The Simplest Way to Read the Bible
The Simplest Way to Read the Bible
And the most versatile
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. ~ 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)
Let’s be honest: the Bible isn’t exactly the easiest book to sit down and read. It was written thousands of years ago in different languages to people who lived in entirely different cultures. Their worldview differed from ours, and much of their way of life would seem foreign to us today. (That doesn’t mean our way is better simply because it’s newer. In my experience, newer is not automatically better.)
Most Christians desire to grow closer to God through the Bible. We want to grow in our understanding of Scripture, and we want to grow in our practice of regularly reading God’s Word. And a lot of us aren’t sure where to begin. That’s one great thing about Bible studies at church—they give us a great place to start with some guided practice!
My favorite way to read the Bible also happens to be the simplest way I’ve found. It has the added bonus of being extremely versatile. You can do this in ten minutes or spend an hour meditating with this method. You can do it on your own or make it a group activity. You can use this method with your kids. And unbelievers can also find this way of reading the Bible fruitful! Best of all, this is one of the most effective ways to invite God into your time in Scripture.
Pick a passage (a shorter one is better) and read it four times. The first time, read it slowly and thoughtfully. Once you’re familiar with the passage, read it again. The second time, ask, “God, what do you want me to know?” Write down one thing that shines out to you in the passage. The third time you read through it, ask, “God, what do you want me to dig into?” Write down one question you have about the passage. This might be something for you to reflect on or research later. The last time through the passage, ask, “God, what do you want me to do?” Write down one thing that applies to your life (and then do it). Often, when I reflect on the three things I wrote down, I find a connection between them. And one of my favorite things to do is talk with other believers about what God’s stirring in my heart.
These three simple questions will have you meeting with God in his Word. You’ll begin to recognize when God speaks to you through Scripture. And one of my favorite things to do is talk about what God’s saying to me with other believers.
If this sounds interesting, but you’re unsure where to start, let me suggest the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Once you get through them, you can decide what’s next. Enjoy your time with God this week!