There has been some hand-wringing over our latest State of the Bible survey, which showed that “Bible skeptics” now outnumber the “Bible engaged,” 21% to 17%. We have been brainstorming ways to reverse that trend by countering skepticism in our society, and that’s a worthy pursuit, though a challenging one.

Yet the stats also show us a much larger group in the middle. Comprising 38% of American adults, the “Bible friendly” believe in the inspiration of Scripture but seldom read it. Chances are, you have a lot of these people attending your church. Wouldn’t it make sense to further the cause of Bible engagement by rousing this “sleeping giant”—the millions who are friends of the Bible but not avid followers? What can we do to get them to interact with this book they say they believe?

We can preach. We can teach. Let’s not harangue, scold, or judge, but simply open up the delight of God’s Word. Here are some notes you might use to craft a sermon series to ignite the casual Christians in your midst.

Message 1: The God Who Speaks

Trace the Creator’s overwhelming desire to communicate. Genesis 1:1-3—he speaks light into being, and continues to create in this way. We know he spoke to Adam and Eve, to Abraham, to Moses, and to others, but zero in on Psalm 1:1-3. The blessed person finds delight in the words of God and meditates on them. Take your pick of the prophets, but you might land on Micah 1:1. The word of the Lord came to this person in this place at this time with a crucial message. God speaks into the specificities of our world. John 1:1-4 (with 14) and Hebrews 1:1-3 identify Jesus as the embodiment of God’s Word.

Takeaway: The inspiration of Scripture is more than a doctrinal tenet; it’s a dynamic reality. It’s not just something we believe; it’s something we experience. It’s not just a sacred book to respect; it’s God’s interactive website.

Message 2: Questions

Do you have questions as you read God’s Word? Join the club. The Bible itself gives us a steady stream of questions people had in response to God’s words and actions.

We find numerous questions along the lines of “What in the world are you doing, Lord?” (Job 3:20-23; Jeremiah 12:1; Psalms 13:1-2; 22:1; and many others).

There are also lengthy conversations in which Moses (Exodus 3-4) and Gideon (Judges 6) are full of questions, essentially “How can I possibly do what you’re asking me to do?” (see also Sarah’s wry question in Genesis 18:12 and the disciples’ conundrum in Matthew 19:25).

Some biblical questions might be characterized as “What do you want from me, Lord?” (Psalm 15:1; Micah 6:6-8).

And the Last Supper discourse of Jesus includes a Q&A session as Thomas and Philip basically ask, “What happens next?” (John 14:5, 8; see also Acts 1:6).

Takeaway: Stop worrying about not having all the answers when you read Scripture. Perhaps we show more faith by trusting God with our questions.

Message 3: How God Speaks to Us through the Bible

Sometimes we treat the Bible as a “manual for living” or as a theology textbook, and that’s fine, but don’t ignore the multiple other ways God speaks to us in these pages. Here are a few:

• Example (Hebrews 11). We learn from the parade of biblical heroes, but be careful. Some of our greatest role models also had their failings.
• Instruction (Psalm 19:7-11). God shows us how to live well. But be careful here, too. Some commands are clearly intended for specific situations.
• Wisdom (Philippians 1:9-11). In many ways, Scripture leads us to adopt God’s priorities, and it shows us the outcomes of good and bad choices.
• Identity (Ephesians 2:4-10). The Bible tells us who we are, who God is, and how we can honor this relationship.
• Spirit (Romans 8:10-16). There is a spiritual line of communication we have with God. Sometimes a particular passage will connect at a soul-level, amazing us, challenging us, or leading us.

Takeaway: Be open to all the ways God wants to meet you in his Word.

Message 4: Read to Do

The truth of Scripture just can’t stay on the page. It changes our lives.

Jesus told a story of a man with two sons, one who talked a good game, and the other who actually did what the father said ( Matthew 21:28-31). James challenges us to be doers of God’s Word and not just hearers (James 1:22). The truth of Jesus’ teaching “will set you free” (John 8:32), and this freedom should lead us into loving deeds (Galatians 5:13).

Takeaway: Don’t just learn it; live it!

Leaders: Take these ideas and mold them. Add other pertinent texts and tales. Make the series your own—well, let the Spirit craft it to the needs of your people. And let us know how it turns out.