Revived by His Word: “A Journey of Discovery Together Through the Bible”

Throughout its history the Seventh-day Adventist Church has found the reason for its existence in the Bible. Adventists are a Bible-based, Bible-believing, Bible-reading people. Although millions of church members worldwide have a meaningful devotional life, recent research indicates that many do not. Revived by His Word is designed especially to strengthen the spiritual experience of those who know Christ deeply, and motivate those who are struggling to know Him better. Recently, we have lifted up the importance of God’s Word through the “Follow the Bible” initiative; now it is time to reflect carefully and listen to God speaking to our hearts personally as we are “revived by His Word.”

Spiritual renewal arises from a Christ-centered study of God’s Word. Although prayer is the heartbeat of revival, the Word of God is its foun­dation. The Bible writers repeatedly link revival and new life in Christ to God’s Word:

• “My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your word” (Ps. 119:25).*
• “Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorrupt­ible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever” (1 Pet. 1:23).
• “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32).

Ellen White adds:

• “There is nothing more calcu­lated to strengthen the intellect than the study of the Scriptures. No other book is so potent to elevate the thoughts, to give vigor to the faculties, as the broad, ennobling truths of the Bible. If God’s word were stud­ied as it should be, men would have a breadth of mind, a nobil­ity of character, and a stability of purpose rarely seen in these times” (Steps to Christ, p. 90).
• “A revival in Bible study is needed throughout the world. Attention is to be called, not to the assertions of men, but to the Word of God. As this is done, a mighty work will be wrought” (Evangelism, p. 456).
• “At every revival of God’s work the prince of evil is aroused to more intense activity; he is now putting forth his utmost efforts for a final struggle against Christ and His followers. The last great delusion is soon to open before us. Antichrist is to perform his marvelous works in our sight. So closely will the counterfeit resemble the true that it will be impossible to distinguish between them except by the Holy Scriptures” (The Great Controversy, p. 593).

The study of God’s Word accom­plishes at least four major things in relationship to revival:

1. It provides a foundation for true revival.
2. It stimulates, fosters, and sustains true revival.
3. It counteracts false revivals.
4. It creates an understanding of and commitment to God’s mission.

Without a systematic study of God’s Word the current emphasis on revival and reformation will die out quickly, degenerate into a sentimental slogan, or result in a counterfeit spiritual experience. The study of God’s Word leading to a life-changing experience with Jesus is not optional in revival; it is foundational.

Nothing can possibly replace listening to God speak to us through His Word. Prayerfully meditating on Scripture is a primary source of spiritual strength. Although there are many ways of reading God’s Word, the initiative outlined below has the possibility of uniting the international church around God’s Word.

The initiative summarized

To encourage church members worldwide to unite in reading or listening to one chapter of the Bible each day, beginning April 17, 2012 (Spring Council), and concluding at the General Conference Session in 2015.

There are 1,171 days from Spring Council 2012 to the beginning of the General Conference Session July 2, 2015. There are 1,189 chapters in the Bible. By reading one chapter each day and two chapters during the General Conference Session in San Antonio, Texas, the Bible Study Plan will conclude by the end of the Session.

United by His Word

Revived by His Word will become much larger than reading or listening to one chapter of the Bible each day. It will direct the attention of the entire membership to the importance of knowing Jesus through His Word. It will encourage families to read the Bible completely through together. In many cultures where the Bible is not readily available, this initiative will encourage elders to gather the church family to read the Bible aloud. It will also stimulate members world­wide to place priority on the Bible. It is simple, practical, and affordable.

This plan envisions the General Conference president, along with the division presidents, reading Genesis 1 responsively at the opening meet­ing of Spring Council 2012, and concluding by reading Revelation 22 during the General Conference Session in San Antonio, Texas.

Promotion and sustainability

To motivate successfully the largest number of Seventh-day Adventists to read the Bible through together will necessitate coordina­tion with each of the church’s media outlets. Hope Channel, Ministry magazine, Adventist World/Adventist Review, and the Communication Department will cooperate in prepar­ing special programs and articles on the inspiration and life-changing ability of God’s Word. A promotional DVD will be produced as well as a Revived by His Word brochure. These promotional pieces will pre­cede and prepare for the launch of the program in April 2012.

Beginning with Spring Council 2012, the Bible chapter for the day with a Bible Blog will be featured on the Ministerial Department’s Revival and Reformation Web page.

Each day a one- or two-paragraph reflection on the Bible reading for the day will be written for the Bible Blog. Authors will be chosen to represent cultural and age diversity. Members internationally will have an opportunity to contribute to the discussion via the blog. An iPhone application will be especially helpful in some countries to allow members to download the Bible chapter and commentary for the day. The Bible Blog will regularly reference the weekly Sabbath School lesson to stimulate further study of the lesson by members, and the Sabbath School Bible Study Web page will reference the chapter-by­chapter Bible Study Reading Plan. Imagine the possibilities of church members sharing inspirational gems with one another from the unique perspective of their cultural, gender, and age backgrounds. Each day a few especially insightful spiritual comments will be chosen to post on the Web page.

Sharing the Word

Another feature of the plan is to challenge church membership worldwide to provide funding to pur­chase Bibles for members who do not have them as well as Godpods for members who are unable to read or who have difficulty read­ing. Church leadership can never rest satisfied until every member has access to God’s Word in their mother tongue, reads or listens to God’s Word daily, and shares its life-transforming message with others.

Revived by His Word can unite the entire church around God’s Word and make a difference in millions of lives. It can be a catalyst for further regular, systematic Bible study. The goal of Revived by His Word is to encourage every church member to allow the Holy Spirit to transform their lives as they meditate and pray over one chapter of the Bible a day. It is to allow Jesus to speak to His people through His Word so they know Him better, seek Him more deeply, and share His love more fully.

* All Bible texts are taken from the New King James Version