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1.
One of the most important aspects of being a Christian is Bible study. Creating this habit can drastically change the way that you interact with God and the world around you. If you don't study the Bible on a regular basis, it can be difficult to have a healthy spiritual life as a Christian. There are, however, several things to consider when setting up your Bible study routine that can help keep you on track, and get the most out of your time.
The first of these things is finding good Bible study tools. The first and most important tool for Bible study is a good Bible translation. Once you have selected that, it's a good idea to pick out a Biblical commentary. This will help you to ensure that you understood a passage of scripture correctly, and haven't missed any important themes or content. Bible dictionaries are also a wonderful resource. They contain "brief discussions on important people, places, and things recorded in the scriptures (Cartwright, p.62). There are other things you may choose to add to your Bible study toolkit, but you can help build a strong foundation by including these things.
It is also vital to journal while studying the Bible. A Bible study journal is a great place to keep track of what you have read, what you have learned, and what questions you have. This is a great way to make sure that you are interacting with the text, rather than just receiving information. As Matthew 7:7 says, "keep searching, and you will find it. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you (HCSB)." Journaling is a great way to seek truth, as well as organize our own thoughts during Bible study.
The final Bible study tip is to ensure that you include some sort of devotional or practical application. Often we forget how important this aspect of Bible study is. Often we miss out on a valuable use of the scripture when we fail to actually spend time with God as we study. It can be easy to get caught up in the density of some passages, but we shouldn't forget why we are doing it in the first place. We should ensure that every time we study our Bibles, we make prayer and finding practical applications of the text a priority.
Hopefully these tips have helped create some good guidelines and will be beneficial when preparing to do your own Bible study.
Works Cited
Cartwright, John, et al. Everyday Bible Study. B&H Academic, 2016.
Publishers, Holman Bible. Holy Bible HCSB Digital Text Edition. B & H Publishing Group, 2014.
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Starting to study the Bible for the first time can seem overwhelming and impossible to do on your own. But making this habit part of your daily routine, will bring all kinds of joy and satisfaction. For starters, decide on which tools will work best for you. Personally, this was the most challenging to navigate because there are so many resources out there. Choosing a good study bible is first step in building a bible study "toolbox". Be aware, that different study bibles, focus their commentary on certain aspects of the scriptures. Therefore, "the best study Bible for your toolbox will include notes that are not limited to any one feature or component of Scripture. It will draw your attention to the elements that are most important for understanding the text. The HCSB Study Bible and the ESV Study Bible are excellent examples" (Cartwright & Hulshof, p.61). Next, decide on three translations that you would like to use when comparing text. It is recommended that you select from a variety of formal, functional, and paraphrased translations. Commentary is another useful tool to add to your tool box, to explain backgrounds, history, culture, and concepts in biblical text that you wouldn’t know otherwise but are helpful in understanding the text.
After you build your toolbox with the tools you feel will make you the most successful, you can get to studying! While I am reading scripture I find it helpful to ask myself some simple questions that encourage comprehension of what I am reading. To start, ask who, what, when, where, why, and how. I know it sounds elementary, but at times we need to approach scripture the same way we approach other literature if we want to get the best understanding of what it’s trying to say. When I finish asking myself these simple questions, I then like to move on and ask myself three more questions to further understand what the scripture is trying to portray. Those are, what does this scripture say about God, how does this scripture point to Jesus, and how can I apply this to my life? All of these questions combined will give you a decent understanding of any passage you come across.
Last, rely on the Holy Spirit! God desires to fellowship with us through scripture and He has sent us the ultimate helper. The Holy Spirit’s ministry revolves around our sanctification, and a huge part of that is our understanding of Gods word. “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV). Holy Spirit is able to bring scripture to life and guide us through interpretations and observations.
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