Do you remember your first Bible? Mine is an old study Bible that some relatives gave me at my confirmation. The margins have accumulated helpful notes and comments, different dates of when I visited that same text, and other scribbles that have made this Bible mine. It’s practically tethered to me and has logged thousands of miles crisscrossing different cities, states, and continents.

Have you ever thought that you might be the first Bible that someone meets? Not that you are the Way, the Truth, and the Life of Scripture, but you might be the first look at what a justified, grace-filled Christian life looks like.

Why would that matter? Recent articles tell us that Americans aren’t going to church like they did even five years ago. Church shopping rates are down, but more people also are turning away because of what their churches in the past had done. They also feel happy and content to do what they are doing now. What’s more surprising is that more people are completely unexposed to what the gospel message actually is.

It’s a real concern in my community. As I’ve chatted with people in the neighborhood, I’ve learned there is a growing resentment that “the people inside the church don’t act like Jesus would.” Trinity, Fla., where I serve, currently sees 71.6 percent of its community inactive in any faith community, up 10 percent in just five years. That means about seven out of ten people you see in the grocery aisle are unattached to the means of grace and the sacraments.

Spiritual needs today aren’t different than at any point in human history. There will always be a real need for relationships, forgiveness, justice, comfort, purpose, and salvation. Humanity needs to hear it. God has given us the message to speak to it.

As a home missionary, this excites me. We have a real opportunity to show Christian love to people who have no idea what it looks like. We are Christ’s ambassadors, as though he is making an appeal through us!

With more people unexposed to what the gospel message is, we have to be more proactive about showing what a redeemed life looks like rather than asking someone to come and see. One helpful pastor I know said, “Where is the most unlikely place you will find an unchurched person? Inside of a church.”

We often lament that this is a darkening and dimming world. That just means we need some lights to guide our way. That can happen through prayers for the worker training programs and for your pastors. But it’s also prayers for your brothers and sisters who are sitting in church with you, prayers that they may be bold in their witness of the gospel and unashamed of its message. Include yourself in that prayer too.

Remember: To someone you’ve never met or someone you know extremely well, you might be the first look at what living out the Scriptures actually is.

So what are they reading?

Author: Ben Bitter
Volume 112, Number 05
Issue: May 2025