Jared: Welcome to Press Pause. It’s the 10-minute family worship podcast designed to help you share big truths about Jesus with your kids.

We’re your hosts. I’m Jared. This is Trey (Hey Jared!) and Kevin (Hi friends!). We’re glad you’ve joined us. As you listen to the podcast along with your family, keep your finger near your device so that you’re ready to press pause and talk about this week’s big truth with your kids. 

Before we begin, I have a question for the guys: Can you tell me about your first Bible? Or, at least, the first Bible that you can remember?

Trey, tell us about this week’s big questions.

Trey: There are two big questions today. The first is: Where do we learn to love, trust, and obey God? And the answer is, “In the Bible.” Here’s the second question: Can we trust the Bible? The answer is, “Yes, the Bible is completely true and without any mistakes.” Let’s repeat these together. Where do we learn to love, trust, and obey God?  [Together: In the Bible.] And here’s the second one: Can we trust the Bible?  [Together: Yes, the Bible is completely true and without any mistakes.]

Jared: So, Trey, do we learn about the Bible… in the Bible? 

Trey: We learn about God’s Word and how God designed it to help us in 2 Timothy 3:16–17. Press Pause then open your Bible to 2 Timothy 3 and read those two verses with your family.

Jared: Those are great verses! Listen to them one more time: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Kevin, can you tell us what those verses are about? 

Kevin: Well, in our world—at least in the USA—Bibles are everywhere. You can probably find more than one on a bookshelf in your home. You can find the Bible in lots of different versions on the internet. And you can even download a Bible app for your iPad or your phone. 

The Bible is everywhere, but sometimes we take it for granted. We’re tempted to think that it’s only something we take to church with us on Sundays, but God wants us to spend time reading our Bibles every day. The Bible is God’s holy Word. The verse we read in 2 Timothy tells us that the Bible is God’s words. Even though it was written by human authors, those men were taught by the Holy Spirit. So, now, when we read the words of Moses or David or Matthew or Paul, we’re also reading the very words of God—his words, his personal letter to you and me. 

Jared: That’s pretty cool that God speaks to us. 

Kevin: It is! The Bible teaches us, warns us when we’re off track, and helps us get back on the right one. In this way, the Bible shows us how to love, trust, and obey God. We use the Bible the same way hikers use a flashlight in front of their feet to light their path. Just like a flashlight, the Bible shows us where to go.

Here are some things you need to know about the Bible. The Bible is true and trustworthy. God doesn't lie, so we can count on his words. The Bible is also our authority—our rule for living. It’s sufficient; that’s a fancy word that means the Bible tells us enough to live in a way that pleases God. The Bible is also clear. 

Trey: Wait a second, Kevin, is it really clear? Sometimes when I’m reading the book of Revelation, it doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense.

Kevin: You’re right, Trey, some of the things we find in the 66 books of the Bible—like in Revelation or Ezekiel or Leviticus—are difficult to understand. But the Bible is clear enough that it’s main point and central message can be understood. And that’s important because the Bible is also necessary. We need God’s clear words for us to understand how to live. It’s like bread to feed our hungry souls. We can’t live without it. 

The Bible is true, sufficient, clear, authoritative, and necessary. And those aren’t even the most important things about the Bible. The most important thing about the Bible is that it teaches us about Jesus. 

The religious leaders in Jesus’ day loved the Scriptures, but they wanted their Bible to simply be a book of religious rules and examples. Jesus said to them, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; but these Scriptures testify about me” (John 5:39). You see, the ancient scribes and Pharisees missed the point. The Bible doesn’t simply tell us how to live. It points us to the truth that Jesus is the Savior. Even when we sin, he loves us, and he speaks to us through his Word to tell us about his love and call us to trust him every day for our salvation. 

Kevin: How about you? Do you spend time with Jesus by reading his Word? Is there a place you typically go when you’re reading your Bible? The back porch? Your bed? A special chair?  Press Pause and talk about it with your family. What do your regular Bible reading habits look like? (Moms and dads, you have to answer, too.) 

Jared: Okay, we’re back. So, Trey, can you answer that question? Where do you go when you’re reading your Bible?

Trey: I’ve got an old, slightly busted, but still very comfortable old chair in my basement that I like to sneak away to to crack my Bible open. Then I usually wrap up my time reading with a few moments of prayer. Let’s take just a moment to pray together now and to thank God for the Bible, his holy Word. 

Father, thank you for the gift of your word, and for your Spirit that makes it clear to us as we read and study. Give us wisdom as we press into your word, and help us to move those truths from the pages of our Bibles into our own hearts. Amen.

Trey: Thanks again for listening to Press Pause, the under 10-minute family worship podcast. Be sure to subscribe to Press Pause in your favorite podcasting app and leave us a rating or review. Also be sure to follow Gospel-Centered Family on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Join us next week for more big truths about Jesus for your whole family.

Rachel from Love Thy Neighborhood: Press Pause is brought to you in part by the Love Thy Neighborhood podcast: exploring today’s cultural moments through true stories of social action and Christian faith. Check out the show that Christianity Today called “amazing and authentic” by searching for Love Thy Neighborhood on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or at love thy neighborhood dot org.