RESOURCES

What version of the Bible should I use? This is an often-asked question. God can speak to us through any version of Scripture that is in a language we understand. Some versions are more literal, but the language is more formal and rigid than how we normally speak. This often makes it more difficult to understand. Other versions are written to be easier to understand, but sometimes simplifying the language makes the meaning less exact. This chart gives you a sense of the range of translations available in English (http://familychristian.com/bible-translation-guide).

Daily Audio Bible (http://dailyaudiobible.com). Listening about 20 minutes a day to a pretty warm and fuzzy guy named Brian, you can go through the Bible in a year. The broadcasts are recorded daily and rotate through different versions of the Bible. You can listen online for free. The app is 99 cents.

YouVersion is the must have Bible app. It is an excellent app produced by Life.Church, and is free and available for every kind of device: (https://www.bible.com/app). YouVersion has many different versions of the Bible available, and most of them can be downloaded so you can read them when you don’t have access. There are also many Bible reading plans. If you are looking for an option, consider “Blended.”

Bible Gateway is a similar excellent resource to consider (https://www.biblegateway.com/). This is an excellent online resource designed to allow easy reading, listening, studying, searching, and sharing of the Bible in multiple versions and languages. There are commentaries and other resources available online. There is also an app that works well, but in general I would say that if you primarily use a PC, this may your best option. If you’re more likely to use an app on your phone, I would encourage you to use YouVersion.

The Bible Project is a great new video based resource worth considering (https://thebibleproject.com). They use short animated videos to make the Bible accessible to people. They create videos, podcasts, and study guides that explore the Bible’s unified story by focusing on each book and different biblical themes. This has great potential for visual learners, or those who want to experience the Bible in a visual medium.

The Story is a book I would recommend (http://www.thestory.com/). It is an abridged Bible that takes out long lists of people and instructions, and instead keeps the core parts of the story of Jesus so you don’t get lost in the details. It does a great job of helping to see the big picture of God’s story. The text is almost entirely scripture, with occasional plot summaries to help move the story along. This is a great place to start if you are unfamiliar with the larger story of the Bible.

Community is the final suggested resource. Having dedicated, sincere Jesus followers helps in being more consistent and committed in getting to know God through His word, and faithfully following His leading. It often helps to read the same book with a friend, or with a small group, and to talk with them about what you’re reading. It also helps to tell each other the stories God is showing you. The opportunity to share in community what you read in scripture or what you hear from God will strengthen your faith in Him.

How to do An Inductive Bible Study

One approach to personal Bible study is to start with a piece of paper and divide it into three columns. Label the first ‘Scripture;’ the second ‘My Own Words’ and the third ‘I Will.’

Example:

Scripture / My Own Words / I Will
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 / God sacrificed His only son because He loved the world so much. This sacrifice made a way for us to have eternal life. / I will show my gratitude by giving my life to God’s service. This includes seeking His will and obeying His commands.
Sharing
It is really difficult to feel God’s love when I’m discouraged. It’s difficult to follow God’s will when He asks me to do things I don’t want to do, so I need other Christians to encourage me in my commitment to follow His will.

Scripture

This method works particularly well with shorter books and easily identified shorter sections. Some books to consider starting with include James, Philippians, or Mark. The length of the passage will greatly impact how long this method will take. Passages that are 10-15 verses long are a good length, though you may want to start a bit shorter. Larger passages can be broken into several sections spread out over several days.

In the ‘Scripture’ column, write the passage word-for-word. This will take time, but the discipline will help you encounter the words in a different way. You end up reading and considering the words more. It becomes a sort of forced meditation for those who struggle to stay focused. This process can also keep you from skimming familiar passages. Writing it out helps the brain to focus and think about every word.

My Own Words

Use the second column to write the passage in your own words. Write it like you are telling a friend about it over a cup of coffee (or your choice of beverage). Don’t move on until you can put the passage into your own words. We don’t really understand it if we can’t explain it. And we cannot obey scripture if we don’t understand it. Sometimes this will mean spending some time thinking about a passage before you can put it into your own words. You may find there are passages you “know” and yet don’t understand. When this is the case, a discipline like this really helps you to grow in being able to better hear from God.

