Have you ever tried to participate in a sport you have never played before - like tennis or squash? You may have started to play the way you wanted, but before long you realized that you needed a few lessons on how to play effectively. Some simple "How to's" greatly increased your ability in and enjoyment of thesport. In a similar way, most Christians are interested in studying the Bible, but do not know how to go about doing it. When they learn how to be more effective in studying Scripture, they became better at understanding God's Word and can see its truth implemented in their lives.

As we begin to study the Bible for ourselves, it is very important to think through our view of its authorship. Is it actually God's Word and therefore true and eternally relevant? Or is it simple the thoughts and inspiration of men?  Ultimately our views of the authority of the Bible and of the incarnation of Christ are related. For instance, in John 10:34-36, Christ taught that the Old Testament was totally accurate. In Matthew 4:4-7,10, He quoted it as being authoritative.

Furthermore, He taught His followers that He was speaking God's own words (John 3:34) and that His words would not pass away, but would be eternally authoritative (Matthew 24:35).

He even said that the Holy Spirit would bring to mind what He had said so that the disciples would preach and write accurately, not depending only upon memory and human understanding (John 16:12-15). Obviously, then, accurate views of the incarnation and of the inspiration of the Old and New Testaments are related.

Your view of inspiration should be related to your personal Bible study and meditation. Even though you believe in the Bible as a unique, written message from God, you would defeat the purpose of God if you failed to apply biblical truths to your life.

Consider some of the purposes for personal Bible study, as revealed in the following passages:

1. Name some practical results of a thorough study of the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:15-17).

2. In Acts 20:32, what does the apostle Paul say God's Word is able to do?

3. How does the truth in Psalm 1 19:127,128 relate to the relativistic philosophies many people follow today?.

4. What should be the effect upon your life of reading and internalizing the truth of the Bible (James 1:22-25)?

As you prepare to study the Bible, such as during your devotional time with God, it is important to set aside a definite time, find a definite place, and get your tools together.

Some very helpful tools include a modern translation of the Bible, a notebook and  pen, a dictionary, and possibly a concordance and a Bible dictionary. While these tools are helpful, however, remember that Bible study involves just that - studying the Bible. The other tools are merely to assist you in understanding the rich truths God has for you in His Word. They are not a substitute for reading the Bible.

One of the most helpful and readily applicable procedures to use in Bible study is the three-step approach involving skills of observation, interpretation, and application.

1. Observation: What does the passage say?
    Read it quickly for content.
    Read it again carefully, underlining key words and phrases.
    Ask: Who? What? When? Where? How?

2. Interpretation: What does the passage mean? What is the author saying to his audience?
    Ask God go give you understanding of the passage.
    Think about what kind of literature this particular passage is.
    Consult a dictionary or Bible dictionary for the precise meaning of words.

3. Application: What does the passage mean to me, and how can it be applied to my life?
    Make a list of:
        a. attitudes to change
        b. sins to confess and forsake.
        c. actions to take/avoid.
        d. examples to follow.
        e. promises to claim.
        f. other personal applications.

Other suggested Bible study methods:

4. Book Study: The Bible contains many books. Yet God's divine plan to redeem men in Jesus Christ runs throughout the entire Bible. Be careful to consider each book as a part of the whole. Read it through.
    a. Mark and underline key points as God speaks to you through His Word.
    b. Outline the book.
    c. List the principal characters who they are and what their significance is.
    d. Select from each chapter key verses to memorize, and copy each on a card to carry with you.
    e. List the teachings to obey and promises to claim.
    f. Consider the characteristics revealed of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

What book would you particularly like to study using this method? (It is best to start with one of the shorter ones.)

2. Chapter study: To get a grasp of the chapter, answer the following questions:
    a. What is the principal subject of the chapter?
    b. What is the leading lesson?
    c. What is the key verse? Memorize it.
    d. Who are the principal characters?
    e. What does 'it teach about God the Father? Jesus Christ? The Holy Spirit?
    f. Is there any example for me to follow?
    g. Is there an error for me to avoid?
    h. Is there any duty for me to perform?
    i. Is there any promise for me to claim?
    j. Is there any prayer for me to echo?

What chapter of which book would you prefer to study, using these questions.

3. Topical study: Take an important subject, such as grace, truth, prayer, faith, assurance, justification, regeneration, peace, etc. Using a topical Bible and concordance, study the scope of the topic throughout the Bible. You will find it necessary to divide each topic into subtopics as you accumulate material; e.g., forms of prayer, prayer promises, examples of prayer in Scripture, Christ's teaching on prayer, Christ's ministry as we pray, the ministry of the Holy Spirit in prayer, etc.

    What topic do you plan to study first?
    How much time have you put aside for it?

4. Biographical study: There are 2,930 people mentioned in the Bible. The lives of many of these make extremely interesting biographical studies (I Corinthians 10: I Romans 15:4). Using a concordance, topical Bible, or the proper name index in your Bible, look up every reference to the person in question. Answer the following questions:
    a. What was the social and political atmosphere in which he lived?
    b. How did that affect his life?
    c. What do we know of his family?
    d. What kind of training did he have in his youth?
    e. What did he accomplish during his life?
    f. Was there a great crisis 'in his life? If so, how did he face it?
    g. What were his outstanding character traits?
    h. Who were his friends? What kind of people were they?
    i. What influence did they have on him? What influence did he have on them?
    j. Does his life show any development of character?
    k. What was his experience with God? Notice his prayer life, his faith, his service to God, his knowledge of God's Word, his courage
        in witnessing and his attitude toward the worship of God.
    l. Were any particular faults evident in his life?
    m. Was there any outstanding sin in his life? Under what circumstances did he commit this sin? What was its nature and its effect on
            his life?
    n. What were his children like?
    o. Was he a type or antitype of Christ?
    p. Was there some lesson in this person's life that was outstanding to you?

Name the person you would like to study.
What is your reason for choosing that particular person?

You have probably been exposed to or used one or more of these methods already. But Bible study methods were meant to be used regularly, or else the soon become useless. There should be enough variety in these methods to allow you to keep yourself fresh in your intake of God's Word. Happy studying!

Action point:

Develop a two-month plan for studying the Bible 30 minutes a day on at least two days per week.