How To Get Started With Effective Bible Study

Bible study is important for growing and developing your mind and character to be more like God and pleasing to Him. Our generation has greater access to God's written Word than ever before, but often I have heard people say "I just don't know how to even start doing Bible study".

Bible study involves work. God is pleased with and rewards those who diligently seek him (Hebrews 11:6). You cannot be passive! If you are waiting for a cloud of pixie dust to swirl around your head, waiting for God to move you and get you inspired to begin studying your Bible, you'll be disappointed. Yes, God makes the first move and draws each of us to Him or calls us BUT, He expects us to call back! (Jeremiah 33:3)

This brief listing of tips and techniques is applicable to everyone but is intended in particular for young people (Psalm 119:4-6). The first thing to do is to start putting the raw material of God's Word into our mind using our eyes, ears and even your hands!

1. Read the entire Bible.

Reading God's Word from cover to cover gives you a sense of scope and context. You need to know what's in there and what's not.

Try a "read the Bible in a year" program. For straight ahead reading you may want to consider a high quality modern English translation like the NIV or the ESV.

If you are a commuter why not listen to scripture being read aloud in your car. There are many fine recordings of God's Word available as MP3 files or CDs.

2. Memorize key scriptures.

Why? Because you need quick mental access to key verses related to doctrine and godly conduct. 

A good way to memorize has always been to use flash cards with verse on one side and location on the other. Go through your stack of cards often until you can recite the scripture just by looking at the chapter and verse sited on the other side.

3. Write out the books of the law by hand.

The first five books of the Bible known as the LAW build a foundation of Bible understanding upon which everything that follows is built. The law is built on by the prophets and further built on by the apostles.

God expects the leaders of his people to know the law and thereby know what is sin and what is not (Deuteronomy 17:18-19). What does God have to say about sex, property rights, tort law, restitution, handling criminals, public execution, respect for animal life, etc.

You should actually get a ball point pen and paper and write out the books by hand. Why? Because it's an increased level of engagement that involves both your eyes and hands in a way that reinforces your ability to remember.

4. Interact with your Bible – increase you level of engagement.

Get a wide margin bible and start marking it up, don't be afraid.

How? You could chain reference key doctrines (for example the spirit in man) or key topics (fasting, covetousness etc). Mark in your personal thoughts, observations, big ideas or whatever you want!

Consider using colored pencils or pens for recurring themes or teachings. Colors make these verses easier to recall and find.

5. Dig into your Bible – "How do I research a doctrine topic I'm interested in?"

You can usually find a short concordance at the back of your Bible and helpful chain references built into your Bible - usually in the middle column.

Try some basic Bible research tools such as a concordance or a Bible word dictionary. You can use free online Bible software programs or a Bible app to search for keywords and phrases, topics or browse through a digital Bible dictionary.

Read reference books about the times and conditions people lived in while scriptures were being recorded.

6. Set goals for yourself

Setting goals and completing them gives you a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.

A couple of my own personal examples include: (short term) pray my way through the Psalms or (longer term) to colorfully mark up every page of my Bible with notes

Will scriptural knowledge or understanding change you? No it won't, not alone.

The Bible provides us with amazing life giving spiritual information but the power that converts us is in the spirit. Israel had the Word of God but it was of no value to them because it was not combined with belief, and they did not have the heart in them to obey. They knew it but they didn't do it.

You can have the power of the universe within you - the Holy Spirit. God's spirit will take you by the hand and walk you through, suffering and joy, babies and funerals, trials, disappointments, success, life's pains, life's pleasures - falling down and getting back up. Study it, believe it and live it. Have God's Word and His law written on your heart through experience and application in life's many situations.

Scripture is meant to be applied to life (2 Timothy 3:14-17). It is essential for training your mind to be like the mind of God, so you can take your place in His family to rule, to serve, to judge and to love in the world that is coming. Don't wait, start today. Call upon God and He will show you wonderful things you never even thought about through His Word and His Holy Spirit.