Learning How To Read The Bible Can Be Fun And Enjoyable
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- Use Scripture to conquer sin, false beliefs, and negative thought patterns
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Example: How To Start Bible Study
One example is John 4:1-2: Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John .
If I was relaying the basic story, I would have just said Jesus knew that the Pharisees had heard he was baptizing and making more disciples than John. The fact that the author adds though Jesus himself didnt baptize them means that theres something important there.
I did some Googling/research and it turns out that thats actually a really important note! It seems like Jesus didnt perform water baptisms so that no Christian could lord their status over another, because we are all of equal status in Christ . By paying attention to what stands out, Im able to notice little details that I wouldnt if I just looked at the big picture.
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Search Blogs And Online Articles
Another one of my favorite Bible study methods for beginners is to simply see what other writers, pastors, and bloggers have to say on the topic.
Now, you do have to be very careful when studying the Word in this way.
While you can learn a ton reading online articles, keep in mind that not everything you read online is Biblically sound, even if its written by a Christian author. And its very easy to get false information from a source that looks reputable, especially if youre just learning how to understand the Bible for the first time.
Some bloggers do have formal Bible training and actually care about getting the messages of Jesus Christ right. But unfortunately, many others simply want to spout off opinions or write something encouraging without first checking to make sure their message is Scripturally sound.
And again, were all just humans. Even when we do our best, were not infallible.
So, while you can certainly learn a lot this way, you DO need to make sure you also learn how to study the bible for yourself.
Read what they say, examine it against Scripture, and see if it makes sense. Read multiple, reputable sources. Dont simply take one persons word for what the Bible means. They could be wrong.
Also, whenever Im trying to figure out how to understand the Bible on a particular topic, I always save this step for last, because I want my beliefs to be formed by Scripture first not how other people interpret it.
For Bible Memorizers Who Want To Remember Chapter And Verse
In general, I suggest that you have one Memory Palace Network per book.
So if youre working on the Proverbs, have a Memory Palace Network just for that purpose.
This way, youll never have to wonder what your MP Network is for it will always be clear to you.
Next, youll want to develop skills with a simple technique for memorizing any number. Its called the Major Method or the Major System.
For more help with memorizing numbers, you can also learn the 3 Most Powerful Memory Techniques For Memorizing Numbers.
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Books Of The Bible Memorization Goals:
#1 Identify which books are Old Testament books and which are New Testament books.
#2 Understand the organization of the books.
#3 Ability to locate the books with and without the Table of Contents.
#4 Remember a brief snippet regarding the central theme of each book.
Studying Gods Word is an essential part of the renewing of our minds. When our children are familiar with the basics of the Bible, they have footholds that help them reach and remember new pieces of knowledge.
Most importantly, understanding the basic structure of the Bible and how to find things can give our children the confidence that they need to open the pages of the Bible and seek out Truth.
You will want to know how to memorize the books of the Bible when you see that it opens up Gods word to you.
Friends Partners And Lovers: What It Takes To Make Your Marriage Work
Most marriages survive by gritting teeth and holding on. But marriages can and will not only survive but thrive when husbands and wives learn to cherish one another. Those are the powerful words of bestselling author Gary Thomas in his newest bookCherish. And in a world desperate for marriage redemption, it is needed now more than ever. Thomas shows that although there are a countless number of marriages consisting of two people just going through the motions, there are real ways this pattern can be reversed: when husbands and wives learn to cherish one another in proven, loving, and everyday actions and words.
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Yes, I Promise to Pray for the Pre-born and Their Moms!
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Yes, I Promise to Pray for the Pre-born and Their Moms!
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Following Up: What To Do After Your Memorize Scripture Verses
Now comes the fun part.
What you want to do is mentally walk through your Memory Palaces one at a time.
Do this as many times as it takes to recall the verses accurately. Be sure to recall them both verbally and in written form. There are a few more tips on this practice below.
How many times exactly is a question no one can answer. At least 5 times the first day and then 1 time per day for a few weeks is a good rule of thumb derived from Dominic OBrien.
As you develop your skills, youll find that different verses enter your memory at different rates and each presents its own form of brain exercise.
The varying levels of challenge is a good thing. It keeps you on your toes, keeps things interesting, and in fact, you dont want it to be easy. If using memory techniques suddenly became easy, theyd be boring and you would stop using them.
Its very important to set a time aside for practicing recall to ensure that you do it.
I suggest using a Memory Journal to gather all your Memory Palaces and record your recall.
Theres no perfect journal, but one I recommend is called The Freedom Journal. It has just enough space for an effective Memory Palace drawing and lets you create 10-day sprints over the course of 100 days.
In 30 Days You’ll Have A Solid Grasp On Things Like
- The Arc of Bible history
- Main characters and people in the Bible
- Major points of geography and locations of main events
- The 10 doctrines of the Bible
- The stories and themes of the Old and New Testament
- Why there are four Gospels
- How to understand the parables of Jesus
- The importance of miracles, and more!
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Do Not Try To Learn Too Much At Once
Seven is a number of wholeness and completion in the Bible. God created the world in 7 days and then rested.
The walls of Jericho fell after seven days. On the seventh day, the people made seven trips around the city. Then, seven priests blew seven trumpets.
My favorite go-to website for Bible questions is GotAnswers.org. They have a great seven article.
How To Read And Study The Bible As A New Christian
November 30, 2019 by Deanna Cotten
As a brand new Christian you are trying to learn a book comprised of 66 books and 40 authors. You were told this book will change your life and give you everything you need to know about following God. There are so many directions you can turn. Everyone has an opinion about where you should start. For example, you could start in the Gospels, Genesis, or Ephesians.
