LEARNING TO PRAY?
Reading the Bible can be an intimidating adventure to begin. It’s big, can be confusing, and it was written thousands of years ago! Therefore, we wanted to give you a few tips that will help guide you in reading God’s Word!
TIP ONE- Starting Reading about Jesus!
Most people do what they do with any book, start at the beginning. This can be good in certain situations. However, if you’re just starting out, we suggest beginning by reading about the life of Jesus. The Gospel of John is a great place to start! The Old Testament points to Jesus.
A lot of the New Testament responds to what Jesus did and said. Why not just start reading about Jesus?
TIP TWO- Use the S.O.A.P. Method!
The Bible was written not just to be read, but to be applied. We are to take information from the Bible and use it to change how we live! This can be an intimidating task, but just like anything else, you can grow in listening and responding to God’s Word. To help with this process, we use the S.O.A.P. method.
Scripture: Maybe start by reading one chapter a day. You could even do a shorter amount. Take a look at the scripture that you are reading and write out the one verse that spoke to you the most.
Observe: What captured your attention as you read this passage? Did God speak to you as you were reading it? What did you learn or observe from the passage?
Apply: What part of this scripture can you apply to your life? What will change in your life if you do?
Pray: Ask God to give you a clear understanding of this scripture. Ask Him to help you apply it to your life. Pray that scripture over yourself.
TIP THREE- Read with Someone!
Living out the Christian walk was never meant to do alone! Having someone alongside you to be able to answer questions, give perspective, and communicate how God spoke to them through a passage is essential!
Take the Next Step!
Talk with a Pastor about questions you might have or on how to connect with others who are reading scripture. brett@fbcbluesprings.org