TIPS FOR READING THE BIBLE

GET THE OVERVIEW

Read the entire Old Testament, all four accounts of the Gospel, or another group of Bible books, first scheming through to get an overview.Read slowly to grasp what the passages are really talking about.

LISTEN

The entire Bible is available as an audiobook. Listening through the stories gives a new dimension.

CHILDREN'S BIBLE

Read the stories in a children's bible. This is a great way to get the whole context. Children's Bibles can be perceived as childish and that is the point. Reading a children's Bible provides an overview that can be difficult to obtain in other ways.

READ MEDITATIVELY

Select a verse and then read it many times. Think and feel what the verse wants to tell you. The facts of the passage are important and, critically, there are always truths to be learned and applied

TIPS FOR READING THE BIBLE

THE THREE QUESTIONS

Three questions to ask when you read are:

  1. What is the passage about? 
  2. What does the passage say about God?
  3. How does the passage or text apply to your life and situation? 

It is important to read the Bible with the aim to gain a deeper understanding. The three questions are based on first gaining an understanding of what it says and then going in depth with the other two questions.

STUDY A THEME

Choose a theme and read what the Bible has to say about it. You can use reference books to find where you can read about your chosen theme.

TOTAL BIBLE MAKEOVER

Use markers and highlight Bible themes as you read.Make a list of different colors and which themes you would like to highlight, then read slowly and try to find these. The Bible will gradually take on a whole new look and become very personal.

READ THE ENTIRE BIBLE

Follow a Bible reading plan as you read the entire Bible

TIPS FOR READING THE BIBLE

DIVINE READING

This is a classic multi-step method that includes reading, meditation, prayer, contemplation and action. This method is based on empathy and can be used both individually and in groups. The method is divided into the following steps:

  1. READING

Read: See the text beyond my reactions. What does the text say?

Look for: Repetitions, connections, contrasts?

Ask the questions: Where? Who? How?

Where is Christ, how do I see Christ, how is the relationship with him expressed?

 

  1. MEDITATION/REFLECTION

Insert yourself.

What does this mean for me, what is important to me?

Is there any verse or any word that means something special to me?

If necessary, write down thoughts.

Learn something from the text by heart to be able to carry with you.

 

  1. PRAYER

I can speak to God who has spoken to me, turn the thoughts I get to prayer.

As a guide, Prayer includes Praise, Thanksgiving, Confession, Intercession.

 

  1. CONTEMPLATION

Being with God without words.

 

  1. ACTION

Sharing (if you do this in groups)

There may be actions that emerge, that become a consequence of your faith.

Be concrete, specific and write down any actions

 

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TIPS FOR READING THE BIBLE

PRAY THE PRAYERS IN THE BIBLE

The Bible is full of prayers, especially the Psalmist. Feel free to study them and see if there is nothing that suits you.The Bible contains so much more than The Lord’s Prayer. The Psalms and many other books contains prayers that can be used in the personal devotional life.

THE CHAPTER METHOD

Write your own summary of the chapters in the Bible.Read the chapter, preferably several times, and make an attempt to summarize the chapter. Imagine that you are writing introductions to the chapters.

MEMORATION

Choose some Bible verses that you would like to memorize and practice them.

READ A PARAPHRASE

A paraphrase is not a translation but an interpretation of the text. Reading a paraphrase can give a good flow in your reading.

TIPS FOR READING BIBLE

A WORD OR A PERSON

Studying a word or person thoroughly is a good way to delve into the Bible.Feel free to use the reference section in your Bible to find a good topic and also where you can find Bible words that touch on the topic.

WRITE

By keeping a diary or notebook, you can get more out of your reading. Writing is an important way to take in and think about what you read.