Last week we
talked about why you should read the Bible.
You may have read your Bible for years or it may be something you’ve
never done. No matter your experience,
there are ways to get the most out of the time you’re investing in Bible
reading. So, what is the best way to get
the most out of reading your Bible?
Meditate On It
Joshua 1:8
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success
Psalm 1:1-2
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
·
Can you/do you have a specific
devotional time?
o
A consistent time, place, & plan
o You need to have the Word to meditate on
· You can do lots of things
o Read; there are Bibles for every level
o You need to have the Word to meditate on
· You can do lots of things
o Read; there are Bibles for every level
o Hear, watch
o Memorize - ‘It is writtens’
o ** Googling what’s on my mind & what does the Bible say about it **
o Memorize - ‘It is writtens’
o ** Googling what’s on my mind & what does the Bible say about it **
Rightly Handle It
2 Timothy 2:15Do your best to
present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be
ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth
·
Use a method
o Pray, Observe, Interpret, Apply
§ Lean on the counselor (the Holy Spirit)
§ “What does the text say?”, “What does the text mean?”, “What should I do about this text?”
· Understand the context
o Matthew 18:20
For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them
§ So God isn’t there when you pray or the Holy Spirit isn’t God?
§ This is about church discipline
o Read the passage, not the verse
o ** Causes weak minds to be confused...example of cults **
· Dig deeper
o Get a study bible
o Lean on Google, tag Bible
o Great commentary resources on biblehub.org
o Pray, Observe, Interpret, Apply
§ Lean on the counselor (the Holy Spirit)
§ “What does the text say?”, “What does the text mean?”, “What should I do about this text?”
· Understand the context
o Matthew 18:20
For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them
§ So God isn’t there when you pray or the Holy Spirit isn’t God?
§ This is about church discipline
o Read the passage, not the verse
o ** Causes weak minds to be confused...example of cults **
· Dig deeper
o Get a study bible
o Lean on Google, tag Bible
o Great commentary resources on biblehub.org
Dividing Soul & Spirit
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart
· Letting your Bible read you
o How is the Holy Spirit convicting you?
§ Bible reading gives ‘room’ for the HS to work
o ** Example of retreat, Nehemiah 4 speech **
· Overcoming your heart
o Jeremiah 17:9The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
o 'God is God; I am not God
o Your heart will continue to lead you into poor decisions
§ How can Bible reading overcome that?
