Bible study trouble

[greenonion]

I want to feed myself spiritually in God's word and read the Bible every day. But I don't know where to start. I got a few different personal Bible studies, but they felt "choppy"- it said read verse X then verse Y then fill in the blanks.

I once came across a book (or website) that had you read a bible verse or passage. Then it discussed every-day living, and real-life situations that can apply to the Bible verse. Is this something unique or are there Bible studies like this? I found it much more fufilling than the type of study described above.

How do you read the Bible? Do you pick a passage that you feel speaks to you? Do you read it cover-to-cover, a bit each day? Or do you randomly chose a passage and read it?

[snoochface]

I'm doing it two ways: starting at the beginning and chugging my way through the whole thing (this is really hard to do - the Old Testament is... difficult; hence I'm only about halfway through Exodus), and then reading the gospels. I read Matthew and now I'm working through John's gospel.

Most of the time I use a fantastic and free (donations accepted) software called e-sword. It can be downloaded at http://www.e-sword.net and it is really really good. You can download companion modules that include many different versions of the Bible (some require payment to the publisher, most are free) as well as a LOT of commentaries that really help you understand what you are reading. It comes with Strong's concordance, which I find really useful, and you can download modules with other condordances and libraries as well. It even has a place for you to put study notes of your own, and lots of search features for when you're looking for something in particular.

So most of the time when I read the Bible at home, I'm using e-sword on my computer and going through the books I mentioned. There are times, especially when I'm feeling particularly troubled, that I'll just pick up my Bible and flip through Psalms or Proverbs. I often find something there that will ease my mind and make me feel better. For real study and understanding, though, I use e-sword. And I do try to read a little bit every day.

You can subscribe to an email service called Daily Manna, which sends you a snippet of Bible verses every day. A lot of times I will take those passages and do a little study on them just by themselves. That helps me become more familiar with the Bible as a whole, since I tend to read and study slowly so I end up staying in the books I'm on for a good while. You can sign up for the Daily Manna emails at http://www.ibs.org/dm/

[jdw4jesus]

I read whatever the Lord tells me to read...it always works out perfect!

I use a Life Application study Bible...it has some excellent notes and it tells you how to apply the verses to your life...hence the title!


GOD BLESS

Jonathan

[greenonion]

Thanks snoochface! I'll check out those links.

[DawnTillery]

I joined the bible in a year at www.crosswalk.com (http://www.crosswalk.com) They also have concordance and bible notes on any passage your having trouble with. I will complete my bible in a year program August 6th. On top of that, I just read around mostly in the NT.. I also have Wednesday night bible study at my church, we are doing Romans right now, so I spend sometime on that and our Sunday School lesson.
and then I go through here at CF reading and looking at replys people give and they normally have scripture with their replys so I look them up and read around the scripture to be sure I have the right understanding.
You can dig in Gods word a lot right here just by reading posts.

[twistedsketch]

Reading it from front to back (NT only) bit by bit each day is what I did and it helped me a lot.

[ImHisServant]

By your post I can tell that you would love the bible study books by Beth Moore. They are life changing. You can find them at your local book store. Here is a link to her website. http://www.lifeway.com/lby/lby_bible_studies/0,2191,,00.html here is a link to an intoduction of an online bible study. http://www.lifeway.com/believinggod/ then click view invitation

[PaladinGirl]

Here is a Bible translations guide that might help you out:

http://www.catholic.com/library/Bible_Translations_Guide.asp

[ImHisServant]

Here is a sample of a very good bible study... increase the size to 100%

http://www.lifeway.com/believinggod/BG-Sample_Lesson.pdf

[PeaceDancing]

I want to feed myself spiritually in God's word and read the Bible every day. But I don't know where to start. I got a few different personal Bible studies, but they felt "choppy"- it said read verse X then verse Y then fill in the blanks.

Hi!

Why don't you try 40 minute Bible Studies by Kay Arthur? They're very indepth, and will really teach you How to Study Your Bible and that segways into another good book. How to Study Your Bible also by Kay Arthur.

You can find them at amazon and at the Precept Ministries website or maybe at your local Bible Bookstore.

Happy Studying!!

PeaceDancing:thumbsup:

[greenonion]

Thanks for everything! I'm going to take a trip to the Christian bookstore this weekend and look for the books and studies mentioned in this thread.

[Radagast]

Thanks for everything! I'm going to take a trip to the Christian bookstore this weekend and look for the books and studies mentioned in this thread.
Sounds good! And feel free to post here or PM me or other forum staff with questions.

Books by CS Lewis are also a good read, BTW.

-- Radagast

[greenonion]

Thanks! I'm going to the Christian bookstore after work tonight to chose a study for my husband and I to do every night.

[fmsmom]

Sounds good Let us know what you find

[visionary]

All this advise is good, keep studying the Word and praying that the Lord leads you. WIthout prayer, and learning to trust God to lead, you will be mislead. Personally Bile study is the best, for then it is just God as your teacher and you the student. God will lead you where no earthly teacher has gone. Remember teachers can only lead you as far as they themselves have gone. Inifinite God can take you places and relatiosnhips and understanding that will far surpass your wildest imaginations. It is His world and He is the best. Trust Him.