How to Study Your Bible
Can I trust the Bible?
Sermon Series • Videos • Free
The Bible for Grown-Ups – Andy Stanley
In a four-part video series with discussion guides to help you reflect on what you have learned, Andy Stanley offers a brief look at some of the questions that come up when we start to read Scripture. Looking at some of the complicated, messy stories we encounter in the Bible, Andy Stanley gives us tools for reading different parts of the Bible and for wrestling through the doubts and questions that come up when we do.
Can I Ask That? – Ethan Magness
While in the context of a sermon series called, “Can I ask that?” at First Christian Church in Johnson City, communicator Ethan Magness gives a brief but comprehensive overview of how the Bible came together. Ethan Magness explores how we got the Bible we have today and why we can trust the story it tells. This is a great starting point if you have questions about the validity and history of Scripture.
CAN WE TRUST THE BIBLE?
DO WE HAVE THE BIBLE THEY WROTE?
An Overview of the Bible
THE BIBLE PROJECT • Videos + Discussion Guides • Free
The Bible is a complex collection of different books, genres, and authors, spanning thousands of years and dozens of geographical locations. Yet, it isn’t a random collection of unrelated materials; instead, it tells one, cohesive story through lots of different voices.
When we pick up the Bible and don’t know where to start, the different styles of writing and cultural contexts can make it difficult for us to see the whole story. The Bible Project has created over 180 short, beautifully illustrated and narrated videos to help us understand who is speaking, where they are speaking from, and how their story is part of God’s broader story.
CHECK IT OUT
Learn about THE OLD TESTAMENT
Learn about THE NEW TESTAMENT
Discover the different THEMES of the Bible
Where do I start?
YOU VERSION • The Bible APP • Free
With dozens of translation options and hundreds of devotional guides and reading plans on every book of the Bible and a far-reaching range of topics, the YouVersion Bible app is a great way to start reading Scripture on your own. It offers helpful tools, like places to make notes and highlight verses that stick out. Also, it gives you the option to encounter Scripture the way the early church did: by listening. YouVersion’s audio Bible is beautifully narrated and easy-to-use, offering another way to dive into Scripture.
Study Methods to Try
THE SOAP METHOD • around 5-10 minutes (or as long as you want)
The SOAP Method is a simple, memorable acronym for a four-step process to not just read but apply scripture to your life. You can incorporate these four steps with any verse, passage, chapter or book of the Bible. Simply read the scripture, observe and write down things that stand out to you, apply it to your life in a practical way, and ask God for understanding and help in your own words.
Scripture
Observation
Application
Prayer
LECTIO DIVINA • around 15-20 minutes (or as long as you want)
Lectio divina, is latin for “divine reading,” and is a devotional reading of Scripture that has existed for over 1,700 years. Practicing this method opens us up to more ways to hear from, experience, and respond to God.
Silence: It starts with being still and silent and perhaps saying a simple prayer like, “Lord, put me in a place to enter into your presence.”
Read: Read the passage aloud. Listen for a word that sticks out to you. Reread the passage. Listen again. Repeat this word or phrase to yourself and let it resonate with you. If nothing sticks out, that is okay; just read again! There is no pressure, just space to allow something to rise to the surface.
Meditate: Reread the passage. Meditate upon your word or phrase and ask God how this word speaks to your life. Let your imagination be engaged, as well as your heart and mind.
Pray: Pray what you most desire to say to God, and then listen. Journal and write down thoughts that come to mind, and what you believe God is speaking to you.
Contemplate: Ask God to help you know how to respond to what stood out to you. Celebrate hearing from God and simply be still. Reflect on the experience.
CREATIVE MEDITATION/MEMORIZATION
Sometimes a powerful way to understand scripture is to learn it--to memorize it, so it comes to mind without even having to look it up. There are lots of different ways to do that, but here are some creative ways to try.
TEMPORARY TATTOOS with Dwell: Each month receive a beautiful temporary tattoo with the first letter of each word of a scripture to help you practice and memorize it. The Dwell monthly membership is like hitting the easy button for Scripture memory, so you have God’s Word in your heart and mind for every situation. Monthly kits are around $10 bucks and come with a set of temporary tattoos, a key tag, and a beautiful print. CHECK IT OUT.
VERSE MAPPING is a creative practice of lettering while doing a verse or word study. You don’t need to buy anything to do this, but there are lots of creative options out there. One is the James Method. They create beautiful journals anywhere from $14-$40 bucks, and you can CHECK IT OUT HERE
GUIDED MEDITATION is a great way to slow down and listen. If it’s hard for you to get your brain to shut off, check out SOUL SPACE, a Christian, guided meditation app that talks you through a new scripture each day to reset your mind.