How to Study the Bible

Strengthen your spiritual journey with essential Bible study insights. Whether you're a seasoned reader or new to the Scriptures, this episode promises a fresh perspective on integrating study into your daily life. Learn how a newcomer in our weekly faith group sparked thought-provoking discussions, reminding us of the foundational practices that can rejuvenate our study habits. Discover personalized approaches to Bible study, from daily devotionals to more flexible reading schedules, and see how these methods can be tailored to fit your lifestyle.

Prepare to transform your study environment and gather the right tools for a focused and meaningful Bible exploration. We share practical strategies for creating a distraction-free space that encourages reflection, even involving family members by setting an example. From using multiple Bible versions to incorporating highlighters and trusted commentaries, you'll find guidance on how to conduct an effective and enriching study. A structured approach, starting with prayer and moving through reading, studying, memorizing, and applying scripture, is emphasized to open hearts to God's message.

Embrace the power of intentional study and listening over speaking in your spiritual growth. Inspired by the wisdom of Dwight L. Moody, we delve into the significance of letting God do most of the talking during your Bible study. We explore various methods and resources, suggesting starting points like the Gospels or exploring themes and characters that resonate personally. Overcome challenges like time constraints by prioritizing your study efforts, and find encouragement from respected authors and platforms like Lifeway and Proverbs 31 Ministries. Let this episode equip you for a life full of purpose and meaning through dedicated Bible study.

Chapters

• 0:01 Bible Study Basics and Tips
• 7:50 Bible Study Preparation and Methods
• 17:37 Exploring Bible Study Methods and Content
• 25:30 Prioritizing Listening in Bible Study

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:01

Hi, friend, welcome to Holly's Highlights, a podcast designed to encourage, inspire and equip you to intentionally live your life full of purpose. I'm your host, holly Kirby, motivational speaker, leadership cultivator, marketing strategist and personal cheerleader. Let's check out today's highlights.

Speaker 2: 0:22

This episode is brought to you by Holding Out Help. 16 years ago, holding Out Help was founded by Larry and Tanya T Well in response to their personal experience hosting those who were cast out or chose to leave their polygamous communities. Witnessing firsthand their heartbreaking stories of abuse and neglect, many of them battling suicidal thoughts or severe trauma, it was deeply moving. Now, 18 years, and over 3,000 lives changed later. Holding Out Help continues to meet people where they are Today. Holding Out Help serves 200 to 325 individuals each year, providing essentials like food, clothing, shelter, education, counseling and job training to help them reach self-sufficiency. Would you consider joining us in this fight? A generous donor has stepped forward to match every dollar up to $50,000, with the goal of reaching $150,000 by December 31st of 2024. Your support can bring hope and healing to those in need. Connect with us, give and learn more at holdingouthelporg. Hi friends, I'm going to be real with you. Today's episode is going to be pretty basic, yet very crucial and hopefully helpful to you. So stay with us. See, I'm in a weekly group with other women where we get together to grow in our faith, and recently a new girl has started coming, and I just love how refreshing it is to have this newbie in the class. I guess it's kind of like grandparents when they are around their grandkids perhaps you know lots of energy, that kind of excites them, a fueling of opportunities to teach them new things, but then utterly drained after the kid goes home. Well, I love the thirst that this young gal has for learning and growing in her faith, but her questions also are good. For me, to get back to the basics, it's kind of like playing that block game you know, jenga where you're missing important pieces and the whole thing is going to crumble, whereas if you have those pieces in place, it can be quite the solid foundation. Well, knowing of and understanding how to do certain things or the importance of them can do just that in our faith too. They can help us grow solid and strong in our walk with the Lord. So today we're going to tackle one of the recent questions asked of me, and that is how do I study the Bible? Well, first thing, first we need to take a look at such questions and ask what is the question behind the question? In this case I think it's more of what is Bible study, and to that I'd reply.

Speaker 2: 2:52

When people use the word Bible study. It can look a little different to different people. For some it fits more of what I call a devotional or quiet time with the Lord. This is time typically spent every day, whether it be to start your day or to end your day, and a devotional is more of a way to encourage your spiritual growth and daily walk with the Lord, to listen for how he would speak to you and then how to connect with what you're reading into your day, how to apply that as you strive to see Jesus at work throughout your day.

