Engaging the Bible

​Written over multiple centuries by multiple authors, the Bible is a collection of documents that tell one story: God creating, brokenness entering, and Jesus restoring. How can you engage with the greatest story ever told?

As you read you will realise that you most likely fit into one of these three categories; new to the bible, been here a while, or looking for more.
 
If you are new to the bible, then reading the bible can be a daunting or confusing task. Here are some tips to help you:

• Pick parts that will make sense to you in a version you can read.
  • Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Genesis, Psalms are great places to start reading.
  • As the bible was not written in English, pick a translation that you understand. Common translations include: New International Version (NIV), The Message, New Living Translation (NLT), and English Standard Version (ESV)
• Ask a mate if you don’t understand stuff or just Google it.
• If you disagree, don’t understand, find it boring, or struggle with what you read, and it is causing unhelpful frustration then go read something else.
• Read a devotional book that unpacks the stuff- Bible App Plans and Day by Day.

 
If you have been reading the bible for a while here is some ways you can engage with the bible that maybe you have not thought about before. All credit to Rick Warren as they come from his book, Bible Study Methods:
1.         Devotional Method: This method involves reading a passage of scripture with a focus on personal application and spiritual growth. It emphasizes meditation, prayer, and reflection on how the passage can impact one's life.
 
2.         Chapter Summary Method: Here, the reader studies an entire chapter of the Bible, writing a summary of its main points, themes, and teachings. This method helps in understanding the context and flow of the passage.
 
3.         Character Quality Method: This method involves studying the character qualities of individuals portrayed in the Bible, extracting lessons and principles for personal development and character growth.
 
4.         Thematic Method: With this method, the reader studies a specific theme or topic found throughout the Bible, collecting verses and passages related to that theme and synthesizing their meaning and significance.
 
5.         Biographical Method: Like the Character Quality Method, this method focuses on studying the lives of specific individuals in the Bible, extracting lessons, insights, and principles from their experiences and interactions with God.
 
6.         Topical Method: This method involves selecting a specific topic or subject of interest and studying all the passages related to that topic throughout the Bible, organizing them to gain a comprehensive understanding of the subject.
 
7.         Word Study Method: Here, the reader examines the meanings of specific words or phrases in the original languages of the Bible (Hebrew and Greek), using lexicons, concordances, and other study tools to explore their significance in various contexts.
 
8.         Book Background Method: This method focuses on studying the historical and cultural background of a particular book of the Bible, including its author, audience, purpose, and context, to gain a deeper understanding of its message and relevance.
 
9.         Book Survey Method: With this method, the reader studies an entire book of the Bible, examining its structure, outline, key themes, and major teachings, providing an overview of its content and message.
 
10.       Chapter Analysis Method: This method involves studying individual chapters of the Bible in depth, analysing their structure, content, and context to discern the author's intended meaning and application.
 
11.       Book Synthesis Method: Like the Book Survey Method, this method involves studying an entire book of the Bible but focuses on synthesizing its various parts into a coherent whole, understanding how its themes and teachings relate to each other and to the overarching message of Scripture.
 
12.       Verse-by-Verse Method: Finally, this method involves studying the Bible verse by verse, analysing each passage in detail, including its historical context, literary style, and theological significance, to uncover its meaning and application.
 
You will spend your life going through these methods, and reading, watching, and listening to what I would call faith building media. Examples include:

• Bible Project
• Bible for normal people podcast
• The Chosen

 
If you are in the been here a while category and you going through the methods mentioned above does not hit the spot, then either:

• You are not applying what you are learning.
  • Sometimes we read and engage with the bible and do not let it hit our day-to-day living. This is what Jesus refers to in Luke 6 as, ‘a foolish way to live’. Maybe we are not looking for more but ignoring the areas we need to grow in.
• You need to go to Bible College and do some further study.
  • Go audit a class, do a course online, or join a group of people that study the bible further.

 
Wherever you are at I just want you to take this away:
The bible is an opportunity to hear from God directly and become more like Jesus. The bible is not God, our relationship is not with the words on the page but the author of those words who wants to be your friend. Give it a read.
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Author

Josh has been on staff at Lesmurdie Baptist Church since 2018. He is married to Marnel and they have 4 children together - Azaliah, Ezra, Zoelle, and Zion. What drives Josh is seeing people put their faith into action so Jesus can change lives in the here and now.