Bible Reading Methods Part 4

Bible Reading Methods Part 3

HOW TO READ THE BIBLE IN A YEAR: PART 4.

The Bible : Bible Reading Methods Icon.

 Welcome to my final post on Bible Reading Methods.

‘It’s a cold, stormy night. 

You run across the car park to your car 

as the wind and rain beat against your face. 

You grope in your pockets for your keys and

…nothing. 

It takes a few seconds for you to admit to yourself 

that you locked your keys inside the car.

      Your frustration mounts.

Less than three feet away 
lies the key to your escape from the storm  
yet you might as well be a thousand miles away.

This is the frustration many people experience when they try to understand the Word of God.  They know the answers to their problems must be there within the pages of the Scripture, but they can’t find the key that will help them unlock its truths. 

In this series, I have considered bible reading methods- reading it in a day with four focus questions in mind, or for those who like a more leisurely approach with input from another person, a more detailed approach was offered last week.  This week, I recommend 'how to read the Bible in a year'.  All approaches have their benefits of course, so it is a matter of finding one that suits you. There are a variety of choices available, of which a couple I have included in my post here.   

ADVANTAGES OF READING THE BIBLE

How to Read the Bible in a year is advantageous because:

1. There is a plan already established for each day, so getting started is made easy and staying with the plan is more likely.

  2. A passage is taken from both Old and New Testaments each day.

  3. There is often a link between the passages given, so it provides further food for thought for reflection.

  

  4. The Bible is read in a year, which provides us with the opportunity to hear the Scripture proclaimed at Mass in context.

God’s Word is confronting and challenging  but He promises also to walk at our side as our light for the journey, our Friend and our Guide.  

May the Spirit help you find YOUR KEY.

Bible Reading Methods Part 3

BIBLE READING METHODS: PART 3.'

Bible Reading: Bible Reading Methods Icon.

Welcome to the third post in this 4-part series on Bible Reading Methods.  If you missed my previous two posts in this series, check them out in the Scripture Series.

Some time ago, I was given a Scripture Diary which contained a scripture quote for each day as well as the readings of the day. I found it to be helpful to make notes there for my own spiritual journal. The diary also had the following method to reading the bible which I wish to share with you. 

HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE

Although there are many ways to study the Scriptures, my Scripture diary suggested:

1. Choose a partner or partners. You may choose to correspond with this partner, as distance is no handicap to this method of Scripture study. 

2. Choose a book of the bible to study. 

3. Read the first chapter of the book once a day for one week by yourself, whilst your partner does the same. Use the same translation of the bible and do not work together. 

4. The following week read 2nd chapter each day, 3rd week, 3rd chapter and so on. 

5. After 1st week of reading the chapter daily answer the seven questions (below) in a notebook, keeping the answer brief and to the point. 

6. On the 7th day, meet your partner/s or mail your answers to your partner/s and compare results. 

7. Answers will differ, as the Holy Spirit will reveal things to both of you. Do not change your conclusions, but add your partner’s ideas to the back of your study sheet or journal.

The seven suggested questions to be kept in mind as the chapter is read are as follows:

1. What is the theme of the chapter? 

2. What is the key verse of the chapter? 

3. Which verse would you choose to memorize? 

4. What things do you learn about God the Father? 

5. What things do you learn about Jesus Christ? 

6. What things do you learn about the Holy Spirit? 

7. What things can you apply to your daily life from the chapter? 

(a) Things to do. 

(b) Things to avoid. 

  ADVANTAGES OF HAVING A BIBLE METHOD.

 In considering this Bible Method and adopting it, I discovered that the advantages of this type of Scripture studies included:

1. I read the Bible each day, and each chapter is read seven times giving me a chance to become familiar with it through repetition. 

2. It became my personal programme enabling the Holy Spirit to be the teacher, as well as being able to be shared with my partner. 

3 I needed to be disciplined as my Scripture partner depended on my input. I found being accountable helpful in maintaining the necessary discipline.

4. It helped me to develop my personal commentary on the book studied.
5. I found, over time, that the nature of the questions are designed to better acquaint me with the Lord, and the emphasis on personal application had a consistent effect on my spiritual growth. 

6. This is a more leisurely method than reading the bible in a day.

 There are a number of types of Scripture diaries available, some of which are shown here.

Have you decided on your new liturgical year's resolution?  During this new liturgical year, why not allow God to speak to you in His Word, as you read His love letter to you-the Bible. 

Bible Reading Methods Part 2: Reading the bible

BIBLE READING METHODS SERIES.

READING THE BIBLE

THE BIBLE: READING THE BIBLE SERIES ICON

Welcome to the second post in the Scripture Series.

