Steven: The Bible is the lifeline to all that we know about God. Without it, we could clearly see that God exists. Just look around – God is everywhere. We can see His creation everywhere we look, we see His majesty in all places. Yet, something would be missing if it weren’t for the Bible. We still wouldn’t get a feel for God’s heart. We wouldn’t know what God’s will is for our lives. We wouldn’t understand that He created us for a higher purpose than we grant ourselves.
The Bible is the one true way that students can tell you’re actively seeking God. When I bring my Bible to small group every week, it’s not just a tool that I’m using to take something out of the instruction book God left for us. I’m showing my students that I’m not 
content with just knowing God exists – it shows that I want to know God. We cannot know God without reading the letter he wrote to us. If I were to die tomorrow, people would know I existed because there’s proof: pictures of me on the walls in my house, people’s memories of me, etc. But people would only have an opportunity to know what I’m about and what my passions are if they have the opportunity to see something I left behind for them specifically.
My prayer is that you don’t let your students be content with just knowing that God exists. Knowing He exists is too easy. Instead, show them that there’s so much more He has left for us to discover about Him – His love, His mercy, His kindness, His passions, His heart, His Son. These are all things that we discover through His Word. Don’t let your students be content with knowing about God. Let them know God.
Matt: To know God’s wisdom for our lives we need to know God’s Word. I don’t think we truly understand God’s love for us and all that He wants for our lives if we don’t study His Word. I know the more I read my Bible, the more I want to know more about God. This journey we are all on can be void of a lot of meaning if we don’t know and understand all that God wants for us and just how much He loves us. The more we know of Jesus’ sacrifice, the more willing we are to sacrifice for Him.
How do you help students want that same kind of knowledge? First off, you need to be the example for them. They need to know that you read your Bible on a regular basis. You might not have all the answers to their Bible questions but it helps if you know where to look. Second, I always make sure I have my Bible with me at Small Group. It’s hard to get after students for not bringing their Bibles if you don’t bring yours. Third, when you find a Bible verse that makes you sit back and say, “Wow that’s interesting, I never knew that verse meant that.” Share that with your students.
Here’s the bottom line, students emulate what they see. If they see you hungry for God’s Word they will want to see what all the fuss is about. If you don’t show that, then Bible reading for them will be hit or miss. Speaking for myself, I really grew in my faith when I got serious about regular quiet time and Bible reading. I want students to do the same.
What do you do to encourage your students to spend time in God’s Word?
