bible reading? There's just no time!

Sarah feels pretty much the same. She loves the talks at church on Sunday and the discussion at her Bible-study group mid week. But when she tries to open the Bible on her own, it somehow seems so much more complicated and difficult. John and Sarah are typical of a growing trend among Christian believers, for whom the Bible remains a closed book from Monday to Saturday...

You may feel like John or Sarah. We sympathise - we really do! And we don't want to pile you up with guilt. So here's the big reason you should think seriously about implementing this change. Are you ready for it?

It's brilliant!... continue reading