1. Begin by asking God, who inspired the Bible to help you understand it. No one can explain a book better than the author himself! God has promised and said that He wants to help and meet those who seek Him (Deuteronomy 4:29; Jeremiah 29: 12-14a; Amos 5: 4; James 4: 8 etc.).
2. Start with the Injil, also called the New testament, the book that tells us about Jesus' life and teaching. ( Read one of the gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) Don’t jump between the Bible texts and pick verses out of context. Read a whole paragraph or chapter so you really understand what God wants to say.
3. Read slowly and pray and ponder what you are reading. Ask the following questions:
- What does this passage teach me about God? (Who God is, what God wants, what God can and does).
- What does this passage teach me about us humans? (about myself, who we are, the meaning of our lives, our needs, our problems / mistakes and the solution to our problems).
- Ask the question: "How do I need to change in obedience to God's Word?" (My life, what I do,
what I should do, priorities, etc.)
Ask the question: "How do I need to change in obedience to God's Word?" (My life, what I do, what I should do, priorities, etc.)
Practice/ Do what God reveals to you through the Holy Bible! Just as medicine does not help the sick person if the person does not take the medicine, so it is with the scriptures God revealed. God's Word will only help us if we do what God commands in His Word.
5. Ask the question, ”with whom can I share what I have learned?" (God wants us to share His truths with other people. Jesus compares God's Word to bread, saying that people cannot live only by (physical) bread without every word that comes from the mouth of God! Sharing God's truths with family and friends means that you give spiritual bread to people who are starving!
Suggestions for Bible passages to Study
From creation to redemption
- Genesis 3: 14-24 The Fall: The Judgment of God on a Sinful World
- Genesis 2: 4-24 Creation: God creates man
- Genesis 12: 1-8, The Atonement ( Restoration)
- Genesis 15: 1-6 God's promise to Abraham (Ibrahim)
- Genesis 22: 1-19 The Atonement: Abraham sacrifices his son as a sacrifice
- Exodus 12: 1-28 The Atonement: The promises of Easter
- Exodus 20: 1-21 The Atonement: The Ten Commandment
- Leviticus 4: 1-35 The Atonement: The Sacrificial System
- Isaiah 53 The Atonement: Isaiah prophesies of the coming Messiah
- Luke 1: 26-38, 2: 1-20 The Atonement: The Birth of Jesus
- The Gospel of Matthew 3; John 1: 29-34 Atonement: Jesus is baptized
- Matthew 4: 1-11 Atonement: Jesus is tempted
- John 3: 1-21 The Atonement: Jesus and Nicodemus
- The Gospel of John 4: 1-26,39-42 The Atonement: Jesus and the Woman at the Well
- Luke 5: 17-26 The Atonement: Jesus Forgives and Heals
- Mark 4: 35-41 Atonement: Jesus calms the Storm
- Mark 5: 1-20 The Atonement: Jesus frees people from evil spirits
- John 11: 1-44 The Atonement: Jesus resurrects Lazarus from the dead
- Matthew 26: 26-30 The Atonement: The First communion
- John 18: 1-19: 16 The Atonement: Jesus is betrayed and judged
- Luke 23: 32-56 The Atonement: Jesus Crucified
- Luke Gospel24: 1-35 Atonement: Jesus defeats death
- Luke 24: 36-53 The Atonement: Jesus Reveals Himself and ascends to Heaven
- John 3: 1-21 Atonement: We have a choice