HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE
Suppose an important letter was delivered to your house. It said great riches were yours if you followed the directions enclosed. What would you do with that letter? Would you trash it? Would you just let it sit around your house gathering dust? Or would you carefully read it to discover how you could enjoy this wonderful inheritance? You certainly would study it thoroughly to learn exactly what it said so you could get the promised riches. You would be very foolish not to do so!
The Bible is a special letter from the King of Kings, your heavenly Father, which gives access to His unlimited resources and blessings for this life and eternity. It is God’s Word, given to us so we may know His blessings and benefits to us as Christians.
1 Peter 2:2-3 says, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” Many Christians do not read or study their Bible. Perhaps they don’t know how or think it is too hard to understand. Maybe they don’t see the need to know God’s Word so they neglect it.
Learning to study the Bible takes work and practice, that’s why Paul commands “do your best” (2 Timothy 2:15).” It takes time to study the Bible. You only get out what you put in. Those searching for gold or diamonds do not find them lying on the ground surface, but must spend time digging down deep to find the gems.
There are three main steps in Bible study:
1-OBSERVATION – Carefully look and notice everything the Bible has to say in the context. 2 –INTERPRETATION – Reveals what it means.
3 – APPLICATION -Makes it relevant to daily life.
Verses have only one meaning – That is what the writer was saying to the people to whom he wrote it. However, it can be applied in many ways to our lives.
Learning any new skill takes time and practice. A child learning to walk will fall many times, but he gets up and keeps going. Learning to drive a car or use a computer can be difficult at first, but if requires perseverance before it becomes easier. You can’t learn to drive a car or use a computer by simply reading about how to do it. You must practice. The same is true of Bible study.
2 Timothy 2:15 says, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”
How much time a week do you spend in focused, in-depth Bible study? Reading or listening to others teach is good, but there is nothing better than chewing your own spiritual food. We are privileged to have a written revelation from God. Make sure you spend time reading it regularly.
(For a free copy of this book go to Https://www.christiantrainingonline.org/our-ministries/india/ and click on “Download Books.” To listen to an audio recording, watch a video recording or read the manuscript of the session click on “Conference Sessions.”) Our India web site has many examples of sermons as well (https://www.christiantrainingonline.org/our-ministries/india/sermons/). If you do any preaching or teaching perhaps they can be of help to you.
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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