What the Bible Says to Us

What is one passage of Scripture that means a lot to you, and why? This simple question was added to the CRCNA annual denominational survey in 2022. Since then, more than 2,790 people have provided their responses. The results are an interesting and encouraging collection of how the Bible has shaped and guided CRC members throughout their lives.

“One of the great things about being part of a body of believers is in getting to learn from each other’s faith stories,” said Sarah Gibes, manager of the CRCNA’s online community platform The Network. Gibes recently began sharing some of the responses to this survey question in a series of blog posts. 

“For example, there are a lot of verses that seem to appeal to people of all ages and across all states and provinces,” she explained. Some of the most loved verses cited in the survey responses come from Romans 8 (131 people mentioned verses from this chapter), Philippians 4 (96 people), the Sermon on the Mount (90 people), and Proverbs 3:5-6 (87 people). 

Jeremiah 29:11 is another popular text: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” It was mentioned by more than 75 people. 

One survey taker explained this by saying, “I grew up Catholic and was not taught the Bible. When I was 40 years old and in the depths of despair, I saw this scripture online, and I immediately felt hope. This began my search for a church that could teach me more. It took years, but I found [my CRC church], and I learned about God’s love through fellowship, worship, and Bible study.” 

In addition to noticing the citation of some verses multiple times, Gibes also noticed trends in what made a particular verse stand out to survey takers. 

“Many people gave examples of how Bible reading and memorization was a key part of their childhood. Whether it was at a Christian school, a midweek youth club, or around the family dinner table, those verses ingrained in people in their youth have stuck with them for the rest of their life,” she said. 

A great example of this is from a survey taker who said that Ephesians 2:8-9 (“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”) has been influential on their life.

“These verses were ingrained into my memory when I was in the fifth grade through the Good News Club that I used to attend after school in my neighborhood,” the survey taker explained. “We would recite this, John 3:16, and a few others every week. Later in life, I realized the implications of this passage of Scripture, which made me cry out ‘Abba! Father!’”

In a similar way, verses that were well loved by parents or grandparents made a frequent appearance on the list. For example, one person said, “My maternal grandfather gave me Proverbs 3:6 as my motto at my birth. He died when I was 12, but the influence of those words, his patience, and nurturing nature remains to this day.” 

Other survey takers cited verses that were read at their wedding, given to them at their profession of faith, prayed over them before their first mission trip, or shared with them at their graduation. These Scripture passages have often become life verses. 

“Psalm 121:8 says that “the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forever more.” This was our wedding text, and God has watched over us during great times and times of difficulty,” one person shared.

Verses that people encountered during hard times were equally influential. Those read at funerals, after a medical diagnosis, or following a miscarriage have given people comfort that has stuck with them long after those times of loss or pain. In a similar way, simply having access to Bible verses about loss has been helpful to many.

“Some of the places in which I have found the most comfort have been in passages like Lamentations, Psalm 13, or even Genesis 32,” said one respondent. “Reading passages that speak of great sadness, great longing, great heartache, crying out to God, and, even more so, wrestling with God – all without losing eternal hope and confidence, without ultimate despair – is of tremendous comfort. The notion that heartbreak and hope can coincide together not just in our feelings but also within our faith and relationship with Jesus as Lord and Savior is something I hold near and dear to my heart these days.” 

Gibes has been gathering some of the most popular verses into blog posts on The Network and is encouraging readers to add their own Bible verses to the conversation. So far, the posts in the series include

• Life verses
• Scriptures learned in our youth
• Scriptures that form the foundations of faith
• Scriptures for Parenting

And for people who do not yet have a favorite verse or Scripture that guides them, the annual survey responders also have some great ideas.

“Hidden in the survey answers were several great ideas for how to make Bible reading and reflection a habit in your life,” said Gibes. “One survey taker said that they sing hymns while driving – and that has helped them memorize Scripture and apply it to their lives. Others talked about setting a goal to read the Bible cover to cover and finding new inspiration along the way, or of trying to memorize one verse each week. Someone suggested using the Psalms as templates for their prayers, or reflecting on a specific passage each day as they go on a morning walk. I found reading all of these responses to be very encouraging to my own faith walk, and I hope that sharing them will encourage others as well.”