I Will

The third column shifts the focus from knowing God’s Word to obeying God’s Word. To do this, ask God to reveal what your response to the passage should be. Ask, “What do I need to add to my life, take away from my life, or change in my life, to obey this passage?” This is the place to be very specific. For example, Genesis 1:1 says God created the earth, but ask yourself, “What does that means in my life? How does my life change because I believe God created the earth? What do I need to do differently? What can I do in the next 24 to 48 hours to obey this passage?” God invites us into relationship every time we open His word. We call His invitation ‘grace,’ because there is nothing we can do to deserve it. Obedience is how we say “yes” to His invitation. God lives with those who obey His Word. “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine, but the Father’s who sent me.” – Jesus (John 14:23-24).

Share

There are some ideal next steps after spending time in the word. Meet with other followers of Jesus to share what you learned. If you share your ‘I Will’ statements, they can hold you accountable and can help you obey God’s Word. Seek opportunities to share what God said, by statements in conversation like, “God taught me something today” or similar phrases and wait for a response. This creates discussion opportunities. They may ignore the statement if they aren’t interested, so seek another opportunity in the future. People ask for more information if they’re interested, opening the door to share what God taught you. If it is the right time, they will ask more questions. Their questions help to understand where they are in their spiritual journey. Don’t move faster than the Holy Spirit’s leading, or you risk inoculating them to the Gospel.

Summary

·  Write the passage word-for-word in column 1.

·  Write the passage in your own words in column 2.

·  List the actions you must take to obey this passage in column

·  Share what you learned with other believers for accountability. Share with others who are interested.

HOW TO HAVE A BIBLE STUDY

1. Pray First. Then, try to become familiar with the book from which your passage comes. Who wrote it? To whom was it written? For what purpose was it written? Study Bibles can be helpful (ESV is particularly good). The Bare Bones Bible Handbook by Jim George is an excellent book that gives a quick synopsis of the books of the Bible chapter by chapter. This is a great resource, whether you’re just starting out reading the Bible, or have been reading the Bible for years.

2. Read through your selected passage several times, preferably from different versions of Scripture. Some suggestions include: ESV, NIV, NLT, NAS, KJV. Look for notable differences in each version. Utilize software resources if available (Logos, Accordance, Bible Gateway).

3. Study the context of your passage. Be sure you understand how your passage fits into the larger discussion of the book. How much should you read? If time is not the primary constraint, read until something strikes you – until God speaks. Sometimes one verse is enough, sometimes it may be several chapters before something ‘sticks’ with you.

4. What’s the big idea? Ask yourself, “What is the main point of this passage?” Make sure you don’t lose sight of this as you move on in your study. What would this have meant to the original readers/hearers? {for example, Rev 1:1-3}. What do we learn about what God is like from this passage?

5. Find key terms in your passage. Look for loaded, theological words and words you are not sure of the meaning of in this context. Seek out meanings for these words (use a Bible Dictionary) and see how these words are used elsewhere in Scripture (use a concordance).

6. Look for themes that connect this passage with what precedes and what follows. Don’t read each verse separately; study the passage within the context of the larger section. How is this passage connected with what preceded it and what follows it? Why might the author have put it here?

7. Ask questions about what isn’t in the passage. “What would be missing from this book if this passage were not here?” What understanding would we not have? What concept would be left unclear?

8. Formulate questions that you have about the passage while your study is fresh in your mind. If you discuss what you’re reading with others (which I highly recommend), share your questions and find out whether others have the same questions you have, or if they see things completely differently. Different perspectives can aid in comprehension. Try to come up with open-ended questions that seek more than a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. For example, you might ask, “How would I have felt if I were this person in the story?”

9. How does it apply? Where does the “rubber meet the road” for you? How does the point the author is making in this passage touch on our daily lives? In other words, what is the relevance of the passage?

10. Pray more! The most important aspect of Bible study is prayer. What really needs to happen when you study the Bible is something you cannot control. Only the Holy Spirit can drive home the message of Scripture to the human heart. You can learn facts, be entertained or amused, and ponder deep ideas. But only God can comfort the heart, confront the attitude and convict the spirit. These are far higher goals. Place them before His throne and ask Him to help you connect with His story as you read and study.