mlynnm
07-19-2005, 01:32 AM
How To Study The Bible
by Christine Crowley
Want to get more out of your daily Bible reading but don't know exactly how to go about it? While there are several good commentaries and Bible studies on the market today, the most important tool you will need is your Bible. While a study Bible will be useful it is not necessary to have one but you will need a good Bible translation such as the King James Version (KJV), or New International Version (NIV), rather than a paraphrased one such as the Message. You will also need a pen and notebook or journal to record what God is saying. Colored pencils can be used to high light key verse you come across during your reading.
Set aside a time and place where you go to meet with God as you read His Word. Don't just randomly open your Bible and start reading, have a plan. You might choose to read straight through the Bible starting with Genesis, or in the New Testament. Whatever plan you choose, be consistent and read every day.
As you prepare to read, pray for the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to what God is saying to you in His Word. Remember God's Word is alive and active and relevant for today. As you read expect God to speak to you through His Word, and His Holy Spirit. Record what God is saying to you in your journal and be obedient to what he is saying. Remember we are to be doers of the Word and not just hearers of the Word.
Once you've gathered the materials you will be using during your reading it's time to begin your study. Now you need to decide which format you will use. Your study format can consist of reading a chapter a day and looking for and high lighting (with your colored pencils) verses that deal with certain Biblical doctrines such as angles, end times, salvation, the deity of Jesus, or the Holy Spirit. You might want to highlight prayers that you find in the Bible, or if reading the Old Testament, highlight the words of God. You can also look for major areas of the Christian walk such as spiritual warfare, evangelism, or stewardship and high light those. Grace, mercy, judgement, holiness and sin are other themes that you might want to consider looking for as you read. While reading focus on one theme or word at a time. When you finish the first book you can go on to another book looking for the same theme or re-read the book with a new theme in mind.
This method will help you with a particular doctrine or theme, but what if you want to see what God has to say to you personally? Again with the Holy Spirit's leading choose a book of the Bible but this time instead of reading a chapter a day you will concentrate on a smaller portion of the book. Read the passage (example Matthew 16:13-20) through once. On the second reading take each verse and write the verse number in your journal followed by the key words in that verse, omitting adjectives. Do this with each verse in the passage. Now write the verse numbers down and using the key words you wrote down for each verse, write down what spiritual truth, command or warning is the writer giving in each verse? Now write the verse numbers and going back to the command, spiritual truth or warning that you just wrote and ask yourself what is God saying to you personally?
As you end your reading or study time spend time in prayer concerning what you have just read. While it is important that you read/study God's Word every day, if you miss a day or two don't give up, pick up where you left off and go on from there. Remember the more time you spend in God's Word the more you will want to, and the more you learn the more you will want to learn.
Christine Crowley is a freelance writer and speaker who makes her home in Arizona. She teaches women's Bible studies, and serves on the women's council and missions committee in her local church.
by Christine Crowley
Want to get more out of your daily Bible reading but don't know exactly how to go about it? While there are several good commentaries and Bible studies on the market today, the most important tool you will need is your Bible. While a study Bible will be useful it is not necessary to have one but you will need a good Bible translation such as the King James Version (KJV), or New International Version (NIV), rather than a paraphrased one such as the Message. You will also need a pen and notebook or journal to record what God is saying. Colored pencils can be used to high light key verse you come across during your reading.
Set aside a time and place where you go to meet with God as you read His Word. Don't just randomly open your Bible and start reading, have a plan. You might choose to read straight through the Bible starting with Genesis, or in the New Testament. Whatever plan you choose, be consistent and read every day.
As you prepare to read, pray for the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to what God is saying to you in His Word. Remember God's Word is alive and active and relevant for today. As you read expect God to speak to you through His Word, and His Holy Spirit. Record what God is saying to you in your journal and be obedient to what he is saying. Remember we are to be doers of the Word and not just hearers of the Word.
Once you've gathered the materials you will be using during your reading it's time to begin your study. Now you need to decide which format you will use. Your study format can consist of reading a chapter a day and looking for and high lighting (with your colored pencils) verses that deal with certain Biblical doctrines such as angles, end times, salvation, the deity of Jesus, or the Holy Spirit. You might want to highlight prayers that you find in the Bible, or if reading the Old Testament, highlight the words of God. You can also look for major areas of the Christian walk such as spiritual warfare, evangelism, or stewardship and high light those. Grace, mercy, judgement, holiness and sin are other themes that you might want to consider looking for as you read. While reading focus on one theme or word at a time. When you finish the first book you can go on to another book looking for the same theme or re-read the book with a new theme in mind.
This method will help you with a particular doctrine or theme, but what if you want to see what God has to say to you personally? Again with the Holy Spirit's leading choose a book of the Bible but this time instead of reading a chapter a day you will concentrate on a smaller portion of the book. Read the passage (example Matthew 16:13-20) through once. On the second reading take each verse and write the verse number in your journal followed by the key words in that verse, omitting adjectives. Do this with each verse in the passage. Now write the verse numbers down and using the key words you wrote down for each verse, write down what spiritual truth, command or warning is the writer giving in each verse? Now write the verse numbers and going back to the command, spiritual truth or warning that you just wrote and ask yourself what is God saying to you personally?
As you end your reading or study time spend time in prayer concerning what you have just read. While it is important that you read/study God's Word every day, if you miss a day or two don't give up, pick up where you left off and go on from there. Remember the more time you spend in God's Word the more you will want to, and the more you learn the more you will want to learn.
Christine Crowley is a freelance writer and speaker who makes her home in Arizona. She teaches women's Bible studies, and serves on the women's council and missions committee in her local church.