Speaker 2: 3:22

Often a devotional book is used, whether it be something like something I've used before Sarah Young's Jesus Calling book I really enjoy that devotional or even a magazine like what I write for with Lifeway Christian Resources. They have a women's magazine out called Journey. Both of those would be devotional resources or devotionals. For others it's a book on a topic of faith such as my book Facelift. My book Facelift is about hope and it has resources inside of it such as Bible verses to use for memorization, many scripture references that you can study, a group discussion if you wanted to use this as material in a group, and even resources to help you write your testimony and your life mission statement, but what I would actually refer to as what is Bible study is when you're doing an in-depth study of and in the Bible. You know, actually using the Bible Now it's more time consuming and it's more focused on attention in the word of God. This is where some may feel very overwhelmed, though, if they think that there's an expectation that we should be doing a Bible study or study the Bible, being in the Bible every day, and that can feel overwhelming. This is where I would encourage you that, just as people refer to Bible study as being different things, you know that devotional reading a faith book or being in God's Word, the Bible it's also going to look differently in application too. So let's start with the devotion.

Speaker 2: 4:52

In a devotional, you'll read the corresponding scripture, you'll look at the self-application, such as anything that you need to ask forgiveness for any action to take as a result of what you've read, and then basically pray and intentionally seek throughout the day how what you've read applies or has applied within your day. Now, this is typically done every day, as I already mentioned, and can be done anywhere. For me, I do my devotional every day in my living room before I head out for the day and if I'm running behind, it's something I can quickly take with me and do in the car as I arrive to my meeting, before I head in. However, books on faith topics you tend to read over time. However long it takes you to read a book and with whatever frequency that looks like for you to read a book.

Speaker 2: 5:38

Now, we all have different places we enjoy reading also. For me, it's a glider that I have in my family room where I've rocked both of my children growing up. So it's a glider that I have in my family room where I've rocked both of my children growing up, so it's a special spot for me. It's also very cozy, with a side table and a lamp next to it, with the fireplace right behind me, so it just sets that scene for peaceful, relaxing ambiance. It also has a view of the overall looking inside of my home, which helps me to be able to see what's going on with my kids, yet doesn't really distract me, as I can quickly look up or answer a question and get right back into my reading. I can also be in the same room with my kids as they do homework or even watch TV, and that actually encourages me to read longer, as we're all together in one room.

Speaker 2: 6:17

Then, although I do track when I start a book and finish a book, it varies as to my overall time or success of completing a book. Sometimes I may read a chapter a day, or sometimes a chapter a week, or even often I'll have a commentary near me or Bible near me so that if something comes up that kind of piques my interest to look into those further, I can do that, and that can even lengthen the time then that I take on reading that book or even open up an opportunity for me to study the Bible. As I go into research that more and see biblically what the Bible has to say about the topic that I'm reading in that faith topic book, then there is actually Bible study, which, as I shared sometimes, is that faith topic book can lead you into studying the Bible. For those who are stay-at-home parents or single retired or their schedule just allows for this, on a regular basis, it might be daily. For me, I tend to truly get in and study the Bible a couple times a week.

Speaker 2: 7:17

Now, please note the differences here, though, of Bible study meaning a group you're a part of, at church or in someone's home, versus studying the Bible where you're a part of a church or in someone's home, versus studying the Bible where you're in the Bible, studying what it has to say, typically on your own. That's where our focus is going to be today not on devotionals or books of faith to read or Bible study class or group, but on actually when you have time to sit down and study the Bible. What does that look like? How do you do it? Where do you start? First things first.

Speaker 2: 7:50

I recommend studying the Bible where it's quiet, where it's without distractions. So turn off your notifications or your phone or whatever might stray you from focusing. Be someplace you won't get interrupted. So I do mine in the living room so my children can see me as I want to set the example for them. But I've also stressed to my children during such time that this is my time with the Lord, so they're respectful of that, whether helping each other out if they need something or only coming to me during that time if it's an emergency. But we've already had that conversation. And then, fourthly, with that is I make sure that you have space for what resources you're using. Or, in this case, I have a coffee table that sits in front of my living room couch and this way I'm able to lay out my Bibles and my commentary and my notebooks, which just makes it easier to go back and forth as I look things up. So look at where you're studying the Bible, setting yourself up for success there.

