Spiritual Growth Can Begin with a Listen

Ask any 10 pastors for advice on how to grow spiritually and you are likely to get the same answer: spend more time in God’s Word.

You might think that shouldn’t be a problem given that 88 percent of Americans own a Bible. But approximately half read it less than twice a year (Source: American Bible Society’s The State of the Bible, March 2013). People give a host of reasons for why they don’t read the Bible, from finding the text confusing, antiquated and boring to not finding the time.

But a relationship with God is like any other relationship in one respect: if you want to know God better, you’ve got to spend time with Him.

Now comes a tool that overcomes many of the excuses people have for not reading the Bible.

NIV Live: A Bible Experience is a dynamic audio performance of Scripture produced by the award-winning creative team behind the 2006 best seller, Inspired By…The Bible Experience. The next generation of audio Bibles, NIV Live brings you right into the times, places and stories of the Bible by using cinematic audio and dramatic performances from top-notch talent.

Using the world’s No. 1 English-language translation, the New International Version (NIV), NIV Live: A Bible Experience features performances from Oscar®, Emmy® and Grammy Award® nominees and winners, as well as some of today’s most respected and dynamic pastors. Stars such as Cuba Gooding, Jr. (Jerry Maguire), Patricia Heaton (The Middle), Antonio Sabàto Jr. (General Hospital), CCH Pounder (The Shield) and Christopher Gorham (Covert Affairs) have joined respected pastors such as Craig Groeschel (YouVersion and LifeChurch.tv), Erwin McManus (Mosaic Church), Miles McPherson (The Rock Church in San Diego) and Robert Jeffress (First Baptist Church in Dallas) to lend their voices to this all-star ensemble cast.

As a pastor or ministry leader, you can use NIV Live to encourage engagement with the Bible in a number of ways.

Personal Study: As someone who has read through, taught and preached from the Bible for years, listening to a dramatized presentation of Scripture can help you to look at God’s Word with fresh eyes.

Sunday Services: To introduce the Scripture behind a day’s message or teaching topic, play the Scripture portion directly from NIV Live and allow your congregation to experience the passage of God’s Word before you preach on it.

Small Group Challenge: Challenge your small groups to listen through a book of the Bible each week and discuss it at the next week’s small group meeting.

To bless pastors, churches and ministries even as NIV Live blesses their congregations and supporters, the makers of NIV Live: A Bible Experience are offering churches and ministries the opportunity to purchase as many copies as they like of NIV Live at wholesale prices. You can learn more at NIVLive.com.

For years you have encouraged your congregation to dive deeper into the Bible. Now, thanks to NIV Live, you have a tool that makes it easier than ever for your church family to regularly engage with God’s Word.