From Head to Heart: Reading Scripture for Transformation, Not Just Information

We’re living in an age of endless information. You can Google a Bible verse, listen to a dozen sermons in a day, or follow Bible study influencers on social media. But here's the question that’s been burning on my heart lately:

With all this access to Scripture… are we being transformed by it, or just informed?

As we focus on Back to the Basics this year at Ignite, I want to challenge you with something foundational yet often forgotten—reading God’s Word isn't just about gaining knowledge. It's about becoming more like Jesus.

Head Knowledge Isn’t Enough
The Pharisees knew Scripture inside and out. They could quote the Law. They devoted themselves to religious study. And yet, when the Messiah stood right before them, they missed Him. Why? Because the Word never made it from their heads to their hearts.

Jesus said to them:

“You examine the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is those very Scriptures that testify about Me; and yet you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.”— John 5:39–40, LSB

They treated the Scriptures like textbooks instead of mirrors. But the Bible wasn’t given just to be studied—it was given to shape us, break us, encourage us, and lead us into deeper obedience and worship.

Transformation Starts with Submission
If you’re reading your Bible but not being changed by it, you might be reading it the wrong way. It’s not just about getting through a chapter a day. It’s about letting the Holy Spirit convict, challenge, and comfort you through it.

James puts it like this:

“But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror… and immediately forgets what kind of person he was.”
— James 1:22–24, LSB

Scripture is supposed to do something to you.

Ask the Right Questions
To move from head to heart, start asking questions like:

• “What is God revealing about Himself in this passage?”
• “What is this showing me about my sin or my need for Christ?”
• “What step of obedience is God calling me to take?”
• “Am I letting this truth shape my thoughts, my habits, and my heart?”

Don’t just highlight verses—let the Word highlight you.

Practical Tip: Slow Down and Soak
One of the best ways to move Scripture from information to transformation is to slow down and meditate. Not in the empty way the world talks about meditation—but in the biblical way.

“But his delight is in the law of Yahweh, And in His law he meditates day and night.”
— Psalm 1:2, LSB

Let it soak into your soul. Read less if you have to—but read it deeper. Ask God to soften your heart, illuminate truth, and bring conviction.

If your Bible reading has become a box to check off, you’re missing the point. God’s Word isn’t just for your mind but your heart. And when it gets into your heart, it will change your life.

Get back to the basics. Pick up your Bible not just to learn—but to be transformed.

Let the Word do its work.

In Love,

Pastor Jody