Stand Alone: How to Read Your Bible

Frank Switzer preaches a standalone sermon titled 'How to Read Your Bible' at Redemption Church Arcadia. He begins by reading an essay humorously outlining the Bible's daunting features: 66 books by 40 authors over 1,500 years across three continents. Switzer contrasts informational reading—driven by modern digital bombardment—with formational reading, which involves meditating deeply on scripture. He recommends using study Bibles and commentaries, like the ESV Study Bible or the New Bible Commentary by scholars such as D.A. Carson, to understand historical context, genre, and authorial intent. The sermon walks through specific passages: Psalm 73 illustrates raw, complaining prayer; Leviticus 19 shows how Jesus referenced Old Testament law; Ephesians 4 demonstrates Paul's shift from doctrine to application; and the Parable of the Sower emphasizes the need to wrestle with difficult texts. Switzer then introduces communication theory, explaining the encoder-channel-decoder model and how noise affects understanding. He discusses Stanley Fish's reader-response theory and its influence on modern biblical interpretation, arguing against subjective 'what it means to me' approaches. The sermon concludes with a practical call to find a mentor for weekly scripture study, citing Switzer's own experience with Tom Schrader. The overall arc moves from identifying the problem of biblical complexity to offering concrete tools and philosophical frameworks for engaged, patient reading.

As heard by us

A warm reminder that reading Scripture begins with honest questions and grows best with others.

Reading the Bible well comes across here as a practiced, shared habit rather than a test of recall. The host opens with prayer and an essay on the Bible as 66 books by different authors, then spends time with Psalm 73, where anger over the prosperous wicked slowly gives way to…

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Why you'd press play

You want a way into the Bible that leaves room for confusion, questions, and an actual conversation.

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