Welcome!
Below you will find information on the Bible study methods that we recommend. This study is only one method, it is not the method.
The most important part about reading the Bible is that, by reading it, you develop your own personal relationship with the God who gave it to us. Everything else will naturally follow.
Getting Started...
There are many different Bible Study methods. Below is one that we recommend. A mature and purposeful Christian will pursue the study of scripture as one pursues breath - viewing it a necessary part of life.
However, my first recommendation for people trying to develop a relationship with the Word of God is to just read it.
Sit down with the Bible like you are listening to a friend. Like you are sitting next to Jesus listening to him speak. We don't show up to coffee with any other expectation than for God to be present and for us to enjoy each other's company. This approach to scripture helps us pursue relationship, not just knowledge. Many people know scripture, not everyone finds Jesus in the scriptures. This is most important. It does no good to know verses if you don't know Jesus and the God that Jesus speaks about in scripture. (See John 1 and John 14,15,16)
Start with the Gospels so that you can learn how to interpret God's intent and character through the sermons and advice of Jesus when he walked among us. Then go chronologically, making notes along the way but not getting bogged down with too many questions. Move through it at a steady pace. Don't forget to invite the Holy Spirit along for the conversation.
I have found that this method produces three things in the Christian mind...
1. A desire to go deeper, to know more.
2. A relationship with the word that is built on more than just the desire for, and acquisition of, knowledge.
3. An understanding of the whole picture (Meta Narrative) that one does not get when one takes a magnifying glass to scripture.
Go Deeper Bible Study Method
Read The Whole Book
Start by reading the entire book. An instructor of mine suggested reading it entirely in one sitting if possible. Then go back and study each section.
By doing this, you read the uninterrupted story from begining to end. I have discovered many things by reading the Bible this way that I might not have otherwise.
Authorship/Writing Style
Who wrote the book is an important part of the story. When we understand who wrote it, we can understand more abut why they wrote the way they did.
Each author's writing style is also important. Some books are songs, others are instructions, while yet others are letters. Consider the author's tone of voice and their purpose in writing. Language and sentence structure will provide some clues.
Audience
To whom is the author speaking? When we understand the audience, we can better understand why the author included what they did and the language they used when writing.
If you can imagine having a conversation, you would speak differently to a close friend vs an aquaintance, a fellow believer vs someone who has not heard of Christ.
Climate
Understanding the historical, political, social, and economic context of the ancient world is important.
The Bible was not written to us, but for us. Understanding what an author's message meant to its original audience is critical. This includes recognizing the distinct social, political, and cultural frameworks of the ancient world. Without this, modern readers can arrive at wildly different conclusions than the author intended.
Culture
Understanding the cultural context of the Bible is crucial for accurate study because it clarifies the original meaning of texts written to audiences in different times and places. Where as climate is the structural norm of a society, culture is the more nuanced aspects like how they prepare food, expected behaviour, and rituals.
By exploring the ancient cultural norms, social structures, and religious practices, you can better understand the biblical authors' intent, the significance of their words to the original audience, and how to apply the text to your own life today. Without this knowledge, it is easy to misinterpret passages or impose your own culture onto the text.
Keywords/Phrases
To identify key words and phrases in Bible study, look for repeated words and synonyms, contrasting pairs (like light and darkness), commands, and phrases that provide core meaning or answer who, what, when, where, why, or how questions.
You can mark these words by highlighting or underlining them to help understand the main themes and simplify the passage.
Keep in mind, that not every word is significant. Some words are used to make the passage or story interesting.
Lesson/Instruction
All of the information you have gathered will help you understand why the author not only included what they did in the text, but also the essons that we can learn about our own behaviour, character and growth as well as God's character, the role of the Holy Spirit, or even the consequnces of going against God's will for our lives.
When we learn to interpret correctly the message within scriputre, we can better apply it to our modern lives. Without understanding and the wisdom gained through study, in the context of relationship and the entire Biblical narratvie, we can easilly assume wrong information about God's character and His will for humanity.
Aplication
James 1:22 warns us that merely reading the word of God is not enough. We must walk out the word of God in our everyday lives. It does no good to read about how God tells us to handle conflict if we do not then handle conflict the way in which He instructs.
Our call to action as Christians is outlined in end of the Gospels by Jesus himself. Anyone who has questions about their purpose can find it at the end of the book of John.
If we fail to both read & study scripture, as well as apply it, we can very easilly misrepresent Christ and our heavenly Father in our every day life. Leading people further away, instead of closer to, eternal life.
