HOW TO READ the Bible

Everything on this site is birthed out of a study of the Bible. The Bible is a book about God and what He has done in light of the selfishness of mankind. Reading the Bible relationally, meaning reading the Bible to know and enjoy God, has changed me. It has given me an entire new way to think and process the events of my life. Reading the Bible to know and enjoy God has become the lamp for my feet as I walk in this dark, confusing world. Reading the Bible to know and enjoy God has changed my appetites, my tastes and preferences and exposed the blandness of the world I used to enjoy and highlighted the rich sweetness He offers.

If there is anything I hope you would gain from this website, I hope it would be a hunger to read the Bible to know God and enjoy Him. The Bible can feel intimidating, and many of us were taught incorrect ways to read and study it (for example, as a self-help book, which it certainly is not). I'd love to get you started in the right direction. Below are a few tips to help you get started in your own journey toward experiencing God as you read His Word and get to know Him. I promise, He is more enjoyable than you ever dared dream. God, let us know Your ways that we may know You! (Ex 33:13)

  1. The WHY

Why should we read the Bible for ourselves? What is it accomplishing?

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Word Pictures
Word Pictures

Why should we read the Bible every day? Does it make a difference? Is it just something good Christians do? Or is it a legalistic habit that’s unnecessary to a healthy walk with God? If we don't understand why it matters, we likely won't make it a priority. Here are five analogies to bring to life the purposes of a consistent, daily study of God's Word.

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Satan Wields Ignorance of the Word as a Weapon
Satan Wields Ignorance of the Word as a Weapon

Though we have more access to the Bible than any generation before us, most Christians still have never read it all. The abundance of biblical access, on smartphones and bookshelves, generally hasn't resulted in an increased personal knowledge of the Word. And yet our generation speaks very authoritatively about God and the Bible.

Lack of knowledge plus authoritative opinions: This is a dangerous combination.

2. the how.

how do we read the Bible? good reading habits will make all the difference in what you get out of your time.

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Practical Strategies for Bible Reading
Practical Strategies for Bible Reading

Likely many will affirm that knowing and loving the Bible key. After all, this is the foundation of our faith!  Yet, in that quiet moment when you open its pages, the Bible can also be incredibly intimidating.  Here are a few suggestions to make this task doable.

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LIFE IN THE WORD OF GOD

If you’re looking for a little more training in how to study your Bible, this document is for you. It’s a crash course on the Inductive Bible Study method—Observe, Interpret, Apply—and can be done individually or with a group. The skills I teach in this document are ones I use every day. Please do not copy and distribute without permission.

 

A journal is a very helpful tool in understanding the Bible. If reading is like tasting, journaling is like digesting.

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Journaling: More Than a Diary
Journaling: More Than a Diary

Chronicling your life is not the only function a journal can serve; those blank pages can be used in so many other ways! I'd like to share some pages from my own journals in the hope that it will get the creative juices flowing as you consider what it could look like for you to engage with God and seek Him with all your heart. 

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3. The Who

Who are you reading to get to know?

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Connecting with God through the Word
Connecting with God through the Word

There is nothing I feel more passionate about than knowing God. It is the greatest privilege of my life. The deepest joy. The thing that gives me purpose and meaning. To know Him is by far greater than all the treasures this world has to offer. 

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The Bible is a Witness; Not a Savior
The Bible is a Witness; Not a Savior

How can you know if you are using the Bible to avoid Jesus? When it becomes a self-help manual instead of a platform to showcase your Redeemer. When the Bible produces to-do lists and not worship. When your Bible reading is devoid of prayer. Proper Bible reading first exposes sin, then offers a Savior. The Bible is a witness to the need for a Savior and the presentation of Jesus as that Savior.

4. The What

What is the Bible anyway? How did it get put together? What does it say about itself?

Year ago, I put together a study for one of my small groups to answer these questions. We used a document called “Can We Trust the Bible?” by Mark A. Copeland. All printable resources to this study are below.

A Study of The Bible

(The answers to the first two lessons can be found in this document: Can We Trust the Bible?)

Additional Resources:

If this topic interests you, I would highly recommend these books:

 
 

digging deeper

want more? TAke my Bible study methods class.

I taught an 8-week course on Bible study methods at my church going through the book of Hosea. My hope for this study is not only that you would hear God's heart in Hosea but that you also gain the skills to dig deeper into any book of the Bible  Click here to listen to the class and follow along with the notes.