4 Best Bible Study Aids
Wednesday, June 10, 2009 at 05:00AM 
When was the last time you read a Microsoft Word or Excel instruction manual--whether in book form or online--for entertainment purposes? Personally, the answer to that question is "never." But when I've work assignments that require new software skills, or when I needed to find out how to format my first book for printing, I was motivated enough to pore through the appropriate manuals in order to find the information I needed from them.
Bible study is similar. Before I was born again, I could no force my way through more than a few verses at a time without falling into a deep sleep. The fact that I knew it was an important book could not keep my attention, because there was nothing I thought I needed from it. Once I began a new life surrendered to Christ, I could not get enough of reading the Bible; suddenly, it really was the greatest story ever told to me.
Reading the Bible is important to allow the words into your memory and your spirit. But reading alone is not enough to enable a Christian to take God's word from the page into practice.
Once you have read through the Bible at least once, it's time to start studying in order to understand the who, what, why, and where behind each story related in the 66 inspired books, as well as to see how it's wisdom relates intimately to your own everyday life.
But how do you study? What tools help you to see the whole picture, not just the individual psalms, dusty proverbs or a collection or famous quotes?
- First, motivation or desire is paramount. Without a reason, you'll be drifting off to dreamland two pages into Genesis as I once did.
- Second, get your hands on a few key books to help you see the overarching themes of the Bible, its amazing continuity, the drama and help you see through the profound symbolism infusing so many of its pages. I'd be nuts (and remiss) not to recommend a copy of my own "Stepping into the Light" to start. Pages 73 through 192 walk you quickly through both the Old and New Testaments to do just what I've described above. I also recommend Dr. Chuck Missler's "Learn the Bible in 24 Hours" for a fascinating overview of the history and symbolism contained in the Bible. To round out the starter set of recommended books, I'd pick John MacArthur, Jr.'s "How to Get the Most from God's Word". There are many books of commentary and apologetics that are extremely good, but these three are a great start.
- Third, there are great resources today online. I'm very familiar with www.crosswalk.com, which enables the Bible study to look up topics or Bible quotes and choose to see many commentaries on each chapter and verse. Dr. Charles Stanley's In Touch Ministries ( www.intouch.org ) has a feature that allows the reader to read about the promises of God on many different subjects. This is a great help in focusing your studies. (There are also lots of crackpots online, so be sure you are familiar with the background of your online hosts before you swallow their meals whole.)
- Fourth, but certainly not least, get involved in a good group Bible study, preferably in a local church. The pastoral guidance and interactivity of a midweek church Bible study group will encourage your maturity in Christ and give you more to bring to your Sunday morning worship experience if you fully participate.
If you have any additional advice, especially for new Christians or beginning Bible students, please offer it here in a comment. We all need every help we can get to get all we can from God's word so that we can learn to truly do His will.
(Photograph by anonymous photographer in Bahrain)
Reader Comments (5)
Diane, thanks for the suggestions of books etc. to help with Bible study. Every since we've moved to Atlanta, I've been praying that we find a church home so that we can settle in to a good Bible study group. Please keep us in prayer that the Lord will lead us to the church home He's selected for us. Thank you and blessings.
Sharon,
I pray that you and your family will find a wonderful Bible-teaching church that will help you to grow in Christ.
Thank you for visiting and commenting again, and thank you also for the eye-opening interview with Pam Perry (6/8/09) on your blog http://www.sharonball.com/.
Great suggestions! We don't study the Bible like we should. Oh, we might read the words on the pages but we don't dig into the Word, to find out the meaning of words, to learn the culture, manners, and traditions. Such depth we are missing!
Be blessed...Lynn
Yes, I'm guilty too of neglecting to spend the time I should immersing myself in God's holy word. Isn't it baffling how we can manage to avoid our greatest blessings?
Advices given by you here are looking good.I am going to implement those suggestons to my life.Thank you...