How to effectively study the Bible

ByMācītājs Rufus Adžiboije Reading Time: 5 minutes

Greetings to you, dear friends! Praise God for this wonderful day that God has given us! Thank God for one more opportunity to be filled with His living Word!

 

We continue talking about the Word of God as God’s treasure that is meant to be discovered by us. We established that the reading and study of the Bible can be done in different ways. You can read the Bible starting from Genesis to Revelation. Also it is possible to read the Old and New Testaments at the same time. It is possible to read the Bible by topics etc. But every time when I read the Bible I must answer some questions for myself:

 

  1. What new thing did I discover?
  2. Which of God’s commandments did I find in these verses? God’s Word is His commandments that I should follow. There are many commandments in the Bible and I really have to make sure that I follow them. It says in the Bible that I should do the Word, not just listen to it. If I want to do the Word, I have to know it. So, when I read the Bible, I should keep my heart open to the things He wants me to do.
  3. What positive Biblical example should I follow (examples of people, events etc.)?
  4. Which mistakes the people in the Bible made should I avoid? I have to be careful with this issue.
  5. What promises has God left for me in these verses? When I know God’s promises, I know His will. When I know His will, I have boldness to draw near to God. When I have boldness to draw near to God, I can be more effective in prayer. It is possible to find numerous promises in the Old and New Testament. They are meant for me, for my children, my family etc. When I pray I can take these promises and proclaim them for my life and for the lives of the other people around me. It is God’s will. And when we seek for these promises, then they will become for us the reality and true riches.
  6. What new thing did I learn about God from these verses?

Let’s talk about how we can be more effective in our Bible studies to exceed simple reading. There are many different ways to study the Word.

 

  1. a) The study of Bible characters.

 

I choose a Bible character and investigate everything the Bible says about him. It is very interesting. For example, I can choose David and study his life as the Bible describes it. Or I can study the rule of different kings of Israel, or the life of Samson, Joseph, and Peter etc. The study of biblical characters is very beneficial. Life experiences of these people, their victories, their reactions, their faith and trust in God, their mistakes – all of it is very profitable for us. When we study their lives we are able when and why God blessed them.

 

When I studied the lives of David and Joseph, I saw the words: «And God was with him». This phrase ignited by curiosity and I really wanted to see why God was with them. I started to study their lives to find the answers. It turned to be extremely profitable for me. I realized that if I find this key thing, then God will be with me as well as He was with them, because God is not respecter of persons. If there was something special in the lives of these people that God wasn’t pleased about, I can learn the lessons and not repeat their mistakes.

 

When I first started preaching, I mostly spoke about different Bible characters. And these sermons always were well-liked. Afterwards many people began studying the lives of the men and women in the Bible, since I never was able to tell everything about them.

 

  1. b) Topical study of the Bible.

 

There are many themes discussed in the Bible — faith, repentance, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, healing, humility etc. By studying these themes, I am able to learn God’s opinion on these issues. As I said, when I did not understand the meaning of covenant, I began following this concept throughout the Bible. And I discovered many wonderful things I did not see or know before.

 

  1. c) The study of miracles and supernatural manifestations found in the Bible.

 

Through them I get to know God and His power and receive inspiration. When I face a problem if my life, I can trust God and expect His intervention and help, because I have seen in the Bible that my God is mighty and powerful and works miracles. I meditate upon God’s miracles and it gives me confidence who God really is in our lives:

 

 «Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord»(Colossians, 3:16).

 

 

Tomorrow we will finish talking about how to effectively study the Bible.

 

God bless you!

 

Pastor Rufus Ajiboye

Similar Posts

  • God is the only one who knows the true meaning of human life

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 4 minutes
    We are saved by Jesus Christ not by our deeds, to be followed by good deeds God has determined for us. Once we realise that He created us, we understand that our life on this Earth is absolutely meaningless without Him, without relationship and collaboration with God. Without Him we would resemble those who lack brain, wandering in the desert, having no certain way to go. Therefore, such people walk in the dark without light, staggering like a drunken man.«He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth, And causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way. They grope in the dark without light. He makes them stagger like a drunken man.» (Job 12:24-25).

    We are saved by Jesus Christ not by our deeds, to be followed by good deeds God has determined for us. Once we...

  • Responsibility as a Key to Success! II

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 6 minutes
    You may have the throne, a title and a high position; but if you are irresponsible, you will lose authority and power. There is a reward for everything – for being responsible and for being irresponsible. Glory and authority belongs to the responsible people; the irresponsible one get disgrace and reproach.May God help you not shirk your responsibility to others! God will not give you more than you can bear. His grace is sufficient to help and to save you in every situation!

    You may have the throne, a title and a high position; but if you are irresponsible, you will lose authority and...

  • God calls each of us to do good works in Jesus Name II

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 4 minutes
    «For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them» (Ephesians, 2:10).The underlined part of this verse tells us that God has a plan that we should carry out. One of the main tasks in this life is for us to find out this plan. After his salvation Apostle Paul set his heart on finding out his purpose in life.

    «For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should...

  • Searching for the meaning of life II

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 7 minutes
    Let’s look at the steps that Solomon took in order to find the meaning of life. We will see what conclusions Solomon came to. The first thing Solomon turned to was acquiring of wisdom and knowledge. «I communed with my heart, saying, „Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge.” And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind. For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow» (Ecclesiastes, 1:16-18).

    Let’s look at the steps that Solomon took in order to find the meaning of life. We will see what conclusions...

  • The generosity and hospitality that opens doors for God’s intervention

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 4 minutes
    “The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. He said, “If I have found favour in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. Let a little water be brought and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way – now that you have come to your servant.” “Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.” “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. “There in the tent,” he said. Then the Lord said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him.”

    “The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent in...

  • What are the benefits of fearing walking in the fear of God? II

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 3 minutes
    God arranges for you to own property: “But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive. And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses” (Exodus 1:17,21)

    God arranges for you to own property: “But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded...