You are reading in micro-subchapter A9h of the appendix to the free, global online book, Fellowship With God in the Sixth Path. Navigation at the top and bottom of each page, allows you to open the table of contents, visit the home page, ask questions or share your story. If you wish to return to this page later, navigate to "Odds and Ends", in the appendix.
How do we study the Bible... and understand scripture?
The natural man would think that your question is a simple one... one that may be answered from the mind of one with experience. But this is a spiritual task. And the answer is a spiritual answer. So, I asked God to reveal to me how to answer you. The apostle Paul, by prayer, relied on God to give him words to explain the gospel, even though he understood the gospel (Ephesians 6:18-19).
Bible study requires us to follow His Spirit. But it also requires discipline.
Learning to study the Bible is really about learning to interact with God, in His words. So, its really about learning to pray. But we need to understand scripture before we understand how to pray. One really can't learn to do one without knowing how to do the other. So, how can it be done?
The Bible is kind of like a bicycle. In the spiritual realm, I will put you on the bicycle, give you instructions which you won't completely understand, give you a push... and the Holy Spirit will run with you, provide instructions along the way, comfort you when you fall, and provide power for the steepest of hills. Eventually, you will see that this bicycle can fly.
Here are the steps I recommend for Bible Study:
1) Learn how to read scripture
Read subchapter 1.1. You will learn some intimate scripture reading methods. If I don't use intimate reading methods, Bible study becomes an activity of the human mind... it becomes work... unspiritual work.
2) Scan the Book
I suggest that you open the book of Ephesians. Read the entire book from beginning to end in one sitting every day for one week. Each day, ask God to open your heart for understanding before you read. I suggest that you read using Path Two from subchapter 1.1. In Path Two, you read, seeking the heart of the passage. Don't stop to understand detail. You will do that after this first week. In this first week, just get the big picture and main points. Now, in the Second Path you may dwell on a passage for moments or months. But when scanning an entire book, you will be dwelling for moments, not months. Otherwise, you could not read the entire book in one sitting.
As an alternative to reading the book, you could listen to the book for free, online. Biblegateway.com provides the Bible in audio in seventeen languages. Click here to listen.
Get a sheet of paper. Each day you scan the book, write down one idea from each chapter. Just a word or phrase is enough. By the seventh scan, you will have seven ideas for each chapter.
3) Detailed Study
After scanning the book every day for one week you are ready to begin a Detailed Study. Each day you will study a few verses. Click here to see the verses which I have selected for each day. When the page opens, look down the page and click on "Ephesians". The page that opens up will show "Today's Scripture" and a "Focus Scripture" for each day.
In each day, read "Today's Scripture" using Path Two. Path Two is Seeking the Heart of the Passage. Then read the "Focus Scripture" using Path Three. Path Three is Reading God's Words to God. Today's Scripture will provide context for the Focus Scripture. You will learn these intimate reading methods in subchapter 1.1.
Next, answer three questions:
What does the Focus Scripture say about God?
What does the Focus Scripture say about Man?
What does the Focus Scripture say that I can Pray?
If you are wondering what to pray, click here and find the section in bold, gold print titled, "What Can I Pray?"
4) Deep Long Term Meditation
As your are interacting with God's words in your Detailed Study, certain words of your Lord may touch your heart in a powerful way. This is the Holy Spirit speaking to you. These are words for Deep Long Term Meditation. Continue to meditate on these words, for as long as your heart is drawn to them, for a day, days, weeks or months. Talk to Him about those words, asking for illumination and power and guidance. You may need to memorize these words so that you can pray and meditate on them during the day, while waiting in lines or as you are falling asleep at night. Great changes have occurred in my life in this way. When He speaks to you in this way, pay attention. Fix your heart on those words for as long as He draws you into them. Do not be indifferent to the Holy Spirit. "Therefore, even as the Holy Spirit says, "Today if you will hear his voice, don't harden your hearts..." (Hebrews 3:7-8).
Note:
Some of my recommendations will be awkward at first, as new things often are. After you have completed the book of Ephesians as I have asked, you will have solid spiritual weapons, to adjust and amend as the Holy Spirit leads you. It is like riding a bicycle. What is awkward at first, with practice, will become smooth and natural as if it were a part you. You will be able to go faster and farther than than you ever could have gone by walking.
You can study the Bible this way by yourself or with a group. Chapter 7 shows how to do this as a group.
At some point, when the Holy Spirit leads you to... read subchapter 1.5 titled, "Conditions for Understanding the Word".
MY PRAYER FOR YOU
"Lord of Heaven and Earth, for all who read this page I pray... Fill them with power, insight and understanding as they interact with You through Your words. May Your word go forth through them... May Your word spread through them into all the earth. My Lord, bring about a great awakening... through all who read these words.. through all who will repeat Your words and pray! I ask this for Your glory... that Your name be lifted higher, higher and higher. Amen."