Study: Small Habits, Big Impact
by Sherry Wallis
I was fortunate to attend Bible college, and my life was transformed in many ways during those years. I was basically biblically illiterate when I arrived, and I was thirsty for the knowledge I gained in my classes. However, I struggled to manage my personal time in the Scriptures. Because the Bible was the main textbook for many of my classes, it felt like I was continuing to study a textbook. (Do you know anyone who reads their algebra book for personal growth?) I had to find new ways to study Scripture and make it effective.
I don’t think I am alone in my struggle to make studying Scripture a priority while also being effective. I also don’t believe there is a one-size-fits-all approach to studying the Bible. A few weeks ago, Christina Bledsoe wrote how she has struggled with Biblical solitude and how she had to find a way that worked for her. I find that studying the Scriptures is the same way for me. As I have aged, what worked in the past doesn’t always continue to work. Don’t let studying Scripture become something you have to do because you think it is expected of you. Find methods that work for you, so you continue to grow in your faith.
Learn the Books of the Bible
It is important to know whether a Bible reference is from the old covenant (Old Testament) or new covenant (New Testament) so learning the books of the Bible is an important challenge.
A fun way to learn the books of the Bible is to do “sword drills.” A sword drill involves a bound copy of a Bible and Scripture references. The participants start seated with their Bibles held above their heads. Someone names a Scripture reference, and the participants race to find the book and verse in their Bibles. Once the Scripture is found, the participant who finds it jumps up and reads it out loud.
When I was growing up, I remember doing sword drills in Sunday school and at camp. I’ll admit to being competitive, and my desire to win at least one sword drill caused me to learn the books of the Bible in order. Sword drills aren’t just a kid’s game. Knowing your Bible is just as important to the older believer as it is for the younger believer. With today’s electronic Bibles, many don’t learn the books of the Bible in order or know whether a book of the Bible is in the Old Testament or New Testament. I enjoy the Bible apps and what they provide, but there is something special about having a bound Bible in my hand searching for the verse.
You don’t have to be in a group to do sword drills. This is something you can do on your own during your quiet time. Create a list of Scriptures to look up and see how fast you can find the Scripture verses. You don’t have to jump up out of your chair and start reading it (although you can if you want to).
Take Notes
I am a note taker, and I usually fill a notebook page front and back each Sunday. There are multiple reasons I take notes. The main reason is so I stay focused. My mind tends to wander, and by taking notes, I am able to focus on what is being said better. Another reason is to go back over what was said during the sermon or lesson. I challenge you to take notes when you are listening to a sermon or lesson. Write down the Scripture references if you don’t write anything else. During the week, review the message. Read the Scriptures and surrounding verses. Do you agree with the interpretation presented? Do they fit the context of the Scripture being preached?
I attended a new church recently while traveling, and the minister said something during the sermon that inspired me to go study a subject he addressed during the sermon. What he preached was different than what I had been taught, but I hadn’t put my beliefs to the test. That next week, I read the text and its surrounding text on my own. I used my concordance in the back of my study Bible and found other references for the subject. I was also able to look in a Bible dictionary to get more context. In the end, I was able to know what I believed about the subject, and could give reasons why I believed as I did. Without taking and then, later, referencing my notes, I wouldn’t have pursued the topic.
Join a Bible study/Sunday School Class/Small Group
Proverbs 27:17 tells us that “iron sharpens iron.” My life experiences are different from yours, and the same is true for those in your congregation. Our life experiences make the Scriptures come alive. You likely have verses that have deep, personal meaning for you. When we study together, we “sharpen” our awareness of Scripture, our interpretation of different verses, and how those verses have changed our thinking.
One example I can share from my life is adoption. My children are adopted, so the verses on being adopted into God’s family have a deep meaning. I can speak into the subject in a way that others may miss. I know the parental longing for a child just as our Father longs for us to accept Him. I have parented the rebellious child and know the frustration, willingness to forgive, desire to train, and deep love. I have been that rebellious child in my faith journey, but just as I still loved my children during those times, God still loves me.
The Scriptures tell us that God is a loving father. Those who have a terrible relationship with their early father or no relationship at all may struggle with these verses. Studying the Scriptures with other believers can help us get past our own hangups and learn what the biblical writer was intending us to know.
Other believers can challenge us in our thinking as well. Studying together doesn’t mean we will always agree on what the Scriptures say, but it will open our eyes to other approaches to the Scriptures.
Learning the Scriptures is important and not meant to be a terrible task. You may think my methods are silly, and that’s okay, but I urge you to find something that works for you.
Why is it important to study Scripture? To find the answer, let’s do a sword drill...
Grab your Bible...
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Go!
