how to study the bible?

[discusdog]

Hi everyone ! Any ideas on where I should start my study? I have tried starting from Genesis, have flipped through a little on most chapters but feel I'm missing something. I read and understand, yet can't seem to feel like I'm really learning. I am usuallly an organized, methodical person and would like some type of "plan" of study. I feel our time is short and just want to absorb as much from the bible as I can.
Is the old testament really important?
Should I start with new testament?
Any suggestions or ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance and Merry Christmas!

[Robert]

First off, pray. Ask the Lord to lead you in your study of scripture.


Next, if you don't have a lot of scriptural knowledge, I recommend starting with the book of John, then off to Romans. From there, I would then start at Genesis and read through in order, but that's just off the top of my head.

A good resource for bible study is bible.cc; it has many translations online, as well as a hebrew/ greek dictionary for the meaning of words.

[Hannah]

********* deleted *********

[Robert]

I agree with Robert.

I would add if you are new to God's Word and have little knowledge of the Old Testament I would follow what Robert recommended but add that you read both the Old Testament in order from Genesis while reading the New Testament.

From the Old Testament you will begin to get the history behind Jesus and the teaching of Peter and Paul in the New Testament. As a young Christian the New Testament will help you grow and mature in your faith. While you read the Old Testament to get the foundations of the teachings given to us in the New Testament.

For example. From Genesis we learn about Sin and how it entered the world and corrupted mankind and all creation. Also we learn God has a plan to save all mankind through one who will come and bruise the serpents head (this is the first prophetic mention of Jesus coming to deal with Satan). All this from the first few chapters of Genesis.

So the Old Testament gives us much knowledge and information that we need to understand why Jesus came and what he achieved by His ministry and death.

A Bible reading plan can help if you can't decide what order to read the Bible in and they often have daily Old & New Testament readings. There are plenty of websites with free Bible reading plans available. Try a Christian site like Crosswalk.com.

Good suggestion Hannah; I didn't want to overload Discusdog, but you have a very good point on learning the origin of sin.

[discusdog]

Thanks you guys. I am not a baby but more a toddler. But compared to most of you I feel that there is just so much more to learn and I feel very hungry for the word. Wanna feast on it but where to start? I will check with crosswalk to get a plan and thanks for the info.
I get kind of overwhelmed and i need to "land my airplanes". due to the lateness of the hour, I feel I am so inadequate in the witnessing department and feel a real urgency. I do not want to discredit or be unable to answer questions or back up my answers with scripture. I want to be effective. I love this forum and feel a closeness to all of you.
Hopefully we can continue our studies in Heaven, cause I don't think I can learn enough before we are raptured!
Don't mean to change the subject, and maybe this needs to be moved: I KNOW I am saved. I KNOW I have the HS with me. I KNOW I am watched over and protected. I Know he must hear me when I pray, but I have a hard time HEARING HIM. How does he answer? anybody want to share their experiences with how God answers your prayers?

[Elijah's Mantle]

I think I have a lot in common with most all you have ask
I often enough have attempted to devour the words of the Bible and
remember it all , it makes me now think I was like a paper shredder
starting in the strangest places to piece it all together
I found the basics most helpful to go to . It is a book like
no other on earth
what interests you the most ?
I am most interested in Jesus
I was reading the other day about Jesus
how he got lost from Mary and Joseph and they
finally found him and how he Grew in stature and wisdom
I believe that was because Jesus did not have a sin nature
like we do . He was able to even direct the elders at age 12
which in Jewish tradition Jesus would have been considered an adult at 12
even still he remained subject to go with Mary and Joseph when they found him
he never went contrary to follow the way of Love
one of the greatest weapons available to drive sin out
even Jesus said so
Love is the one weapon that sin can not stand against
not just any Love GOD"S LOVE ... the greatest ever known
hope that helps you out in your search for how God answers prayers
it did me cause I wondered about much also

[discusdog]

Thanks EM for your input. I did go to Crosswalk and signed up for the reading plan in a year. Some from old and new testament each day- thanks Hannah.
You all seem so knowledgable and I thank God for this forum and all of you

