The Lens Through Which We Read
Chapter Seven: Teaching Others to Read in Light of God
Forming Interpreters, Not Just Readers
Teaching others to read the Bible is one of the greatest responsibilities—and one of the greatest opportunities—we have. But in a world filled with content, techniques, and quick devotionals, it’s easy to focus on tools and overlook the foundation. We don’t just need to teach people how to read the Bible. We need to teach them how to think about God while they read it. Because all interpretation flows from theology. And theology flows from who we believe God is. If people learn how to trace themes and define Greek words, but never learn to interpret in light of God's holiness, justice, love, and sovereignty, they will still misread Scripture. Our job is not to create Bible trivia experts. Our job is to form worshipful interpreters—people whose hearts and minds are aligned with the nature of the God who speaks.
Why This Is Urgent
In the age of podcasts, social media theology, and spiritual influencers, people are constantly being discipled—but often by voices that:
Oversimplify
Isolate texts
Downplay doctrine
Prioritize emotion over truth
Without a framework grounded in God’s attributes, many readers are left with fragmented theology, vulnerable to distortion and heresy. Teaching others to read Scripture faithfully is discipleship at the most foundational level.
What It Means to Teach Interpretation in Light of God
It means we train people to ask:
“What does this passage teach about God’s character?”
“Is my understanding of this verse consistent with who God is?”
“Am I letting the whole of Scripture shape my reading, or just this isolated section?”
“Would this interpretation require God to contradict Himself?”
We teach them to approach the Bible with awe, not just curiosity. With humility, not just interest. With surrender, not just study habits.
Practical Ways to Train Others in God-Centered Reading
1. Start with Theology Proper
When teaching new believers or students of the Bible, begin with who God is, not just how to “do devotions.” Establish a framework of God’s holiness, justice, love, sovereignty, immutability, omniscience, and truthfulness. Help them understand: “You cannot interpret His Word rightly unless you know His nature clearly.”
2. Teach Through Attribute-Based Questions
Embed theological reflection into every Bible study:
What does this teach me about God?
How does this reflect His justice, love, or sovereignty?
Would my interpretation make God seem inconsistent, weak, or unjust?
Let the attributes of God become a grid through which they examine every passage.
3. Model It Publicly
Whether you’re preaching, leading a study, or walking someone through a passage:
Don’t just explain the text—demonstrate how you’re reading it in light of God’s character.
“Because God is holy, we can’t read this lightly.” “This promise means something because God never lies.” “This judgment isn’t a contradiction—it’s a reflection of His justice.”Say things like:
Your tone will teach reverence just as much as your content teaches truth.
4. Guard Against Prooftexting
Train others to beware of:
Pulling verses out of context
Using verses to affirm what they already want to believe
Reading Scripture like a collection of motivational quotes
Instead, teach them to read whole passages, trace logic, and seek theological harmony.
Encourage a Lifetime of Interpretive Humility
Help your students understand that interpretation isn’t a skill you master once and for all. It’s a lifelong act of worship that requires:
Continual repentance
Doctrinal growth
Prayerful dependence
A community that sharpens and corrects
Interpretation is not just about what you know, but who you’re becoming.
Conclusion: Forming Worshipers Who Handle the Word with Fear and Joy
To teach someone to read the Bible is to teach them how to know God. And to teach someone how to interpret Scripture rightly is to disciple them into a deeper, more faithful relationship with the One who speaks through every line. This is the heart of ministry. This is the joy of discipleship. We are not forming theologians in the abstract. We are forming worshipers who tremble at His Word and rejoice in His voice.