5 Things to Look For When Reading the Bible:
1. Look for questions raised by what you are reading and answers to questions already in your mind.
2. Look for things you can pray about – Adoration for God, Confession of sins, Thanksgiving for what God has done, Supplication for others (ACTS).
3. Look for the purpose behind the author’s writing. A book or passage might focus on a person, place, event, idea, or sequence. Also, the author’s choice and arrangement of words can be very important to the idea he is trying to communicate.
4. Look for understanding of a text in the text itself first – check the details closely! Then look for understanding of one passage while reading other passages of Scripture. Don’t be quick to find out someone else’s opinion or interpretation before forming your own.
5. Look for ways to express what you are reading through your own interests – make a skit, use puppets or magic, write a poem or story, create a song or melody, paint or draw a portrait, come up with actions or a dance, etc.
5 Things to Do When Reading the Bible:
1. Read verses, chapters, books, and the whole Bible over and over.
2. Ask who, what, when, where, why, and how does this apply to me; this is especially useful for Bible stories. Check maps to find out where events took place or how far people traveled.
3. Imagine what it was like during the times you read about. Consider motives and emotions when you read. To get you started, try reading out of a modern English Bible, rewrite the story, or watch the movie.
4. Think about what you read throughout the day and night. Memorize verses and passages in order to obey God’s Word and to do what it says.
5. Find out the broad context Biblically, historically, and culturally. For example, many of David’s psalms correspond to events in his life. Also, several nations and empires affected Israel’s history.
Examples:
LOOK FOR:
1. Daniel 9:20-27 Does this passage raise any questions? Does it provide answers to questions you have? Observe the details.
2. Ephesians 3:12-21 Pray for fellow believers using parts of Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians.
3. Galatians 5:16-25 What is the focus of this passage? Read Galatians 5:13-15, 26. What is Paul’s purpose in writing these things?
DO:
1. Romans 12:1-2 Read several different translations of these verses.
2. Luke 24:13-35 Ask who, what, when, where, why, and how does this apply; check a map to see where this event took place.
3. Luke 15:11-16 Imagine how the younger son felt through this experience (hungry, depressed, anxious, etc.).
4. Philippians 3:7-8 Take three to five minutes to think about and to begin to memorize these verses.
5. 1 Samuel 3:1-10 To find out the context for this passage, look at 1 Samuel 1:10-11, 27-28; 2:11-12; Now read 1 Samuel 3:11-14.
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