:::BIBLE STUDY:::
[The Bereans] were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
-Acts 17:11 (NKJV)
The Bereans example is a great one to follow; we all need to be studying our bibles. Here are some basic principles to help you with your own personal bible study time.
What’s required in order to be successful in studying your bible?
1. Faith
- Although faithless people have come to the faith through the reading of God’s word, we are to approach the scriptures in faith.
- Someone once came to D.L. Moody with a very difficult passage and said, “Mr. Moody, how do you explain that?”
Moody replied, “I don’t”
Man: “But how do you interpret it?”
Moody: “I don’t interpret it.”
Man: “Well, how do you understand it?”
Moody: “I don’t understand it.”
Man: “What do you do with it?”
Moody: “I believe it! I believe many things I don’t understand.”
- So, when approaching the scriptures we do so in faith.
2. Commitment - the Bereans searched the Scriptures daily
- Set aside time.
- We'll set time aside to eat at our favorite restaurant, to watch that new movie. We’ll set appointments to get our hair done, to make a Tee time.
- We need to set a time to study the bible and once we set a time we need to stick with it.
- Do you play golf?
- There are a lot of things to consider like ball position, weather conditions, your grip, balance, stance, the position of your knees, hips, arms, shoulders, your head, the swing, follow-through and the list goes on.
- The novice golfer is, well, terrible, right? It takes time
and commitment in learning the steps and fundamentals in order
to improve your game.
- So too with your bible study time, as you start out for the first time doing these things, it’s awkward and even a little difficult.
- Stick with it and before you know it you’ll be on par.
- Did you know that at a modern rate, you can read through the entire bible in about 72 hours.
- Divided over an entire year; if you read the bible for 17 minutes a day five days a week (not even 7 days a week, only 5), you could easily read the entire bible.
- Make it 20 minutes a day, 5 days a week and you’ll be giving yourself time to pray at the beginning and end.
3. Prayer – at the beginning of your bible study time ask God to help you understand what you are reading through the power of the Holy Spirit.
- At the end of your bible study time, ask God to help you keep what you have learned or discovered.
- King David in Psalm 119:18 prayed, “Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law.”
- May that be our prayer as we spend time in His word.
The 3 things required to be successful in studying your bible are: Faith, Commitment, and Prayer.
Three ways to read the scriptures.
1. Devotional scripture readings using aids like…
- These are great for warm-ups. Starting devotional readings for the 1st time or just getting back into them, but I wouldn’t rely on this alone, consider also…
2. Reading Systematically – Chapter-by-chapter, book-by-book.
- Study Bibles usually have reading plans in the back.
- I suggest read through the entire New Testament first if you have not done so.
- Then I recommend you use 3 bookmarks, 1 in the Old Testament, 1 in Psalms and Proverbs, 1 in the New Testament.
- Keep reading in each until you read through the entire Bible.
- This way you are receiving the Full Counsel of God systematically.
3. Reading Topically
- Using a concordance or Topical Bible Index, you focus on one idea or topic and study everything the bible has to say about it.
For example, reading all scriptures regarding “grace”
- This way you are receiving the Full Counsel of God on a particular subject.
Use all three reading methods together and you’ll be super blessed! Maybe not all in the same day, but over a few days or a week.
Here’s a way to process what you are reading (whether it’s devotionally, systematically, or topically):
1. As you read, you S.M.A.C.K. the passage.
S – Saying, what is the passage saying?
M – Meaning, what does the passage mean? Context is very important.
A – Application, what’s the personal modern-day application?
C – Command, what’s the passage commanding me to do?
K – Keep it, how do I keep the commandments and applications?
2. I recommend that you re-read the passage; try to avoid mindlessly reading a passage to get your “check in the block” for devotional time.
You only get out of it as much as you put into it.
3. Put yourself into the passage; how would you feel/what would you think?
This helps the passage come alive.
Use tools to help you get more out of your bible study time.
1. Marginal references/footnotes with additional scriptures and alternate translations
2. Study Bible – they have maps, charts and commentaries available on each page (like this one)
3. Concordance - Scripture references:
Strongest Strong's Exhaustive Concordance or
Strong's Compact Concordance Paper
4. Bible Dictionary – provides context and setting (Unger's Bible Dictionary)
5. Commentaries/Handbooks
- I like Wiersbe, McGee, MacArthur, Ironside, Courson
6. Read books on the subject: like Skip Heitzig’s book
How to Study the Bible and Enjoy It
7. Journal – taking notes for yourself helps to reinforce what you read or heard.
Question: Why is bible study important?
1. Hebrews 11:6b — [God] is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
2. To quote Moody again, “The Scriptures were not given to increase our knowledge but to change our lives.”
3. George Mueller said, “The vigor of our spiritual life will be in exact proportion to the place held by the Bible in our life and thoughts. I solemnly state this from the experience of fifty-four years. The first three years after conversion I neglected the Word of God. Since I began to search it diligently, the blessing has been wonderful. Great has been the blessing from consecutive, diligent, daily study. I look upon it as a lost day when I have not had a good time over the Word of God.”
4. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 "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 complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."
Here's a question I received, when studying the Bible:
"How do I know if it is my interpretation or God's?"
That's a Great question! In 2 Peter 1:19-21 it says, "And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." (NKJV)
- Scripture should be interpreted only in context, that is, a verse or prophecy cannot stand alone without other scriptures to aid in its understanding. Interpretations from the God Word, in order to be true interpretations, must NEVER contradict another passage of God's Word.
- Scripture should not be interpreted according to one’s own individual liking. We shouldn't use a concordance to search for a verse that supports what we think/like. We read God's Word and allow it to tell us what God thinks and what He likes.
- Scripture cannot be correctly interpreted without the Holy Spirit. John 14:26 says, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand the things you are reading.
- The more you read God's Word, the easier it gets to interpret and understand it.
- One last comment, interpretation and application are two different things; while we all should interpret God's Word in the same way, we can all have different applications based on where we are at in our personal walk with the Lord.
May God bless you as you seek to know Him through His Word!
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