Tag Archive | bible

READ THE BIBLE FOR LIFE, NOT JUST A YEAR

Dec12

The best Bible-reading program moves beyond this piecemeal approach to actually reading the Scriptures for content. It has nothing to do with the proud announcement that “I read through the entire Bible this year!” Instead, it has everything to do with knowing the word of God and putting it into practice. It should not be a one-year reading program, but a “rest of your life until they bury you in a pine box” program. The first way of thinking is marketing; the other is transforming.

HERE IS HOW ANY BIBLE READING PROGRAM SHOULD WORK:

1. Find a quiet, undisturbed place to read—if necessary it can be in the middle of the night when everyone else is in bed. Remember that the Old Testament was also written for our learning (Rom. 15:4) so begin reading there and learn from the beginning. Starting with the New Testament will bring you directly to the life of Christ. We know the New Testament is the covenant mediated by the Son of God to men and women today. It contains the contract God has made with Christians. Were you aware that Christians are bound by a contract?

2. No matter how long it takes, read through one entire book before moving on to another. The 66 books are whole units and meant to be read that way. We need to experience their coherence.

3. Pay special attention to the way the Lord is portrayed. Examine the relational aspects of the book, God to Man, Man to Man, Man to God.

4. Always note the Lord’s commands for us today and how or why we are told to do them. Consider how we might incorporate every command into your daily activities. This is about changing your life and your inner man to become more like Christ. This is about sixty-plus years of discipleship. It is not about getting through the Bible in a certain length of time. Now comes the hard (and controversial) part…

5. Psalms and Proverbs are books of wisdom and cannot be absorbed in one sitting. They may take months of study. Do a word study or use a concordance to cross reference ideas. While some Old Testament books are narrative, allowing for breaks in an account, Psalms and Proverbs are easily segmented for deeper study. As you read, you will notice certain things the Heavenly Father hates (abhors) and things He loves or calls righteous. There will also be certain concepts based in His justice, judgment and equity. As you read and come across new thoughts, ask yourself, “Why did He bring that up?” There are very few abrupt subject changes in the Bible, except for these two books. We tend to isolate verses from each other as we read, but they are usually connected by a common subject.

REPEAT THESE STEPS FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

Biblical ignorance today reflects the piecemeal approach we take to reading the Scriptures. Basic to understanding each of the parts is being able to understand the whole—the uniformity of the revelation. The fact that so few congregations study or preach through the entirety of the Scriptures and the fact that most dwell on first principles explains our ignorance. Likewise Bible reading programs that reduce the Bible to tatters compound the problem. Of course lack of digesting what we read also contributes to our ignorance. If you make understanding the Bible message your lifetime plan for reading the Scriptures, you will be transformed. And you can take that with you to eternity.

–Beth Johnson

A DOABLE BIBLE READING PLAN

Dec4

5 MINUTES A DAY

If you are not currently reading the Bible, start with 5 minutes a day. This reading plan could take you through all 260 chapters of the New Testament, one chapter per day if that is where you choose to begin.

You may prefer to start by reading the Old Testament. Many of the Lord’s children have been “inspired” by reading the accounts in Genesis, Exodus, and the books from Joshua through 2nd Chronicles. The prophets are a little more difficult, so save those for later, after you have finished the others.

5 DAYS A WEEK

Determine a time and location to spend 5 minutes a day for 5 days a week. Obviously you must have a consistent time and place where you will not be disturbed so that you can regularly seek the Lord. You need to establish a pattern for when to seek the Lord. For example, you probably attend church services regularly and always go to church when it meets no matter what you might feel like or what you might have in mind to do. This same attitude needs to be applied to Bible reading. Read even when it is not convenient!

SUGGESTED WAYS TO DIG DEEPER

Pause in your reading to dig into what the Scriptures actually say. Five different ways to seek deeper understanding each day are listed for you. These exercises will encourage understanding, application and spiritual growth. We recommend trying a single idea for a week to find what works best for you. Gradually add the other ways to dig deeper.

1. Underline or otherwise note key words or phrases in the Bible passage. Use a pen or pencil to mark new understanding from the text and take notes in a separate notebook. Periodically review your notes. Avoid yellow highlighting since it can be worrisome later if your understanding of a passage changes or if it distracts your attention from the other words.

Use a Greek concordance (preferably Strong’s or one based on the Majority Text or the Textus Receptus) to see the exact words or phrases the Lord inspired in the Bible passage. Knowing the literal, original word the Lord used will quite often help you to understand a passage more clearly.

Ask and answer some questions about your reading. Questions unlock new discoveries and meanings. Ask yourself questions about the passage using one or more of the following words: who, what, why, when, where, or how. Jot down some thoughts on how you would answer your own questions.

Capture the complete context. God’s Word communicates the complete, overall subject matter, which necessarily includes many individual points. Periodically ask, “What is the main idea in this chapter, paragraph, sentence, or phrase.” Remember, as you seek for the main idea of the book, chapter or verse, that context is of central importance. Particularly in the Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, ask yourself, “Why did He bring that up?” There are very few abrupt subject changes in the Bible, except for books like Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. We tend to isolate verses from each other as we read, but they are usually connected by a common subject and we need to continually look for those.

Responding to God: When God speaks to us through the Scriptures, He intends for us to respond by receiving His understanding and following His directions. A helpful habit is to think of some of the ways that we can do what He tells us to do. Ask yourself: How will the rest of my life change if I continue to follow what I understand now?

–Beth Johnson

WHY STUDY THE BIBLE?

Oct25

“And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.” (Ecc. 12:12), but there is only one book written by God.

How many copies are sold and how that compares with the #1 best seller is irrelevant (Matt. 24:35). Many have tried to destroy the Bible.

People like Matthew Henry have even predicted its disappearance.

WHY SHOULD WE KNOW THE BIBLE?

It Is from God.
2 Pet. 1:3-4

2 Tim 3:16—Spoken by God

2 Sam. 23:2

Jer. 1:9

2 Pet. 1:20-21

Psa. 100:5

John 17:17

It Gives Sight (Cures Blindness)
Psa. 119:105

Jer. 23:21-22

Isa. 29:13-14

Rom. 1:16

It Is Food for Your Soul
1 Pet. 2:2—DESIRE

Heb. 5:12-14—WHY DO WE NEED MILK?

Rev.10:9

Acts 20:32

We Must Be Sure of the Truth
1 John 4:1—Try the spirits (e.g. Moroni and Pentecostals)

Gal. 1:6-9

2 John 1:9-11—Penalty for ignorance

Acts 17:11

1 Thess. 5:20-21—Prove = examine/discern

We Must Be Able to Answer
1 Pet. 3:15—Good homework assignment

2 Tim. 2:24-25—Servant of the Lord

Jude 1:3—Earnestly

It Will Save Your Soul
1 Tim. 4:16—Save yourself

1 Cor. 1:21

Rom. 10:14

James 1:21

We Will Be Judged by It
John 12:48

Rev. 20:11-12

PONDER THIS:

If you were going to court tomorrow, would you want to know the terms by which you would be judged? Would you check them out—go to great expense to be informed?

The Scripture quotations in this article are from the King James Version.

Disclaimer: My practice has been to link Bible verses from BibleGateway.com or BlueLetterBible.org for the reader’s convenience, but I have found there are serious issues with both programs. I neither believe nor recommend the Calvinist’ doctrines of predestination/foreordination nor the Baptist/Lutheran doctrines of grace only. I firmly disapprove of the denominational advertising found on either site.

Let the reader understand.

B. Johnson