Getting the most out of your Bible

Five-finger exercises

The Navigators’ old “Word Hand” illustration helpfully sums up five key ways of getting the most from God’s Word…

1. Hearing

Not just going to church… but also listening to good teaching wherever we can find it; but listening in such a way that (a) it draws us deeper into Scripture, (b) it joins up with what we already know, and (c) it results in action. In The Screwtape Letters, a senior devil advises his junior about a new Christian: “The great thing is to prevent his doing anything… The more often he feels without acting, the less he will be able ever to act, and, in the long run, the less he will be able to feel.”

2. Reading

Which can also include listening and reading with somebody else.

Read slowly and thoughtfully

Read widely (and learn to navigate…)

Read with understanding of the context

Read with an eye open for Jesus

What have I learned about Jesus and God?

What have I learned to cause shame?

What have I learned about trusting him more?

Is there a promise to claim?

3. Studying

Study consistently – it’s the repeated practice that builds your muscles

Study purposefully – know what you need to learn next

Study enjoyably – it should bring you delight, or something’s going wrong!

Study connectedly – bring ideas together in your mind

Study transferably – you haven’t learned it until you can share it

4. Memorizing

(a) It gives you power to stand firm

(b) It corrects your perspective unconsciously

(d) It helps you make discoveries (like Luther with Romans 1:17)

(e) It empowers you to bring help and hope to others

(f) It gives you power in sharing your faith

(g) It helps you worship God properly

John Piper:

Most of us are emotionally crippled—all of us, really. We do not experience God in the fullness of our emotional potential.

How will that change? One way is to memorize the emotional expressions of the Bible and speak them to the Lord and to each other until they become part of who we are. For example, in Psalm 103:1, we say, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!” That is not a natural expression for many people. But if we memorize this and other emotional expressions from the Bible, and say them often, asking the Lord to make the emotion real in our hearts, we can actually grow into that emotion and expression. It will become part of who we are. We will be less emotionally crippled and more able to render proper praise and thanks to God.

From <https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/why-memorize-scripture>

5. Meditating

Based on the truth of God, the love of God and the praise of God (Ed Clowney, Christian Meditation)

Centred on the words (decrees and promises) of God, the works of God, and the character of God.

Involving the mind (meletao, hagah) and also the emotions (enthymeomai, si’ach)

“Why do I meditate?... Because I am a Christian. Therefore, every day in which I do not penetrate more deeply into the knowledge of God’s Word in Holy Scripture is a lost day for me.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Meditating on the Word.

Summing it up...

Meet with Scripture consistently

Build in Scripture constantly

Live out Scripture carefully

Share Scripture confidently

Worship through Scripture regularly

Just a few resources…

The Bible Project: https://thebibleproject.com/

Deeper Toolbox: www.deeperonline.co.uk

Navigators: http://navigators.co.uk/resources/

YouVersion: https://www.youversion.com/