What Should Bible Study Look Like?
Dear Reader,
Have you ever struggled with knowing where to start when doing Bible Study? It can seem overwhelming, especially when you look up ideas about what to do online. There are so many ideas and methods on how to do Bible study. It has taken me years to come up with a method that works for me in my own personal Bible study, and to be honest, it is still changing. Bible study will never look the same for everybody, and it will even look different depending on your life season.
I remember that when I was in high school, I could spend hours a day reading and studying the Bible. When I started college, I did not have as much time as I wanted to do personal study of the Bible. In today's blog post, I want to share tips I've learned from Bible college on how to have a daily Bible study and combine that with my years of personal experience. I hope to show that Bible study doesn't have to be overwhelming.
“Bible study doesn’t have to be overwhelming!”
The most important step in Bible study is reading. However, it is amazing how many people miss this simple aspect when studying the Bible. I've heard many people suggest turning to a random page and a verse in the Bible, read it, pray, and you're done. However, to get something from God, you must read more than a verse daily. It can't be random.
Take a regular book, for example. If I were to turn to a random chapter of a book and read a paragraph out of the middle of it, I would not understand very well what the author is trying to get across because I have missed the context of what I read.
It is the same with the Bible. Context is essential to studying the Bible. When choosing what or where to study, make sure that you start at the beginning. This could be the very beginning of the Bible and read from Genesis to Revelation. Or it could be that you start in the New Testament in Matthew and read to Revelation. Or you could just choose a book and read it from beginning to end. If you choose the latter, I would recommend starting with John or one of the Gospels and reading about the life of Jesus.
So then, how much do I read? When I started Bible college, one of my professors gave us the assignment of reading the Bible five days a week for fifteen minutes per day. This was a great way to start. During the class, I read through most of the New Testament and some Old Testament books. This is an excellent way for others to begin as well. Either start in Genesis or Matthew and read for fifteen minutes every day. For most people, this comes out to be two chapters a day. After two or three months, up that to thirty minutes a day.
Now, remember, do what fits your schedule. Every day will be different. Some days, you will be able to read longer than other days. The key is consistency. Remember to give yourself grace. Not every day will look the same, and you may miss some days. Don't let that discourage you; just pick up the next day where you left off. This is not something that should be viewed as a check mark. "Check! I read my Bible today. Let's go to the next thing." Remember that reading and studying the Bible is to help you grow in your relationship with Jesus.
“Consistency is the key!”
Compare it to a relationship with a friend or family member. It takes work and time to deepen the relationship. It is not just a box that you check off; it is just time that you take to be in each other's presence, get to know each other better, and love each other.
It is the same with your bible study. It is time for you to spend time with Jesus, getting to know Him, loving Him, and enjoying him. It is also time that He will teach you, change you into His image, and give you the help and strength you need to face whatever comes at you in your life.
After you have mastered consistent daily reading and communion with Jesus, you can take your Bible study to the next level: learning how to study a passage of Scripture in depth and learning how to get out the whole meaning of the passage. This will be a blog post for the future.
Remember, consistent and consecutive Bible reading is important. Choose a book, start with about fifteen minutes daily, and work your way up. The important thing is not how it looks but that you are spending time to grow your relationship with Jesus.
