10 Tips for Getting the Most out of Your Bible Study
If you're reading this, you're probably not interested in a shallow skimming of the Scriptures. If that's true, great; you're in the right place! Act 17:11 says, "Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." In the spirit of the Bereans, examining the Scriptures is exactly what we're supposed to do.
But how? Knowing that you're supposed to examine the Scriptures, and having the desire to do so, is a great step in the right direction! Here are 10 tips to help you continue on that walk. Without further ado...
Pray before you start. What better way to start your journey into the God's Word than by asking our Heavenly Father for wisdom and guidance while reading? Praying for an open heart and revelation will put you in the right place to begin your study.
Use a notebook, journal, or binder for notes. Have a pen and some highlighters on hand as well. And maybe some sticky notes. And a bookmark or two. (Think "school supplies"!) This will enable you to keep record of what you discover, and come back to it later.
Read with a purpose in mind. In Paul's second letter to Timothy, he writes, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). We know that the Bible is useful for all of these purposes, but there are times when we are reading God's Word with a particular goal in mind. Are you reading for spiritual growth? Knowledge or wisdom? Comfort, encouragement, or reassurance? Guidance or correction in a particular area? Think about your purpose for reading. Knowing why you're reading can help you figure out what to read and how. If you're unsure where to start, a topical Bible index such as this one or this one may be useful.
Have a Bible handbook on hand. Those of us who own Bibles with footnotes, lengthy book descriptions, topical indices, commentaries, and maps in living color may be just fine without a separate Bible handbook. But for the rest of us, having a well-written Bible handbook or atlas can be a great asset to our studies! Handbooks can provide information such as the theme and purpose of the book, the year or time period the book was written, the historical and geographical setting, detailed cultural information, and biographical information about the writer and characters. Knowing information like this can widen and deepen our understanding of the Bible and give us a hunger for more! I would suggest something like this for a quick reference book (brief and straight to the point!), and something like this for a more in-depth resource.
Establish a routine.
This one's for the busy folks. (But that's all of us, isn't it?) If you find yourself forgetting to read the Bible, or feel like you never have time, evaluate your schedule. Find a time of day that you're available and, ideally, at your best. Are you a morning person? Read a selection of verses in the morning. Are you a night owl? Perhaps a quiet time before bed would be best. Or maybe in the afternoon, while you're on break (or while a load is in the wash, or while food is in the slow cooker...you get the point), is a convenient time. Whatever time of day you choose, make it a habit (if your schedule is consistent). If you're constantly on-the-go, listening to an audio Bible is always an option. There are audio Bible apps you can download to your Android or Apple device, or you can listen to online audio Bibles here or here, for example.
Use the five W's... ...and the one H! It may be useful to write out and answer questions like these:
Who wrote these verses, and who are they talking to? Who are they NOT talking to? (That might be important!)
What happened? What are they saying? What are they NOT saying? (What's NOT being said can also be important and is super easy to overlook!)
When did this happen? What was going on when this happened, or when these words were said? What had happened before? If it's an ordinance, is it everlasting? If it's a prophecy, has it come to pass yet? Was this before or after Christ?
Where did this occur? What is significant about that location? Where else in the Bible does this or something like this happen?
Why did it happen? (If a reason was given, what is it? If not, why not?) Why is this included in the Bible?
How do I apply this to my life? How did the person respond in the situation (if applicable)? How do I follow this example (or NOT, if it shows what NOT to do)? If the meaning remains unclear, consider reading the surrounding verses (or chapters, if applicable). The verses that surround a passage often give clues.
Read from multiple translations... ...especially when you don't understand something! Some verses are worded slightly differently across versions. Reading a verse in another translation can give you insight into the meaning, or allow you to understand it in a different way. If you don't have more than one translation of the Bible on hand, not to worry; with sites like BibleHub and BibleGateway, you can look up verses in several Bible translations all at once.
Read and discuss with a friend (or a group of friends!). Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." Studying with another person benefits both persons; together, they may have different insights or questions than either would alone. Also, one can catch the other's error. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, "Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up." If you always study alone, consider scheduling time with another person or group of people to meet and discuss the Bible to complement your solitary study.
Many churches have small groups for Bible study and prayer. If yours does, consider joining one; anyone can benefit from and contribute to a small group, whether they are completely new to the Bible or have read and studied the entire Bible more than once. Be encouraged and give it a go!
Meditate on it. Psalm 119:15 says, "I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways." May this be true of you too! Committing Bible verses to memory will allow you to recall them for reference, to pray them over yourself or someone else, to ward off temptation, or to share them with another person to encourage (or correct!) them. Furthermore, Psalm 1:1-2 says, "Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night." Be blessed!
Take action. Reading the Word is one thing; acting on it is another. When the Bible commands you to do --or NOT do-- something, well, take heed. When you feel conviction, allow it to correct you; change the behavior or thought. If a promise is made, believe it. James 1:22-25 says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do." Let us be blessed doers of the Word!
I hope these tips help you in your study of God's Word. After all, God wants you to know Him more, and studying His Word is one important way to do just that.
Happy reading!
