Is your goal to personally connect with God through one passage? Go deep.

But with either direction, go directly to the source.

Sometimes we make it sound so simple. But knowing how to study our Bibles can feel complicated. The Bible is a collection of 66 different books, written in different styles by possibly 40 different authors over a time span of approximately 1,500 years.

Add to that complexity, your own personal time crunch, waxing and waning interest, and occasional lack of focus. It’s no wonder that studying our Bibles gets shoved further down our to-do lists.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Here are two different ways to approach Bible study to help you stay motivated. And resources to equip you for it. Not just to learn scriptures, but most importantly, to find life in Jesus through them.

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.”
John 5:39-40

As I said here about why we read it again and again, the more we read the Bible, the more we see God. And the more we see God, the more we love God.

We can never get too much Love.

1. Go Wide

Because the Bible has a long reach and is full of details, keep the overall picture in mind.

At its most basic, the Bible is a love story of God’s encounters with people. Becoming familiar with these stories leads us to become familiar with God. That’s the goal: knowing God, not just the stories.

ONE LINE EACH

Here are two sites to help you see the complete picture in one place, with one line for each of the 66 books.

1. All 66 Books of the Bible in One-Sentence Summaries – OverviewBible.com
2. A Summary of Each Bible Book – Blue Letter Bible

READ IT ALL

To go wide, I like to read through the entire Bible every two or three years. It takes me that long because (a) I don’t like to rush through it, and (b) I don’t want to overtask myself with very long readings each day.

Here is a 2-year Bible reading plan that I’ve used for several years.

It’s not dated so you can start anytime. It’s 5 days a week; no weekends. It alternates with two weeks of readings in the Old Testament and one week in the New Testament so you never get too bogged down in long stories about wars or genealogies, for example.

The plan is a chronological reading, not a straight line from Genesis to Revelation. When you’re reading from the Gospels, for example, you’ll read Luke’s version of Jesus’s birth in Luke 1 and 2 on Monday and Tuesday, then read the same story written by Matthew in Matthew 1-2 on Wednesday.

Another tip: use a different translation each time you read through the Bible. It keeps the words fresh. Otherwise we can become so familiar with the story that we miss details. But with different wording, our attention stays fresh.

Don’t rush through your Bible, but do keep moving to get the whole story. There are numerous great reading plans available. Find one that works for you.

2. Go Deep

But we don’t need only to skim through the stories. Save some time to dig deep, one verse at a time. And sometimes one word at a time.

When I memorize scripture for our Bible Memory Challenges, I appreciate having weeks to sit with the same verses again and again.

Here’s my daily plan for studying one verse a week. I’d love to hear in the comments how you approach in-depth studies.

1. ORIGINAL LANGUAGES

First, I take a couple of minutes to look at each word in the verse in its original language. But I don’t know Greek or Hebrew, so I use E-Sword.net.

E-Sword is a digital tool that makes it very easy to see original meanings, adding much nuance to understanding. E-Sword is a downloadable app that is free for your PC or for a small fee for Mac or smart phone. The tools it provides are endless.

It’s my one-stop resource for original languages, commentaries, study notes, Bible translations, concordances, and more.

Download a Word Study Sheet here.

2. READ COMMENTARIES

The next day, I read various commentaries about the verse. When we listen to what others think, it broadens our own understanding. Be discerning with what you read, but also be open. Just as practicing our religion isn’t a solitary activity, neither is our Bible study. Learn from others. Spend as little or as much time as you want to. I use the free commentaries I downloaded on E-Sword, but you can use commentaries or study Bibles or even other online resources, such as:

• Blue Letter Bible
• Bible Gateway

3. GET CREATIVE

On the third day, I diagram the verse and listen to songs about it. It allows the message to sink into my heart through different avenues (see Jaime’s post on scribbles and doodles). The Spirit works in mysterious ways, not only through written words.

I am currently listening to songs on Matthew 7 for our memorization challenge on the Fighter Verses app.

4. JOURNAL ABOUT IT

On the fourth day, I journal and pray through the verse. Interacting with God’s truths sometimes requires a wrestling. It is personal. God is active in the process. It’s not just a head exercise but a heart practice.

5. SHARE IT

Then the fifth day, I recite the words to someone else (or at least out loud to myself). Again, God’s message isn’t static on a page; it is alive and needs to be practiced to be fully transformative.

Do I do this every week with every verse? Certainly not. I fail more than I succeed.

