Actual Methods To Follow
Read straight through the bible If youve never read the entire Bible, I highly suggest you start here. Yes, it will take you a while. But it is so worth it. There are apps and charts that can help you keep track as you ready.
But you can just pick up Genesis and start reading, even if thats only 1 or 2 chapters a day. Another great option is using a One Year Chronological Bible which has the sections broken down for you.
Read through the Gospels Another good option is start with the Gospels. If you are on a kick, then just keep going through the entire NT!
Our 30 day plan
This is our weird plan that Jason and I have been following for almost two years. You can read all about the plan we follow here.
But basically you pick a book of the Bible, like 1 John, and read it everyday for 30 days. This works really well for small books that less than 6 chapters. If its a larger book, like Acts, then you can break it up into 2-4 months. The amazing part of this method is that you get so familiar with the text.
Look Through Bible Commentaries
Another exercise that can be incredibly helpful as youre learning how to study the Bible for beginners is reading through various Bible commentaries on the key verses youre reading.
Basically, Bible commentaries are big books where really smart theologians explain a lot of background on the text and what it means in the original language. This is where you can find some of the words in the original Greek or Hebrew, along with expanded word definitions that help you really capture what the full extent of what the author was trying to convey.
You can , borrow them from your library, or just do your research online on Bible Hub while youre looking up various verse translations. Just scroll down and youll find a bunch you can read and compare.
This is SO helpful when youre first learning how to study the Bible for beginners, because theyre easily accessible and free!
For example, one of the most helpful commentaries I looked up was on Exodus 20:3, which says You shall have no other gods before me.
At first reading, the text looks pretty straightforward. God is telling Moses that the Israelites should put God first on their list of priorities. But this isnt actually what the text means at all.
Instead, if you , particularly the second half of Ellicotts Commentary for English Readers, youll see that God wasnt asking to be our FIRST god. Hes asking to be our ONLY God. Thats a pretty big difference!
The Soap Bible Study Method
1. S = Scripture
Write out in your Bible study notebook the scripture that ministered to you while you did your Bible study.
2. O = Observation
This method requires you to think about the scripture you wrote down in your Bible study notebook and record your personal thoughts/feelings, as well as spirit led truth. This is also the method of meditation described above.
3. A = Application
This part encourages you to apply the knowledge gained to your personal life moving forward.
4. P = Prayer
This step is for praying about the truth has been revealed to you and any other thoughts/concerns tied to it.
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Inductive Bible Study Example Interpretation Of Psalm 46
Check cross references to see what other passages tell you about this passage: I questioned who the river symbolized. When I looked at the cross reference for verse 5, it told me to look at Isaiah 12:6 which refers to God working among the people of Jerusalem. Therefore, I can conclude that the river is God and she is Jerusalem.
Check a commentary for more information on the passage: In checking Dr. Constables commentary, I learned some really interesting background information. It mentioned that Warren Weisbe thought that the author of this Psalm was King Hezekiah and he was referencing Gods deliverance from Sennacherib:
In 2 Kings 18-19, you can see a progression on both sides: Sennacheribs demands become increasingly less direct, moving from military threats to just correspondence. You can also see how Hezekiahs responses become increasingly based upon trust as he moves from acquiescing to the threats and paying the tribute, to refusal and seeking the counsel of Isaiah, and ultimately to a complete trust in Gods saving ability as expressed in his magnificent prayer. The reference to this battle gives greater illustrate Hezekiahs gradual growth of trust in God and to justify its earlier evaluation, He trusted in the LORD the God of Israel so that there was no one like him among all the kings of Judah after him, or among those who were before him .
I also found in the commentary that a better translation for be still is actually cease striving
Reasons To Study The Bible
Why do you want to study the Bible? Pause and consider this. God is drawing you in, prompting you to grow closer to Him. Having some concrete reasons and understanding why this is important to you will help you stay motivated to study long after the initial inspiration has passed. Here are three solid reasons to begin studying the Bible:
To gain insight on who God is. Theologians have described the Bible as Gods love letter to us. It teaches us his likes, dislikes, and about his character. The Bible is a book about God, and it reveals to us a little bit about who God is on every page. How can we truly know him if we dont intently study his word?