[Elijah's Mantle]

when it comes to prayers
I know God knows the beginning from the end of all things
and everything literally everything is in his hands
and he always seeks the best possible outcome
so I began to get away from temporal thinking
because as we know it to be all we know now is temporary
on the material plane of existence I find I am glad God knew
which prayers to answer because as time goes by and things change
along with it comes growth more toward putting on the new man and
taking off the old . I find mostly Jesus makes provision for my greater needs
before I ever know of them (my prayers trust his actions)
more over what I may think to request often these times I find
Faith comes by hearing ,so I pray mostly for the King of the kingdom to come
that his will will be done . I long to hear a specific sound
I believe some prayers just turn to a knowing hope
I hope the word will open as never before to you
and all your worries will fade away
even Jesus said ' the least is the greatest"
so where you are as far as knowledge is ok

[Elijah's Mantle]

you are very welcome discussdog
If it helps ... I started in the book of John
well its still my favorite one I suppose
you will really Love that book

[discusdog]

Yes EM, I do believe you are right about prayers being answered before you even know to pray about them. I guess the Holy Spirit is interceding for us? I can see that this has happened to me many times.
Lately I do not think about temporal things as my longing is to be with Jesus!
I was doing some nursing classes to further my education (and paycheck), but it all seems such a waste of time and I would much rather study the bible and get to know my Jesus better so he can say "well done, good and faithful servant" I want to be done with this earth and go home just as you all want. Nothing to keep me here. PLEASE COME FOR US JESUS!

[Meg]

Thanks you guys. I am not a baby but more a toddler. But compared to most of you I feel that there is just so much more to learn and I feel very hungry for the word. Wanna feast on it but where to start? I will check with crosswalk to get a plan and thanks for the info.
I get kind of overwhelmed and i need to "land my airplanes". due to the lateness of the hour, I feel I am so inadequate in the witnessing department and feel a real urgency. I do not want to discredit or be unable to answer questions or back up my answers with scripture. I want to be effective. I love this forum and feel a closeness to all of you.
Hopefully we can continue our studies in Heaven, cause I don't think I can learn enough before we are raptured!
Don't mean to change the subject, and maybe this needs to be moved: I KNOW I am saved. I KNOW I have the HS with me. I KNOW I am watched over and protected. I Know he must hear me when I pray, but I have a hard time HEARING HIM. How does he answer? anybody want to share their experiences with how God answers your prayers?

First, Discus, I can't tell you how you should study the Bible, but I can tell you how I started out. In the first -- I'm thinking at least 3 or 4 years, I spent most of my time in the New Testament, especially the Epistles, because it was the Epistles that taught me what I needed to know. I sometimes would notice a cross reference to one of the more obscure Books like the Minor Prophets, and go read that Book. Other times, I'd have a question, such as if David was a man after God's own heart, how did he end up killing Bathsheba's husband? So I'd go exploring, and read the Book or Books in question and find out. But for several years, I found myself craving those Epistles, which were keeping me on track.

Your other question was about hearing from God. There are certain patterns which seem fairly common among most people. Your first clue is that hunger for Scripture, thats a really good sign. Your second clue is what are your questions about God? If you know what the questions are, but don't know where the answers are, post your questions here, and we will tell you where to look. At the very beginning of your Christian walk, God speaks to you exactly the way you are expressing, His Spirit makes you want Scripture. There is also an experience known as a verse or passage "leaping out" at you. When that happens, you'll know it. There is "conviction by the Holy Spirit", which is a feeling of discomfort just before, during or after you do something He thinks you shouldn't. It is wise to heed that. Very wise. Other more intense expressions usually come only when we are under extreme pressure. The Lord isn't limited to any one way of making Himself heard, so He communicates to each of us in ways we will understand. So two ways to recognize if this is or is not God are, does this make sense, and does this line up with Scripture. If the answer to either question is in doubt, pray, always pray, and ask here. If you're still not sure, pray some more and ask someone who knows their way around the Bible for Scriptures that apply to the issue. Then pray those Scriptures, but don't just read the words, ask your own questions about the applicable Scriptures while you pray. The more you practice these things, the more your own relationship with the Lord will develop, and you will reach a point where you are aware of the Holy Spirit at all times, even if He's just comfortably in the background as you go about your normal business.

