How do I read the Bible?

Intro

Next week- Game night

Finale of our Bible series

We’ve spent a lot of time talking about what the Bible is, why it is important, how we know its true, why it is something you should read

The Bible is God’s story

How he created all things, how humanity screwed it all up, and how God fixes our sin through Jesus

It gives us the true and only depiction of who God is

It informs us of how we can have faith in and follow God

The last thing for us to do is talk about how to actually read it

I mentioned this before, people have used the Bible to justify horrible things

So there are correct ways to read, interpret and apply the words of the Bible and there are incorrect ways

Body

You are supposed to spend your life figuring out the bible

This is not a read through one time kind of book

It is impossible to understand the depth and complexity of it after one read through

Watching a movie series over and over

Star Wars- Things I notice differently each time I watch them

Character development

Foreshadowing

Connections to previous movies

The same is true of the Bible

It is an incredibly complex and beautiful literary work

Its hard, but worth it

Even I still learn things about the Bible still

Tips for reading the Bible

Get a Bible translation that you can read

KJV vs. NLT vs. ESV vs. Message

Word-for-word vs. Thought-for-thought

Context, Context, Context

What is the bigger story?

In the book of the bible, as well as the whole bible

When is this taking place

What kind of literature is it?

Narrative

Poetry

Discourse

Read things over and over

Don’t expect to understand everything the first time you read it

Look up words you don’y know

Figure out how you learn and process information

Journaling, discussion with other people, quiet reflection, etc.

Everyone learns differently, so its ok if you can’t just sit in silence and think about what you read

Journaling, drawing, talking

Do you need a reading plan, goal-oriented person

Dedicate a specific time for spending time in God’s word

While you eat breakfast, before you play videogames, after you do homework, before you brush your teeth, etc.

Create a routine that you will stick to

Start at the beginning

The Bible is one big story, so if you jump into the middle of it you’ll be a little bit lost

Application

Do a Bible study in small groups

Conclusion