Bible Study

Studying the whole Bible all at one go is an enormous task. No one can get through all of it in one day or even a couple of days! The most common ways of studying the Bible are following different guides which break up different books or genres of the Holy Scriptures into accessible passages for study. There are hundreds of good commentary and Bible Study books and programs available online and through book stores which focus on different books or topics included in the Scriptures. Many times people join Bible Study groups, like our Wednesday Night Bible Study, in order to be able to have personal guidance and listen to other's perspectives on the chosen passages.

Even if you aren't interested in following someone else's guidance through the Bible, there are many good ways of reading and studying the Bible on your own. Four time honored ways of reading the Bible on your own are by following one of the following patterns: Lectio Divina, the Artist method, the Detective method, the Treasure-seeker method, and the Jesus' Apprentice method. Lectio Divina is made up of four steps: read, meditate, pray, and contemplate. The Artist method looks at the images of the passage and the images brought up in your own mind from the passage. The Detective method asks the who, what, where, when, why, and how questions of the passage and relates it to your own life. The Treasure-seeker method seeks the truth or lesson in the passage for the person reading. What is the truth for me in this passage? The Jesus' Apprentice method can be used specifically in the Gospel passages. It seeks what is important to Jesus, what is his teaching, what does he seek.

All these different ways seek greater understanding and knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and their place in our own lives. How many have you tried? If there is a new method to you here, try it out this week. What insight does it bring you? God is always speaking to us through the words of the Scriptures.