But it helps me to work a plan, even for only a few minutes a day. Without a plan, I’d accomplish even less.

Engage Scripture to Find Christ

So how should YOU study the Bible? That’s for you and God to decide.

Your relationship with the Lord is as unique as you are. Let’s not pass judgment on each other for our styles.

But rather let’s encourage each other to value time spent with God through scripture, through experiences with Him, and through discussions with each other about Him, however that looks.

Keep the ultimate goal in mind: Engage scripture to find Christ. Allow it to transform you to love God more and love others more (Matthew 22:37-39), not to become a scholar or a Bible know-it-all, (after all, even Satan could quote scripture). As Paul warned us, knowledge puffs up, but love builds up (1 Corinthians 8:1).

May your Bible study fill you up in God’s love, both wide and deep.

Want to go wide? Or go deep? Choose your direction of Bible study. Resources here for both. #SnapShotsofBibleStudy
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Here’s a printable with the tools mentioned.

See all of the posts in our Lifelong Learners series here. We’ll be adding more posts throughout the month of October.

• Are you a daily Bible reader?
• Do you have a favorite Bible study tool?

Please share in the comments.

The post Choose Your Direction—Go Wide or Go Deep {Personal Bible Study Resources} appeared first on Do Not Depart.

Behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
Luke 2:10

We’re diligent to take the Word in. Through daily Bible readings, sermons, books, memorizations, songs.

But how diligent are we to give it back out?

The Gospel—it is Good News!—isn’t meant to sit passively inside us. The Word is alive and active (Hebrews 4:12). What God gives to us He wants us to share with others, not hoard for ourselves.

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Hebrews 13:16

So how can we give the Word away?
How can we bless others with the words of God so they also can be encouraged and equipped?

4 Ways to Give Away the Word

1. Give through casual conversations

Some believers are naturals at weaving in scriptures throughout their conversations with others. They make relevant connections between everyday conversations and applicable Bible verses, without being preachy. It doesn’t come as naturally to me, but we all can grow in this by becoming more intentional to share what we’ve received.

2. Give through writing

When we’re writing an e-mail or a birthday card, can’t we also jot down a scripture that would be meaningful to the recipient? We have opportunities multiple times a day—either on paper or on-line—to sweeten our correspondence with holy words. Think Facebook, blogs, Twitter, texts, letters, post-it notes. My friend Linda even writes scriptures on her blue jeans. We can let scriptures decorate our homes, our cars, our t-shirts, testifying for Jesus everywhere we go.

3. Give through teaching

This one may seem obvious, but sometimes we drift from using the Word even in Bible classes. Let’s check our curriculum periodically to make sure God’s Word is receiving top billing. Whether teaching straight from a book in the Bible or with the aid of another’s writings, studying scriptures with others is a direct way to pour out biblical truths, strengthening each other’s faith.

4. Give through worship and prayer

God has blessed us with His words; can’t we bless Him back with them? We can include His inspired words in our praise to Him and our prayers to Him, either alone or when we’re gathered with others. It’s easy to find songs that come straight from scripture or we can create our own. As we read through the Psalms or any text, we can echo the words as our own prayers, straight from the heart.

Let’s keep the rivers of living water flowing, not just into us, but through us and out to others.

Jesus cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'”
John 7:37-38

How do you spread the Word?
Which ways are hardest for you? Easiest?

Related:

Look into The Seed Company. They translate the Bible into native tongues for people around the world.

The post 4 Ways to Give Away the Word appeared first on Do Not Depart.

So I had to laboriously flip through the channels, one by one, until I found it.

Do you ever drive through a new city but can’t find a radio station you want?  Or go to your library but can’t locate Juvenile Biographies?

Or been asked to read Micah 6:8 aloud in Sunday School, but you can’t find it (it’s after Jonah, before Nahum)?

Just how well do we know the bones of our Bible?

But this is 2011, we whine. My Bible is on my iPhone; I look up a verse by typing in the name.

Or I can google a few key words and find the scripture I need. Or if I have to, I can always flip to the Table of Contents in my hardcopy Bible.

Who needs to memorize the books of the Bible anymore?

We do!
And now as much as ever.

When we trade in our human memory for a digital one, we lose advantages of knowing our way around a Bible.

Why learn the bones?

