How to read the bible- HELP

[lexi_09]

I am a fairly new christian. Lately I have been trying to read my bible during the very few spare moments I have being I am a working mommy of two baby boys. But I honestly need help. Where do I begin? I say a prayer before reading asking the Lord for wisdom when reading, but I get nothing. Plus I have no idea where to start!

I have read the book of John, Romans, and Psalms, pretty much where ever the bible opens up. I feel so confused as to how I should read it. I feel like I am getting nothing from it. I also have a hard time concentrating. Like I am getting distracted alot!

If there is another thread on this, could someone please direct me to the right one?

I need advice!

 

[loved]

Hi Lexi ..Welcome to the kingdom!!!!


There are several great books and guides out there that help new Christians to study and learn God's word. The book I started out with was a small book by Tim LaHaye called How to Study the Bible For Yourself. It gives you several methods to use when studying the bible, it explains meditation and devotion, and teaches you how to approach bible study. It also gives you a 3 year bible reading schedule for new Christians, telling you to start with reading 1st John 7 times (once per day) "for the bolstering of your faith and assurance of salvation" followed by John (the gospel).

There are also several bible plans online along with outlines and devotions. Many people tell you that a good place to start would be the gospels, (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) Some particularly lean towards beginning with John. This way you start with Jesus as the foundation of your faith.

Im sure other members will give you great advice and suggestions based on their experience. Dont get frustrated or discouraged ..Its great that you're jumping right into it and by what you've mentioned you have had an awesome start!

 

[oboy]

Hi Lexi,

There are a lot of good books out there to help you study the Bible. Loved mentioned LaHaye's book. The Navigators have a real simple one with various methods.

One that has helped people for 50 plus years is Search the Scriptures edited by Alan Stibbs. It breaks the Bible down into short readings, and has 2 or 3 questions for each reading. It's a 3-year Bible devotional that can be done in about 20 minutes a day (you'll read the entire Bible in 3 years, and get a good picture of what the Bible is about).

If you want to give some more time to your study, then you may want to consider Kay Arthur's books. She has The New Inductive Study Series that leads you step-by-step through the study of a book in the Bible. You might want to start with one of Paul's letters to see if you like the format, and if you have time to do these on a daily basis.

But the best thing is simply to read the Bible and meditate on what you read. Be sure to write down what you learn from the Word. I have an article on my website (smithworks.org) in the Growth section on meditation that may be helpful to you. Of course, a search for "biblical meditation" will probably pull up some very helpful stuff.

God bless

 

[TheWidowsOffering]

hello Lexi and welcome to God's Family...

I got my answer to your question on my Devotional Study Bible..Hope it will help you.

In order to receive the maximum benefit from reading and studying the Bible, you must know what to read in the Bible. Since the Bible is a library of 66 books and has over 1,000 pages, it cannot be read as a regular book. You must know where to start. What books should you read first? Which are the easiest to understand?

after having determined what you will read, you must next know how to read it to gain the maximum benefit from it for your personal life. When a person mines and polishes precious stones, he works with tools: a shovel perhaps, and a polishing wheel. When you mine the spiritual treasures of the Bible you also need tools - these tools are questions.

i got one copy of "The Devotional Study Bible" having at least three Bible reading courses designed to get started on a regular plan for reading the Bible, but not only that, they keep me reading, moving from simple overviews to more in-depth assignments..

if you have time you can go to a nearby Christian bookstore and buy one for you and or the book LOVED referred to you.. hope i could direct you too to a thread on this...

but anyway i can share the one i'm using...

How to Study the Bible - Study Plan One

On this program you will have six questions to answer after reading a chapter in the Bible. Set aside time at home and follow this procedure..

1. Have your notebook, pencil, and of course your Bible.
2. Read the passage or chapter you wish to study.
3. After the passage is read, pray. Or you can pray first before
reading.
4. Answer the following questions:

a.) What do you like in the passage?

b.) What don't you like in the passage?

c.) Is there anything you don't understand? If you cannot answer
them or figure them out together, you may wish to ask your
Pastor or Bible teacher for the answers. ( hehe I'm coming
here to ask somebody if there's something i can't understand..
LOL)

d.) Summarize the passage or outline it.

e.) What does this passage tell you about God? Each passage in
the Bible reveals something about the nature of God. You can
make a list of the truths you learned about the nature of God
in your notebook.

f.) What does this passage tell you to do? Finally apply the lesson
by asking yourself what you should do as a reasult of studying
this chapter. Is there some service, such as trusting or giving
or worshiping, that you should give to God? What does the
chapter teach about the way you should treat others? - family,
friends or neighbors.

5.) Conclude your study with a time of prayer. Start with thanking God for who He is, for His gifts. Confess your sins to Him. Next, place your needs before Him. And finally conclude by thanking Him for taking care of all your needs. Amen

hope it did help Lexi.. God bless you richly..


Sister in Christ,


Reymielin

 

[oboy]

Reymielin has some good stuff. To help with 4.e and f, try SPECK:

When, reading a passage, look for...

S- sin to confess
P- promise to claim
E- example to follow
C- command to obey
K- knowledge to gain (about the Father, Son or Holy Ghost, or about man, etc.)

 

[Giggles4God]

Try to find a good devotional.

I use the Our Daily Bread, which you can get for free from oh I forget the place, but you can find it online. The Our Daily Bread gives Bibles verses along with devotions and it is for every day...and not long. There are scriptures to read to read the whole Bible in a year if you wish to do that, too.

God Bless...and no matter how much you read...God will be faithful to you. You just need to press on and not let satan take what he has never had from you!

 

[rlowe]

It is important to study to understand as much as humanly possible about
God the Father, Jesus, & the Holy Spirit. Thus making it easier to decern truth from lies.

To do this, start by reading the Gospels.
Then, you may want to study the names used for God since they each reveal a part of His character.
v- This a good place to start.
The Names of God