As a new believer, I hungered for the Word of God much like you. I wanted to know ALL THE THINGS. I could not soak in the Bible fast enough. After a short time, I felt a dryness when I opened my Bible. The most popular verses were written on my heart and mind and I felt stuck. I realized I had no idea where to start reading the Bible! You should never have to guess where to start studying the Bible as a new or seasoned Christian.
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What To Do During Scripture Memorization
Once you know how to create a Memory Palace Network and have it in place, its time to learn how to associate words and phrases with locations.
The course covers everything in detail, but as a quick example, lets use these wise words:
Proverbs 18:13 : To answer before listening that is folly and shame.
How to memorize bible verses will be covered later. For now, lets focus on the verse itself.
Focus on the words themselves
Personally, Im a quick study. As a result, I usually dont spend a bunch of time on the meaning of a passage. That comes after Ive memorized it.
However, you might benefit from understanding the meaning first, If thats you, be sure to reflect before you start memorizing the exact words.
Next, sort out the keywords. In our example verse, they are:
- Answer
If I may explain the process from example, heres what I did next:
I asked myself
Who do I know who relates most closely to either the form of the verse or its meaning.
My friends sister Andi comes to mind.
In a Memory Palace, its easy to see her typing out an email. Like this:
What kind of email?
An email in response to an episode of Faulty Towers shes just seen on television. She does this before she even heard the end of the sentence that offended her, and as a result, feels ashamed.
Why Faulty Towers?
Because it has a sound similar to folly in it. Note that I thought of and chose Andi as my Bridging Figure for this verse because I was focusing on the first word answer.
Read Each Verse In Multiple Translations
Another exercise that can be extremely helpful as youre learning how to study the Bible for beginners is studying the Word in multiple translations.
Remember: The original Bible texts werent written in English. The English versions we read today are just translations, and not every translation always gets it right. Even something as simple as switching a and the can make a huge difference in meaning.
While most of these differences dont change the meaning enough to be noticeable during daily Bible reading, they can make a huge difference when youre trying to study a concept and form a doctrinal belief.
Therefore, youll want to look over at least a few different translations to make sure that the one youre reading fits in line with what Bible scholars as a whole think it means.
Thankfully, you dont need a whole stack of Bibles of various translations in order to compare. You can do this incredibly easily right on Bible Hub. Simply search for the verse youre researching, and scroll down.
This is a fantastic resource for anyone learning how to study the Bible for beginners. And I still use it all the time to help me better know how to understand the Bible. I love how easy it makes to compare multiple translations all in one place with just a few clicks of the keyboard.
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How To Memorize Scripture And Verse Numbers In 5 Minutes Or Less
Need help memorizing scripture and want an easy and fast way to do it?
Youre in the right place.
On this page, youll learn how to memorize scripture quickly and make it stick for the long-term.
All by spending no more than 5 minutes per day.
Better:
Youll learn to create a robust Memory Palace Network to do all the heavy lifting.
Youll also learn how to create effective associations to use within your Memory Palaces. This Magnetic Imagery will pop any verse back into your mind almost instantly.
Youll next learn how to follow-up for long-term recall and the bad memory habits you must avoid.
Are you ready?
Great lets go!
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Do Christians Need To Fast
Fasting might sound sensational today. But in Jesus culture, it was weird for a religious person not to fast.
The disciples of John the Baptist, an important prophet who prepared the way for Jesus ministry, often fasted. So did the Pharisees, a group of religious leaders who opposed Jesus teachings and conspired to kill Him!
During Jesus earthly ministry, His followers didnt fast. But Jesus assumed they would fast after he returned to the Father . In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives His followers instructions on how to fast, specifically telling them not to make a show of fasting like others in their culture .
Jesus may not have commanded his followers to fast, but He expected them to.
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Fasting As A Worldview
Finally, lets explore the prophet Isaiahs words regarding the practice of fasting, of pursuing answers from God or showing ones remorse over a certain life situation. In this, Isaiah clarifies what God wants to see in our lives when we fastnamely, a sincere devotion to himself and others without self-imposed blinders for the situations around us.
Individuals who fast to seek answers to their questions cant ignore the other dictates of the Bible or the situations around them where they are called to become the hands and feet of God in their circle of influence. In short, fasting is futile if were asking questions for which the answers lie outside the will of God.
In the following passages, Isaiah calls out the people for their refusal to act in ways that would truly reflect their personal devotion to God and his purposes in the world :
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:to loose the chains of injusticeand untie the cords of the yoke,to set the oppressed freeand break every yoke?Is it not to share your food with the hungryand to provide the poor wanderer with shelterwhen you see the naked, to clothe them,and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?Isaiah 58:67
But the chastising we read in Isaiah 58 does not come without hope and a promisea promise that was as true for its initial hearers as it is for us today.
How To Read And Understand The Bible
Reading the Bible on your own is a great start to growing in your walk with Christ.
However, if you want to understand the Bible, you have to learn how to study the Bible.
Attending your local churches weekly bible study is a great place to start.
Bible studies are less formal than Sunday service. Usually, you can ask the Pastor or group leader questions and gain insight from other members of the congregation.
There are also ways to study the Bible on your own, but thats a topic for another day.
I hope answered all of your questions about the Bible and how to read it.
Dont forget to download a copy of my Bible Reading Plan for Beginners!
As always, remember to keep Jesus in the center of everything you do.
Your Sister in Christ,
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What I Learned From Reading The Bible In A Year
Since reading the Bible in its entirety in 2021, Ive found a new rhythm for Bible study. Im now much more comfortable picking up the text every day. Sometimes I use a commentary or guide alongside. I pray, I read, and then I reflect in the margins or on a post-it.
What I love about writing in my Bible as I learn is that the text becomes like a conversation between me and God, where I can record my thoughts and questions, and where God is speaking to me in my life and learnings. The physical Bible becomes a record of my spiritual growth, as well.