Speaker 2: 8:48

Now that brings me to the second thing, which is supplies I would suggest for having on hand to study the Bible. Sounds kind of odd, but there are some supplies that are helpful. First of all, of course, your Bible. I actually use two, sometimes three. I have mine, which is what I mainly use, and I make notes in it. So I love to see what my thoughts were when I read that scripture before, or times in my life that that scripture has spoken to me. I swear my whole life is literally in my Bible. Then I also have my mom's Bible, which is. I have that out so I can sometimes look through it just to see what she has to say on something or what she would have said about something, something that maybe stood out to her, or if she made a note of a scripture that relates to what I'm studying. Then I can go and look further into what I'm looking at. And then the third Bible that sometimes I'll pull out is my grandmother's Bible and that has both my grandmother's notes as well, as my dad took time to actually go through it and add all of his notes from his preaching Bible and I just I really treasure that Bible and these can be a great support and challenge and accountability and resource to me as I study my Bible. So have fun, your Bible a Bible, then I'd also suggest a highlighter and a pen. Now if you go on Amazon or even Lifewaycom, there are actually Bible highlighters and pens you can order, as regular highlighters and pens can soak through the pages of the Bible and that can be a little challenging and messy. So a Bible highlighter and a Bible pen is very helpful.

Speaker 2: 10:23

Now, some may be horrified to hear that I write in my Bible and they prefer using a notebook to write in. That's fine. We all do things differently, that's okay. I don't use a notebook necessarily to write in when I study the Bible, but I do use a notebook to take notes of speakers I hear, such as preachers and conferences I attend. So then I'll actually take that notebook to have it handy to reflect back to if it correlates with what I'm studying the Bible. So you do you on that one?

Speaker 2: 10:50

Some also prefer having a thesaurus and or a dictionary nearby to look things up. I usually have my phone nearby, and so I can just go ahead and use that. It tends to do the trick. However, caution here looking at your phone, for this could distract you, you know, seeing text messages or responding to emails. So, again, use or do whatever will not distract you from that time with the Lord. And then, lastly, I recommend having a good commentary nearby, just in case you need to understand something more clearly. A solid commentary I would recommend is Warren Wiersbe's Old Testament and his New Testament commentary.

Speaker 2: 11:25

My dad actually gave these to us kids for Christmas years ago, and I love them. When I first got them, I was like what do I do with these? I use them every single week. They are so helpful in breaking things down by people who are Bible scholars and who have spent their life fully researching the languages and the history of the Bible. Keep in mind, though, these are not Bibles. They are commentaries, so someone else's explanation or someone else's opinion, but it can be very, very helpful. Third thing I'm sure on your mind right now is okay, this is great, but where do I actually start. I know my resources that I need to use and I have my place or how I'm going to set this up for success. But where do I actually start?

Speaker 2: 12:12

Well, according to the Good News Bible Study, there's a method to study the Bible. It's read, study, memorize, meditate and then apply, and I suggest starting all of this through prayer. I would add to the very first thing of that method is starting in prayer, as that helps prepare our hearts as we study the Bible. I personally take something out of scripture from Samuel, specifically 1 Samuel, 3, 9 through 10, as I always pray speak, lord, your servant is listening. I want to hear from God. I want my eyes and my ears and my heart and my mind to be open to what he would have to say to me during the time that I'm going to be in his word, and there's no right or wrong way to pray. Just talk to God as he's your friend. You can always look at the model prayer which is found in Matthew 6, 5 through 15, as well as, if you need more help with prayer, you can check out season three, episode five here on Holly's Highlights.

Speaker 2: 13:08

Next, as the first method suggests, read the scripture passages once through, but then I recommend reading them again yet, highlighting or making notes of things that stick out. This could include questions you have or things you don't understand, what seemed to hit home or resonate with you that you want to study further. This takes you to the second part of the method, which is the study portion, where you can look up scriptures in your commentary for deeper understanding of what you just read. You can study the place and the time and the history and who the scripture is speaking to, as well as who wrote it, for a better understanding. All of this can lead you down a rabbit trail to study more and longer, or even provide you something to study for your next Bible study time. That third step is to then memorize. Now, let's face it as we get older, memorization gets harder and harder for most of us. That's why I highly recommend getting children into Bible programs when they're young.

Speaker 2: 14:06

As scripture just tells us in Proverbs 7, 2-3, keep my commands and you will live. Guard my teachings as the apple of your eye, bind them on your fingers, write them on the tablets of your heart. And then Psalms 119, 11 tells us I have stored up your word in my heart that I might not sin against you In Joshua 1, 8,. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it, for then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have good success. Second, timothy 3, 15 tells us and how, from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus and Matthew 4, 4,. But he answered it is written and shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. I could go on and on, but I am so thankful.

