Surface-Level Bible Study Creates Surface-Level Christians
Surface-level Bible study creates surface-level Christians.
Life is going to drain you. You need to remain in Jesus (John 15) and allow Jesus to produce spiritual fruit in your life.
It Takes Multiple People To Carry Heavy Things
It Takes Multiple People To Carry Heavy Things
From a couch to depression – it takes multiple people to carry heavy things.
You can’t do life alone. We all need others who will support us during rough seasons of life.
This is a short segment from tonight’s sermon on Colossians 3:1-14.
How To Study The Bible | 5 Tips For Growing Christians
Are you reading the Bible but feel like you aren’t digging as deeply as you would like? Are you wondering how to study the Bible on another level without purchasing a ton of commentaries and Bible dictionaries?
Bible reading isn’t the only spiritual discipline God has commanded us to practice, but, in my opinion, it is one of the main avenues for Christians to know and experience the power of Jesus in their lives.
But reading the Bible can be intimidating with it’s long names, foreign places, and deep theological truths. In an attempt to help you read and apply the Bible to your daily life, I’m writing a series of blog posts to explain how to read the Bible.
[Read: How To Study The Bible | 4 Tips For New Christians]
[Read:Which Bible Plan is Best for Me?]
I believe that there are different levels of studying the Bible.
For new Jesus-followers who are beginning a new habit of reading the Bible, it is imperative for them to get into the Bible – even if that means reading only one verse per day.
But for those who are growing in their relationship with Jesus will notice that their affections for Jesus and God’s Word will also grow.
Spiritual Food
The words of God feed our souls much like food nourishes our bodies. As Satan tempted Jesus in the desert Jesus told him, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)
Our spiritual health is tied to our consumption and digestion of God’s Words.
Growing in our faith causes us to move from only reading a few verses here and there to savoring and obeying the Scripture.
John Piper talks about the concept of not only seeing the Scriptures, but savoring them.
“He wants our experience of the word to be such that we go beyond testing to tasting. Beyond knowing to loving. Beyond doctrine to delighting. Beyond seeing to savoring.” (Reading The Bible Supernaturally. p. 126)
There is more to Bible study than simply seeing the words – God uses the Scripture to transform lives.
Surface level Bible reading will create a surface level Christian.
[bctt tweet=”Surface level Bible reading will create a surface level Christian. ” username=”chasesnyder12″]
So, if you desire to dig deeper into the Bible, how do you study the Bible for all that it is worth?
Besides enrolling in a Christian University and earning a degree in Bible, here are five tips to help you dive deeper into the Bible.
How To Study The Bible | 5 Tips For Growing Christians
Read Through Chapters of the Bible
Context is key to understanding the Bible and diving deeper into your study of the Scripture. Taking one verse, without understanding the context, is dangerous to your understanding. The best way to understand the context of a verse is to study one book of the Bible at a time. It is time to move on from reading one verse here and there – you need to begin to piece the Bible together in a broader context of God’s Story.
The Bible wasn’t written with chapters and verses – it was written as historical books, poetry, and letters. With that said, I believe a great starting point is to at least read one chapter of the Bible per day. This will help you understand the context, setting, themes, and meaning of the verses you are reading.
Meditate on Biblical Passages
Many, in a desperate attempt to read more of the Bible, rush through Biblical passages. The goal isn’t how many minutes you spend in the Bible. The goal is to get more of the Bible in you. I’ve found that getting the Bible in me takes a slower and more thoughtful approach – meditation.
People have various definitions of what mediation is – yoga, humming, chanting phrases, and so on. But true biblical meditation means to allow God’s Word to steep in your mind so that it begins to transform you heart. Meditating can be as simple as having spiritual conversations, posting verses around your house, or setting your phone’s lock screen to a Bible verse.
[Read: What Does It Mean To Meditate On God’s Word?]
