Recently, I spoke at a local high school on “How to Study the Bible.” The Bible can be intimidating. Its vast number of pages combined with difficult names and themes can often be a deterrent for many. In my lecture, I sought to provide a practical approach to help believers overcome whatever obstacles they face in order to ignite a passion for Scripture in their life.
Many methods exist, but before discussing METHOD, we must address MOTIVE. Our “why” must inform our “how.” The Bible has INFORMATION. And information is necessary and good. But the desire for information alone is not enough to ingite a passion for the Word of God. Our motive must be to gain INFORMATION that brings TRANSFORMATION. Do we desire the Word of God to shape us inside and out? Are we willing to approach God’s Word with humility, willing to be challenged to repent, to seek forgiveness? Transformation must be the foundational motive for the believer who seeks to study Scripture for a lifetime.
Once our motive is set, our method will flow naturally. The following five steps are not the only method(s) for believers to implement in their study, but they are simple tools to allow believers to be more effective in their times of study:
1. Plan
2. Pray
3. Read
4. Interpret
5. Respond
We must be intentional with when, where, and what we choose to study. Rather than haphazardly reading random verses, we should find a certain time and location to avoid distractions. Then, we should intentionally select a passage. If you fail to plan, then you’re planning to fail.
The Holy Spirit, who intercedes on our behalf, is the same Spirit Who inspired the entirety of Scripture. We should appeal to God’s Spirit before engaging His Words, asking for clarity and understanding.
I realize this may seem obvious, but it is important that we read slowly and deliberately. Our familiarity with a passage can often tempt us to rush through our time in the Word. If our motive is transformation, then we should read slowly enough to allow every word to have its full effect on our lives.
As we read, we must seek to understand the author’s original intent in its original context. This is a skill developed over a lifetime of interaction with the Word. The more we read, the more we rightly understand. This is where your church family can be a major catalyst in your spiritual growth.
When you complete “reading” don’t just close the Bible and move on. Journal your thoughts and questions. Pray. Speak to other believers about what you read.
Don’t allow your life to become detached from regular interaction with the Word of God. Don’t allow Sunday morning sermons to be the only weekly interaction you have with Scripture. As Easter approaches, recognize the need to read in your spiritual walk with Christ, and pray for the Lord to continue to ignite within you a passion for His Word that transforms us into His image. May God’s Word continue to shape God’s people here at Eastmont for His glory!