There are several methods for studying the Bible, but there is one common thread among them. Journaling helps you find the essence of God’s Word. It doesn’t need to be lengthy, but writing down the date, book, chapter and verse you’re reading can help you discover God’s word. You can also write down ideas and questions you had after reading the Bible. And don’t forget to add a prayer at the end of each category!
Lessons from Job
There are several lessons to be learned from Job when studying the Bible for yourself. First of all, he demonstrates a profound sense of justice. Though he suffered terribly, Job didn’t give up. His steadfastness and faith in God allowed him to continue to live according to his principles and beliefs, no matter what he went through. In fact, his actions in chapter 30 demonstrate that Job was a true follower of the law and did not break it. Moreover, he had a strong sense of justice and lived out his faith in practical ways.
The most striking lesson in Job comes at the end of the book. Job longs to be right with God. He never asks for forgiveness, but instead he longs to experience God’s friendship. Job values his relationship with God more than anything else. When you study the Bible for yourself, you’ll see that Job’s longing for God is the key to understanding the Bible. While he may have experienced God’s wrath and suffering, he still values the relationship with Him above all else.
Lessons from Psalms
Despite its popularity, few people really know what lessons can be learned from Psalm 23 when studying the Bible for yourself. While many people read the psalm to find comfort or find inspiration, very few people understand what the psalm teaches. This psalm is all about God as our shepherd. We should seek God for guidance, comfort, and healing when we suffer.
There are several ways to study Psalms for yourself. You can pick out 31 key psalms to study for a month or even 31 weeks. Psalm 119, for example, is one of the longest psalms in the Bible. Its long and intricate structure has led to several lengthy works, including three volumes written by Puritan preacher Thomas Manton. The three volumes contain 1,677 pages and 190 chapters.
Cross-references
A study bible will have notes, and the commentary sections will have written explanations by other people. Cross-references help you find the meaning in places where you have difficulty. By using cross-references intelligently, you can eliminate the need for much commentary. You can find a verse by searching for the word “he,” and find out what it means by searching for “he.”
The Bible is a beautiful and complex work. Studying it for yourself will require careful observation of constant connections. While reading it, you will notice the breath of the Spirit that poured out of the authors. As you go deeper, you’ll notice more connections and nuances that you may never have noticed before. Using cross-references will help you avoid confusion and lead to rabbit trails!
Using a topical reading plan
If you want to improve your faith and understand God’s purpose, topical bible studies are the way to go. There are hundreds of different topical Bible studies that you can use. You can start your topical bible studies by going through an entire chapter once or twice. You can study it more than once if you want to uncover things you missed the first time. A topical reading plan will typically include a list of scriptures related to that particular topic.
A good topical reading plan will help you explore a particular topic throughout the Bible. It will allow you to categorize your findings and explore the connections in the verses. For instance, a Bible study on salvation might explore angels or the nature of the church. You can choose one of these topics, and then use it as a jumping-off point for your bible studies.
Using a concordance
Using a concordance to study Scripture is a great way to learn more about a passage you’ve read. A concordance has an alphabetized index of Bible words and includes verse references. Most concordances are specific to a particular translation, so you’ll need to choose one that matches the version you’re reading. This way, you can study the Bible with a single reference tool instead of lugging around several different ones.
While the Bible has clear definitions of most words and terms, sometimes they don’t. Using a concordance can help you find these definitions and apply them to all the verses you read. You can also use a concordance to look up specific Bible verses or entire books. A concordance is a handy tool when you’re studying the Bible for yourself, but remember that it’s only one tool in a larger study of the bible.