[Elijah's Mantle]

Yes EM, I do believe you are right about prayers being answered before you even know to pray about them. I guess the Holy Spirit is interceding for us? I can see that this has happened to me many times.
Lately I do not think about temporal things as my longing is to be with Jesus!
I was doing some nursing classes to further my education (and paycheck), but it all seems such a waste of time and I would much rather study the bible and get to know my Jesus better so he can say "well done, good and faithful servant" I want to be done with this earth and go home just as you all want. Nothing to keep me here. PLEASE COME FOR US JESUS!

your so absolutely right about that Discuss , the Holy Spirit is making intercession for us continually and especially more over in these times (spiritually) .

We believers are all seeing the visible signs of the times spoken and warned about in the Bible by the prophets regarding the epoch final battle between good and evil God and Satan

God holds every soul he created in his heart and in his sight and desires that NONE PERISH , that is God's will .

We know Satan's will is the opposite of that and why , therefore the great rebellion against God continues and increasing daily and will continue to do so until the great and final day of Judgment .

Most all believing Christians are being severed from and set apart from this world and the evil of it more so than in any time before in history

now as your probably aware not all Christians believe in the Rapture, neither do they depend upon the great hope of it sadly and strangely enough those who await the rapture is often belittled and made fun of because of our faith and great hope regarding the written provisions God looked down through time and ordered for his children remember to not allow the negativity of naysayers and scoffers to bother you in the least bit

There is nothing more important than knowing the Lord Jesus Christ as ones very own personal savior and Lord King of Kings There is a distinct difference between knowing about Christ and knowing him personally. God chose to make himself known as Father son and Holy Spirit and these three aspects of God help our finite minds get a grip on his MAGNIFICENCE we can ALL SHARE HERE the heart cry of the Apostle Paul " I WANT TO KNOW CHRIST AND THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION" (PHIL 3:10 ) so be free to bring up what most interests you ,and we can explore the greatness of it all together and help one another along , thats the JOY OF FELLOWSHIP something most cherished among us all here at RF

[seank6]

First, Discus, I can't tell you how you should study the Bible, but I can tell you how I started out. In the first -- I'm thinking at least 3 or 4 years, I spent most of my time in the New Testament, especially the Epistles, because it was the Epistles that taught me what I needed to know. I sometimes would notice a cross reference to one of the more obscure Books like the Minor Prophets, and go read that Book. Other times, I'd have a question, such as if David was a man after God's own heart, how did he end up killing Bathsheba's husband? So I'd go exploring, and read the Book or Books in question and find out. But for several years, I found myself craving those Epistles, which were keeping me on track.

Your other question was about hearing from God. There are certain patterns which seem fairly common among most people. Your first clue is that hunger for Scripture, thats a really good sign. Your second clue is what are your questions about God? If you know what the questions are, but don't know where the answers are, post your questions here, and we will tell you where to look. At the very beginning of your Christian walk, God speaks to you exactly the way you are expressing, His Spirit makes you want Scripture. There is also an experience known as a verse or passage "leaping out" at you. When that happens, you'll know it. There is "conviction by the Holy Spirit", which is a feeling of discomfort just before, during or after you do something He thinks you shouldn't. It is wise to heed that. Very wise. Other more intense expressions usually come only when we are under extreme pressure. The Lord isn't limited to any one way of making Himself heard, so He communicates to each of us in ways we will understand. So two ways to recognize if this is or is not God are, does this make sense, and does this line up with Scripture. If the answer to either question is in doubt, pray, always pray, and ask here. If you're still not sure, pray some more and ask someone who knows their way around the Bible for Scriptures that apply to the issue. Then pray those Scriptures, but don't just read the words, ask your own questions about the applicable Scriptures while you pray. The more you practice these things, the more your own relationship with the Lord will develop, and you will reach a point where you are aware of the Holy Spirit at all times, even if He's just comfortably in the background as you go about your normal business.

Meg gives such great advice!!!!!this forume is a great place to bounce ideas and thoughts off of ive learned so much from everyone here!!(me being a year old christian an all..) hugs to all !!

[Meg]

To you too Sean. Whenever i talk about those early years, I remember, to some degree, how badly I needed answers I had never been able to find, and how much it meant to find that safe place in Scripture. It doesn't show now and never will again, but -- well, I have come a long way since then. Jesus Christ is incredibly faithful and incredibly compassionate. He took such an interest in getting me out of what I had blundered into, as well as healing the indescribable damage... The vast majority of this Sanctification came directly out of Scripture applied to my life and prayer applied to my fears and doubts. What I am now in contrast to what I was then is a living testimony of the Heart Of God...

