Therefore, in this article, I'm going to take one of those tips and expand upon it in the hopes that you'll actually be able to use what I'm trying to teach to make your bible studies more productive. But before we delve into the first method, let's recap.
(In addition to the above link, you might want to read my other article, Holy Bible Study, before reading on. Ready? Okay, let's go.)
How much time do I need to study the bible?
In a way, this is a loaded question. Why? Because it's not how much time you spend with the bible, it's how much "quality" time you spend "studying the bible". And I'm here to say that from my own extensive experience in studying not just the bible but many other things as well that if you budget your time just right and use it wisely then all you need is fifteen minutes to study the bible.
You may think that I'm absurd and off my rocker, but trust me, it's all you need if you do it right. And that's my plan: to show you a few ways on how to study the bible.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that my methods are the only ones you should use, not at all. I'm all for using any method, mine or someone else's, that gets more Christians to learn from and retain what they learn from their bible studies. In point of fact, my way is just one way. But it's also one of the best ways to study the bible that I've found, and that's why I'm so eager to share it with you.
We'll start with one of my favorite and possibly easiest ways of studying.
Taking Notes From The Bible
This method should be an obvious one for a lot of people, but sadly, it seems to slip by many. My belief is that since this is something you learn way back in grade school and are encouraged to use throughout your education that by the time you've graduated high school or college you're either sick of taking notes or you think that it's too simplistic a way of studying that it won't help you much when it comes to studying the big, complex mountain of words that the bible can be sometimes.
Hogwash, I say.
This is the easiest way to study both in terms of equipment needed and effort expended. I think that's why teachers teach grade schoolers to do it this way, because it's easy an it works!
The first thing you need, and it should go without saying, is a notebook and something to write with, either a pen or a pencil, whichever you prefer. Now before you go out and purchase and expensive, leather bound notebook and executive writing implement, let me tell you that you don't need anything fancy. This is not to say that you can't use anything fancy, just that you don't need to. I would prefer that you go ahead and pickup a new notebook and pen of some time, however. That way, all of your bible notes are in one place and you don't have to worry about using the notepad to take down messages or shopping lists.
Once you have the prerequisites (bible, notebook, pen) set aside fifteen minutes or so as soon as you can (and the sooner the better!). You don't need a timer or a stopwatch at this point, but just be sure you use at least the allotted time and try not to overdue it by using too much, either.
Open the bible to any place that interests you. Some people like to start at the beginning of Genesis and work their way forward; others prefer starting Revelations and working backward; still some people start somewhere in the middle, say Jonah, and then bounce around to wherever their heart and intuition takes them. You could stay with only the Old Testament or the New Testament or mix them up as you please. It does not matter where you begin, only that you do begin.
Now pick a passage and mark it down on your notepad. You can also write down any other information you like as well, such as the date, the time of day, and where you chose to study. I'll give you a quick example:
Dec. 9, 2008 - 7:30pm - Bible Study DeskGreat! Now you know what you're studying at that particular point in time. Under this header, all you need to do now is jot down any questions or comments on Isaiah [64:6] that you may have. For instance:
Isaiah [64:6]
Why are we all as an unclean thing? Why is our righteousness as rags? If we fade as a leaf and our iniquities take as away like the wind, then does this mean we are all equal? That at the end of the day everyone is treated the same in the eyes of God? I think it does, but perhaps a little more research is in order...As you can see, it's quite an easy thing to do. I think that noting questions to yourself is a great way to get your subconscious going. And once your subconscious is really involved, the material you're studying will work its way into you will stay with you much longer than if you just read it.
Of course, this doesn't mean that you can't work on more than one section at any given study period. All you would do in this case is either mark all the verses that you're studying in the header, or make each one a sub-header so that you'll know which notes go to which verse.
Once you've several sessions of notes taken, set aside a little time one day to review them. You'll probably find you have new insights and answers to some of your questions and likewise have even more questions to others. This is natural, this is nothing to fear, this is how you learn. Either make new notes about these new ideas or annotate your old ones. And don't forget to keep going back to your previous notes to see what else you've come up with while they simmered in your subconscious.
Over the next few posts, we'll take a look at a few more easy, inexpensive ways to maximize your bible studies. Once we've done that, we'll either go over online bible studies or group bible studies. If you have a preference as to which one you'd like to see first, please email me (my contact information is in the sidebar) as I'm very curious to see where your preferences lie when it comes to studying the Holy Bible.
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