How do you study the bible?

I was just wondering how people study the bible? How do you take notes? What tools/methodologies of study have you found useful? etc.Until recently, I simply use to read the bible without taking notes or making a conscious effort to learn verses or passages off by heart. It seems to work well and I feel like the Holy Spirit brings things I've read in the past back to my conscious memory when required. For example when God wants to teach me something I may have previously read but not understood at the time.However recently, I've also started making summary notes (in a word-processor) of each chapter I read. Hopefully when going over the same chapters in the future, I can revise my notes. I also now do word studies on particular words (using the help of a bible program like e-Sword and Strong's numbers), for example when I want to find out how they were used at the time. For example the last word study I did was on 'tradition' mainly because its used in 1 Corin. 11 in relation to head covering and I wanted to see how the word was used in other parts of the NT.Looking forward to your replies.Thanks,Alex.

One thing that I like to do is take a passage of Scripture or a short book and read it repeatedly over the course of several days and in several different translations and paraphrases. Once I feel I have a good grasp on the passage then I sit down and write notes, asking and answering questions about what I've read such as who, what, where, when, and why. This is just one of the many useful bible study ideas from Howard Hendricks book Living by the Book. This book really helped me to dig deeper into Scripture, his emphasis and ideas on observation methods are excellent.In Christ,Ron

I agree with the Holy Spirit's leading. I can't really say that I've followed the same technique my whole Christian life.Right now in my devotions my goal is to go through the whole Bible. So I started from the very beginning with Genesis and right now I'm in Acts and Hebrews. I was previously in a chapter in the Old Testament and one in the New Testament. [laughs] Sadly, maybe, this has been a... well, I've lost track. I think maybe a 4 year project. But I will read the whole Bible! I'm glad I have been because there's so many things in there I wouldn't have found otherwise and it's good discipline rather than just flipping to stuff.When a verse in my devotions or even sometimes during church, speaks to me, I highlight it. That came from past experiences of wanting to share verses with others that had spoken to me in the past, but not being able to find them because they weren't marked. So... now I highlight.And then I try to keep a daily journal of just... whatever's laid on my heart that day. It may be something I'm thankful for, some prayer requests for myself and others, or a whole bunch of verses that I had highlighted over time that I wanted to take note of. For example, I recently was reading through Romans, Galatians, the Corinthians, etc. and I started noticing a pattern. The pattern was, ever verse I had hightlighted about prayer also had some form of the word "thanks". I realized that along with praying for our needs, God also wanted us to pray to Him what we were thankful for. So I wrote all those "thankful" praying verses down.I have gone through seasons where I read my devotions in several translations and then did word studies. I just think it depends what you're learning at what time and what season of life you're in. I do miss preparing for Bible studies though. That's a little different than just your personal devotions.Okay, well, I think I contributed enough info here. I'm done.

Kay Arthur has a very good inductive Bible study method that involves many levels, one of which is marking and showing relation between individuals or events. I had to take the class as part of working towards my ministerial credentials. I enjoyed and thought it had great value. The biggest emphasis of this method is that it is inductive...meaning you use the Bible to help figure out the Bible, instead a reading another man's intepretation of what a particular book or chapter is supposed to mean. Anyway, I would recommend it.

Hello AlexisFor me, my memory works better if I hear something rather than read it; but to both hear and read is almost magical! I purchased a CD collection of the entire bible, I also bought two DVDs of a similar nature. The DVDs and CDs are in the King James version and the NIV (amplified version). I recommend getting a set that is not the same as the bible you have at home. At first, it was a little confusing following two different versions but you tend to pick up more information in this way. It is also a fact that you can get through the entire bible in as little as a month. To illustrate, the entire gospel of Mathew is only 2 hours long. It also does not seem that the reader is reading that fast. It is just like listening to someone telling a story. When I cannot follow this in my bible, I listen to it as I ride my bicycle, and when I take a break at work. The ride to and from work is an hour long, an hour that ordinarily is not used to read, or hear the word. If you include my break I have gone through a book of the bible, in time that I do not even consider my “spare-time”. You get home and you can put in a few extra hours. Many stories in the bible have a different feel when you hear them in their entirety. The gospel according to John for example, is so deep that you are compelled to stop and consider almost every verse (and that too is a good method of study) but, when go through it in two hours, the introduction is still fresh in your mind and you can relate it easily to each of the seven miracles. Having gone through the whole bible in this way more than once, I now only listen chapter by chapter as I ride my bike; in this way I can give a more thorough analysis.Your son in ChristJames

I study the Bible as if I were going to teach it (I am, after all, a Bible teacher). There's an excellent book that I often give to new Christians titled How to Study the Bible by R. A. Torrey (read everything he wrote). If you want a sample of what I teach, read my online magazine Such Were Some Of You.

Holy Spirit leading is the most important. I do lots of different ways to stay in the Word all the time, I like and need variety. One of my favorite ways is to repeat listening to the Audio Bible on my walkmen as much as I can. I like watching the Jesus video too, I repeat that one every few months. Then I listen to other speakers, on Sky angel TV, radio, tapes, and of course the pastor. My favorite things change frequently, Right now my favorite speaker (besides Jesus and Paul and the other apostles and bible writers) is Ray Comfort, he's funny and has a genuine zeal for the Lord. Reading books by other christians is another way. I also like to draw comics about things I learn from the Bible, like journaling, it helps me sort out my thoughts.Helping my younger brother and sister in their daily devotionals is another way, and we vary it, from doing a written devotional (doing a study of Old Testament) bible study, all of us together. And we alternate that with studying from other sources, like we just studied the culture and times of the Jews in Jesus time. Some days we study together, some days individually. I am thankful God teaches me even when I'm doing boring household chores (teaches me patience, about nature, submission, reflection, etc) while I'm scrubbing floors or vacuuming. But, I also keep in the Bible every day, even if I force myself, I make sure to read it, not wanting to be misled at all, by my flesh or the devil, we must keep in the word.The other suggestions on this thread are excellent. Thank you Lord Jesus for your Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth and for Your fellowship. Thank you Lord for answering Your prayer for me to enjoy reading Your word and loving the Bible more and more, so much that it has taken over my life, thank you Lord, and thank you for Your promise to be with Your sheep until the end of the age. Amen!!!

I have found that the more I read it the more I understand. I do not seek other mens thoughts. I just read. Understanding comes line up line, precept upon precept, here alittle there alittle. There is no division between the OT and the NT. Lines of Scripture, precepts from Scripture, exist throughout the Bible. I believe everything is true. The things I do not understand do not frustrate me any longer. My past experiences have taught me that God will unlock His word as He has determined for me. The way He builds His precepts, ordinances, commands, and judgements is truly supernatural. When one experiences this way of learning, one begins to see Scripture as a treasure. This treasure changes the way you perceive this world. This treasure causes you to want more of His ways. This treasure reveals His Life. In ChristJeff