1. See the big picture
Without knowing the overall skeleton, you can lose sight of the central theme of God’s consistent love that holds the Bible together. When you work a jigsaw puzzle, you look at the picture on the box first–and often, then you put the edge pieces in place for its structure.

2. Delight in details
But while the Bible is one big love story about God, it’s also a series. Many smaller stories are captured in its 66 individual books. Each story holds value. By keeping books in context (Song of Solomon is a book of poetry; Ezekiel is a major prophet), you can more accurately interpret what you’re reading and can better apply it to your life.

3. Look for help
Once you know the general order of the books, you can look more efficiently for specific helps. If you have a friend in deep mourning, direct her to the Psalms for comfort. Or if you’re struggling with a child’s rebellion, turn to Proverbs for wisdom.  Be prepared for opportunities.

4. Use it easier
The more familiar you are with the books (Luke come before Acts), the easier it is to find your way around. You’ll be less frustrated when looking up verses to share and you’ll waste less time in your studies.

5. Find your story
Will you be more Christlike by memorizing the books of the Bible? Probably not. But the more you know the book, the more you’ll know the Author.  And you’ll discover easier how he wants YOU to participate in the story.

Where to start

Begin with the big bones. Memorize how the library is set up: two main divisions (Old and New Testaments), then subdivided into smaller sections (books of Law, books of History, etc). While these are man-made categories, they’re still helpful in interpreting that poetry books are more metaphorical, for example, and that Pauline epistles are doctrinally-rich and very practical.

Then, if you haven’t already, memorize all 66 books. It’s not too late. And it’s not that difficult (music helps greatly!).

To go even deeper, learn a summary from each book; read more about the approximate 40 authors; put together a timeline.

God has breathed life into the bones of the Bible.
It’s his book for our lifetime.
Let’s put it in our heart for eternity.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:21

Resources

Some of my favorites:
Bible Gateway – a searchable online Bible in over 100 versions
E-Sword – free downloadable Bible study software
Katie’s top 10 online Bible study tools
66 Love Letters by Dr. Larry Crabb
What the Bible Is All About for Young Explorers based on the classic by Dr. Henrietta Mears
Reproducible Maps, Charts, Time Lines & Illustrations by Gospel Light

How familiar are you with the overall structure of the Bible?
Are you teaching your children the books of the Bible?
What’s your favorite Bible study resource? Please share!

The post Do you know the bones of your Bible? appeared first on Do Not Depart.

There are certain songs I just can’t sing anymore

I may love the style and may even have beautiful memories attached to them, but when I really think them through, I don’t want to hear those words leaving my mouth headed to God’s ear.

Because they’re bad theology.

And I am talking about religious songs here. Granted, most songs that make it into our church services are there (hopefully!) because they hold God’s truths. And many songs that we sing along with on our Christian radio stations are also God-honoring.

But you can’t depend on it. Before you let the words stream out of your mouth, think them through. Are they pleasing to God? Are they true? Do they echo scripture?

This isn’t about worship wars, the debate between traditional hymns versus contemporary praise music. This is bigger than that. This is about accurate content versus false. Truth versus lies.

Lyrics matter.

Songs we sing will either reinforce good theology or perpetuate bad theology.

Use songs as prompts for more Bible study. Take a song you absolutely love and trace its message back to its biblical roots. Then jot the scripture reference in your hymnal or CD insert, and write the song title in the margin of your Bible by that verse.

While songs that come straight from scripture are easiest to track (I love those!), don’t rule out studying those whose themes don’t necessarily match word for word passages.

Stuart Townend is a current songwriter who expounds on the central gospel theme in many of his songs. He has penned such greats as “In Christ Alone”, “The Power of the Cross”, “The King of Love”, “Beautiful Savior”.

“How Deep the Father’s Love” is one of my favorites for the way Townend weaves the story of redemption in his strong and emotional lyrics. Here are a few stanzas and a few scriptures:

How deep the Father’s love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
(See Ephesians 3:18-19; John 3:16; Psalm 135:4)

How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One
Bring many sons to glory
(See Matthew 27:46; Luke 23:35; Hebrews 2:10)

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
(See Galatians 6:14)

In contrast, when I was a child my church sang many songs about “work.”

…Work thro’ the morning hours
Work while the dew is sparkling
Work ‘mid spring flow’rs

…O land of rest, for thee I sigh!
When will the moment come

…To the work! To the work!
Toiling on, toiling on, toiling on

…Thro’ the long and toilsome day
‘Neath a blazing, burning sun
Bear the heat, pursue your way
Till your task is done
Work, work for Jesus
Work, work today

Yes, we are to work for Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:58). Many scriptures point to this. But the message I picked up from these songs was to work for my salvation instead of rest in Christ’s work of salvation (Hebrews 10:10,14; Matthew 11:28-29).