Speaker 2: 15:02

I was raised in Bible drill, which really helped me get to know the Bible and feel comfortable in it. And then my children I had in a children's program called Awanas, which helped them learn and memorize scripture. Anyhow, my point is memorizing scripture is so important, yet we can do this in different ways based on our learning abilities. We all learn differently. There's also an episode on Holly's based on our learning abilities. We all learn differently. There's also an episode on Holly's Highlights about learning styles, but I've done different things, like flashcard methods, where I write down the verse I want to memorize and then put it in an index box that is categorized by topic.

Speaker 2: 15:37

Or I've written verses on note cards and hung them on the bathroom mirror to work on each day. I've even put a reference on a key tag and put on my keys to. Every time I see that key tag then I say the memory verse to it, so it becomes ingrained in me as I get older. I tend to write them down on scripture decor pieces, like I have in our home, so I can work on it throughout the week as I see it or see something in our bathroom and it just goes through my mind and it helps that that scripture just sink in even more. Or even put it on a card and then, with a magnet, stick it to our fridge for me and my kids to work on. We've gone around and said them at dinner. We've had incentives such as whomever memorizes this first gets to pick where we eat when we go out next. Whatever works for you, but whatever you have just read in scripture that sticks out to you as you're doing your Bible study, write it down and work on memorizing it, however long it takes you. There's no right, no wrong, just what works for you.

Speaker 2: 16:37

Fourthly, we look at meditate Now. According to Oxford Language Dictionary, this simply means to think deeply or focus one's mind for a period of time, for religious or spiritual purposes or as a method of relaxation. Now I tend to sit back and just kind of stare out the window watching the world go by as I think about what I just read. And then I take time to meditate in prayer. I pray to God about what I just read, asking him to help me apply it where I need to. I ask for forgiveness of whatever has been brought to surface through my study time, whatever I'm feeling convicted for or convicted of. I thank him for the blessings of my life that may apply to that scripture and for speaking to my heart. I just basically wrap up my time in prayer. And then, lastly, that fifth step I apply whatever I learned or read or studied into my day and my week ahead. I make changes I may need to make in my life, right wrongs I feel I need to deal with whatever it is, but apply your study into your life.

Speaker 2: 17:37

After all, that is one of the main purposes of the Bible. Study is not just to check off a box or say that you did it, but to press more into the likeness of Jesus. We're not doing this just to be a good person. We want to get out of our comfort zones and allow God to grow us in his likeness. Now we've talked through our setting of studying the Bible, what supplies we need and the method to it, but what about the content? What are we actually studying? There's a false perception at times that we are to pray, open our Bible and just kind of point somewhere and God will speak to us.

Speaker 2: 18:14

I wish it were that easy. Well, there is a little more rhyme and reason to it, but still, the choice is yours as to how you do it, what you do. For one. You can start with the New Testament, the first four books, specifically so Matthew, mark, luke and John. They're known as the Gospels. These are great starting points with stories that are sure to help grab your attention and also help you build a habit of being in God's Word. Because, let's face it, if you start with Genesis, which is the first book of the Bible, then by the time you get to the third book, which is Leviticus, you're apt to just put the Bible down and never open it again.

Speaker 2: 18:47

The second thing I'd recommend is you can also do a book by book study. My favorite book of the Bible is James, so you can just look at whatever book of the Bible you want to do and study just that book. Again, you don't have to go in order from Genesis through Revelation, but choose a book that you want to study that is interesting to you through Revelation, but choose a book that you want to study that is interesting to you. Third way, you can study by character, such as the life of Paul or the women of the Bible. Just be cautious of when you get to Jezebel. Fourth way you can do it is to study by story. So my favorite story in the Bible is Esther Love, love, love this story. This is more popular way of studying by story in God's Word, especially around Christmas time, as many study the Advent, so Jesus's birth.

Speaker 2: 19:33

Fifth way, you can study by topic, and there's often a topic index in the back of physical Bibles or in those apps. You can do a search for a topic. Topics I might suggest are things you struggle with or what you want to work on or maybe a situation you might be dealing with and how to handle it, maybe even looking up doctrinal issues regarding what church believes, or a church that you're looking at, and kind of looking up their beliefs, or what the Bible might have to say on issues in the world or political topics. That will help you gather more info before voting or things like that. And then, of course, the sixth one is you can use a Bible study publishing. These are Bible study books, so not to be confused with a book about faith or a faith topic, but more of a curriculum of sorts. This can be great if you are just new to studying the Bible, as this is also a good accountability to stay on task and focused and do the Bible study. But just be cautious of who wrote the Bible study curriculum or the book. You want to make sure that their beliefs and their opinions and insights and research and education all of that that are pouring into that is aligned with what you believe. That's very important.

