To Begin: Read a selection of scripture.
Start with a chapter or select a grouping of verses that many Bibles have. For example, starting with the Book of Genesis. Read Chapter One. Or read the section called “The Creation” or “The Beginning” which some Bibles show as Genesis 1:1-2:3.
Read the selection without looking at any commentary or other notes. Get an initial context of what you are reading. As you read, underline or mark up verses that are impacting you as you go verse by verse. Make sure you have a Bible that you can mark up, make notes in, etc. If you are using a Bible app on your phone or tablet, use the highlighting feature. Whatever technique you use to read scripture, make it personal.
If the version of the Bible you are reading is not easy to comprehend, take advantage of another one of the several versions available today. Find the one that is easier for you to understand as you read. The most accurate versions are in the original languages. Hebrew for the Old Testament and Greek for the New Testament. Remember that English versions are men’s interpretations of these languages. Thus, there will be differences in the English versions that are available today. There are various opinions of which English versions are more accurate. Don’t let this get in your way of selecting the version that is good for you. As you study verse by verse, you can use other versions so you can see the different interpretations. The bottom line is allowing the Holy Spirit to help you get out of your study what He wants you to learn.
Now go read that first selection of scripture and then come back here for the next step.
Seek for Treasure
Here lies the heart of going verse by verse. What can you learn from what you just read?
You will find as you read the Bible continually that the Holy Spirit will provide up-to-date inspiration and treasures for your life at the place where you are. He knows that your life is ever-changing, day by day. He speaks to your daily situation.
As you read your selected passage of scripture, did you find there were items to examine or something to get a better understanding of? Is there something that tugged at you? Inspired you?
Below are suggestions of questions to ask to help you dive deeper into what you just read. These are based on the type of passage you are reading, whether descriptive of an event or instruction, or a story of an individual. These are suggestions to start your study. They are not all-inclusive. You don’t even have to answer them all. Do as you feel led in your heart to do. Take your time. There’s no clock ticking away to say you must rush through it or time is up. If you need to step away, take note of where you are and pick up where you left off the next time you sit down for your private time with the Lord. The Lord loves it when you set aside this time to spend it in His Word to learn about Him. He desires you to know about your existence in this world He has created. He wants you to learn how to apply His principles in your life.
Studying verse by verse
Now that you’ve read a selection of scripture, start with the first verse or two and reread it. Ponder the questions that are presented below. You may even have other thoughts that arise that you need to meditate on.
You may need to expand the study by more than a couple of verses due to the context of what you read. There are no rules here. This is between you and the Lord in what He has for you to discover today.
As you answer the questions, continue through each verse in the selection you have read. Repeat the questions to ponder until you get through all the verses.
Study of an event or instruction
- Did this verse(s) stand out to you initially? Why did it grab your attention?
- Is there a lesson or warning that you need to pay attention to?
- Is there a life principle that is getting your attention? What is it?
- Is there a key phrase that repeats itself more than once? What is it? Why do you think the Lord wanted it to be repeated in His Word?
- Does this verse, when you are pondering on it, remind you of other scripture you know?
- Is there an attribute of God that He wants you to discover about Him? What is it? What does that attribute mean to you today?
- We have an enemy, Satan. Did the verse(s) expose one of his tactics against us?
- In our fight against the enemy, we are given instructions on how to keep us from falling into his traps or how to fight our fight of faith. Is there one of these principles here?
As you ponder these questions, you may sense a need to dive further. Other tools and sources are mentioned below.
Study of a story of an individual
- What are the characteristics of the main character in the story?
- What are the situations that are influencing the person? (Other people, the environment, etc.).
- How did other people influence their situation?
- What do you think about the choices they made?
- Did they rely on God or choose a different path to follow? What was the outcome of that decision?
- Is there a villain in the story? In what way did they want to influence the character(s) in the story? What was the outcome? Who succeeded in the end?
- Is there another person in the story, other than the main character that is grabbing your attention? Answer the same questions from above for them as well.
- Is there something in this story that you can currently relate to? After reflecting on this character, is the Lord leading you to a specific action or direction to take?
Other tools in your study
Read the section in another version of the Bible. Some interpretations will provide different wording that will prompt additional thoughts about the content that you didn’t consider initially.
Find other related scriptures. If your Bible has references to other verses, go look these up for further insight. A basic rule of thumb when reading scripture is to let scripture interpret scripture. God repeats many principles over and over again in His Word to help us understand His ways better. As you read other verses in the Bible, it allows His Words to help teach you. This method allows Him to help you find the life treasures you need today.
Read a commentary. This is where a specific Study Bible may be useful, even a Bible app. Historical facts or Geographical visuals can help you gain a nugget in what you are reading. There may be other commentary of doctrines or interpretations that the publisher of that Bible may want to convey. Always keep in mind that these are men’s opinions or interpretations of what they understand.
Remember, the bottom line is allowing the Holy Spirit to help you get out of your study what He wants you to learn.
Enjoy the treasure you find
When Jesus went to ascend to the Father, He left His disciples with this teaching:
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26 NIV
We have been given God’s Word through the Bible and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us. There is so much we need to deal with in our lifetime here on earth. Here is the treasure chest of wisdom, guidance, and counsel to help us through each day.
Keep digging in this treasure chest to find the priceless gems. The more you find, may your roots like a tree be firmly established. This treasure is like the nourishment by the streams of living water that allow you to be healthy and bear good fruit.
Psalm 1:1a, 2-3 NIV
Blessed is the one… whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.
Proverbs 2:2-6 NIV
Turn your ear to wisdom and apply your heart to understanding—indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
#BibleStudy #TreasureKey