So when I hear those songs now, I can’t sing them in good conscience.

Some songs might only need a word change here or there to make the song biblically sound. At my church we’ve tweaked “Days of Elijah” from:

And these are the days of Your servant David
Rebuilding a temple of praise

to

And these are the days of Your servant Ezra
Rebuilding a temple of praise

because we know King David wasn’t allowed to build the temple even the first time (1 Chronicles 22:8), and Ezra was in charge of rebuilding the second temple (Ezra 7).

Occasionally I’ll just drop out from singing a stanza if I can’t sing the lyrics sincerely. And my friend Linda often changes the group pronouns to the more personal “I” when she sings.

So be diligent and study the words you sing to yourself, to God, to others. We’re just as accountable for the words we sing as the words we speak. Let’s use words of songs as the powerful tools they are to teach and encourage each other (Colossians 3:16) as we praise and give thanks to our Father.

Further reading:
10 Principles for Congregational Singing, Part 1, Part 2

How has a song helped you? What is one of your favorites?

The post Where did that song come from? appeared first on Do Not Depart.

Here are a few tips that this night owl has found helpful on the road to becoming an early bird.

1. Remember that when God sees you He sees Christ’s perfect obedience.

Christ has already been perfectly obedient for us. God is not looking at you, going “Why can’t you get up earlier?” He is not disappointed when you wake up late. He is greatly glorified in our obedience, but He still uses our stumbles, too! (This is a great point to consider, especially during tough seasons like the sleeplessness of having a newborn.)

2. Focus on your evening routine first.

Trying to get up early will be killer, if you do not go to bed earlier. This is the first battle. Win it, before you try to tackle getting up super-early.

3. Set an alarm for bedtime.

My phone goes off at 9:30 every night with the caption: “Head to bed!” This is a reminder for me to start wrapping up whatever I am working on, and start getting ready for bed. If I take its heed I am in bed, lights out, by 10pm.

4. Take small, manageable steps.

My first morning goal (while I was working on my evening routine) was to get up just 15 minutes before the kids. Six months later, I was consistently up an hour and a half before them. To get there, every once in a while I backed up my time 5-15 minutes (I also took advantage of the “falling back” time change for a big jump). Change takes time!

5. Sit up as soon as your alarm goes off, put your feet on the floor, and start walking.

This really works. I am a complete zombie for that first minute, but the biggest victory is getting out of bed! I have come to realize that whether it is 5:30am or 8:30am it is just as hard to get out of bed. If I can get vertical and moving, the rest follows.

6. Tell others of your attempts to rise early to meet with the Lord.

It is much easier to give up, if no one knows what you are trying to do. Ask some trusted friends to pray on your behalf. Who knows? They may want to join in the early morning fun!

7. Manage your expectations.

There WILL be days you hit snooze. You WILL mess up a stay up way too late. The unexpected comes and takes the wind out of your sails. When this happens instead of wasting energy on feeling defeated, be thankful for the extra sleep and start over the next day. Persevere! His mercies are new EVERY morning.

8. Find verses to help you fight for the goal.

Keep them up around the house, in places that will encourage you. Make them your prayers! Here are a few favorites of mine.

9. Surround yourself with others who are striving for the same thing.

This is why I love Twitter; Twiccountability. If you are not up for tweeting, find a friend or two who are trying for the same thing. Text each other in the morning, just to say good morning! If you are on Twitter, or interested in it, you can find a Twitter tutorial here.

10. Invest in tools that will help you succeed.

The first few months I was working on getting up, my kids would wake up early, too! This was incredibly frustrating, and really defeated much of the purpose of getting up. Someone had suggested a special alarm clock to help keep my kids in bed while I was getting up. Being a bit on the frugal side, my first thought was, “no way I am going to spend $30 on a dumb clock!” But after a few more weeks of frustration, and failed attempts to keep my early riser in bed, I decided it would be a good investment. The kids were very excited about it, and I was shocked at how well it has worked! $30 well spent.

What tips for getting up early do you have to share?

Linking up with Amanda:

The post Top Ten Tips for Getting Up Early appeared first on Do Not Depart.