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How Can I Better Study the
Bible?
Eight guidelines that will deepen your biblical journey.
As many of you know, I enjoy hiking up mountains. One of the greatest thrills is to strap on a pack and head up a trail that will lead you up toward a snow-capped mountain. The air is thin and crisp, the sun is bright and exhilarating, the plants and flowers are beautiful and inviting, the wild animals you encounter are strange and fascinating, and the views are breathtaking and awe-inspiring.
 Most of us would love to go on such a hike, enjoying God’s unbelievable creation in all its splendor. But it takes more than flying to Colorado and heading for the nearest mountain. Such a hike is work, work with a tremendous pay-off, but work none-the-less. And many may try to start out a hike like this, but they get bogged down and discouraged within the first half-mile. Blisters show up, the thin air begins to take its toll. And we turn back, wondering if we can ever do this, and questioning whether it was even worth it in the first place.
Most of us would like to study our Bibles with depth of insight and see tremendous things happen as a result. So we buy a new Study Bible and make a resolution that we will study. But a little into the trek into the Bible, we get bogged down and discouraged. Our motivation begins to waver as we find the task more than we originally thought it would be. And then we wonder if there is something wrong with us—after all, we are surrounded by Christians who seem to feel that they are so much more spiritual because of their Bible study. Then we turn back, wondering if we can ever do this, and questioning whether it was even worth it in the first place. Maybe Bible Study is for the intellectual or spiritual giants…but maybe not for me.
When it comes to Bible Study, we all fall into one of several categories:
(1) The Doubters. Some of us don’t study the Bible because we are not convinced of its power to change lives. We have bought into the world’s lies that the Bible is filled with contradictions and is too ancient to have any relevance. We’d rather watch Dr Phil or Oprah or read the latest insights in the magazines we read than go to the very words of God to every generation as to what to believe and what to do with life and how to relate to others and how to connect with God in a real way. We call ourselves Christian because we go to a church or have been baptized or celebrate Christmas…But we have not yielded to God’s word.
(2) The Intimidated. Others simply don’t study the Bible because we feel that the task is too daunting. We do know it is important, and we even agree with the notion of the power of Scripture, but we are too intimidated to try it for ourselves.
(3) The Posers. Others of us study the Bible a little, but then put on a great big happy mask, pretending that we are experiencing deep spiritual change through our piddling around the Bible. But if the truth were known, we have not really seen a whole lot of change. We are just posing—looking the part as best we can, but really nowhere near what we claim to be.
(4) The “Bible Scholars.” Others still study the Bible with vigor, but it is nothing more than an intellectual exercise—we know all the facts, we know a lot ABOUT God and a lot ABOUT the human condition. But our Bible Study has not done what it is meant to do, which is to bring us into deeper relationship with God, in order to not only know ABOUT God but to actually KNOW God, and to change our personal human condition into more conformity with Christ in order to make us more loving of other humans, showing compassion and seeking to serve them.
(5) The Genuine. But there are the few of us who diligently study our Bibles, and though we are not perfect, we know that if we were not constantly in our Bibles, we would make far worse decisions, we would love people less, we would not be as connected with God. Even though we are frustrated that we are still selfish, and we still struggle with the same stinkin’ sins, and God still feels far too distant, we know that we would be much worse off if it were not for our commitment to studying the Bible. When we reach that fork in the road where we can either sin or not sin, we know that, because of our Bible study, at least we recognize the choice is there, and we can choose to do what is right. Without the Bible transforming my mind, I would be unable to choose righteousness.
Studying the Bible is like that hike up the steep mountain. Tremendous vistas
await! Incredible insights of awe and wonder are there for the one who will
strap on the pack and start out on the journey! And just like that hike up the
mountain, there are some guidelines for how to make this trek a success. Here
are eight guidelines for studying the Bible.
8
Guidelines
1. One Step at a Time
The first time my wife Linda led me up a mountain trail, I was so intimidated—will I make it? Will my lungs burst? And with every lift of my leg, I got more and more tired.
But out in the distance was the mountain—and I wanted to make it to the top. I could not get there in one giant leap, but one step at a time. If the Bible is your looming mountain, then you’ve got to take small steps, not one giant leap.
To get the most out of your study, start out in a smaller portion of Scripture, like one of the smaller letters of Paul, like Philippians, or a shorter book of the Old Testament, like Hosea or Amos. And stay there for a while! Study that short book of the Bible for several MONTHS! This will allow you to dive deeper into that text, so that your heart and mind can actually be shaped from what God has revealed there.
Remember, the goal of Bible study is not just information, it is transformation. So it is better to take a small step and linger and allow the Bible to change you than to try to take in too much information just so you can try to catch up with others. Over the period of several years, you will see far greater change from studying smaller portions of the Bible in detail.
2. Orient Yourself
Before you take off towards a mountain, you must purchase a topo-map. Without a map of the topography—where the trail is, where the hills and valleys are, where the trail goes steep, where it levels off—your hike will be much more difficult.
While the Holy Spirit will guide your study of Scriptures, it is also important that you get your bearings by looking at something that will help you get oriented to the text you will be studying. A good study Bible will have an introductory section before every book of your Bible, providing important background material—telling you who wrote it, why he wrote it, and what you’ll need to know to better interpret what you’ll be reading. It will also provide an outline of that portion of Scripture, so before you set out on your journey, you’ll know the lay of the land. Be sure to read this stuff, it will help you get oriented to what you will be reading.
