Would you like to learn more about Christianity, deepen your faith and increase your knowledge of scripture? The Bible Reading Fellowship (BRF) would love to help...
BRF is a Christian charity that started in January 1922 in an Anglican church in Brixton, where the vicar wanted to help his congregation, in his words, 'to get a move on spiritually'. He began to offer a monthly leaflet of daily Bible readings, coupled with a midweek discussion group and the encouragement to pray for the parish. This so transformed the spiritual life of St Matthew's Church that before long other churches were asking for copies of the leaflets for their own congregations.
Today, nearly 100 years later, Bible Reading, Prayer & Spirituality and Discipleship are still the three core strands of BRF's ministry, which as a whole is defined in their statement of purpose: 'resourcing your spiritual journey'.
At the heart of BRF's ministry is the desire to help people to explore Christianity, to grow in faith and to engage with the Bible and prayer.
Several people at All Saints subscribe to materials from the BRF. Here are two popular resources:
New Daylight
Daily Bible readings and comment, with a regular team of contributors drawn from a range of church backgrounds. It covers a varied selection of Old and New Testament, biblical themes, characters and seasonal readings. Each day offers a short Bible passage (text included), thought-provoking comment and a prayer or point for reflection, and aims to give a fresh, devotional approach to Bible reading. It is ideal for anyone wanting an accessible yet stimulating aid to spending time with God each day, deepening their faith and their knowledge of scripture.
Guidelines
A unique Bible reading resource that offers in-depth study, drawing on insights of current scholarship. Its intention is to enable all its readers to interpret and apply biblical text with confidence in today's world. Instead of the usual dated daily readings, Guidelines provides weekly units, broken into six sections, plus an introduction giving context for the passage, and a final section of points for thought and prayer. On any day you can read as many or as few sections as you wish. You will need to use a Bible alongside Guidelines.
Both New Daylight and Guidelines are published every four months, in January, May and September, at a current cost of £4.70 per issue.
If you would like further information or to subscribe please contact Julia Ball by email or on 0161 440 8647, or you can visit the BRF website.