[bctt tweet=”The goal isn’t how many minutes you spend in the Bible. The goal is to get more of the Bible in you.” username=”chasesnyder12″]
Engage In Deeper Spiritual Conversations
As I wrote in the first post of this series, “How To Study The Bible | 4 Tips For New Christians,” the Bible wasn’t intended to be read in isolation. Deepening your understanding of the Bible cannot happen without deepening the spiritual conversations you have within your small group. Your group is the perfect place to ask difficult questions, seek answers through Bible study and prayer, then discuss what the Bible teaches about that subject.
Memorize Passages of the Bible
Sure, you have the Bible App on your phone, but how quickly can you reference Scripture when you are trying to make a decision? The best way to carry the Bible around is to memorize what it says. This is why the psalmist said, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11) Meditating on God’s Word should lead to memorization of God’s Word. Some start with shorter verses at first, then memorize longer passages of Scripture. I would suggest that you begin to memorize passages that are directly encouraging you in your current season of life. Need encouragement, hope, or faith? Hide those verses in your heart so that you can walk in wisdom.
[bctt tweet=”Meditating on God’s Word should lead to memorization of God’s Word.” username=”chasesnyder12″]
Create Your Own Commentary
A Bible commentary is a reference book that provides insight and understanding on each verse in that book of the Bible. Some commentaries are scholarly while others are more devotional in nature. They are great tools to help you understand the background of passages.
Most likely, you aren’t a biblical scholar – most of us aren’t – but I think you should begin to create your own Bible commentary with a book of the Bible. How? Begin journalling through each Scripture. Your DIY Bible Commentary doesn’t need to be deep, nor will it ever be published.
This is a discipline I began several years ago. I write down the passage reference and simply write what is going on in that passage. I ask questions like, “Why is this passage in the Bible?” or “What does this passage show my about God’s heart, character, or attributes?” This way of journalling through books of the Bible helps me to retain the information more easily and forces me to slow down and study the Bible more deeply.
Now What?
I wanted to assist you in developing a deeper daily Bible study so I created some Bible study and prayer journals. These journals allow you the space and flexibility to follow your own Bible reading plan by answering three simple questions to help you apply that passage to your life. Answering these three questions will help you to slow down, meditate on a passage, and journal through the Bible.
How To Study The Bible | 4 Tips for New Christians
Rarely does a Sunday pass by without a pastor saying, “You need to read your Bible.” Unfortunately, those instructions aren’t always followed up with tips on how to study the Bible.
I’m a pastor and I’ve fallen into this trap before. I wrongly assume since I know how to read, study, and apply the Bible to my life that others know that as well. So, pastors can say, “don’t forget to read your Bible,” but people, especially new and young Christians, sit back with blank stares because they don’t know what it means to read the Bible.
If that is you, I’m sorry that the church hasn’t done the best job teaching people how to read the Bible.
This article will serve as an intro in a series of articles with tips on how to study the Bible.
[Read: How To Study The Bible | 5 Tips For Growing Christians]
[Read: Which Bible Plan is Best for Me?]
How To Study The Bible | 4 Tips for New Christians
Read With A Group Of Christians
You need accountability and encouragement to stay consistent and answer questions as you read God’s Word. From the accounts that were passed down through oral traditions to the letters written for local churches in the New Testament – the Bible was intended to be studied within the context of community. You won’t be able to meet with someone everyday and read the Bible together, but you need to be in a community of Jesus-followers that are pursuing Jesus and will check in on your spiritual growth.
Another option is to invite friends to read a specific Bible plan on the YouVersion Bible App. It is free, simple to use, and friends can see your daily reading and notes.
[bctt tweet=”The Bible was intended to be studied within the context of community.” username=”chasesnyder12″]
Jot Down Names, Words, And Concepts That You Don’t Understand
The Bible was written over thousands of years, in multiple languages, by a lot of people. There are plenty of names, locations, concepts, and words that are hard to understand. On the front end you need to recognize that some portions of the Bible will be difficult to read and understand without asking questions from those who are more mature in their faith. Passing by a hard word might make it easier to read. But ignoring words guarantees that you won’t learn new information. Try reading the Bible with a notepad open to jot down names, words, and concepts that you don’t understand. Then take that list to your weekly small group and ask if anyone can help you understand.
