Tag Archives: Bible Reading

Mar 13

A Neglected Habit

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One of the most important habits we can participate in is Bible study. Sadly though, this is one of the most often neglected habits in the lives of Christians. Even though this habit is widely neglected among the so called “religious” today, we would all agree Scripture speaks about the study of the Word and the importance of it. Consider just a few things that make Bible study important:

1). God’s Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psa. 119:105).

2). The Word of God helps us in our battle with sin (Psa. 119:9, 11).

3). The more we study the Word, the more we accurately handle the Word of Truth (2 Tim. 2:15).

4). Through studying the Word, we discover the truth found in scripture (Jn. 8:31-32).

5). Spending time in the Word helps us to know how we are to live our lives (Col. 1:9-10).

Just the other day, I posted the following question on Twitter: “What is the biggest hindrance to you when it comes to reading the Bible?” Several of the answers were: I’m just so busy, I have a hard time concentrating and I’ve read and heard it all before. I’m afraid too many Christians don’t attempt Bible study because it seems too hard. Perhaps the reason it seems too hard is because we don’t know how to study the Bible.

Let’s consider a few tips that can help us in our study of the Word. Always remember, before you do anything else, begin your Bible study by praying and asking God to give you an open heart and mind.

1). Study the text over and over. This is the easiest way to learn. The more we study something over and over, the more it penetrates into the depths of our hearts and takes shape in our lives.

2). Know the context. Read the verses before and after what you are studying. Sometimes it’s beneficial to read a chapter or two before and after the text you are studying. If we don’t know the context, we may walk away from our study with the wrong idea about the passage we studied.

3). Make sure you are able to give your full concentration. Many things can distract us and get our minds off what we are studying. Find a quiet place and time so you can give the study your full attention.

4). Be sure you comprehend what you study. It’s okay if some days you don’t cover as much as you would like. Take your time and look up key words, phrases and things you don’t understand. It will make a huge difference in how much you truly comprehend.

5). Take time to make application. This is an area many struggle with. Studying the Word is good, but applying the Word is crucial. Find ways to use what you have studied in your daily life. Remember, “Thy Word is a lamp to our feet and a guide to our path” (Psa. 119:105).

In a few of my Bibles I have a book mark that reads, “Every time the Bible is opened knowledge is gained!” This statement is so full of truth. It’s time the people of God start opening the Word and digging deep within. Let’s take what is often a neglected habit and make it a part of our daily lives. You just might begin to see the difference the Word of God can truly make in your life!

QUESTION: What is the biggest hindrance for you when it comes to reading God’s Word? What tips would you give someone wanting to get the most out of their time of study?

Jan 11

The CHALLENGE: Day 1 Reflections

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Yesterday, the Student Ministry at Karns began our challenge of reading through the New Testament in only 90 days. The nice thing about beginning yesterday is that last night we had our Thursday night Bible study and 15 kids and 4 adults were able to discuss the reading for the day.

In this post I want to share with you a few things that we talked about last night.

  1.  The genealogy of Jesus mentioned in the book of Matthew is from Joseph’s family history (Matt. 1). One of the students found this interesting because Mary was the one chosen by God to give birth to the Messiah. However, Matthew writing to the Jewish people included Jesus’ family’s kingly history. Read Luke’s account for the genealogy through Mary’s family.
  2. A lot of the people mentioned in Matthew’s account of the genealogy of Jesus aren’t the kind of people you would expect to find in the family history of the Messiah (Matt. 1). We concluded this is important because it shows two things. 1) It shows Jesus’ family tree is a lot like ours today and 2) It shows failures and sinners were the whole point of the birth of Jesus even among His own earthly family.
  3. We discussed the righteousness of Joseph; particularly the fact that he wanted to put Mary away privately and not make a big deal about what had happened (Matt. 1:19). This is interesting when you consider how most people would have responded if this were to have happened today. By God choosing Mary to be the mother of Jesus, He was in turn picking Joseph and his righteous character to be the earthly father of Jesus. Amazing!
  4. When considering the temptations of Jesus (Matt. 4:1-11), it’s worth noting that 1) This wasn’t the only time Satan tempted Jesus (read Luke’s account) and 2) Jesus demonstrated the best means of dealing with temptation is by keeping the Word of God in the forefront of one’s mind. What a great reminder for us all.
  5. The first apostles called by Jesus left everything “immediately” (Matt. 4:18-22). They walked away from their livelihood and followed Jesus not really knowing what was going to happen. How many of us are willing to walk away from almost everything else in order to follow after Jesus? This takes an extraordinary amount of faith.

Last night was incredible. Singing, praying and discussing the Word of God with the teens was both encouraging and uplifting for me personally. I am looking forward to continuing in our challenge together to become the image of Jesus. What a great year this is going to be!

What has stuck out to you during your daily Bible reading over the last few days? Leave your comments below.