How to Start Studying the Bible
- kamipate
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
Studying the Bible is a crucial part of my life because my faith is everything to me. As a Christian, I believe in Jesus, live my life to serve Him, and know that He died for my sins. Being a preacher's kid, I have been raised in church my entire life, which has its own difficulties that I will share sometime.
I am now the worship leader and the women's ministry leader at my church. As I grew up, I realized that studying the Bible on my own time, because I want to, is essential to my relationship with Jesus, and through this I learned some study tips!
Maybe you have never read the Bible or heard of Jesus. Maybe you are a part of a different religion or you're just not quite sure what you believe. No matter your background, I'm glad you're here and taking the time to read my thoughts!
Before we dive into some of my tips, I want you to know that there is no "right" way to study the Bible and not all of these tips might benefit you. However, I have learned it just takes time to figure out what works best for you!
My Bible Studying Tips:
Tip #1: Have the Right Perspective
For me, it's important to remind myself that I am reading the Bible to learn and grow closer to my faith. This allows me to put what I am reading into perspective. God's promises, Biblical stories, and commands for us to follow are all available to read, so that we can have hope and understanding.
Once I remind myself why I read the Bible, I accept that I won't understand everything. There will be names I can't pronounce, stories that seem impossible, and promises that seem unavailable. However, that's exactly why we study the Bible. It's not because we know everything, but it's so we can learn more! I am sure I can never learn enough about the Bible, and I encourage you to adapt this same perspective and pray for guidance as you start studying!
Starting out may feel intimidating, but I'm here to tell you that you've got this! Whether you have never opened a Bible or it's been years, you still can!
Tip #2: Get That Bible (And Other Materials)
First, you need a Bible! Personally, I use an NIV Journaling Bible, but the choice is entirely yours. From my personal experience, NIV is my favorite translation as it's easy to understand, but there are many translations! A MUST HAVE for my Bible, was that it was a journaling Bible. This is entirely because I love to write in my Bible (color, draw, etc.). Journaling Bibles have margins where there is space for you to do just that! I 100% recommend a journaling Bible, as it really helped me get into studying and remembering the Word!
In addition to your Bible, some other things you might need are:
Pens
Markers
Notebooks
Sticky Notes
These are all things that are not necessary, but have really helped me effectively study the Bible!
If you need a Bible, I'd love to help! Send me a message or email me at letsgetemotional@yahoo.com.
My Links:
Tip #3: Where to Start?
I think the hardest part about studying the Bible is deciding where to begin. This is something I struggled with for a while, until I realized that there wasn't a perfect place to start. Some options on where you can begin are:
Option one: Follow a Bible study that guides you on where to start.
Option two: Study chronologically from Genesis to Revelation.
Option three: Pick a book of the Bible and study it from Chapter 1 to the end (my favorite).
Some great books to start with are: The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John), Genesis, Psalms, James, and Ephesians. I personally find these books to be good foundational books to begin your studying journey.
Tip #4: Use Your Resources
Oftentimes, I think we feel like we shouldn't need help or that we can do it alone. That is actually not the case. When studying the Bible I have found that it is so important to use my resources to further my studies.
Here are some resources I use:
Enduring Word - This is my all time favorite Bible commentary that explains everything so clearly in ways you couldn't even imagine.
Google - This may seem silly, but if I don't understand something I look it up. It's important to not dismiss confusing ideas or any questions you may have, by searching for answers your Biblical knowledge will start to grow!
Relationships - Don't overlook your relationships. Seek out the thoughts and ideas from your church family, pastor, family, and friends if they also are studying the Word. Oftentimes, other people understand things I couldn't!
You can then use these resources and your own readings to write notes, draw correlating pictures, highlight verses, etc. Get engaged in the Word!
Tip #5: Create Routine
This last step is very important. As you start reading, writing, and studying it's so crucial to create a consistent routine in your daily life. The Bible tells us to get in the Word daily and I will be the first to admit it's hard. We all have busy lives, but I know when I read the Bible I am going to feel better.
To create this routine, pick a time of day (morning, after class, before bed, etc.). Set a time commitment (15 minutes per day) or a chapter commitment (2 chapters per day). Stick to this every single day! I find it useful to literally write time in my planner or set an alarm everyday, so that I do not miss my daily study!
Overall, I hope these tips encourage you to get in the Word. It can be fun, enlightening, and eye-opening if you let it. If you would like to know any of my other tips or have any questions for me, comment below! I would love to continue the conversation with you!
PS: I'm going on vaca next week, so talk to you in two weeks! :)
-Kami
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