How To Study The Bible

 As I continue the outreach of Scripture Snippets and as I talk to other believers along the way, there seems to be a constant theme and even sometimes put into a statement.


“Josiah, I love the Bible and I love how you explain it, but I just can’t seem to understand it for myself.”


The beautiful thing about God’s Word is that it’s that.  God’s Word.  God did not give us His Word for it be confusing or hard to understand.   He gave us His Word to further reveal Himself to us and to be used as a tool that draws us closer to HIm.  As Psalm 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”


So, why do so many of us have a hard time with Bible study?  There are many factors, but I believe one of the largest is just simply ourselves giving up on it.  Assuming that it is hard to understand, so we simply don’t do it.   


Bible study is so important to the believer though.


Here are three reasons why Bible study is important.


  1.  Bible study is essential to spiritual growth (1 Peter 2:2).


2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,


As we see here in 1 Peter 2, we are to actually have a desire because the Word is as pure milk.  Milk is an essential item needed for the strengthening of human bones.  The calcium that is found in milk literally helps the body grow and just as milk does it for the body, the spiritual milk of the Word will grow us as Christians.


  1. Bible study is essential to spiritual maturity (Hebrews 5:11-14).

11 of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

So, as we see here in Hebrews, as we take the milk of the Word and it grows us into maturity, there comes a time when we need to not only take the milk but begin eating the meat.  Notice the Scripture carefully.  It says partakes only of milk.  We should still consume the milk which are the foundational doctrines that we find in the Scriptures and the ever important message of the gospel.  However, along with the milk, we need to begin taking meat and begin studying topics such as prophetic events, societal applications, soteriology, etc.  We need to be marking our Bibles up with questions.  My margins from my Bible when I was younger are full of questions and notes.  As I’ve grown older, the Lord through the Holy Spirit in my study time has shown me the answers, but guess what is still prevalent in my Bible today?  Questions.  Dive into the Word of God.  Ask questions.  Challenge.   You will be amazed at what is revealed to you.

  1. Bible study is essential to spiritual effectiveness (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

If we are to do what Christ commanded us to do in Matthew 28:16-20 and reach the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ, we have to be in the Word of God.  If we are going to be effective in guiding other believers, but also in correcting ourselves and equipping ourselves, we must be in the Word of God!

So, how is your Bible study?  Do you get in the Word every day?  There is a saying I shared not long back.  It’s an old one, but a good one.  A dusty Bible leads to dirty lives.   How is your life right now?  Is it a wreck?  Have you gone to the Word of God for guidance?  

Let the study of God’s Word be a priority and not a secondary thing.





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