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Reading the Bible more!!

Jarrodis

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How can I get my self to read the Bible more? I know I have to and I want to but I just cant get there,I want to bu im either to tired or too excited to read the bible. and also where do I start, because I got the daily bread thing to read the bible in 1 year, but its July now so do I just start at July or just go back and start at start at January?
 
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tpk

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Hey Jarrodis! :) It's great to see you're wanting to read the Bible more. I understand how at times it can be really difficult (I have trouble sometimes myself). I recommend you do the Daily Bread daily devotion you found. You don't necessarily have to start at the beginning, but you can if you wish (there's no extra spiritual value about doing a certain page on a certain day. ;)) Anyway, I find that if you pray that God will give you the time and the will to read the Bible, he will.
God bless!
 
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itisdeliciouscake

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I'll respectfully suggest an alternative to some one-year bible thing.

personally I've always found it more effective to go through a longer study on one specific book at a time. use commentaries, take your time, look up the greek/hebrew. its almost always much more effective to spend half an hour on 5 verses then spending half an hour on 2 chapters.

also, before you study the book in-depth, i've always found it extra helpful to set aside an hour or two (depending on how long the book is) and read the entire thing straight through. just so you can have a basic idea of what it's about. then start reading a few verses a day. (what I do, is I actually have 2 set aside times to read/study/pray. morning and before bed. I will TRY to read during both of my set aside times, but on the chance I can't for whatever reason read during one of them, I WILL be able to read during the other) research them. read different commentaries from online sources. maybe listen to a sermon on it. (mite I suggest sermons from desiringgod.org?) try and make sure you understand what every verse and phrase actually means. it mite sound like work, but it's actually VERY enjoyable and fun.

the reason I found it enjoyable and fun, is because sometimes I seem to have this 'I already know what's in the Bible' mentality. (which I found, isn't even close to being true) and when I really study it, I learn new things all the time, which is just flat-out enjoyable. and also, I know it's cheesy... but try and look for SPECK

(sin to avoid, promise to claim, example to follow, commandment to obey, knowledge of God)

make sure you Bible study is coupled with prayer, if you feel convicted about a certain sin, go ahead and pray about it right then, confess it and beg that he leads you away from temptation. if you realize how awesome God is from a passage, praise him. if you realize an area of your life you need to work on, ask him to strengthen you.

and also, whenever you learn something that you like, SHARE IT WITH SOMEONE ELSE. I cannot BEGIN to express how much this helps your walk with God. there's just something abuot telling other people what you learn that just makes you understand what you learn so much more.... it sticks with you if you tell someone. AND it helps them. and even if they aren't into the idea of you sharing what you learn (maybe it makes them feel uncomfortable because they aren't learning anything about God lately.) that's OK!! if you share what you learn, and they see how excited you are about God's Word, it makes them WANT to learn more about God. people tell me that quite a bit actually... they'll say that they see my passion in studying the Bible, and how it just makes me happy, and they'll say that it makes them study the Bible more vigorously. and even if it doesn't make them excited about reading the Word, it may also convict to study the Bible more. (which, is OK, fear of God is the beginning of wisdom)

I probably wrote a lot... and I actually was gonna write more.... I'm considering writing an article on Bible study soon, where I'll be able to explain things much more clearly and thoroughly. and it may be hard, I admit... I've been spoiled. I go to a Christian school where I've learned how to study and read the Bible, and my church is uncommonly blessed when it comes to people my age who would rather talk about the Bible than anything else. it's much easier for me because of my situation. but I'll be praying for you that you'll be able to find consistancy in reading the Bible and learning about God and growing closer to him. make sure you pray for yourself as well.
 
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butterflyhugz2

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I find myself having the same problem. A lot of the time I force myself to read and pay attention. I read out loud to myself to be sure that my mind doesn't wander. Also, I find that books by Christian authors help me find my ground and allow me to understand and want to read the Bible more. There are also free podcasts on iTunes by Joyce Meyer if you enjoy her. She has her TV program and radio podcasts posted. It really helps me because I'm more of a visual learner, so I watch the TV podcast more than anything. :)
 
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liesje

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meh...

IMO commentaries are much more useful than general books. find a good commentary written by someone with solid education in hermeneutics and exegesis.

and joyce meyer.... really?

go for john piper or john macarthur..
.

:thumbsup: I like Matthew Henry's commentary of the Bible
 
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itisdeliciouscake

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:thumbsup: I like Matthew Henry's commentary of the Bible


lol.

when studying the Bible, I have a triad of commentaries I consult...

Matthew Henry, John Gill, and John Calvin.....



you and me have similar tastes in commentaries.
 
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TanteBelle

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I don't agree with these 'read the bible in a year' things. Read the entire bible for a year and then get what from it? A lot of people say, 'I've read the whole Bible so many times!' Great, good for you, but how's your life reflecting it? If there is no revelation with what you are reading, then there is no understanding nor wisdom. You are just reading words on a page!

To be honest, I don't read the Bible nearly as much as I ought to. Most of my time is spent meditating. I do that all the time and in my meditations I review passages from the Bible and end up gettting a revelation from it. I do find that to just read the Bible, I lose what I am after and end up just reading. Sometimes, Satan uses fatigue and distraction as methods to keep us from reading the Bible.
 
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BannanaFish

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Don't look into a commentary on the bible, when you read that you are reading another persons views and interpretations of the bible not your own.

Read the bible for yourself look at the contradictions it makes

READ ALL THE Scriptures not just the key ones
Exodus 21:7-8 for example give infomation on how to sell your daughter as a slave. Is this really "holy" i thought slavery was bad.....
 
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Destiny2009

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I don't agree with these 'read the bible in a year' things. Read the entire bible for a year and then get what from it? A lot of people say, 'I've read the whole Bible so many times!' Great, good for you, but how's your life reflecting it? If there is no revelation with what you are reading, then there is no understanding nor wisdom. You are just reading words on a page!

To be honest, I don't read the Bible nearly as much as I ought to. Most of my time is spent meditating. I do that all the time and in my meditations I review passages from the Bible and end up gettting a revelation from it. I do find that to just read the Bible, I lose what I am after and end up just reading. Sometimes, Satan uses fatigue and distraction as methods to keep us from reading the Bible.


I agree some people try to read the bible way too fast. I think it's important to read it at your own pace but trying to read every day is a great thing. It's something that I have been working on myself.
 
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Jarrodis

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again thanks for the help, but is reading the bible from start to end the best, or the daily bread? I understand many people will have different opinions on this, but im looking for the way that will make for sense and make it clearer
 
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Aino

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It's really a thing up to everyone to decied what's the best way for them and how they understand everything better. For me it's the easiest way to read the new testament first and then begin with the old one - I find it more logical for a christian to get to know Jesus first and then the society and group of people where he belonged.
 
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Rikki_renee

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I've heard that it's best to start reading the gospels. Like, start with Matthew. Matthew, Mark, Luke & John are all the same story, just told by different people with different perspectives. That makes it easier to understand. PLus, that's the part of the Bible that relates more to todays world. The OT is confusing and parts of it are not meant to be understood, at least not until the coming of Christ.

Don't worry, I have taken my own advice. I'm only on Mark now, I just finished Matthew, but I found it very insightful. And it made reading Mark easier.

Another thing I would suggest is that after each book you read, do an online quiz or something to help your knowledge base. I take quizes after I finish books just to better help my understanding.

Hope this helps :)
 
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