Because God’s written words have life. They have power.
The Bible tells us all about God, what He’s like, how He treats us, what He wants us to be like and how He wants us to live in the world. When you spend time reading the Bible and praying, you’re putting yourself before God and asking Him to change you and make you into the person He wants you to be.
It’s all about transformation.
The Bible is a book that God uses to speak to you. When you read the Bible with an open heart and mind, you’re putting yourself in a position for God to speak to you.
Bible reading and prayer are a crucial part of your journey with God. So, if you want the Bible to be an important part of your journey, it’s important to develop a regular reading habit. Some people find having a Bible reading plan helps keep them on track.
Do you understand the overall Bible story?
The Bible is not an easy read and some of us struggle to make sense of it. That’s partly because it’s hard to read such a big book in small chunks over time, and still understand the overall story. We’ve created some short summaries that capture the overall story of the Bible to help you understand how it all fits together.
How do I read the Bible?
The Bible is a complex and very detailed book. Its story is grand and compelling, yet also emotional and personal. This is a book that God uses to speak to us.
When you read the Bible, do these things:
1.Talk to God
Thank God for the Bible and ask God to help you understand what you’re about to read.
2.Read and Listen
Read the passage slowly and thoughtfully. Listen to what God might be saying to you through it. Read it again if you need to.
3.Think
Think about what you’ve read. Ask yourself these questions:
What is the main point of the passage?
What does the reading say about God? His character? His plans?
What insight is there for me to apply to my life situation?
Is there an example or a warning? Is God giving me a promise?
How does God want me to respond in my thoughts, words or actions?
4.Respond
Turn things you’ve read into prayers. Ask God for His help in applying what you’ve learned to your life. Pray for others.
Try these ways to read your Bible
If you find a way of reading that suits you, you’ll find it easier to read more regularly. Here’s some different things you could try…
QUIET TIME READING
Select a passage or chapter, read and reflect on it (see above).
CHUNK READING
Read several chapters or even a whole book in one sitting. This allows you to better grasp the outline of a book and eventually the whole Bible story.
VERSE MEMORISATION
Memorising scripture has many benefits. It helps us reflect on scripture even when we don’t have a Bible handy and it ensures that it is planted in our minds, shaping our thinking and our actions.
IN-DEPTH STUDY
This helps you understand the original meaning of scripture through the use of resources such as a Bible dictionary, comprehensive commentary or a study Bible.
BIBLE MEDITATION
This helps us get scripture deeply into our hearts. Read a passage slowly, out loud if possible. Imagine yourself in the story, a part of the scene. Re-read it and meditate on what you’ve read. Allow God to speak to you.
CHARACTER STUDY
This approach focuses on study of a particular individual in the Bible. Find all the passages that a character appears in (some may be in many, so choose some that reflect a certain period of the character’s life or event). Use a concordance or word search to do this. Focus on this character’s relationship with God. What can you learn about God through them?
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