Speaker 2: 20:46

I've really enjoyed some solid Bible teachings from Priscilla Shire and Beth Moore Both of them. They've done like Esther and Living Beyond Yourself and the Armor of God. They're great curriculum that really gets you in the Word of God and has you doing some page turning. Yet they are Bible scholars, with the training and they've done the research to provide some of the guidance and history and application. And has you doing some page turning? Yet they are Bible scholars, with the training and they've done the research to provide some of the guidance and history and application that just really help us understand the Bible, and I feel like they're very solid in their faith and aligned with what I believe. So I highly recommend things by both of those women.

Speaker 2: 21:21

Now, additional resources that can help you study the Word of God that I would highly recommend include getting plugged into a women's Bible study. That could be a Sunday school class at church on Sundays, or a Bible study in someone's home during the week, or even an online Bible study, such as I've mentioned with Lifeway. You can go to womenlifewaycom or even Proverbs 31 Ministries, which is, I think, proverbs31.org, and these have virtual groups that you can join. You can also use apps such as YouVersion and Bible Gateway. Both of these have Bible studies you can join and then, each time you go to study the Bible, it literally leads you through what to read, how to apply it to your life, questions that might help you ponder what you've read, even additional scripture if you want to go deeper on your own. I will caution you, though.

Speaker 2: 22:09

There are challenges to actually following through with studying the Bible. There's the challenge of time. We use the same reason for why we don't work out or tackle a home improvement project, but we all have 24 hours in a day and we all choose to use them in certain ways. If this is a priority to you to study the Bible then you can find and make time. Keep in mind, for where your treasure is there, your heart will be also. Matthew 6, 19 through 21.

Speaker 2: 22:38

There's also the challenge of being intimidated by the Bible, or not sure where to start, or feeling overwhelmed, or just that you don't understand it. My friend, don't feel judged or embarrassed. As I tell my kids, anything worth doing can be hard. Just as we press in to learn a new skill or passion in life, you'll get out of your comfort zone on this one. That's good, that's part of the growth, but press into it. Anything worth doing can be hard, and there are many resources, including people who are willing to help you.

Speaker 2: 23:11

Also, keep in mind, as Isaiah 55, eight through nine would say, for my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways, my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. See, we're not going to understand it all, and that's okay. My dad has always said if I could explain God to you, he wouldn't be worth worshiping. But also, god is not the author of confusion but of clarity. He'll help you, take what you need to take to apply to your life, and sometimes it's baby steps, but it's those baby steps that help us stay in the center of God's will today so we can be in the center of God's will tomorrow.

Speaker 2: 23:52

And another challenge for some is just not seeing the need. Oh, friend, the Bible has purpose. 2 Timothy 3, 16 through 17 tells us that all scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Hebrews 4.12 tells us the word of God. The Bible is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. As Focus on the Family puts it. Get to know the nature of God, the attributes of God, god's plan and history, his sovereignty, his providence, his love. All of that is a part of studying the Bible. It's like any close relationship that we have you get close by spending time together, getting to know each other. That's just one of the purposes of reading the Bible not just to know the Bible, but to know God. I assure you, as the markings in my Bible can attest, you can read the Word of God every year of your life and still get something new from it each time you open it up.

Speaker 2: 25:04

We all need the Word of God. We can all make time to study the Word of God, and the Word of God is for all of us. Regarding of capability, upbringing or other insecurity or concern, I encourage you with Proverbs 2, 1-6. As you study God's Word, hold on to instruction. Do not let it go. Guard it well, for it is your life.

Speaker 2: 25:30

My dad has always given wise advice that we have two ears and one mouth for a reason Listen more than you speak. Might we apply that as we study the Bible. For Dwight L Moody, founder of Moody Bible Institute, said in our prayers, we talk to God In our Bible study. Said in our prayers, we talk to God In our Bible study. God talks to us and we had better let God do most of the talking, equipping so you can go out and live your life full of purpose. I'd be honored if you'd take a moment to leave a review or, better yet, subscribe. We can also stay in touch by joining my email list at hollykirbycom. That's H-O-L-L-Y-C-U-R-B-Ycom. Until next time, make it a great day for a great day.