By the second century, Irenaeus spoke of the "rule of faith" as a way to understand the basic Christian story with which orthodox Christians (versus Gnostics) should approach the Bible. If you are an avid reader, there is a wealth of knowledge available to you as well through good books available online or at Christian bookstores. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson. A Method In the Madness. The Old relates to the New. Benefit God grants to you let him ask of. The Bible is “breathed out by God” (2 Tim. Some passages in the Bible are easy to directly apply to our lives, but others aren’t quite as clear. He states that what we think about all day long, over long periods, eventually seeps into our heart as controlling beliefs. Through my experience in teaching this material, I have learned that most Christians are busy—so busy that they have difficulty disciplining themselves to implement the four-step process of mastering the Bible so well that the Bible masters them. 2 How to Understand the Bible Introduction 3 Introduction T he Bible is the world’s best-selling book. 3. How To Understand The Bible – In All Things, Pray, Pray, Pray. In a new concluding chapter he helps you try out the principles on Psalm 51. It’s offered through the Catholic Spiritual Treasures program.) Many people know passages of Scripture, but have not spent enough time meditating on them enough for the truth of the passages to penetrate deeply into their mind and heart. The Bible encourages us to accept help from others who understand the Bible. 1. Read Proverbs to gain wisdom and strengthen your relationship with others. 1:21). Bible Savvy Series, How to Understand the Bible, Context, D. A. Carson, James L. Nicodem, Moody Publishers. This study marks the beginning of a new Sunday evening series on How to Understand the Bible. We must be careful not to force our own interpretations onto it (p. 16). You can learn what the Bible teaches without cost. It does not matter how smart you are or how much you study; spiritual truth is spiritually understood, it is not understood by your human mind (1 Corinthians 2:14b)*. Think of it!! I was recently given the opportunity to read the thirtieth anniversary expanded edition of Max Anders’ 30 Days to Understanding the Bible.. In order to properly interpret the Bible, one must both recognize (understand) and honor (by using it correctly) the law of rationality, which says that one should draw only such conclusions as are warranted by the evidence. Jesus said that all the Scriptures testify to him. Maybe you are reading through a book of the Bible and at the end, you read a couple of Proverbs. If you still do not understand, write down the problem area and continue onward. What are your understandings about the Bible, as there are many concepts that may be not be easy for the reader to understand. (Speaking of that book—Fr. You truly understand the Bible when God teaches you, not by reading books and commentaries, or by listening to lectures and sermons. Rather than memorize a mile wide and an inch deep, it is better to memorize an inch wide and a mile deep. Like teachers and instructors of the Bible in the past, Jehovah’s Witnesses today are engaged in a Bible educational work in 239 lands worldwide. Approach the Bible With a Proper Attitude. How to Understand the Bible - Ebook written by United Church of God. How do we understand a book as complex as the Bible? He provides resources and discipleship strategies at MaxAnders.com to help people grow spiritually. How to Read and Understand the Bible in 4 Simple Steps. Also, make sure you regularly attend a Bible-teaching church where you can get good instruction in the Bible. If you only read the Gospels, or the Epistles, you will never have a basic grasp of the other sections of the Bible. He suggests some more recent reference tools and offers more examples from contemporary English translations. Why Did Jesus say “It Is Finished”? The goal of his book is to provide a tool for beginners to gain a foundational overview of the important events and doctrines of the Bible. Money. If you never read the Old Testament, you will never have a general knowledge of it. The Bible however is not arranged like an encyclopedia. 1. I started to explore it more in-depth when I was twenty-three. Start with “the beginning lessons,” as it were, and then “go forward to more mature (advanced) teaching.” (Hebrews 6:1, 2, Easy-to-Read Version) You’ll find that you can compare scripture with scripture and learn that various parts of the Bible explain each other, even the parts that are “hard to understand.”—2 Peter 3:16. Like teachers and instructors of the Bible in the past, Jehovah’s Witnesses today are engaged in a Bible educational work in 239 lands worldwide. How can the Bible help you cope with personal problems? That is a key difference, because until we memorize verses deeply and spend time meditating on them, the truth of the passages does not seep deeply into our subconscious to influence our thoughts, attitudes, actions, and emotions. One good choice is the Cambridge Bibles; the Cameo Edition in particular, due to its portable size and dark readable type. Many take one step. The Connection is the level of understanding where a reader gets an inner witness, gets a “Rhema”, identifies fresh interpretation, or unfamiliar understanding, or new application, and revelation of secret (Amos 3:7). Then add the third verse and say all of them over and over until you have learned a section. “Do You Understand What You Are Reading?” Our title is the question that Philip asked the Ethiopian government official as he heard him reading from the Book of Isaiah (Acts 8). The Holy Spirit can’t be manipulated by tactics and tricks. Yet very few people take all four steps. What Does "Guard Your Heart" Mean in the Bible? Audio download options The words become a prayer that refreshes the troubled soul. When we learn the right thoughts and mentally chew on them over and over, day after day, they lodge in our hearts as beliefs, and these beliefs become the controlling influences of our lives. Choose one verse to memorize, and begin meditating on it. Remember when reading the Bible the verses and chapter breaks are placed in the scriptures by man. Learn more at http://biblein30days.com. Here’s the flat out truth: If we don’t understand it,... 