Bible Study Tips

*Start with a children's story Bible first. This will help give you an idea of the overall stories that are in the Bible, and then when you read the actual Bible verses it will make more sense to you and you'll be able to take in more of the details given in the actual scripture.


*I encourage you to purchase a Study Bible since this will give notes under the passages to help give you deeper meanings and histories to what you are reading. And I love the Bible in a year publishings. If you are interested in setting yourself up a good timetable to read and finish the Bible, these are great. The one I have had daily readings in both Old and New Testament and excerpts from both Psalms and Proverbs daily too. It broke down to about 30 minutes a day to read through each day's section, and it was easily broken out into two 15 minute readings. I know we can all find a few of those in the day.

*I recommend having various translations of the Bible. I go by the KJV (King James Version) and NIV (New International Version) and NCV (New Century Version).  You want one that was translated against the original texts and not a translation of a translation. I also prefer the meaning for meaning as opposed to the word for word. If you've taken any kind of 2nd language course, you learn that translation is never as simple as just translating each word.

*Research the background of the texts so that you can take in what's being said in the right understanding.  Questions you want to answer are "Who was the author?"  "Who was the audience?"  and "What is the approximate timeframe of the text?"  Ususally in a good Study Bible, they will have this information and a summary of the text all at the beginning of each book of the Bible.

*Keep a Bible in your car. If you are like me, you spend quite a bit of time in there "waiting" for one thing or another. I'm not recommending reading while driving (not even at red lights!), but if you are early to an appointment this makes perfect reading opportunities!

*Get a Bible buddy!!! When you really start getting into the texts, you'll find yourself spanning all kinds of emotions over what you read. Sometimes I'd be excited, and sometimes I be mad!  I was just desperate to talk to someone that had read this stuff to find out their take on it!  It will not only make reading it more fun, but also help deepen your understanding by discussing it and reviewing it with someone else.

Hope these tips help!!

Love,
Jenn