Hello Friend, how are you? In this blog post, we will discuss how to study the bible effectively. If you’ve been reading the bible for years or you’re just about to start, there is something in this post for you.
Why should I study the bible?
First, let’s establish the fact that God speaks and is still speaking to us. The Bible is the compilation of God’s written words to man.
‘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
When you accept Jesus as your Lord and declare Him as your Saviour, the next step is to discover who He is and what His will is for your life. This requires us to wait on the Lord by praying, studying the bible, spending time in praise and worship, fasting, and fellowshipping with other believers. In my previous blog post ‘Prayer 101: How the Bible teaches us to pray’, I talked about how prayer is a two-way communication between us and God. If you want to hear and know God’s voice, you need to know His word. Just like getting to know someone requires spending time with them and hearing their words, so also to develop a relationship with God you need to spend time reading the Bible. Here are some reasons why you should begin your journey in studying the Bible.
God’s word brings wisdom and understanding
‘The entrance of Your words gives light;
It gives understanding to the simple.’ Psalm 119:130
Do you need wisdom? I certainly do. The Bible is full of wisdom for every aspect of our lives. As we read and study God’s word, we become full of the wisdom it teaches and we can apply this wisdom in our daily living.
God’s word brings direction
‘Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.’ Psalm 119:105
God’s word can show us the way we should go. We live in a world full of distractions and it can sometimes get overwhelming. God’s word brings the clarity needed for life’s decisions.
God’s word keeps us from sin
‘How can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your word.’ Psalm 119:9
Many times, we try hard to say no to sin or to keep ourselves pure with our efforts. But paying attention to God’s word is what keeps us pure. Are you struggling with any sin? Spend time meditating on God’s word. Look for scriptures that relate to what you are struggling with and spend time reading and asking for the help of the Holy Spirit. With time, you’ll find that you can easily say no and turn away from the things you previously struggled with.
God’s word is His instrument of change
‘For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.’ Hebrews 4:12
God’s word is alive! When we read the word, it also reads our hearts. It brings conviction and reveals to us areas of our lives we need to change and then, it makes available the power needed for the change.
How do I begin to study the bible?
Now that we know why we should study the Bible, let’s look at how we should begin to study the Bible.
Let the Holy Spirit guide you
‘However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.’ John 16:13
Jesus promised that He would send the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth. Truth is the word of God. The power of the scriptures is not found on the pages alone. Many people including theologians, read the Bible and know the words, but they do not understand what they read because they do not know the God of the Bible. The Holy Spirit is the key to understanding scripture. Ask Him!
What is the best study bible plan for beginners?
There are many Bible study plans out there and we may be tempted to spend so much time trying to choose one out of the many that we never start. My advice is that there is no best bible study plan, just pick one. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to the right one and then start. Bible study plans or guides are not meant to be all we read and then we tick a box that says we have read our bible. No. It is meant to be a guide, an opportunity to lean on the Holy Spirit Himself who will guide us into all truth. You can choose to start by reading specific books or genres of the bible, such as the Gospels, Psalms and Proverbs or even Genesis. Whichever you decide, start today.
Which version of the bible should I read?
If you’ve been following the post so far, you may have noted a trend and you may already know what I’m going to say. However, for the sake of clarity, I’ll give you a reply. There is no best version to read. If you are starting out reading the bible and want to understand what you read, I recommend picking a version that is easy to read. You can start with the English Standard Version (ESV), the New Living Translation (NLT), the New King James Version (NKJV) or whichever one you find easy to understand. I sometimes switch between versions for better understanding during my study time.
Practical tips for studying the bible
Here are some practical tips that will help you study the bible effectively
Read the bible aloud
‘So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.’ Romans 10:17
Reading the bible aloud makes it come alive in your heart. ‘Faith comes by hearing’ so read the scriptures aloud. Another option is listening to audio versions of the bible. I love to listen to the audio bible in the You version bible app which is free to download. There are several others out there you can use. There are also audio bible readings on YouTube you can listen to. Constantly immerse yourself in scripture and fill your heart with the word of God and you will see a tremendous impact in your life which will surpass your imagination.
Consistency
‘Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.’ 1 Timothy 4:15
You need to give yourself to the study of the scriptures. It needs to be intentional. It cannot be once in a while or only on Sundays or when we feel like it. The only way we can receive the benefits that come from engaging with the word is by showing up consistently.
Meditation
‘This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.’ Joshua 1:8
Meditating on the word of God means thinking about what you have read, turning it over and over in your mind, thinking deeply about what it says and pondering on the possible meanings and application in your life. During meditation, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the meaning behind the passage of scripture and how you can implement it in your life.
Share what you have learnt with others
‘That the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgement of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.’ Philemon verse 6
When you learn something from the scriptures, share it with others. Have friends who you can discuss with, seek to engage in bible studies, and join a local church around you. You can discuss what you have learnt from God’s word and you can also learn more from others. Our faith becomes more effective when we share it.
Say this prayer with me
Dear Lord, please teach me your word. Place in my heart a desire for your presence and help me to show up consistently in studying the word. Holy Spirit, please be my teacher. I want to know you and learn from you. In Jesus name. Amen
If you prayed with me, please leave a comment below. Let me know which of these tips you will be implementing for effective bible study. I’d love to hear from you.
