Ways to study the bible

Fall in love with the word of God. Read the bible daily. Go beyond basic reading. Study it. Examine it. Dive into the meaning. Learn about the history. Consume the bible and get it in your head and heart. Whether you’re a new believer, new to reading the bible, or a more seasoned Christian looking to dive deeper into bible study, let’s talk about methods you can study the bible.
 

• Show up to church. The preachers in your church should be including scripture in their sermons. This is a good place to start. Church attendance is not enough on its own, but attending a good church that teaches the bible and does so accurately is a necessary part of learning the bible better.
• If ministers in your church offer bible studies, show up. Learn something. Go to group bible study.
• There are also many sermons and bible studies on YouTube.
• Surround yourself with people who talk about the bible and help you grow in your knowledge of it. Have friends that you can discuss scripture with. Iron sharpens iron.
• Pray for understanding and revelation and even correction before you start reading the bible.
• Read it daily. Keep your bible out in an area that you often sit. Turn to it. Pick up your bible every single day.
• Make it a habit. Get into a routine of reading your bible.
• Flip through it often. Even if you just have 5 minutes, pick it up and flip through it.
• Follow a schedule. There are short-term bible reading schedules and yearly 365 schedules. The ones I personally have made are freely available on my website here. It may be helpful to try different schedules. Your church may offer a reading plan as well.
  
• If you are brand-new to reading the bible, I recommend starting with the New Testament. The wisdom literature in the Old Testament is also a good place for beginners.
• Study individual books.
  
• Study individual chapters.
  
• You can also spend time examining and thinking over individual verses.
• Look at the context of the scripture instead of just the individual verses. For some things, it helps to understand the historical context as well to gain a deeper insight.
• Memorize scripture. Write it on flashcards. Recite it. Have a verse of the week or verse of the day in your household.
• Application – As you are reading the bible, think of (and maybe write down) how this is relevant to you and how you need to apply this to your life.
• Reflection – After reading the bible, write down your reflections. Bullet points are one option.
• Write down your questions from what you read. Then seek answers to your questions. Critical thinking can be very eye-opening.
• Try summarizing the paragraph or chapter. What’s your overall take-away message from this section?
• Make lessons out of what you read today. If you had to give a lesson on that day’s reading, what would you teach someone? It can be short and simple. It doesn’t have to be scholarly.
• Pray over what you read. Pray for understanding and correct interpretations. Pray for wisdom. Pray that Jesus would help you apply this in your life. Pray for help following the bible and obeying God’s word. Pray for help sharing the word with others.
• Have a prayer journal where you write prayers on the topics you’ve been studying. For example, if you are studying the fruit of the Spirit write down a prayer about increasing the fruit of the Spirit in your walk.  
• Read books that take you deeper into understanding the bible.
• It is important to use accurate translations. Within the selection of good and accurate translations, it can be helpful to read different translations.
• Reference the interlinear bible.
• Read different types of bibles.
• If you are someone who learns better by hearing than reading, consider also listening to the bible on audio.
• Using a study bible, read the referenced verses in the margins.
• Study people of the bible. Look at their role, their life, their character, how they lived, what they are known for, etc.
• Do topical bible studies on your own. List topics you can think of you want to know what the bible says on it.
• Choose topics from a concordance.
• If you are a seasoned Christian who is well-rooted in biblical truth, consider teaching a bible study. As you teach, you will grow.
• Also for the seasoned ones who are well-studied and sure their teachings are in alignment with the bible, consider blogging or making social media posts about your bible reading or topics you want to share on. As we writers research for our blogs, we learn a lot.

 
 
What are your favorite ways to study the bible?
 
What would you recommend to others new to reading the Holy Bible?
 

2 Timothy 3:14-17
But you remain in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them. From infancy, you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that each person who belongs to God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
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