To receive wisdom and instruction. The Bible teaches us so much, and studying it helps us grow in wisdom. For example, the book of Proverbs is filled with instruction and principles for how best to live our life here on earth. We also find needful insight in the gospels and letters to the New Testament churches. 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us, All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.
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Milk Chocolate A Close Translation That Is Easily Understandable For Modern Readers
ESV A translation that tries to combine literal translation with being easy to understand in everyday modern English. This translation is common with mainline protestant communities.
NIV A translation that tries to combine literal translation with being easy to understand in everyday modern English. This translation is common with evangelical communities.
HCSB A translation that tries to combine literal translation with being easy to understand in everyday modern English. This translation is common with evangelical communities.
Why And How Should I Read The Bible
You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life. John 5:39-40
Spiritual maturity comes through time spent with God. The Bible is Gods instruction to us, by spending time in scripture reading, we come to know of him, what he expects of us as well as what is to come. If we want to fall in love with Christ, we should turn to the scriptures as the scriptures reveal the true character of Christ.
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Join A Bible Study Group In Your Church Or Community
One of the best ways to study the Bible is to study in a community setting. When you are able to study the Bible with a group of people who also desire to grow in their faith, you will not only develop meaningful relationships with others in your community, but you will be able to ask questions and see how other people study the Bible.
Check your local church community for group Bible studies in your area and grow in the Word with others!Bible Study Fellowship is a great organization that offers free in-depth Bible studies, and you can find Bible Study Fellowship groups in your area by going to their website.
A Good Bible Reading Plan For New Believers
My husband has often taught that the Gospel of John is an ideal book for new believers to read then theyre new to the Bible. I tend to agree with him. Since John was one of Jesuss twelve disciples, he had an up close view into the life and ministry of Jesus. Its a powerful introduction to His life, miracles, and character.
Heres a . Its spread out over 21 days, which is simple and not overwhelming at all.
A suggested reading schedule is Monday through Friday, or five days on / two days off. This way, you can use your two off days for catching up if you fall behind, which sometimes happens. Dont be too hard on yourself each day is a new day. Just open your Bible and pick up where you left off.
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Beginner Bible Study Books For Adults
We all know its important to study Gods word. But sometimes its hard to know where to start. Whats more, a lack of time, emotionally driven approaches, and past frustrations can erode our resolve to keep growing in our knowledge of Scripture. How can we, as Christian women, keep our focus and sustain our passion when reading the Bible?
Women of the Word has helped countless women with a clear and concise plan they can use every time they open their Bible. This book will equip you to engage Gods word in a way that trains your mind and transforms your heart. I cannot recommend this book enough, it is a wonderful resource on learning how to study the Bible and one that I refer to regularly.
This post on the best books on how to study the Bible dives into some additional resources you may find helpful.
Bible Study By Verses
In studying the historical passages of the Bible, such as most of the Old Testament or parts of the Gospels, each verse may have only one simple meaning.
But many verses in both the Old and New Testaments are rich with many great Bible truths that will demand more detailed study. There are many ways for you to study a single Bible verse.
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Why Study The Bible
My favorite part of the day is the time I get to spend in Gods Word. As I sit with my Creator at our dining table with the sun streaming through the windows and a cup of coffee in my hand, I gain a greater understanding of my purpose and His plans for me as I study His Word.
Before I started Renovated Faith, I worked at a church full-time and also graduated from seminary with my M.Div with biblical languages.
In many of my posts, I share how God transforms our brokenness in the same way one can rehab an old piece of furniture. But I cant begin to talk about how God renovates our lives without sharing about the importance of spending time studying His Word.
The Bible is not just a book but is the personal revelation of Jesus Christ to His people. Through it we can receive hope, hear of His love for us, understand how to be more like Him and gain insight in making the best decisions in any aspect of life.
The Bible isnt just a history book or even a self-help book. The words within its pages are the inerrant and inspired words of God, and they are useful in every aspect of our lives . Within the pages of Scripture is the key to radical transformation to be more like Christ.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what Gods will ishis good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
Choose A Personality To Study
Another option is to choose a particular person to study, such as Paul, and spend time researching about that person. For example, if I was studying Paul, Id make notes about what his name meant, where he was born, where he was from, what do we know about his childhood, what major events happened in his life, etc.
