Week 2: Studying Scripture

1. Hear God's Word (Rev. 1:3; Lk. 11:28; James 1:22; Rms. 10:17)

• Listen to sermons from great preacher

Mark Driscoll (Seattle, WA)

Matt Chandler (Highland Village, TX)

 Steve DeNeff (Marion, IN)

• Purchase an audio Bible or listen for free online

Free Online Audio Bibles (multiple versions)

2. Read God's Word (Deut. 17:19)

• Choose a Bible you can understand

Bible Translation Grade Level

KJV 12

NASB 11

NRSV 11

ESV 10

NKJV 9

NIV 7-8

Good News Bible 7

NLT 6

Message 4-5

NIRV 3

• Flexible Reading Options:

a. Study the life of Jesus by reading the Gospels

b. Pick a book and study it for months

c. Follow a reading schedule - Online Reading Schedules

d. Read a chapter each day

e. Read the chapter for next week's sermon

3. Study God's Word (Acts 17:11; 2 Tim 2:15)

• Join a group Bible study
• Purchase a Bible study guide that helps you study a book of the Bible
• Ask questions about the Bible passages you read:

a. Who is the author?

b. Who is the audience?

c. What was the culture of the time?

d. Why was the book written?

e. What does this tell me about God?

f. How does this connect to Jesus?

g. Who sins do I need to repent of?

• Find the answers using Bible study tools:

a. Bible Introductions (the beginning of each book of the Bible)

b. Bible Commentaries (www.bestcommentaries.com)

c. Bible Dictionaries (www.eastonsbibledictionary.com)

d. Bible Software (www.logos.com)

e. Bible Websites (Crosswalk, BibleGateway, CCEL, Blue Letter Bible, ReGreek)

4. Memorize God's Word (Psalm 119:11; Proverbs 22:17)

• Write Scriptures on note cards or post-it notes
• Place them where you will see them often

5. Meditate on God's Word (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:2; Jer. 15:16)

• Pray for the Holy Spirit to teach you Scripture, convict you of sin, and give you a heart to lovingly obey Jesus.
  
• Memorize a word, verse, phrase, chapter, or scene that bites you.
• Write it in your own words, seeking to grasp the full meaning of what it is said.
• Ask yourself, "What does this tell me about God?"
• Repent of any sin that the Holy Spirit convicts you of.
• Pray for anyone or anything that they Holy Spirit brings to mind.
• Determine what God would have you to do in obedience to His Word.

(Points in #5 taken from theresurgence.com)

Listen to sermon audio here