Bible Sunday 2025

This sermon was given at our Sunday morning service on 26th October 2025; Bible Sunday. The gospel reading was Luke 4:16-24. I hope you enjoy reading it!

 

Today, churches around the world are celebrating Bible Sunday. This is a day set aside for us to think about this book that we read from here at St Michael’s every time we meet together to worship God. I’m sure you’ve all got one – at least one – at home too. Maybe an ancient one you were given as a confirmation present? Maybe one bought as a student to aid with studying? Maybe you are in possession of a treasured family Bible, passed down from parents and grandparents, and now safely stored away in a cupboard or the loft?

It probably won’t surprise you to know that – at home – we have at least twelve physical copies of the Bible, most of which are different translations. I have to be honest – this one here is one of my personal favourites! It’s probably not that useful for when we do the readings in church, however…

 

Image of an open Bible with a simple wooden cross laying on it

Most of the time now, though, when I read the Bible, I use the internet, or a Bible app on my phone. As a young evangelical student, I remember diligently taking my study Bible to church with me to read and cross-reference whilst the preacher gave his 30-minute sermon (don’t worry; I’m not going to go on that long this morning!) But – back then – I think I would have been amazed to learn that I could have to hand, whenever I wanted, a copy of the Bible in my pocket, in whichever translation I wished to read or cross-reference, alongside study notes and such things as concordances (these are huge hefty books in which you can look up any particular topic that you’re interested in, and find out what passages in the Bible refer to that topic) and reading plans to help organise daily personal readings. One of the apps I really like to use in church is the Church of England’s own lectionary app – it helps me see the planned Bible readings for each day’s service here in church so I can – if I wish – read along easily whilst the lessons are being read.

 

In its 1,500-year history since the Bible as we know it first started to be written, it has never been more accessible. It’s available in your own language, in your own translation of choice, in your own pocket to anyone who owns a smart phone. The most popular Bible app across Apple and Android app stores has been downloaded to almost a billion unique mobile devices since it was created!

 

You may have seen in the news in the last few months that the Bible Society believes that there is a ‘quiet revival’ ongoing in this country. From a survey they commissioned YouGov to undertake in 2024 of 13,000 people, it was found that the number of young adults who now say they go to church at least once per month has quadrupled in the last six years. Alongside that, the survey revealed that a quarter of the population are apparently interested in learning more about the Bible.

 

Now, I’m sure you’ll agree that these are amazing statistics and that this is good news! It is great that the Bible is so available, so prolific, and apparently igniting peoples’ curiosity in a way it certainly has not within my lifetime at least.

But – on this Bible Sunday – it is important to note that people owning and reading and understanding the Bible is not our goal. This is not God’s heart-desire.

 

The Bible is a story. It’s the story, if you like. The story of God and his people. It’s told in many different books, in many different genres; history, myth, poetry, law, parable; and its point – its whole point – is to show us Christ. Its whole point is to show us a God who – as we heard Jesus quote from the scriptures himself this morning – brings good news to the poor, a God who proclaim that captives will be released, and that the blind will see, a God who sets oppressed people free, and a God who declares that the time of his favour is here, now.

 

This is God’s desire – for you to know him; for you to know and see him, and know his favour and to be set free. And reading the Bible is absolutely a great way for this to happen. If a quarter of the population are interested in finding out more about it what better way is there to start? And – just as an aside – if you are one of those people who would like to find out more about the Bible, please do have a word with Nick, to see if you can get involved with the Bible Study group that he is starting up!

But today, on this Bible Sunday, can I encourage you when you get home at some point today, to open a Bible, physical or digital, and read a small section – let me or any of the ministry team know if you’d like some help with where to begin, or what part to read next – and start to discover afresh the relationship between God and his people; the relationship between God and you.

I’m pretty sure, knowing my two, their heads will be stuck in this one for a portion of this afternoon!

 

Amen

 

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