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One Year Scripture Reading Plans
If you want to learn more about how to read the Bible in one year , the Navigators web site has easy to follow One Year Bible Reading Plans.
Their Discipleship Journal reading plan is a good fit for those who might bored easily. Youll read from four different places in the Bible each day. They also have a few days without reading that you can use for catching up, in case you get overwhelmed. Or, youre not behind, you can use those days to take a deep dive into something that stood out to you in your reading.
They also offer the more traditional Book-at-a-Time Bible Reading Plan, which takes you through your reading one book at a time. This also includes some off-days for catching up on your reading.
The International Bible Society offers this 365-Day Bible Reading Plan that is easy to follow. The whole Bible is arranged into 365 daily readings, including an Old Testament passage, a New Testament passage, and a Psalm or Proverb for each day.
How To Study The Bible For Beginners Without Using Commentaries
When I was in college I picked up one of my dads commentaries. It was in the book of Hebrews. I remember reading it cover to cover. There is no way I can remember why I even did this, but reading that commentary opened my eyes to the fact that there are men who have studied the Bible so thoroughly I didnt have to. After reading so in-depth in Hebrews I feel more deeply in love with that book of the Bible and I was drawn to the Old Testament to compare Jesus work and life to that of the prediction about the Messiah found in the writings of the prophets. I so enjoyed reading that commentary!
Dont get me wrong, I love commentaries. I have shelves of commentaries. When I write forFirst5.org orCrosswalk.com, I always use a commentary after Ive done my own personal study. Good commentaries are great resources for any Bible reading, scholar, and teacher. Commentaries will provide a unique perspective and give insight into historical contexts we normally might miss. This post is not against using commentaries, but after reading Jen Wilkins book Women in the Word, I realized I had become too reliant on commentaries to tell me what the passage meant rather than using my own observations. There is nothing wrong with consulting a commentary if something is confusing, but often sitting with a passage or a verse for a few days can provide enough insight to answer our questions.
How to Understand the Bible
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QUESTION:
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Bible Study By Topics
Closely related to the method of study by words is the study according to great topics or subjects: Bible prayers, Bible promises, Bible sermons, Bible songs, Bible poems, and so on.
Or one might study Bible geography by reading rapidly through and looking for rivers, seas, and mountains highlighted in Scripture. For example, the mountaintop experiences in the life of Abraham are a thrilling study.Another challenging study is to read rapidly through the Gospels and Epistles looking for the Lords commands to us.
The list of Bible topics is unlimited.
First, for a topical study on prayer, look up the word prayer or pray in your concordance. Look up every form of these words and such related words as ask and intercession. After you have looked up these verses, study them and bring together all the teaching on prayer that you find. You will find conditions of prayer, words to be used in prayer, results to expect from prayer, when to pray, and where to pray.
What Is The Soap Method Of Bible Study
SOAP Bible Study Method This method is about reading and then applying it to your everyday life.
Here is how to use and apply the SOAP Bible study method:
S-Scripture Write out the scripture
O- Observation What stands out to you?
A-Application How can I apply what I have read to my personal life?
P-Prayer Pray Gods words words back to him.
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Apps To Help You Read The Bible
The best app Ive run across is the Bible app. Its the most popular app and for good reason. Not only does it give you multiple options for reading through the Bible in a year, 90 days, 30 days, etc. but it also gives you special devotions. It offers quite a few versions of the Bible and so much more.
Bible.is is my favorite app for listening to the Bible. You can listen to the Bible dramatized which Ive found makes the stories come alive. This app is also great for listening to the Bible with your whole family.
Audible is another great app option for reading the Bible that you can listen to while youre doing other tasks. Daily Bible Verse is an app I have enjoyed as well.
Make Bible Study Simple
No matter what, strive to study the Bible in a way thats simple and meaningful for you. Dont be afraid to try a new Bible study method or look up commentaries for further understanding.
In fact, streamlining my quiet time with Bible study templates was one the best ways I ignited my spiritual growth. With ready made templates, it took the guess work out of how I would study, and led me to explore Scripture in a fresh way.
The Family Bible Study Toolkit is the perfect quiet time resource to help women , learn to study the Bible for themselves and jump start their spiritual growth.
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