Suggestions for Bible Study & Meditation on God’s Word, Part Two
11. Re-Read. Especially if the Bible feels familiar, you will benefit from the second and third read. This applies to verses, chapters, books.
12. Find a Bible with helps that you like, or a smaller commentary that gives background information. Spend time imagining the original context – sights, smells, surprises.
13. Yet always make sure you are studying the Bible and using the helps, not vise-versa.
14. Don’t get too hung up on which translation you use as long as it balances accuracy and clarity well. All the major translations (NAS, NIV, ESV) have their pros and cons. The ones to avoid are the loose paraphrases such as “The Message.”
15. Focus. Don’t be content to read the Bible “on the go,” when you know you’re not able to really process it.
16. But at the same time, you can add to your “quiet” time some “loud” time too – take advantage of podcasts, sermons, and websites that help you grow.
17. Three questions to ask of any chapter in the Bible:
• What does this teach me about mankind (me)?
• What does this passage teach me about God?
• How does Jesus Christ meet my needs or display God’s character?
18 & 19. Repent and worship based on what you read.
20. Don’t be legalistic. Seriously.
2 comments:
Ken,
#'s 13, and 20 are great!!!!!!!!! Especially 13. and 20.
14 is good too. ...should have stayed under the unpredicatable plant...
#13 is one that was on the original "Phil List" before it became the "Phil & Ken List" and then the "Ken & Phil List."
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