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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: BIBLE STUDY TIPS

It doesn’t matter what skill you wish to learn, it will take most people practice to get it right. For Example, unless, you are a gifted music prodigy, it will take hours and hours of lessons. Some are more musically inclined than others, but everyone learns at their own pace.

Cooking is another example, my mother-in-law used to make the best chocolate cakes. She never measured or wrote down a recipe. She could tell by the color that she had the right amount of Ingredients. If I had tried by just watching her, it would have been a horrible mess. I needed a precise recipe, because I was taught to cook with recipes and measuring cups. Neither way is wrong if the end result is good. The same is with study of the word, as long as we are growing in our wisdom and knowledge of God, there is not a wrong way.

I however, learned about Jesus by watching someone else live for Jesus. My grandparents and parents were my example. I learned about Jesus before I could even read about him for myself. They told me about Jesus, and I grew up watching my mom and grandma sing songs about him while they were cooking and doing dishes, laundry etc. around the house.

My grandpa would sit down at the dining room table, with his dictionary, a note pad and his bible to study for his sermons. He was never too busy to share what he was reading with my brother and me. My dad would go to his bedroom where it was quiet to read his bible. My mom would read hers with a cup of coffee early in the morning or with a soda late in the evening in her recliner.

It would be easy to say that there is only one way to study, and get legalistic. But it didn’t matter as long as they spent time in the word. Today, people are bible journaling and spending time to paint and doodle beautiful things. Some do scripture writing with fancy doodles and stickers in a journal. Others are scribing the entire bible as a way to study the word. Some spend hours with commentaries and concordances.

The main thing is to study the word. I personally enjoy the creative doodles when I am doing what many call scripture writing. I am not so legalistic that I believe it is wrong to write in my bible. I do highlight and take some small notes in mine. But it gives me a little bit of anxiety to see some of those bibles. I don’t understand how they read the scripture through the paint. Maybe, the bible journaling is just a way to have a flip through of bullet points and they actually read in another bible.

I guess the main point is we need to study the word. Doing all the creative things are great if it keeps you in the word. I actually do bible journal in an actual  journal. I do some scripture writing and write down things that I want to remember.

When we get someone that is a new Christian is would be easy for them to get overwhelmed with how to study. It seems like a monumental task to learn sixty-six books. One thing I wish I had known when I first started is the breakdown of those books.

OLD TESTAMENT

LAW: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy are know as the books of the law from the beginning of creation to the point of the Children of Israel entering the promised land.

HISTORY: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1&2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther. These are books of the history of the Jewish people.

POETRY:  Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon. These books are more metaphorical but contain a lot of wisdom about life and practical living, like honoring God.

MAJOR PROPHETS: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel and Daniel.

These books came to be known as major prophets because of the length of the books. It has nothing to do with the importance of their messages.

MINOR PROPHETS: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi.

 These books became known as minor prophets because of the length of the books. It has nothing to do with the importance of their message.

 NEW TESTAMENT

GOSPELS: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. These books are known as the gospels. They cover the life of Christ from before his conception to his ascension into heaven. They are written from the perspectives of these four men who were a part of his twelve disciples.

CHURCH HISTORY: Acts.  This one book contains the beginning of the New Testament Church. It contains what the apostles or original disciples did to establish congregations all over that area of the world.

LETTERS: Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Theselonians, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1, 2 &3 John, Jude.

 In Bible times they didn’t have modern communications. They did have written language. In order for the meaning of what they were saying to get from one place to the other they wrote letters.  Paul wrote most of the letters but not all. They would contain instruction, clarification of meaning, warnings and encouragement for the church or person they were sending the letter. These letters make up most of the New Testament.

PROPHECY: Revelations.  This is the final book in the bible. It contains prophecy of the end times with themes of a catching away of the Bride of Christ (the church). To the anti-Christ taking control of the earth. To satan being cast into the pit of hell.

If you would like a copy of that list, shoot me an email I will send you a PDF.

That guide will give you somewhere to begin to understand what is in the word. There is no wrong way to study the word. I suggest praying before you start for God to give you understanding and wisdom. If you are a brand new Christian I suggest you start with Matthew, Mark, Luke and John they are all about Jesus.

I say that because for several years, I would start with the intention of doing the read through the bible in one year.  For several years, I would get stuck in Leviticus, it became about the laws and the sacrifices. It would seem overwhelming to me. I felt like I needed to remember it all. But since I am not Jewish, I am not under the law, I do not have to worry about animal sacrifice for my sin. It makes me so thankful for Jesus, knowing that his sacrifice paid the price for all sin.

In summary, find you a good bible translation. I use the King James Version. I will accept other versions if I compare them to the KJV and the verses mean the same, however some translations are missing verses and the meaning is different.

Ask God for his guidance in prayer before you start studying. Have a bible dictionary handy. If you want to do a deep dive, a concordance.

John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

As we read and learn about God, we will learn of his spirit that was sent to earth on the day of Pentecost. Which is the beginning of the New Testament Church. That spirit is within anyone born again. God’s Spirit will teach us, He will open our understanding. If we desire a deeper understanding, God will not hide it from us. He wants us to know him in a deeper way.

There is no right and wrong way to learn about God. Because we could never learn everything there is to know, we always have more to learn; which is exciting. Don’t allow the opinion of the world to taint your opinion of God’s word. It is not some outdated old book about history. But it is living and breathing, it will be the best guide you have ever looked at to understand this thing called Life.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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