[discusdog]

Sean, you are only a year old christian? you seem so knowledgable I never would have guessed!
Meg, I am the same way in regards to me being a totally different person once I was saved. It is like black and white what I used to be. I'm sure we all have interesting stories of our "old" and "new" selves. I would like to tell everyone someday as a testimony. I thank the Lord Jesus for bringing me to him and saving me!
E.M. I sense a stong, true love in you and can't wait to meet you someday soon!
Actually I can't wait to meet all of you! sounds corny but I can just FEEL the love in your posts to us all. Thank You!

[Elijah's Mantle]

E.M. I sense a stong, true love in you and can't wait to meet you someday soon!
Actually I can't wait to meet all of you! sounds corny but I can just FEEL the love in your posts to us all. Thank You!

I cant wait either discuss ,and I do believe there have been those special events in my life
that Jesus did allow me to see the faces of my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus and he also
put a hope in me that surpasses this worlds remedy of separation anxiety regarding them each and every Blessed one I will see them again , God so LOVED the world he gave his only begotten son and he did so for all and even the chief sinners which describes me and all the Paul's It is the Love of God that saved a wretch like me his Grace never ceases to amaze me and in coming to some general understandings I discovered he didn't just Love me when I was good ,and his Love is the one thing that stands arms wide open between me and hell Loves us unconditionally and commands us to do likewise toward others He gave to us that New command

[myinnuendo999]

There's no set way. However, I believe we are to have a "teachable heart". When I was first saved, I couldn't WAIT to get to knowing Jesus more and more---I just couldn't get enough. For me,,, I began in Matthew-the New Testament and God spoke to me when I came upon a verse in the beattitudes-'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled". That was ME---I had been searching all my LIFE to make my life right and fix everything and everybody. JESUS did that the moment he came in my heart and I knew I'd found the RIGHTEOUSNESS in CHRIST--HE is the Lord my Righteousness!!!

Anyways, off the subject a bit--sorry. I think of Nehemiah chapter 8 where all the people listened to the word of God "attentively"vs 3 and how they elevated the word of God high above everything and everyone--- "Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion"

so, my thoughts are it's the attitude of our hearts and how we approach God's word. When we have the right attitude really it doesn't matter where you read because the Holy Spirit will speak to you and you will be filled with such Joy, reverence and awwe-----

[the stranger]

There are many good thought regarding this issue on here. I think sometimes a variety of ways can be useful. Like was already said, prayer is key. The difference between the bible and other books is that the bible is the living word of God. Sometimes it bites me in the butt. Sometimes it straightens me out. Other times it comforts me, and yet, other times, it gives me strength.

Maybe because it is sharper than a two edge sword, we often can find other reasons why we cannot read the bible, but I guess maybe thats a relivent issue for me.

I find stories, unless there being told to me, often times boring, or better put, I have a hard time getting into them. Once in a while though, I want to read the whole smack dab thing. I find myself to go real deep into small sections of the bible, as to better understand it and the times in which they were written.

Bottom line, whatever you read, or how you read it, as we were all made differently, read it to improvr your relationship with our maker. We all will fall, often after we reach a summit, but by knowing God's word, we know we can get back up and continue the climb to the top. The focus needs to be how far we have came, not how far we have fallen. Where are we on the graph chart, and how does it compare with the first day we accepted Jesus Christ. He will carry us through, and teach us through our struggles.

God bless and don't be like me. Always keep in Gods word, everyday, and you will be so much more blessed. It does not matter what you read in the bible, or how much you read. It only matters that you go away with more than you came with.

[mattfivefour]

DD, may I suggest you go to the absolutely free Christian Bookshelf.org: Search our Online Library of Christian Books and scroll down to the section called "Biblical Studies" and the one called "Christian Living". They are filled with dozens of free online classic Bible studies that will help direct your instruction from the Word of God. Further down you will find the great Alexander Maclaren's Exposition of Holy Scriptures in the Sermons section. Following the instruction in any of these books will most certainly help you study the Bible.

All you need is the Bible ... (for the lone Christian I recommend a good study book such as one of the above) ... and—MOST IMPORTANTLY—a prayerful heart to understand God's Word. His Holy Spirit will reveal absolute gems in His Word when you follow this approach.