[bctt tweet=”Passing by a hard word might make it easier to read. But ignoring words guarantees that you won’t learn new information. ” username=”chasesnyder12″]
Have A Bible Reading Plan
“Where should I start reading the Bible?” That is a great question. I would suggest starting with one of the gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. No matter where you start reading in the Bible, I think it is necessary for you to follow a Bible reading plan to keep you on track. The best plan is the one that you are going to follow. Once again, the YouVersion Bible App allows you to follow along with a topical, whole-Bible, or partial-Bible reading plans, set reminders, and share verses on your social media platforms.
[Read: Which Bible Plan is Best for Me?]
Set Aside A Specific Time And Space Each Day To Read The Bible
You will have to decide what time is best to read the Bible – in the morning, afternoon, or the evening. Like the Bible plans, my thought is that you need to read the Bible when it makes sense for you – but be consistent with the time and space. You need to protect that time and set it apart as a time to meet with Jesus.
Now What?
I hope those 4 tips help you as you develop a habit of daily Bible reading. You should check out the Bible study and prayer journals we have on the blog if you want to go a step further in your study and application of the Bible. These journals allow you the space and flexibility to follow your own Bible reading plan and answer 3 simple questions to apply that passage to your life.
Which Bible Reading Plan is Best for Me?
A question that I hear a lot is, “Which Bible reading plan is best for me?”
Honestly, I love hearing this question because it comes from people who are ready to take the next step in their own spiritual growth. There comes a point that we begin to realize that being spiritually fed at church on a Sunday morning or Wednesday evening isn’t enough for our souls to be filled.
Our souls, like our bodies, need to be fed in order to grow. If we are not feeding our souls by reading the Bible and practicing spiritual disciplines then we will begin to look for fulfillment in other areas (relationships, sins, identity) which leave us feeling empty.
The great news is that, according to a new Lifeway study, people who read the Bible consistently are those who have a Bible reading plan in place to guide them each day.
[Read: Why Do We Neglect The Bible? by Daniel Im]
That means that if you want to restart or begin reading the Bible for the first time, it would serve you well to find a Bible reading plan that you can follow.
It makes sense because we need plans to help us
- Lose weight
- Get a college degree
- Accomplish goals
- Or even shop at the store
The even better news is that The Bible App has changed the game for reading, applying, and studying the Bible!
[Read: How To Study The Bible | 5 Tips For Growing Christians]
[Read: How To Study The Bible | 4 Tips For New Believers]
It has never been easier to access the Bible and follow a Bible reading plan. Download the Bible App, select a reading plan, and schedule the plan to send you reminders each day — it is that simple.
You can use your bible if you prefer reading and underlining there but use the Bible app to keep you plan.
With all of the options on the app it can be confusing to know which plan is right for you.
My advice is to simply begin reading the Bible – regardless of which plan it is.
“Failing to plan is planning to fail” also applies to our spiritual growth.
[bctt tweet=”“Failing to plan is planning to fail” also applies to our spiritual growth.” username=”chasesnyder12″]
Some plans are 3 days long. Others cover the entire Bible in 3 years. Some instruct you to read one verse per day while others will have you read the entire Bible in 90 days.
If you aren’t in the habit of reading the Bible I would suggest that you start off slowly – reading a chapter or so per day. Find what fits for you and start somewhere. As you develop this discipline your affections and spiritual fire will be stoked and you will begin to dive deeper into Scripture each day.
Typically I will read my Bible, journal my prayers (more posts to come on journaling), and jot down some thoughts about the passage I read.The Bible reading plans listed below are wonderful resources for reading God’s Word. You should check out the Bible study and prayer journals we have on the blog if you want to go a step further in your study and application of the Bible. These journals allow you the space and flexibility to follow your own Bible reading plan and answer 3 simple questions to apply that passage to your life.
