Joy in Bible Study
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
1. Prayerfully choose a book to study. John and Romans are good to start with if you're a new Christian. Proverbs provides many nuggets to meditate on and Hebrews is great if you're looking for depth. My favorite is James. I seem to grasp new concepts which I can apply to my own life, every time I study it.
2. Read a passage until you find a verse that is particularly meaningufl to you. Underline it or write it in a notebook/journal. I buy hardback journals that will last a long time. It's nice to be able to look back and see the special messages I obtained or lessons I learned in my past studies. It is not necessary to read huge passages at one sitting but it is important to have listening ears and an open heart, ready to be challenged, comforted or guided by the Holy Spirit. F. B. Meyer writes:
It is my growing conviction that if christians would not attempt to read so many chapters of the Bible daily, but would study what they do read more carefully, turning to the marginal references, reading teh context, comparing Scripture with Scripture, endeavoring to get one or more complete thoughts of the mind of God, there would be a greater richness in their experience; more freshness in their interest in Scripture; more independence of men and means; and more real injoyment of the Word of the living God. Oh, for a practical realization of what Jesus meant when He said: "The water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water, springing up into everlasting life."*
3. Meditate on the chosen passage. Memorize it if possible. Look for cross references and study them. Commentaries can be helpful to a point but be careful not to let them take the place of the Bible itself.
4. Be prepared to be offended. Hebrews 4:12 compares God's Word to a two edged sword:
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Study with the intention of obeying what you read.
5. Keep a journal. Write down special verses and what they mean to you and how you can apply them in your life as well as questions you might have. Your journal should also include prayer requests and praises.
The following are some of the methods for studying the Bible:
* Study by chapters or passages -
Outline the main thoughts.
Explore key words with a concordance.
Read the chapters before and after to grasp the context.
* Study by verse -
List verbs, nouns and ideas.
* Study by book -
Inductive method studies a book by contents then gives a general conclusion or purpose.
Synthetic method studies for general impression without details
* Study by Topic or Word
* Study by biography
* For overall Biblical literacy try a reading program that will take you through the Bible in a year or two.
Now, take it with you!
Joshua 1:8 says
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success
Dueteronomy 6:6-7 says that we should keep these words in our hearts, teach them, talk of them during the day.
And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
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