Have you ever sat down and read the Bible in a day?

Sounds impossible, but I was at my Christian Counselling seminar some years ago, and this was exactly what we did. Hot scones, with a cappuccino made all the difference at Romans Chapter 8!

KEYS TO READING THE WHOLE BIBLE

The term the ‘kingdom of God’ was explained as God’s rule over God’s people in God’s place for God’s purpose. Each book of the bible was viewed from these aspects.

In examining this definition and its relevance, it is imperative to understand that in each era, God had a rule (intention) which was vital to His people in their time and place, and as well as this, there was an overriding concern, namely God’s purpose. For example: in Genesis, God’s people were Adam and Eve who lived in God’s place called Eden. They were to follow God’s word. (See Genesis 2:16-17) and God’s purpose was through them to' fill the earth, multiply and to be masters of all that God had made'.

The kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven are similar in intent. Matthew speaks of the kingdom of Heaven, whereas Mark and Luke use the Kingdom of God because of their respective communities. The central message announced by Jesus was ‘The Kingdom of God is close at hand, repent and believe the Good News’ (Mk 1:15). The ‘Kingdom of God’ in the bible normally refers to God’s active reign in the world. The Lord’s prayer contains ‘thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth’ which, if carried out in perfect submission, then the kingdom shines forth before humanity.
Whether past present or future, God’s kingly rule demands man’s obedient submission.

We are not called upon to build or establish the kingdom for ourselves, but only to seek for it and enter into it (Mk 6:33). Entry into the kingdom requires the unquestioning obedience of a child and makes absolute demands on the disciple’s loyalty and devotion. Yet submission to God’s rule is in mankind’s interest, because his kingdom, like hidden treasure or a pearl of great price is the only thing of supreme value in life.

Whilst listening to this lecture, I realised that God still has a rule for His people in our time and place and He still has a purpose, that is a rule, place and purpose for me. The light bulb went on.!!!

• ·         His rule is one of love: love for God, love for neighbour and healthy love for
   self.
• ·     His people- are all those who love Him and show by their lives the power of Christ and the Spirit made manifest by the fruits of the Spirit.
• ·         His place- is our time and place wherever we encounter God
• ·        His purpose: is to bring all peoples under His rule so that we may live with Him in eternity.

There are all sorts of bibles available and choosing one can be a challenge., but an Revised Standard Version or New Revised Standard Version is the recommended Catholic Bible. 

I started to read the bible with these above-mentioned focus questions in mind- Genesis to Revelations is never the same again. 

I encourage you to think about reading the bible in this manner and see what you think about it.

Why Read the Bible Scripture Series- Bible Reading Methods Part 1

Scripture Series

‘WHY READ THE BIBLE?’

The Bible - God's love letter to us.

Welcome to my Bible four-part series.  Let us travel together on this journey as we explore important aspects of reading the bible. Let us begin with the all-important question:

Why read the Bible?

When addressing this issue on July 24 1980, the late Pope John Paul 11 gave 5 reasons for reading the Bible. He said:

1. ‘From the Word of God we learn, first and foremost the very nature of God, who is Life, Light, Love, and Trinity. No philosopher can penetrate the essence of God; only Jesus the Word Incarnate, can reveal and guarantee this fundamental truth. And because of this we are certain that there is a relationship of love between God the creator and man: every human being is an eternal heartbeat of God’s love.’

2. ‘From the Word of God we know our eternal destiny: only Jesus, with His divine word, can assure us absolutely concerning the immortality of the soul and the final resurrection of the body, as a result of which it is worthwhile being born, living, and projecting our existence beyond time towards endless happiness.’

3. ‘For the Word of God we learn where the true dignity of man lies: namely in participation in divine life itself by means of grace. True joy, real greatness and supreme dignity are found only in the life of grace. John 14:23 supports this view.’

4. ‘From the Word of God we learn how we must behave, because He reveals to us that the will of God is expressed in the moral law and in the supreme commandment of mutual love. The will of God, in fact, is the absolute determinant between good and evil, the guideline for correct behaviour and for true pedagogy’.

5. From the Word of God we know also His presence, always current and alive in time and in history, by means of the Church, willed and founded by Him which gives us certainty about the truths to believe and to practice, and offers us the Eucharist, a mystery of faith and at the same time a supreme manifestation of love’.

Have you decided on your spiritual new liturgical year resolution? Perhaps you will come to know the Lord more deeply this year through reading the Bible.

Now on a more personal note I now pose the question again in a different way- why do I read the bible?

What are YOUR reasons for reading the Bible?