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

  • What kind of privileges or advantages does the person who hears God’s voice possess over the others who don’t?

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 4 minutes
    Usually, we never dedicate time to something unless we realise its advantage and strict necessity for us. When we realise what we are losing by not understanding and hearing God’s voice, then we can become zealous and motivated to do our best in order to dedicate time and attention to it. You must understand that satan is a thief and given a smallest chance he will take away all our privileges and opportunities in God.

  • The counselling

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 3 minutes
    Every one of us tries to help people by giving advice or recommendations. There are moments in life when we want to reveal certain truths to people so that they could make right choices. Every one of us needs counsel and guidance. It says in the Bible: «Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counsellors they are established» (Proverbs, 15:22).

  • Purpose for living 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).

  • Sacrifice as a measure of love! III

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 4 minutes
    It is not hard to love God – simply think about Him, think about what He does for you every day, and your natural response will be gratefulness. Worshipping God will become a natural thing for those who think about Him and His works. God loves you very much. But, if you live and at the same time do not think about Him, do not see what He does for you, it is hard for you to sacrifice; particularly – it is hard for you to sacrifice your busy daily schedule, your finances, your time, your comfort, because you do not think about Him.

  • The importance of walking in the fear of God

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 3 minutes
    The Bible teaches that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of God.Until the fear of God is in place, there can’t be any Access to the Spirit of wisdom and revelation from God. The God type of wisdom that makes your face to shine in the dark seasons of life and make your star brighter despite the unfavorable circumstances of life, results from the fear of God.

  • Jesus and God´s will

    AutorsPastor Rufus Ajiboye Reading Time: 4 minutes
    esus is our model in everything. He is the Author, the Master and the Maintainer of our faith. Therefore, Jesus set an example for us, so that we can follow his steps.«For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps» (1 Peter 2:21).From the very beginning of His life on this Earth Jesus was clearly aware of His goal. He was extraordinary passionate to the business of His Father in His Spirit.There is a story from Jesus childhood in the Bible, it tells us how He was growing and becoming strong in spirit