5 Simple Ways to Improve Your Bible Reading Experience

Methods to Start Reading Your Bible More or to Change Up Your Current Experience

Sitting across the table from the man who shared the gospel of Jesus with me, I wondered excitedly. He had helped me understand why I went to church growing up and the importance of what it meant for me to know Jesus. And then I asked the question:

“What’s next?”

He had a few things we could do to follow up with my new found faith. And he made sure I had a Bible. Then he told me I should start in the book of John and go we would go from there.

I think back to that day from time to time. And I am thankful I had someone to help me start a regular habit of reading the Bible.

That was 15 years ago. And yet, I still come to the point of not knowing what to do next. I have read the Bible cover to cover twice. And have read several books over and over again. And then I wonder, a few questions when it comes to continuing to read their bible:

• What should I read next?
• How can I learn something new?
• Do I even need to keep reading my Bible?

In this post, I want to give you five ways to keep reading your bible and increase your time in the Bible.

Why We Need to Read the Bible

Before we go any further, we need to discuss why we need to read our Bible in the first place. After all, what if we read it once and never come back to it? Well, that would be a terrible mistake.

God calls us to constantly renew our minds in order that we would know the will of God. Where does he say that, right in the Bible?

In the book of Romans to be exact:

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.” — Romans 12:1

We need to be renewing our minds, but how do we do it? By reading the Bible. The Bible is the Word of God presented to us. And it is a great place to look for answers and encouragement.

So often, we ask, “what is God’s will for my life.” Believe it or not, the answer is right in the Bible. In fact, it is in several places, but we will get to that later.

What we need to do is to be reading our Bible and allowing the Holy Spirit to edify what we learn in our spirit, soul, and body. As this begins to happen, we can start changing the way we live to move more in line with God’s Will for our lives. And in doing so, we will “be able to test and approve what God’s will is…”

This is an important reason why we need to read the Bible.

5 Different Ways to Read and Study the Bible

Over the last 15 years, I have learned to read the Bible in several ways. Today, I want to share with you five of the most common ways to read and study the Bible. They are in no particular order, and I have tried them all.

#1: One Chapter Per Day

This is likely one of the simplest ways to read the Bible. Just start at the beginning of the Old Testament or the New Testament and begin reading a chapter a day. If you are new to Jesus, I suggest starting in the New Testament first.

As you read through each chapter a day, look for themes which connect your life to that of the people in the book you are reading. How might you apply something you read to your day?

If there is something that resonates with you, underline it. That’s right, write in the Bible. You will be surprised how often things will apply differently over the years.

This method is the easiest and it will help you work through the Bible over time.

#2: Daily Reader Bible

Similar to the “one chapter per day” method, this option is typically a prepared Bible which has readings for you each day. Typically, you are reading a New Testament chapter and an Old Testament Chapter. Sometimes, it throws Psalms or Proverbs in with it.

You can cover the entire Bible in a year this way. And if you read a lot or can set the time aside, this might be a good option for you. I have read the Bible in a year this way before and it was taxing, but it is doable.

If you want to check out what this looks like, you can Google: Daily Bible Reading Plans.

#3: Prayer Bible Journal (PBJ)

You may have heard of this before, but it is a fun way to think about reading your Bible. This method can fit right in with a chapter per day. The PBJ Method, not peanut butter and jelly, helps us make sure we are hearing from the Lord, reading the Word of God, and keeping track of what we do.

This is part of my current method. And here is how I do it:

1. I invite the Holy Spirit into my time reading and prepare myself for what God has to say to me.
2. I read the Bible. Sometimes a small section, sometimes several chapters.
3. I journal what I learned and then I stop and listen to see if God has anything to say about it.

And that is it. This can take 15 minutes or it can take an hour. It is completely up to you. However, as your prayer life grows and you continue to read the Bible, you will find more and more you learn every day.

#4: SOAP Studying

There was a season of time when this was my preferred method for reading the Bible. And in fact, this is very useful as you continually develop your relationship with Jesus. The method is simple, SOAP stands for:

• Scripture: Read the Bible. A chapter or just a small passage. But start with reading.
• Observation: Write down in a journal what you notice. What seems to attract your mind?
• Application: Write down something you could apply to your life at that moment. And then do it.
• Prayer: Close your time asking God to edify his word in you and to continue to learn.

This again can take a small amount of time, or take longer. However, it is a deep way to learn more and more about Jesus, what he has to say, and how to apply the Bible to your life. To learn more about SOAP Study check out this article.

#5: Daily Devotional Book

This is exactly what it says it is. You read a book which has scripture to start, a section where they have done the observation and application, and a prayer to close the time. This is more reflective and gives you the freedom to complete this in a short amount of time.

It also gives you the freedom to read more of the Bible around the passage it presents to you if you have more time. I am currently reading a devotional and combining the PBJ Method. This way I am sure to reflect on what I read and ask God into my time first. And then I close my time with prayer.

If you want to find a devotional, I suggest this one: Hosting the Presence Every Day by Bill Johnson

The Goal: Draw Closer to God and Bring Heaven to Earth in Your Life

I used to feel stuck when it came to reading my Bible every day because I should do it. Not because I wanted to do it or because I needed to do it. It was always about obligation. But that isn’t a great reason to read your Bible.

A great reason to read your Bible is to draw closer to God, to understand who Jesus was and what he did for you, and how the Holy Spirit can be at work in your life. In learning more and more about these things we become part of bringing heaven to earth.

And when we bring heaven to earth with the power God has given us, we begin to understand the creator of the universe better. As this happens, we experience glimpses of what earth was meant to be when He created it.

How do you read your Bible?

If you are ready to see more of heaven on earth, join me today. Follow this publication and be part of this movement of people. You can sign up for our email and be at the beginning of creating a new culture here on earth.

And most of all, you get to contribute to the church as a whole.

In the responses below, share how you read your Bible and apply it to life.