How To Read The Bible
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The first thing to do is to pray.
The word of God is a Person. When you read the Bible, you're fellowshipping with God. It is not merely an academic or theological matter or a hobby. It is a spiritual matter, and so long as you are saved, it goes beyond the eyes and even mind. There should be a fire burning in your heart. Your spirit is being fed.
Say "Father, I'm about to read your word.....
Psalms 119
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Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law.
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I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me.
38
Establish Your word to Your servant, who is devoted to fearing You.
105
Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
162
I rejoice at Your word As one who finds great treasure.
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Open my eyes
Quicken me
So whether it is Genesis or Galatians. ..PRAY. Talk with the One who is talking with you through His word.
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The second thing is...and this is VERY IMPORTANT
PLEASE use a translation you understand very well.
If you don't speak KJV English, you didn't read Shakespeare, you are not a major in old English, you don't read other old English materials.....the recommendation is to get a translation that speaks modern English
NKJV is great, and still maintains the form of the KJV (if you like that form), with even better accuracy in certain places
NIV is awesome. NRSV as well. NASB too.
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3.
The third thing?
Start reading.
Having done 1 and 2, don't be bothered about understanding or insight. Those 2 will come. Don't even be bothered with concordances and dictionaries.
The goal number one is to read through the whole Bible, especially the New Testament
Read. Read. READ!
You may divide it into months, and say...this month
I'm reading all the epistles (Romans to Revelation) or
Or all the gospels (Matthew to John) and Acts,
Or All the major prophets (Isaiah to Daniel)
And do it in such a way that in a year, you have read through the whole Bible at least once, and the new testament at least twice.
Devotionals are great
But reading the Bible as a primary activity, then other things like devotionals and topical studies following, is better.
Especially if you are using a study Bible that has footnotes and other sections that explain different meanings and several other things you come across as you read
You have to know what is written and all of it, or most of it. Then you can study parts of it.
If a devotional helps you go through and you like the pace. Fine. If not, go through the lesson part of the devotional, but keep reading your Bible with the intent of finishing it.
Leave topical study to study times.
Studying is not the same as reading, but they are related
1. Some read and do not study
2. Some study topics but have never read the Bible for themselves. The danger is that they may learn things in study which seem right, but are wrong because they don't know other things and have therefore misinterpreted that section of the Bible
I believe 1. is better than 2.; but the best is to read and study
Read first and then study however you want to: by topics, books, characters, etc
Study as you read, but don't let studying truncate your reading
You may choose 1 or 2 or 3 STUDY TIMES in a week, but READ EVERY DAY
Reading is different
Reading is first.
You can read 1st John. It's just 5 chapters. You can read it three times in one sitting. That alone will show you the beauty of just reading. As you read it again and again, you will sense the life of God.
It's THE SAME with the whole Bible
Read in your mind
Read to yourself
Repeat it again
Read out loud
Take a walk around, think about what you've read
See if you can remember it
See if you can divide it into parts
Write out whatever strikes you
Of course, you should have a notebook.
Write out verses you want to remember
Say them over and over again
Ask the Lord to show you what you are missing
That's meditating now, and that's the fourth thing.
You have to meditate on what you are reading. Whatever strikes you as you read. At the end of reading. Think on it. Pray on it. Mutter it. Say it out. Again and again and again.
That's how to read (and study)
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The fifth thing get books and start reading them... books by teachers on various subjects like faith, grace, healing, the Holy Spirit, prayer, the last days, the church, etc
And listen to and watch messages too, especially in a Bible believing and teaching church to which you belong.
I will always recommend Kenneth E. Hagin's books, all of them; The Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee, The Pursuit of God by AW Tozer, Zac Poonen, Zacharias Tanee Fomum, Andrew Murray, Charles Spurgeon, and several others
At this point you may also want to get a concordance and a Bible dictionary
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6.
Sixth,
Attend Bible Study meetings, where you can ask questions, hear others, discuss what you've learnt etc.
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Seventh
Don't put it off.
Scroll down and click on
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START
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