We’re not done sharing tips for reading the Bible! Hopefully, these tips will help you grow deeper in your relationship with the Author of Scripture. If you haven’t read the first 25 tips, check them out here.
1. The word cuts the heart (Heb 4:12), but it’s not a sledgehammer to beat people over the head.
2. Don’t just read the same things over and over. Push yourself out of your spiritual comfort zone and read books you neglect (2 Peter 3:18).
3. Don’t rush to the application. Sometimes we need to just let God speak to us and learn what He’s conveying about Himself first. “Behold your God!” (Isaiah 40:9).
4. Be careful not to read the modern situation into the ancient text. Respect the time period the Bible was originally written in (2 Tim. 2:15).
5. Always apply the message to yourself first before considering others (2 Cor. 13:5).
6. Repetition is huge in the Bible. When God repeats Himself pay attention (John 13:34-35; 1 John 4:19-21).
7. God is a God of truth and His word does not contradict itself. If it seems to be contradictory, you should read the passage again (Deut. 32:4; Heb. 6:18).
8. There are several different contexts to keep in mind when reading the Bible: immediate, remote, and canonical. Ask questions like “What are the verses saying right near these verses?”, “What does this book say about these verses?”, and “How do these verses fit the covenant they were written in and the Bible at large?”
9. The greatest command and the second greatest command are the hardest things to do in the Bible (Matt. 22:37–40; Deut. 6:4-5; Lev. 19:18).
10. Commentaries can be helpful, but don’t let them do your thinking for you (Luke 10:26).
11. One of the keys to the gospels is a good handle on the prophets (Luke 24:25).
12. Try and use a map of some sort when studying Acts, it will be helpful (Acts 1:8).
13. Not many people know how to pronounce the hard names in the Old Testament. Do your best but don’t sweat it.
14. Make one book your lifelong companion. A book that you “specialize” in and know a lot about (Jesus quoted the Psalms more than He did any other book).
15. Pray the scriptures. Take the words of the Bible and put them into your prayers (Acts 4:24-31).
16. Don’t skip Leviticus. It contains rich information on forgiveness, the second great commandment, and the holiness code for Old Testament Israel (Lev. 11:44; Lev.19:18; all of chapter 19 especially).
17. Exodus 34:6-7 is a key verse displaying the heart of God. Trace its occurrence throughout the Old Testament.
18. Make your own cross-references. There’s more than the center of your Bible includes (John 10:35).
19. Learn from the sermons in Acts how to use the scriptures in relation to each other (see the sermons in Acts 2, 7, and 13). These are also helpful Old Testament summaries for those unfamiliar with the Old Testament.
20. Slow down. It’s not a race (Matt. 13:9, 11).
21. If it doesn’t change your heart and attitude, you’re not reading the Bible correctly (Gal. 5:22-23).
22. Bible ignorance will ruin you (Hos. 4:6; Matt. 22:29).
23. The Bible was written for the common man, not the experts. You can do this (Eph. 6:17).
24. The scriptures are designed to provide comfort and hope (Romans 15:4).
25. Let the Bible lead you to fall in love with its Author (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 1 John 4:19).