Podcast Summary: Ask Ligonier

Episode: What Can I Do to Enjoy Reading My Bible More?
Host: Nathan W. Bingham
Guest: Pastor Ken Jones (Glendale Missionary Baptist Church, Miami)
Date: July 10, 2025

Main Theme

This episode addresses the question: What can Christians do to enjoy reading their Bible more? Pastor Ken Jones discusses overcoming the sense of duty and rekindling genuine enjoyment in engaging with God’s Word, offering practical and theological perspectives relevant for both lay Christians and ministers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Challenge of Duty versus Delight

• Duty as a Christian:
  • All Christians feel the duty to read Scripture, whether for personal discipleship or as part of spiritual habits.
  • Quote:

    "We can get into that habit of reading the Bible because we know we should, but we're doing what we should and diminishing the fact that it should be an enjoyable thing."
    – Pastor Ken Jones (01:17)

• Duty as a Minister:
  • Pastors and teachers may focus so much on preparation for preaching/teaching that personal delight is lost.
  • Quote:

    "I can be so caught up in the duty of preaching and teaching that again, I forget the delight or the joy of reading the Word."
    – Pastor Ken Jones (02:00)

• Both types of duty, whether lay or vocational, can cause one to overlook the joy inherent in reading Scripture.

2. Strategies to Restore Enjoyment

• Remember the Source:

  • Reframe Bible reading as hearing directly from God, the loving Father—this changes the entire experience.
  • Quote:

    “The Bible is God's Word to us, so it's the Word of our loving, gracious Heavenly Father.”
    – Pastor Ken Jones (02:41)

  • When paired with prayer (us speaking to God), Bible reading (God speaking to us) becomes a relational delight.

• Connect Bible Reading with Prayer:

  • Combining Bible study and prayer cultivates a two-way conversation with God.

• Recall the Ultimate Purpose:

  • Every part of Scripture—law, history, poetry, New Testament, etc.—ultimately reveals God's covenant love.
  • Quote:

    “No matter what portion of the scripture we're reading from, whether it's devotional, whether you're studying an Old Testament, the ultimate purpose of God's Word to us is to reveal his covenant, commitment and love to us.”
    – Pastor Ken Jones (03:22)

  • Even difficult or “heavy” passages have this underlying goal.

• Enjoy the Privilege:

  • Approach Scripture not as an academic or rote obligation, but as a precious privilege—hearing from the Creator who loves you.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Overcoming “Just Duty”:

  “…sometimes we can get into that habit of reading the Bible because we know we should, but we're doing what we should and diminishing the fact that it should be an enjoyable thing.”
  – Pastor Ken Jones (01:17)

• On Relational Context:

  “…when we pray, it's us talking to him, but when we read His Word, it's that same sovereign, holy, loving God, creator sustainer of the universe, who happens to be our Heavenly Father, who's now speaking to us.”
  – Pastor Ken Jones (02:51)

• On Difficult Passages:

  “…even if I'm reading heavy portions of law, remembering that this is the Word of my Heavenly Father, ultimately to reveal his great love to me, that helps me enjoy what I'm doing.”
  – Pastor Ken Jones (03:39)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:04] – Introduction of the topic and guest
• [00:25] – Pastor Jones explains the “duty versus delight” dilemma in Bible reading
• [01:17] – Discussing how routine can diminish joy in Bible reading
• [02:41] – Advice: Remember the source—God’s Word as a loving Father speaking
• [03:22] – Advice: The Bible’s ultimate purpose is to reveal God’s covenant love
• [03:39] – Application of perspective to challenging parts of Scripture

Conclusion

Pastor Ken Jones encourages listeners to move beyond obligation and rediscover Bible reading as an act of relational joy with their Heavenly Father. By remembering that Scripture is God’s loving communication and combining reading with prayer, Christians can reclaim a sense of delight—regardless of their station or stage in faith.

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