3. Take Along a Trail Guide or Two
It’s not that I absolutely need a trail guide to enjoy my hike, but I might get more out of it if I have one or two along for the journey. A Study Bible features notes along the bottom or sides of each page, helping to guide the reader to better understand that which you are reading. You might want to get a couple commentaries by reputable scholars that will offer verse-by-verse comments on the text. But remember: The Bible, and the Bible only, is the Word of God—not the study notes or the commentary. So, you are free to disagree with the comments you’re reading—a mentor of mine said that you should never agree 100% with any one scholar, or else you would be following the counsel of men, not of God.
Though these comments in your Study Bible and commentaries are merely the words of fallen human beings on the inspired text, they will offer opinions and insights that you will be able to build on. And these people have been given the church as the gift of Teacher to help us understand God’s Word, and have dedicated their lives to studying and understanding this wonderful book and helping you on your journey through it!
4. Actually Get On the Trail!
I’ve met many Christians who have fallen into the trap of reading about the Bible and what it teaches, but never actually reading and studying the
Bible itself! But in doing so, they have cut themselves off from the true object of their study. It means that they are relying on the insights of others rather than their own self-discovered conclusions based on their own working through the biblical text. But when you read it and discover what God has said for yourself, you OWN it for yourself, and you see its direct application for you life in deeper ways. Again, your trying to understand God’s Word, not what others are saying
about God’s Word!
It’s like taking a virtual tour of the mountains—either watching a travel video of the mountains without actually going yourself. It’s like playing a video game of a white-water rafting trip, but unless you have actually rushed down an actual roaring river, you have not really lived it—you have only experienced it second-hand. Actually get onto the trail! Don’t just listen to what others say they experienced there; experience it for yourself!
5. Keep a Trail Journal
Our experiences are so fleeting and our insights come into our minds and hearts and then disappear like vapor. As you experience God and gain insights into who you are and how you can become a better lover of God and of people, write it down!
Keep a journal of what you are studying. Some photocopy their Bible and make a notebook, so that they can write what they are figuring out about God and life right there next to the verses. Maybe you have room in your Bible to do that in the margins.
Or keep a separate journal, where you can write down your own personal paraphrases of the verses you are studying, along with the most important words in each verse and what they mean and how they add to your understanding. Write down questions and comments. Write down possible ways to apply the truth that has been revealed to you in specific ways and make notes on when and how you propose to make the Bible come alive in you life by practically applying what you have read.
6. Team Up With Others
I have hiked up a mountain all on my own, which was a terrific experience. It was just me and the mountain, and the God of that creation. Sometimes that is best—just you and the Bible and the God of that creation.
But sometimes, for encouragement along the way, for shared insights, and for help when we falter, we need to take our hike into the Word of God with a group. That is why you need to be a part of a small group Bible study. If you are not in one, form one—let’s get people together and meet! It’s a tremendous help and encouragement to stay on track in your Bible study.
7. Seek Some Training
I like to read about hiking, and would like to take some courses in mountaineering. It would better prepare me for my mountain hikes. This week, along with last week and next week, I am trying to train you in the rudiments of Bible study. But, like any skill, you may want to seek further
training. Malone College and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School are two schools that offer courses that you can take to further your understanding of the Bible. Many of the courses they have can be audited, so you pay less for the course, and you don’t have the pressure of tests (that sounds good, doesn’t it?).
Malone is here in Canton, and Trinity (which is my Alma Mater and is operated by the
Evangelical Free Church) has an extension school that meets up at The Chapel
in Akron.
If you don’t see yourself in a classroom like that, you might want to read a good book on properly interpreting and applying the Bible. One of the best is
How to Read the Bible for All its Worth by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart.
8. Stick With It!
The hardest part of a long hike is sticking with it. As you trudge along, the weight on your back gets heavier as the air gets thinner and your legs get weaker. And when you are in the forest, you lose sight of your goal—the mountain. All you can do at times is look down at the rocks and pebbles on the path you are on, as your hiking boots take yet another step.
But then the trees will open up and you find yourself at a beautiful sparkling crystal lake.
 This photo is of my
first hiking expedition into the Maroon Bells Wilderness. It was amazing
to camp up there--next to this beautiful lake. All the work to hike up there was
worth it! And I was re-encouraged to keep going, all the way up to the pass
toward Snowmass Mountain.
There is no easy path to spiritual maturity. We must cooperate with God to allow his grace to come in and transform our lives. And, as we said last week, God’s primary means of speaking to you today is the Holy Scriptures. If you will stick with it, even when it seems like all you are doing is trudging along, it will pay off with great vistas along to way. Be sure to set aside a specific time and place for your study, and then stick to your plan. This is not to be legalistic—to do the “Christian thing” and have a “Quiet Time.” No. The Spiritual Disciplines, of which serious Bible study is a primary one, are not done for the sake of jumping through the Christian hoops so that you can be a part of some Christian sub-culture. The Spiritual Disciplines like Bible Study are what you do so that you can set yourself up to MEET GOD! Studying your Bible is not the end; it is the means to the end. Studying the Bible shapes our attitudes and actions in ways we could never experience in any other way. Studying the Bible is a means (not the only means, but the primary means) by which we can know God. Studying the Bible is also the spotlight upon ourselves, helping us be aware of the deep inner workings of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
So stick with it! Take the time to allow results to happen. It may take time. In fact, it will take a lifetime to see all the changes God has in store for you as you study His Word!
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