[Check Out: Bible Study and Prayer Journals]
So, which Bible reading plan is best for me? Here are 9 great plans.
The plans listed are shorter plans that have been selected to get your going with your daily Bible reading. If you are looking for some whole Bible plans, check out the Bible App’s “Through The Bible” plans.
James: Faith/Works – A 13-Day Devotion from Matt Chandler
Deeper Into Scripture: Galatians – A Walk Through the Book of Galatians
I love the plans in the “Deeper into Scripture” series. They come out with reading plans that are a chapter per day of books of the Bible.
Pray Like This – A 6-Day Devotional By Steve Gaines
Want to know how to pray? This devotional comes with video teaching to help you connect with the Holy Spirit in prayer.
13 Reasons To Keep Going – A 13-Day Devotional on Hope
Next Steps: I Met Jesus – A 13-Day Devotional for New Believers
Dateable – A 5-Day Devotional on Teenage Dating
10 Myths To Teenage Dating – A 7-Day Devotional on Teenage Dating
Remain In Me – A 5-Day Devotional about Spiritual Fruit
What The Bible Promises To Day – A 7-Day Devotional by James MacDonald
Wondering what other ways you can read the Bible? Lucky for you, I did a FB Live talking about that!
6 Prayers Christians Should Pray More
Jesus ministry was filled with prayer. He practiced the spiritual discipline of prayer. He taught about prayer. He voiced prayers for others.
Prayer is one of the key spiritual disciplines we should cultivate and practice in our daily lives. However, many of us fall into seasons of spiritual burnout. When our passion for Jesus is burning out one of the first spiritual disciplines to go is prayer. If we do pray, our prayers can feel cold, rehearsed, and empty during seasons of spiritual burnout.
I’m still learning a lot about prayer in my own spiritual life. One thing that I’m working on is praying more for God’s Kingdom and to further the Gospel. My prayers can quickly focus on me, my family, and my needs and forget about the importance to pray for others in my community. I’m making it a commitment to pray these prayers more.
6 Prayers Christians Should Pray More
“Lord, thank you for (insert a characteristic of God).”
I need a daily reminder that God is the only one capable of being God. I’m not perfect. I’m not all-powerful. I need to be more grateful for God’s perfection and provisions and less reliant on my own abilities.
“Show me opportunities and boldness to share the Gospel with my community.”
Some are more willing to face physical death by sharing the Gospel in a foreign country than face social death by sharing the Gospel with someone that they know. Our communities need Jesus just as much as the rest of the world. Let’s begin living out the Gospel in our own communities and take it to the ends of the Earth.
“Give me patience to follow your timing.”
Following Jesus requires us to slow down and follow Jesus. In the rush to get things done, we can become discontent with the season we are in. God’s timing is perfect. We know this. Knowing and obeying are two different things.
“God, help me live in biblical community.”
A pastor once said, “nothing fruitful grows in the dark.” Biblical community that is filled with encouragement, accountability, and fellowship is necessary for every follower of Jesus. Life isn’t meant to be lived in isolation. Pray for a group of other Jesus followers on a regular basis.
“Ignite in me a love for Your Word.”
May we all grow in knowledge, understanding, application, and affection in regards to the Bible. Praying the scriptures is a great way to learn how to pray and ensure that our prayers are biblically focused.
“Lord, open doors for your Gospel to flourish in our local schools and business.”
We need to develop a habit to pray for our community business and schools as we watch the news, drive through school zones, or hear about how God is working.
Now What?
There are plenty of ways to pray – silently, with another Jesus-follower, or journaling, to list a few.
If you are interested in digging into God’s Word and beginning the habit of journalling your prayers, you should check out three resources we have on the blog: Redeemed, Rooted, and The Gospel. These are three Bible study and prayer journals that have been designed to help your read, study, and apply God’s Word to your daily life. Click the picture below to check them out.
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