Practice What You Study

 

    What is the point of studying the Bible if you don't learn anything?  If you are not drawing closer to God, then your life is not changing the way it was designed to change.  You have to practice what you learn for it to become a part of you.  

    You live out your faith with integrity, living out God's Word to the best of your ability, and by seeking His approval.  It is important that you put your knowledge into practice because it holds you accountable.  It urges other believers to do the same.  What you believe will affect how you live, so your lifestyle is a testimony of your faith in Jesus.

    When you are studying God's Word, write down what you observe.  Then follow up with the questions that you have.  Then write down your interpretation of what you observed, so you can see how it can influence your life.  When you see your observations, questions, and interpretations together, you can write out how to apply it to your life.

    You have 168 hours in a week.  Are you investing your time wisely?  How much time do you spend in God's Word.  If you will carve out only one hour a day, then it would change your life.  Imagine how much closer to God you would be if you gave 10% of your time to God.  One day we will all have to account for how we spent this time.  Make sure that you give some back to God.

    What habits have you formed to make the Bible your investment?  For the next few days, record how much time you spend in the Bible, listening to the Bible, Studying the Bible, prayer, Biblical books, or investing time in service to God, and memorizing scripture.  See what you are doing and make goals on how you want to invest in your time with God.  Only righteous things can come from it.

    You have to invest into God to be able to really invest into other people.  If you don't take care of yourself, then you can't take care of other people.  Ignorance is not an excuse.  Invest into your salvation and your will prosper and succeed in doing good.  You will be able to lead others to Jesus and help them find solutions to their problems.  However, first you have to work our your own salvation.

Joshua 1:6-9, Matthew 6:31-34, 23:1-4, Philippians 4:8-9, 2 Timothy 2:1-18, & 1 Peter 5:1-4

Bible Study Steps

 

    Your Bible study does not need to be overwhelming, a check off list, or anything else that can take away the purpose.  However, there are simple ways to structure it so you get everything you can out of your time with God.  The Steps are simple: prepare, observe, interpretation, application, and repetition.

    Step one is preparation.  What do you do before you get into your Bible?  I try to take care of everything that might distract me from focusing.  I then go to a room that is set up to help me focus, but enjoy my environment at the same time.  That is good, but those factors depend on the person.  

    One thing that we all need to do is spiritually prepare.  That means get rid of any evil thoughts and be prepared to mature spiritually.  We all need to be praying throughout our time in the Bible.  Ask God to fill you with knowledge, understanding, and wisdom.

    Step two is observation.  Observe what is going on in the passage you are reading.  A method in doing that is writing down you questions and answers if you find them.  Look for key words and subjects.  Seek to find commands, warnings, repeated words or phrases.  Focus on comparisons (similar, but different), questions, and anything unusual or unexpected.  Take your time.  Do not rush through, but reread some things that stand out.

    Step three is interpretation.  Scripture can be very clear in what it teaching or trying to tell you, but sometimes you have to dig deeper.  Start with asking questions over the importance of some things: given word, phrase, name, time, dates, and more.  What do the words actually mean?  Why were they used instead of other words?  Why was it said the way it was?  What are the implications?

    Once you know your questions, you are able to seek your answers.  Use the scripture around the one verse.  Define the word you are focusing on.  As you get into studying the Bible you can look into the original grammar and sentence structure.  

    The English always originated from Greek, Aramaic, and Hebrew.  There are several words that say the same thing, but have different context.  That is why rereading the same versus in another Bible version can help.  Other tools you can use are a Bible dictionary, concordances, Bible handbook, Bible Encyclopedia, and Bible commentaries.  If you are not rich and can't afford all these different books, that is okay.  You can find it all on line if you look.

    Interpretation does not need to be hard.  Make sure the scripture agrees and does not contradict itself.  Let the passage speak for itself.  Stay focused and do not draw conclusions that are led by another person.  Bible study is personal.  It is between you and God.  There is no room for anyone else in this aspect.

    Step four is application.  How will your alone time with God's Word affect your life?  This is where the truth that you have been digging into is incorporated into your daily life.  When you hear God's Word, it requires a response.  What will your response be?  Will you act on it, change for it, or ignore it?  

