In Deuteronomy 17:19, Moses writes of God’s Word: “It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow, carefully, all the words of this law and these decrees.”

I was so happy to hear that the Adult Faith Stepping Stone goal was for all participants to read the entire Bible in one year. Growing up on the farm, everyone gathered for breakfast, and mother read the morning devotion. At the end of breakfast, she read the Bible for 10-15 minutes beginning at Genesis. We read through the entire Bible once and started again. (She did leave out all the begets and begots!) Revelation left us nervously looking at each other and scratching our heads, trying to understand it!

The Bible has always been a big part of my life. My maternal grandfather was a member of the Gideon Society. He placed Bibles in hotels, motels, hospitals and prisons and handed them out in schools. I still have the one I received as a student. Spreading God’s Word was so important to him. He took Galatians 6:6 to heart: those who are taught the word of God are called to share it generously with others. One of my favorite baby gifts to give is a Baby’s First Bible, thus continuing my grandfather’s legacy.

I love that Sheridan places children’s Bibles in the pews alongside the adult Bibles, encouraging the youngest members to dig into God’s Word. Giving the preschoolers and 3rd graders Bibles helps parents and congregation members keep the vow made at their baptisms. Encouraging the young to not only hear the Bible stories, but also to read them is so important.

God has told us to be fruitful and multiply, and sharing his word is a way to start.