Tips for Effective Bible Study
Tips for Effective Bible Study – Putting on the Mind
of God
Our Purpose: to answer the common complaint “I just don’t know
how to even start doing bible study”
Psalm 119:9-16
intended in particular for the young people in the congregation.
Concept: If you were operating a shoe store you would need
to have lots of shoes… lots of different types of shoes etc. You need to build
up some inventory. Why?
So that when someone comes in to find a pair of shoes to buy
you have something to offer them. Not only that but you don’t keep all your
shoes in a big pile in the middle of the floor. You want to know where the
different type of shoes are… and to know how to access them quickly and
efficiently.
Likewise you need to build up a moral inventory. To have
God’s laws, how they are applied etc. stored in your mind. Hopefully in an
organized manner… So that when you are faced with a challenge of what to do or
what to say you know where to go to get the answer. Aisle 5 pallet 3, box # 7. Often
you will need to access the answers quickly… you won’t have half an hour to
search for an answer you need to know right them.
1. Read the entire bible
a.
Gives you a sense of scope and context. You need
to know what’s in there and what’s not
b.
Try a “read the bible in a year” program.
Consider reading the same sections in a different translation. Of the more modern
English translations – good options are: NIV, NLT, ESV or NKJV
c.
Listen to scripture being read aloud in your car
Many people like reading books. We go to the library look
through the racks until we find something interesting. We sit down and start
reading… until we are done. Then we are ready for something new… so back to the
library we go. This is not how we deal with God’s word. The bible is not really
a “book” in that common sense. In some ways it’s an experience… God’s word is
meant to be interacted with. Read a portion… set aside… then thought over…
perhaps compared and contrasted with life’s experiences… ask questions about…
seek answers… write your thoughts about it down… to be read over again perhaps
right away perhaps later… in light of increased experience and maturity.
2. Memorize key scriptures
a.
Flash cards provided by the ABC fundraiser
b.
Memorize sections of the Psalms
3. Write out the books of the law by hand
a.
Builds a foundation upon which everything that
follows is built (law, prophets and the apostles)
b.
What does God have to say about sex, property
rights, tort law, restitution, handling criminals, public execution, respect
for animal life, etc.
c.
Because it’s an increased level of engagement
4. Physically interact with your bible
(perhaps comment on digital bibles)
a.
Get a wide margin bible and start marking it up
b.
Chain reference key doctrines (spirit in man) OR key topics (fasting, covetousness
etc)
c.
Consider using colored pencils or pens (easier
to recall)
d.
Mark in your personal thoughts / observations /
big ideas / whatever you want
5. Dig in to your bible – “How do I research a
topic I’m interested in”?
a.
Concordance at back of your bible / chain
references built-in to your bible
b.
Get bible research tools, bible software program
– very easy to search for key words and phrases… also come with dictionaries,
word studies etc.
c.
Read about the times and conditions people lived
in while scriptures recorded
6. Set goals for yourself
a.
For example: pray my way through the psalms Or mark
up every page of my bible
Major Caveat: Will scriptural knowledge or
understanding change you? No it won’t, not alone.
The bible provides us with amazing life giving spiritual information
but the power is in the spirit. Israel had the word of God but it was of no
value to them because it was not combined with belief, and they did not
have the heart in them to obey. They knew it but they didn’t do it.
You can have the power of the universe within you… the Holy
Spirit. To take you by the hand and walk you through, suffering and joy, babies
and funerals, trials, disappointments, success, life’s pains, life’s pleasures….
falling down and getting back up. To live it… believe it and have the law
written on your heart.
II Tim 3:14-16 –
and for putting on the very mind of God, and taking your place in His family to
rule, to serve, to judge and to love in the world that is coming. Don’t wait,
start today. Call upon God and He will show you wonderful things you never even
thought about through His word and His holy spirit.
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