    Application does not need to be over complicated.  God is asking your to forsake sin, so if a secret sin is revealed, then repent and move on.  What promise can you claim from your study today?  What example can you follow?  What command do you need to obey?  What stumbling blocks do you need to avoid?  There is only one truth, but many ways to apply it.

    The final step is repetition.  The more you reread a passage, verse, or phrase, the more meaning it will have in your life.  You have to study the Bible to be blessed.  It will make you a happier person because you appreciate all the aspects in life better, even the bad times.  Find delight in reading God's Word.

Psalm 119:17-24, Colossians 1:9-10, 1 Peter 2:1-3, & 1 John 2:26-27

Meditation

 

    Meditation is not a new age thing.  It has been around since the beginning of civilization.  It is given credit to Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Vedas, but they did not invent the practice.  Their meditation is about posture, breathing, and technic. True meditation is worshipping God.

    Mediation is a prayerful reflection on scripture.  The view point is to understand and apply scripture to life.  You meditate when you are in God's Word and you prayfully put thought into it with the goal of conforming your life to His will.  It takes strength and courage to obey God without deviating, being afraid, or discouraged.

    You meditate on scripture when you reflect on the verses you have memorized,  It helps if you pay attention in church.  You can listen attentively and go over the message throughout the week or write notes for reference.  Church is important, but reading God's Word for yourself and applying it daily is vital.

    When you read the Bible as long as you are focused and in prayer for God to reveal truths to you.  Pray about what you study in the Bible for it to be worship, but meditation is it's own form of worship.  Pray that God gives you discernment while you are in His Word.

    Meditation is good for you because it feeds you mind with things that are good and holy throughout the day and night.  Carefully observing what you meditate on will help you prosper in good behavior and character.  It changes how you view the world to the point that it can change how you speak to yourself and others.  Whatever is in your heart will come out of your mouth and behavior.

    Meditation requires diligence in your Biblical study to understand it properly.  You have to learn God's commands and decrees to live them out.  They will not have any impact in your life if you don't understand them.  

    You should obey even if you don't understand, but God did not create you to be a robot.  He gave you a mind to be able to work through things including understand rules and regulations.  Meditation on the Bible gives spiritual wisdom and understanding.

    

Joshua 1:6-9, Psalm 1, 119:73-80, 121-128, Colossians 1:9-10, & 1 Peter 2:1-3

How to Know the Bible

 

    How do you get to know the Bible?  You read it.  You listen to it.  You study it.  It holds so much more than the surface context.  If you want to know the Bible, then you have to pursue it with great eagerness and desire to know God.

    Your attitude is what will direct your time with God.  You will either be eager to examine and understand Gog's Word or you will not.  When you are reading the Bible you need to be prayerfully seeking wisdom.  It is a treasure beyond money.  If you find understanding, then you have a deep well of wisdom.

    Studying the Bible is more than reading it like a book.  You may need to jump around.  Use the OT  to understand the NT.  Be careful to observe the interpretation.  That is why if you are able, you should obtain more than 1 version of the Bible.  There are many: King James, New King James, NIV, ESV, and many more.  Read them together to have the scripture make more sense to you, so that you can apply what you read to your everyday life.

    Reading the Bible gives you a general overview.  Studying the Bible helps you think, learn, and apply.  When you are reading it, sometimes one verse or another sticks out.  Reread it in it's context, then write it down to repeat at least three times a day until you have it memorized.  Memorizing is meditating on God's Word.  It gives it power in your life.

    Memorizing God's Word imprints it on your heart and binds it to your thought process.  Speaking, touching, and reading at the same time typically helps you remember it better.  It hits more of the memory markers in your brain.

    How do you use the Bible once you know how to study it?  The versus you memorize will help you combat Satan and his forces in the world.  When you memorize, then you can apply it and live it.  If you declare them in God's name, then Satan will flee.  If you have purpose to memorize, then it will be come easier.  It will live in your mind, heart, and soul.

