How do I get the most out of reading the Bible?

Why can Bible reading so easily become a box-ticking exercise or even a bore, and what can we do about it? Getting more out of reading our Bibles is going to be a lifelong venture but it’s well worth the effort.

When asked, ‘Which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’ Jesus answered, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind’ (Matthew 22.36–37, GNB). Reading God’s word is a powerful way to love God with all your mind and it’s likely to touch your heart and soul too.

As we read the Bible, we feast on what God says about himself, about us, and about everything he created. But if we’re being honest, we’re a lot better at feasting on spiritual junk food than God’s word, and even then we’re easily distracted.

So, here are a few tips and suggestions to help you get the most out of reading your Bible:

Pray before you read

When you open your Bible, don’t expect to be put under some mystical spell. Speak directly with the Author. Ask the Spirit to unblind you to the beauty staring you in the face.

It’s tempting to give prayer a miss and dive straight into reading our Bibles, but that’s a bit short-sighted. It won’t be long before we hit a passage we find difficult to understand or challenging.

Speaking ‘directly with the Author’ reminds us whose word this is and invites the Spirit of God to help us as we read. It’s an invitation he’s eager to accept.

It doesn’t have to be a long prayer. Just ask God to speak to you, to show you who he is more clearly and help you understand.

Read it out loud

There are many good reasons to read the Bible aloud and none of them has anything to do with performance – so don’t worry if you don’t feel confident.

For a start, studies show that reading aloud helps you remember more of what you read, so it’s a simple way to increase the effectiveness of the time and effort you’re investing.

If you’re visually impaired, you could try listening to an audio Bible and repeating back what you hear in your own voice. If you’re hearing impaired, you could try repeating what you read in sign language. Find out what works for you.

Secondly, reading aloud helps you concentrate because it involves active participation and interpretative skill. You have to think about what is being said to find the appropriate tone of voice. You might even begin to visualize and imagine the scenes.

Review what you read

It’s tempting to tick off the passage in your reading plan, close the Bible and get straight on with your day, but a few minutes of reflection can really help.

It doesn’t have to be complicated. You could simply ask yourself:

• What did it say and what did I notice?
• What does it mean (both when it was written and now)?
• What should I do as a result? (What am I being asked to believe/trust/hope/do/make right/change?)

It’s up to you whether you write anything down, but don’t miss this step.

Pray after you read

Wouldn’t it be strange for us to read about the wonders of creation and not respond with awe, or to read about what Jesus did for us on the cross and not pour out our thanks and praise?

And when Scripture exposes our sin and failures, because of God’s mercy we’re encouraged to turn to him in prayer and ask for forgiveness.

Our relationship with God goes both ways. It wouldn’t be much of a conversation if we didn’t respond.

Study it

Approach your Bible with a learner’s posture, asking the Author to teach you marvelous things. Don’t just waterski across the surface of Scripture’s waters. Put on scuba gear. Dive in and explore …

There are many amazing resources available to help you study the Scriptures more deeply. From study Bibles, to commentaries, to videos on YouTube, if you’re hungry to know more, you don’t need to look far for ‘food’.

You might be interested in these resources from Bible Society:

• The Bible Course – an eight-session course that helps you explore God’s big story
• The Romans Course – a ten-session programme which helps you study Paul’s letter to the Romans
• Daily Bible Reading Guide – free to download reading guide
• Through the Bible in a Year takes you through the whole Bible in one year
• Good News Interactive Youth Bible – a Bible packed with interactive elements to help you connect with God’s word

‘Zooming in’ and spending significant time on a passage can be really enriching, too. Perhaps you could try Bible journaling? Or, you could print out a passage of the Bible, leaving a wide margin and double spacing the lines, so that you can highlight and annotate to your heart’s content.

Share it with others

If you want to get the most out of reading your Bible, one of the best things you can do is to read it with others. Find a church, join a Bible study group, meet up with a fellow Christian or join a group online.

Then, when you’re full of enthusiasm about what you’ve read, you can share the moment and encourage others, and when you’re confused or you have questions, you can tackle them together and pool your resources.

Finally, the more you read and talk about the Bible, the more natural it will feel and the more confident you will become about sharing the good news you find in it with others.

(Published with permission from the British and Foreign Bible Society.)