For the next few months you’ll see we’re mixing things up at the VerseFirst HQ with the arrival of LIVE IT OUT LOUD –  a movement that is all about exploring, experiencing and living out the Bible for yourself. 

Let’s be honest. Reading the Bible isn’t easy. For starters, it’s not even one book – it’s a collection of 66. And it’s very long. There are complicated, seemingly irrelevant bits and chunks we don’t understand – not to mention that it comes from a completely different place and time. We’d need scriptural 4D glasses to see our way through all the layers of culture, context, language and meaning. And, there are even parts that leave us with more questions than answers.

At VerseFirst, we understand all these Bible hang-ups, because we experience them too! It’s totally normal, and the sooner we get real about our struggles, the better off we’ll be. Why? Because it invites us into a different way of living, and gives us a glimpse of a bigger picture. So… we’ve come up with an idea to help us all engage with this ‘Book of books’…

Welcome to LIVE IT OUT LOUD

Like anything worthwhile, getting into the Bible takes commitment on our part. That new dance routine you’re trying to perfect? The video game you’re trying to get a new high score on? The new recipe you’re teaching yourself? That ‘thing’ you’re prepping for. It’s all hard work at the time, sure. But the fruits of that effort are totally worth it right? Reaching a target keeps pushing us forward. Seeing change is a huge motivator. What if we applied this logic to our experience with the Bible?

The Bible is sometimes reduced to a sort of holy dispenser of inspirational quotes. We read the parts that make us feel good, but skip over the bits that are difficult to understand or take work and time. Maybe we share a Pinterest or Instagram-worthy verse amongst friends and then go back to scrolling newsfeeds, the words of the verse lost forever to memes and cat videos (guilty!)

Honestly, we know that approach to reading the Bible doesn’t cut the mustard. By picking and choosing the bits that best serve our needs, we miss out on a story far bigger than our own. The Bible’s life words are more than bite-sized (re-)tweetable nuggets of wisdom – they’re ‘not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on’. Matt 7:24 MSG

So, it stands to reason that walking in the words we read is the only way to experience them as transformative. After all, we wouldn’t expect to smash our Call of Duty high score without playing the same level a zillion times, or perform a perfectly choreographed dance routine without weeks of practice. We know it takes commitment and dedication.

Living in purpose. On purpose.

All of which is why we’ve dreamt up this fresh way to kick-start your journey with the Bible. Here’s your chance to own it. LIVE IT OUT LOUD and discover the impact these ancient words can have on day-to-day 21^st Century living.

The action is here.

The challenge is here.

The purpose is here.

The change starts here.

We’ll be switching out random verses for guest blogs and articles, phone wallpapers galore (because what better way to remind yourself of the verse you’re living out!) and fresh ideas for practices and actions to challenge our perceptions of the way we do life.

The main event kicks off on Instagram from May 21st – so up your Bible ante and join us as we LIVE IT OUT LOUD together.

#LIVEITOUTLOUD #LIOL

JOIN OUR INSTAGRAM FAM @versefirst (because that’s where the best stuff is!)

You can also find us on Facebook/VerseFirst

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“If a new idea or understanding or interpretation doesn’t help transform you into the kind of person Jesus is calling us all to be, then it isn’t worth much. Are you more forgiving than you were? Less judgmental? More present? More courageous? Less worried and anxious, more free and loving? That’s what’s interesting, you being transformed.” – Rob Bell