Deuteronomy 11:18-21, Psalm 40:6-8, 119:9-16, Proverbs 2:1-8, Matthew 4:1-11, & Acts 17:10-12

Why Know the Bible

 

    Why should you know the Bible?  If you don't know the Bible, then you don't know God.  God's Word teaches you the truth about life, the world, and who God is.  It helps you grow up in your salvation.  It motivates your heart to obey God's Commands.  It produces reverence for God.  It reveals the purpose and direction that God has for your life.

    The Bible is sufficient for all you need in life.  It affects the physical needs by showing you the best way to obtain them.  It is all you need to not feel alone in the world.  However, you need to know how to study the Bible to know how to get the most out of it.

    When you listen to services in church, podcast, or other methods, then your heart is normally stirred in some way.  You can't hear God's Word and not respond.  You can either accept it or reject it.  If you accept what you hear, then you will be blessed.  It helps you stand firm in your faith and it becomes understandable.

    When you read the Bible, you are blessed by the truth.  It is a blessing to be able to read God's Word.  To gain understanding to what it means is what leads to true freedom.  It prepares you for what is to come.  It doesn't stop things in life from happening, but it does prepare you for them.  That is why you all need to give your attention to reading, exhortation, and teaching the Bible.

Nehemiah 8:7-8, Psalms 119: 9-16, 33-40, 105-112, Luke 11:27-28, Romans 10:16-21, 1 Timothy 4:11-13, 2 Timothy 2:15-18, 3:14-17, 1 Peter 2:1-3, & Revelations 1:1-3

Know the Bible

 

    The Bible is the revelation of God.  It is His words written by man.  He told them not to alter His words, so that it would always remain true throughout time.  His authority is in the Bible.  When the Bible speaks to you, that is the voice of God.  We only need to live it as the standard of living.  

    It is fine to read all the books, blogs, and magazines about God and the Bible, but none of them hold the power and truth like His Word.  God's Word needs to be our primary source of study to know God.  We need that nourishment daily to be able to be strong.

    How can you learn and know the Bible?  It is more than truth.  There are layers of wisdom and connection.  It takes a life time to be a true scholar and wise with the Bible.  Applying what you learn everyday is how you gain wisdom.  You study the Bible by hearing, reading, studying (digging in), memorizing, and meditating on it.  

    You need to try to do all five to get the full benefits of studying the Bible.  Your grasp for the truth becomes firm and a part of you in a way you don't see, but other people do.  It is how your soul can be complete.  It all starts with salvation, but if you never hear God's Word, then you would you ever find salvation?    

Psalm 1:1-3, 119:9-16, Acts 17:10-15, Romans 10:16-21, Philippians 4:10-14, 2 Timothy 2:15-18, & Revelations 1:1-3

The Local Church

 

    A local church should be a healthy church, but what is a healthy church?  A healthy church is a church with members that are devoted to God and one another.  The local church should be a part of the community.  They should challenge and encourage one another in service and united love.

    How does the community see your church?  The reputation of the church is a testimony to the community.  Does your church attract or repel the community.  Do the members of your church work together for unity or allow division?  People in the world notice and will have opinions.  If the reputation is bad, then it could keep them from ever trying to have a relationship with God.

    If a church does not pursue God's commission on all Christians as one body, then your entire community will suffer.  God offers hope and He normally uses us to give that message.  If you are not providing the message of hope in the gospel, then what is the message that the community is receiving?  We all have a role in the church.  Are you doing your part for God's mission?

    Is your church a lighthouse that shines hope and God's light into the world?  Or is it a bomb shelter that hides away and only looks out for themselves?  Do they honor church discipline and uphold the standards for the church laid out in the Bible?  It is important that the local church is a Biblical church.

    Pray for your church.  Pray for unity and growth.  Pray that it stays strong or becomes a strong central unit of your community.  Pray for God to reveal your role in your church if you don't know it.  Don't just fill positions because no one else wants it.  Find where God wants you and serve there.

John 13:18-30, Acts 2:42-47, Romans 6:20-23, 12:3-5, 1 Corinthians 1:1-3, & Ephesians 4:14-16