2. 2. www.thomasnelson.com. It’s a fascinating, accessible approach to Scripture that will help you go deeper into the heart of what it’s all about: the timeless true story of God’s love for you. Here are 15 keys to help you understand the Bible. Thirty hours a year! To begin a mastery of the Bible, you must read the Bible. Therefore, it is crucial to understand several principles for determining the correct meaning of Scripture. You need to understand the Bible. The Bible can certainly be read and understood at some level by those who have not been born again—indeed, the reading of the Bible may be the very means God … More seasoned Christians might be able to give you helpful suggestions as well. Year after year millions of copies are sold or given away. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Smalley challenges us to meditate, think about, ponder, and recite Scripture until the Scripture becomes a path in our minds and hearts . What Is the Significance of the Road to Emmaus? The goal of his book is to provide a tool for beginners to gain a foundational overview of the important events and doctrines of the Bible. If you read the Bible for five minutes a day, you will read the Bible over thirty hours a year! There are four steps to mastering the Bible so well that the Bible masters you: 1. For us to understand the Bible, we must first learn about and respect God’s law (p. 36). How to Read (and Understand) the Bible is the book you need. . How to Understand the Bible - A Simple Guide by Mel Lawrenz is exactly that, a simple guide. Sermon for Sunday, September 25, 2016. As Seventh-day Adventists, we are Protestants. You might also find helpful information in Christian bookstores or online. To begin a mastery of the Bible, you must read the Bible. When we know Scripture well enough to quote it immediately in response to life’s challenges, the Bible begins to take on a power that it did not previously have in our life. Many take one step. If you want to learn to understand the Bible, you must first learn how the Bible is put together. It has been attacked as no other book has ever been attacked. Yet, not all languages are written. Let’s look at some scriptures from the Word written by four different men who were inspired of God. There's a lot more about the Bible I don't understand than I do and so there are plenty of areas where I look at and I say I gotta really think on this. If you want to master the Word so well that the Word masters you, begin by reading it. To be introduced to this study, click the blue button. 3 Tips On How To Understand The Bible better. Read the Bible in context. These three points are essential to a basic understanding of the bible: 1 God is indeed the principal author of Sacred Scripture. THE BEST GUIDE ON HOW TO UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE . How to Read the Bible: The Beginner's Guide to Reading the Bible 1. Step #2: Study the Bible for Depth of Knowledge. 2:7, 10-14 [Ans: We must ask that the Holy Spirit guide us. . Verse twenty one. If you’re just starting out reading the Bible, go with these first. Read this book using Google Play Books app on your PC, android, iOS devices. Their diversity began when God dispersed mankind across the globe. Although most ancient books have disappeared from memory, the Bible continues to be printed more than any other book and is available in more than 2,000 languages. Meaning and Importance of His Last Words. Here’s the flat out truth: If we don’t understand it, we won’t read it. I used to think that it was better to have a lot of verses memorized, but in my effort to have as many verses as possible memorized, I had them memorized shallowly. It asserts that man is lost and needs to be saved. When we memorize Scripture this deeply, it will often then jump into our minds as our first reaction to life’s circumstances, helping guide our decisions and influence our emotions. 1 At times we have to work carefully to determine exactly what a sacred author is asserting to be true, distinguishing that from something he’s using as an image to … About the Author: Dr. Max Anders is the author of over 25 books including 30 Days to Understanding the Bible. Jesus told his disciples: “You received free, give free.”—Matthew 10:8. How to Understand and Interpret the Bible. Read the Bible He gave us the Bible so we can grow in our relationship with Him. How to understand GUIDELINES THAT LEAD YOU TO GOD’S TRUTH. Or stay with about 4-6 chapters a day. Seems simple. The Bible itself provides many of the keys to understanding it. Understanding the Bible - Just Read It! This will help you understand the basics of the Gospel. . One vital key we must come to understand is that the Bible interprets itself. Regardless of your background, God’s message in the Bible “is not too difficult for you, nor is it far away.”—Deuteronomy 30:11. Share A topical study, in which you analyze what the Bible says about a particular topic or subject, is an effective way to learn what the Scriptures teach. Start with its historical setting: author, recipient, date, and purpose. The Newness of the Word. 4 Approach the Bible With a Proper Atittude How to Understand the Bible. Be humble, since God opposes the proud. A new Christian will not understand the Word as well as a mature Christian, who has studied the Bible enough to get an understanding in his or her spirit of the way God thinks and acts. 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