A Surprisingly Simple Way To Study The Bible
THE BIBLE, OUR USER MANUAL
As we learned in our previous post Should We Study The Bible, studying the word of God is an essential part of your life as a Christian. God uses the Bible to convict, uplift, and guide us. If we rely on our human nature to explain to us what the Bible is saying, we will fail every step of the way.
The most significant benefit to studying God's Word is that as we get to know him we crave to know him more and more.
When I was younger in my walk, it would freak me out if someone suggested I study the Bible. It was so intimidating! I was positive I was not smart enough or spiritual enough to understand it. Instead, I created what I called “my quiet time”.
It was a complete surprise to me to realize they were actually one and the same!
MY STEPS OF FAITH
The following steps are my actual study process. Keep in mind this is just one way of many to study the Bible. If you have struggled to follow more complex study processes, give this one a try. Maybe it will be just the study you need to grow in your faith!
But whatever method you use, be kind to yourself. Refuses to treat your study time as a job where you have to get so much done as you clock in and out. Each day of study will be different and each step will take as long as it takes.
So grab your favorite beverage, sit back, relax, and dive into God's word!
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."
(2 Timothy 3:16-17)
SUPER SIMPLE STEPS TO STUDY THE BIBLE
PRAY
Before you even open your Bible, pray. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal his message and to give you understanding and wisdom. Ask him to open your heart and mind to his ways.
God is always faithful and wants us to read his thoughts (his Word).
One of the reasons you need to pray before reading is that the Bible was created for everyone. That means baby Christians as well as mature Christians and everyone in between. So when you pray, God will lead you to what he knows you are able to understand. There is no point in fumbling around in the dark when you have instant access to the light, right?
God will take your hand and gently encourage you to reach further and grow. But, He will always start you right where he knows you need to be.
"Whom shall he teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk and drawn from the breast. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, there a little." (Isaiah 28:10)
READ
Open your Bible where you feel led and begin to read a passage. Slow yourself down as you read and really look at each word. I can't tell you how many times I have seen a passage with fresh eyes when I have done this. We tend to read with the knowledge of what we've been told a passage is about. We take it by faith that we have been told correctly.
The goal isn't to speed read or skim but to absorb. Read the paragraph before and after your chosen passage as well. This helps to put the text in context (meaning the verses before and after your verse usually give you additional insight into what the writer is talking about). If you take a passage out of context, you can make it say pretty much whatever you want it to say. You don't want to add your own spin on things. Even Satan uses scripture with his own slight modifications to deceive. God doesn’t take too kindly to either of those ideas.
"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preaches any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."
(Galatians 1:8-9)
COMPARE
If you happen to have a different Bible version (or access to the Internet), pull up the same verse(s) and see how the other Bible version says it. One of my favorite Bibles to do this with is the Amplified Bible. It uses additional words to explain the meaning of a verse. I find it very helpful.
For Additional Reading: The Bible study that changed my spiritual life.
Don't forget to simply ask the Holy Spirit for direction. He knows what every single line means since he wrote the Bible. Allow God to use His Word to explain his Word.
"Be diligent in these things. Give yourself wholly to them, that your progress may be revealed to all. Pay attention to yourself, and to your teaching. Continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you."
(1 Timothy 4:15-16)
PRAY AGAIN
Pray about what you've just read. The Word should inspire us to pray because these are your promises and guidance from God. Thank him for his wisdom and guidance. As I read and come across something I don't understand, I ask God about it then move on trusting that when I am ready, he will reveal to me what that verse meant.
"Now the natural man doesn't receive the things of God's spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he can't know them, because they are spiritually discerned."
(1 Corinthians 2:14)
MEDITATE (THINK) ABOUT IT
Give yourself time to meditate (think) on what you've just read and learned before jumping to conclusions or going to the next topic. Meditating on God's word gives it time to go down deep into your spirit.
Think of a farmer planting seed. He has to plant it deep enough to be able to take root and then he has to give it fertilizer, water, sun, and time to grow. It won't happen overnight no matter how badly the farmer desires it.
The same needs to happen when we read God's word. We need to plant it deep into our spirit, give it the above steps, and watch God grow our faith and knowledge.
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."
(Colossians 3:16)
FINAL THOUGHTS
If you have been intimidated to start studying the Bible, I hope you will give this super simple way a try. There is no perfect way to study the Bible. In future posts, I plan to share a few different ways to spend time in scripture.
Pray about whichever method you use. Ask God if this is the right way for you to study or if there is another way that would work better for your brain and personality. Some people have a favorite tried-and-true method they feel the most comfortable using. I don't. In fact, every few months I change the way I study. I feel it gives me a fresh perspective and forces me to slow down and not race through my time in Scripture.
Just remember, the method you choose isn't important. The important thing is to get into the Word and study it for yourself!
YOUR TURN
What is your favorite way to study the Bible? Have you ever switched it up and tried a different method for your study? What advice would you give someone who has been too intimidated to “officially” study the Bible?