Bible Reading – Help!,

7 tips to get the most out of your Bible reading:

  1. Realize what the Bible is. The Bible isn’t a book…it’s a library.
  2. Recognize why getting the Word into your heart is important.
  3. Pray before, during, & after your reading time.
  4. Use a translation that you can understand.
  5. Find a time & place (for regular time of reading).
  6. Plan.
  7. Bookmark.

Highlights:

  • The Bible isn’t really a book…it’s a library. You read a library differently than you read a book.
  • The Bible is unique- assembled over 1,500+ years on 3 different continents by 40 different authors, written in three different languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, & Greek).
  • Romans 10:17, “…faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.” 
  • The Word of God is how we get to know the character of God. The Bible is about Jesus.
  • Bible apps like YouVersion can be helpful for listening to the Bible.
  • Praying goes hand in hand with Bible reading. Taking notes is also helpful.
  • If you do not have a regular time & place for Bible reading it probably won’t happen regularly.
  • Having a Bible reading plan is important. Here are a few that are helpful.
  • The best Bible study tool that I can recommend is… a bookmark. Use it- because reading books starting at the beginning and working your way through just makes sense. This is just as true for books of the Bible.

Resources mentioned in today’s podcast:

LifeWay Research: Americans Are Fond of the Bible, Don’t Actually Read It

Do You Know How We Got The Bible? Timothy Paul Jones on How We Got—and Why We Should Trust—God’s Word

YouVersion Bible App

The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict; The Uniqueness of the Bible

The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict; How We Got The Bible

How Do You Choose a Bible Translation by Tim Challies

The CSB Translation Philosophy: Optimal Equivalence

Link to several different downloadable/printable Bible reading plans/charts

You Can Read More of the Bible Than You Think (info graphic…very interesting!)