Tag: God’s Word

Do You Struggle to Read the Bible? (Part 2)

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For Part 1 – Click HERE

2. Reading

From the get go, reading the Bible is a bit different from reading any other book. It goes beyond reading a story or simply gathering information. You should read the Bible actively, listening to, reflecting and engaging with God as you do so. That’s not usually how we read – stopping and wondering what the author wants to do in us – that’s different to any other book and that’s what makes it an interesting book.

Choose a Translation That You Can Read Easily

The YouVersion Bible App is a great free bible app that lets you choose from multiple translation. Definitely worth checking out.

You are reading with a purpose to hear God.

The Amount You Read Doesn’t Matter

You are not reading the Bible to simply get through it, but to get the Bible through you.

Your are not reading the Bible to simply get through it, but to get the Bible through you.

Read it slowly, prayerfully. Pray through what you’re reading and ask God to help you understand and of course apply it into your life.

Balanced Reading

The whole canon of Scripture consists of 66 books that presents a full narrative that tells the story of God. Some books are harder than others to understand – but honestly, they matter. Having a favourite go to book is a good thing, but to get the big picture we need to have balanced reading of the entire Bible or we miss out on the breadth and depth of it.

There is a beauty to be discovered in the way the books weave into and inform the others.

YouVersion has so many whole bible plans.

You might find going cover to cover hard work and give up somewhere in the middle of the Old Testament. You could try the M’Cheyne Plan, it’s a good daily balance of the Old and New Testament.

(And don’t forget the audio option from Part 1)

3. Memory Work

Instantly you’ll be thinking Sunday School, the leaders as the front creatively teaching verses and a sweet or prize when you recited it correctly.

Memorising scripture is a great way of slowing down your intake and helps you focus on what you’re reading.

Helps You Recall When You Need it Most

If you’ve ever had to remember a verse or passage chances are you can still recall it.

Memorising scripture is a great way of engaging with the Bible. Have you tried it?

Jesus said that one of the jobs of the Holy Spirit was to help you remember the things that he said (John 14:26) If you’ve never read what Jesus said, how is He going to help you remember?

The format below for memorising scripture is taken from Chapter 5 in Lead Like Jesus

If you are doing the Back to Basis mini-series with us in church, we set the challenge this week of learning Ephesians 3:14-21.

Give it a go! I’d love to hear how you get on, or if you have other key passages you think are worth committing to memory leave a comment and inspire someone else.

For Part 3 Click Here


Do You Struggle to Read the Bible? (Part 1)

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I get it – the book itself is massive and it’s sometimes difficult to know where to start, but start you must. This book is no ordinary book. I often joke and say it should have a label saying “WARNING: This book will seriously wreck your life”. Of course I mean in a good way.

Before I read it, life was pretty comfortable and sweet and then this book opened up a whole other world of possibilities. Who knew that walking on water was a thing, that sickness being healed could happened and that the dead being raised was even an option?

In can often create an uncomfortable gap between what we read and what we experience – but the point of this post is that I want to inspire you to read it.

What’s below is conglomeration of notes and thoughts from a few books that would be worth reading at some point: How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, The Celebration of Discipline and Lead Like Jesus

Why even bother?

I have heard it said that the bible is like a manual, and I agree to a point. The problem with that – who actually reads a manual right? We prefer to try first and if all else fails then we go check the instructions. So thinking of it as a manual doesn’t appeal to me personally, but even if you only ever view it as manual for life, it will prove itself useful. God, the author of life has the beta on what it’s all about so His words about life will definitely help point you in the right direction.

I get more excited when I think of the bible as an invitation. The bible is an invitation into a conversation with God. Conversation is how all relationships are built and scripture is God’s side of conversation with you.

The Bible is an invitation into a conversation with God

This book is profitable (but only if you read it).

Ways That You Can Build the Habit of Studying the Bible..

(These headings are taken from Lead Like Jesus: Ken Blanchard & Phil Hodges and I found it super helpful.)

1. Listening

In early tradition, scripture was heard as opposed to read. Jesus talked a lot about hearing the word, and in the Parable of the Sower (Matt 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, Luke 8:4-15) He presents four different scenarios as to what happens when the word (the seed) is heard (sown). Hearing the word was how the early church engaged.

There is something different and unique about listening to scripture and often I hear it differently to when I simply read it. Listening to the Gospels and listening to the words of Jesus bring a new dynamic to his words.

So if you’ve never thought about listening to the bible, here’s some ideas to get you going.

  1. Sermons, Podcasts
    • (listen to good bible teachers who actually open and teach from the bible – who knew that preaching without it was a thing!)
  2. Audiobible
    • I love YouVersion for this. Pick a translation with an audio option, hit play and off you go. Reading as you listen helps maintain focus.
    • Tip – you can change the reading speed by selecting the sound icon (x1.5 is my preferred), their set normal speed seems a little slow.
  3. Visual listening
    • There are some fab dramas and movies out there that bring the bible to life.
    • A current TV series, that I just have to get in this post is The Chosen. Highly recommend that you watch this, it will make the bible come alive and genuinely get you excited about reading the New Testament.

With everything Bible related though, like the parable of the sower, it’s all about what you do having heard. This is a book that is supposed to be lived and that’s what makes it truly special.

Read Part 2 Here: Reading and Memory Work

Read Part 3 Here: Studying and Meditating