10 Rules for studying the Bible.
1.Choose a time and place
2.Use Bible study tools
3.Have a note book pen and pencil
4.Make a plan
5.Pray before you start
6.Concentrate on what you are reading
7.Ask God to teach you what the Bible is saying to you
8.Memorize the Bible
9.Pray the Word of God
10.Keep a diary or Journal of answered prayer and what God has been teaching you from his Word.
Choose a time and a Place to study the Bible
Genesis 24:63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide:
Pick a time to study the Bible I am like Isaac and my time to study the Bible is the evening yours may be early in the morning it would be good to do both!
Try and stick to the same time every day it is good to make good habits while you are young and instead of bad habits.
Find a place that you can be on your own with God and His book a quiet place with table chairs, probably the sort of place you would do home work etc.
Make sure you are realistic, allow enough time to study the Bible properly, time in the Word of God is never time wasted. To study the Bible in any meaningful way you will need at least one hour a day, two hours would be far better along with a good time of prayer.
You may say “I am too busy for that!” well if that is the case something has to go God has given us 24 hours a day 10% is not too much to ask to spend with him!
You will always be blessed as you spend time in the Word and Prayer. Redeem the time in the Word of God.
Use Bible study tools
2 Timothy 4:13 The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.
What do I mean by study tools:-
Centre column reference notes,
Strong's concordance
Naves topical Bible
Matthew Henry Bible Concordance
e-sword
Sermon Audio Website
Blue letter Bible
Bible Gateway
Bible on MP3
Bring a note book pencil and pen
Exodus 24:4 And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.
Make notes when you study the Word of God.
How will you remember what you have read and what God has shown you unless you write it down.
Imagine if Moses had not written down the Word of God we would not have the first quarter of the Bible!
We are not writing scripture but we are writing what God is showing us from scripture so it is important that you make notes so you can go back and remember what God has taught you about and from his Word.
Mark your Bible but do it with caution use a pencil and do not mark everything just the verses that God is showing you to highlight. Also you can make notes in your Bibles margin if you have one again be careful what you write and do it with reverence.
Make a plan
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
A friend of mine says this talking about prayer and Bible study “if you aim for nothing, you can be sure you will hit nothing!” in every area of your life it is good to have a plan, in work, in sport in school and most importantly in your Christian life particularly in your devotional life!
I am only learning this now if young people could get hold of this now they could turn this world upside down!
So what sort of a plan should we have when it comes to Bible study.
You will hear the Word systematic used when it comes to Bible study this simply means have a system of studying the Bible. This could be a book by book study which is probably the best way to study the Bible.
Another great way to study the Bible is by doctrine or theme Salvation for example or Sin or Heaven or Hell.
Pray before you read the Bible
Acts 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
Seek the face of God in prayer before you begin your study, during your Bible study and after your Bible study. Pray without ceasing!
Concentrate on what you are reading
Psalms 119:15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
Make sure you have no distractions, you are reading the very Word of the living God. This is where you need to be some where quiet, you need to be in prayer and you need to be focused.
Ask God to teach you what the Bible is saying to you
Matthew 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
If you are praying already ask God to show you the following:-
What God is saying in the text.
What is God showing you about Jesus.
What doctrine is God teaching us.
How do you apply this to your life.
How does this relate to the World around you
Memorize the Bible
Psalms 119:16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
Pray the Word of God
1 Timothy 4:5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
Keep a diary or Journal of answered prayer and what God has been teaching you from his Word.
Habakuk 2:2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
