This morning i'm getting in the car with Barbara & Jacob & heading to Wexford for Barbara's brother, Simon's wedding tomorrow. We'll be back Sunday evening & then Monday sees the funeral of my granny.
But in this i haven't really had much time for blogging so i thought i'd put up some of the notes i scribbled down while listening 'How To Study The Bible by Matt Chandler' which i recommend you download & listen to.
*The 1st Rule of reading the Bible is to interpret Scripture with Scripture; so the better & more we know the Bible, the better we'll understand it.
How To Study The Bible - My Notes From Matt Chandler's Message
Three Places to get Wisdom
Personal Experience
[This only goes so far as your life experience thus far & is by no means complete or 100% accurate]
Other Peoples Experience
Although it is good to read books, devotionals, listen sermons etc this can often be like 'eating someone else's food'. They have studied & written down what Jesus has been teaching them.
This should not be the primary source of Bible intake in our lives.
Often we'll hear people say "such & such says this" but rarely quote Bible; these guys have not 'made the doctrine their own' rather they rely on others.
Clinging to the God of the Universe - The Bible
Tools For Study (Not Rules)
Consistent time & place
Bible
Pen & Highlighter
Some Scriptures 'jump' out at us, often this is the Holy Spirit drawing us to them, the pen & highlighter help us pay attention. (Remember as we re-read that pen marks are 'us' these marked passages are not the only parts that are the Word of God, it all is)
Reading Plan
This forces us to consistently move through the Bible & brings our attention to parts that we may otherwise skip. It confronts us with all the teachings & issues in the Bible.
Journal
Write observations, applications that we see in the text, also write a prayer.
Planner
Often while reading the Bible other things to do keep coming to mind, if we have a planner we can scribble these down to remind us later, & get back to the Bible there & then.
Suggested Breakdown
20 Minutes Reading
20 Minutes writing (Journaling) Observations, Applications & Prayer)
It is also a great idea to discuss it with other Christians (perhaps our spouse), & even to be studying the same thing separately so we can meet up & discuss it; they may get different insight to the text etc that could benefit us.
*Don't Seek Knowledge For The Sake Of Knowledge!
But in this i haven't really had much time for blogging so i thought i'd put up some of the notes i scribbled down while listening 'How To Study The Bible by Matt Chandler' which i recommend you download & listen to.
*The 1st Rule of reading the Bible is to interpret Scripture with Scripture; so the better & more we know the Bible, the better we'll understand it.
How To Study The Bible - My Notes From Matt Chandler's Message
Three Places to get Wisdom
[This only goes so far as your life experience thus far & is by no means complete or 100% accurate]
Although it is good to read books, devotionals, listen sermons etc this can often be like 'eating someone else's food'. They have studied & written down what Jesus has been teaching them.
This should not be the primary source of Bible intake in our lives.
Often we'll hear people say "such & such says this" but rarely quote Bible; these guys have not 'made the doctrine their own' rather they rely on others.
Clinging to the God of the Universe - The Bible
Tools For Study (Not Rules)
Some Scriptures 'jump' out at us, often this is the Holy Spirit drawing us to them, the pen & highlighter help us pay attention. (Remember as we re-read that pen marks are 'us' these marked passages are not the only parts that are the Word of God, it all is)
This forces us to consistently move through the Bible & brings our attention to parts that we may otherwise skip. It confronts us with all the teachings & issues in the Bible.
Write observations, applications that we see in the text, also write a prayer.
Often while reading the Bible other things to do keep coming to mind, if we have a planner we can scribble these down to remind us later, & get back to the Bible there & then.
Suggested Breakdown
It is also a great idea to discuss it with other Christians (perhaps our spouse), & even to be studying the same thing separately so we can meet up & discuss it; they may get different insight to the text etc that could benefit us.
*Don't Seek Knowledge For The Sake Of Knowledge!
