Studying Scripture
by Debbie Poer
Do you read Scripture the same way in which you read your favorite novel (slow and thoughtful or quick and move on)? When you sit down to read Scripture do you have a different approach to it than what you have when you sit down to read a novel (I’ll spend time vs. I have 10 minutes to fill)? Do you simply read Scripture, or do you study Scripture? And if you study Scripture, is it your hope you gain more knowledge (head) or that you will get to know God better (head and heart)? Reading is about breadth while study is about depth.
When I was in school and studying English, it was to learn the mechanics of the language and how to apply those mechanics to the way I already spoke and wrote. As an adult when we lived in Austria and I was learning the German language, I had a different approach. While I was indeed learning the words in order to speak and write, I was also going deeper into the language, learning to make it a part of my thinking. It is often said you are proficient in a language when you dream in that language or tell a joke with success. In learning German, my goal was to become proficient. My study was more than breadth, it was depth.
Similarly, when I set out to go deeper into Scripture and not simply read it, my desire is to find the truth that Jesus speaks of in John 8:31-32, “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.’” That is what I want to discover in my study of Scripture – the depth of Jesus’ truth.
So, how is my reading of Scripture different than my study of it? There are mornings during my quiet time when I am merely reading the words with an eye on the clock and little thought beyond “What is this saying to me today?” But then there are times when my desire is to really understand the truth of those words, to take them into the depths of my being so that they become a part of who I am and how I live. For those times my approach is different.
First, as with all spiritual disciplines, there is quiet. For me, that means there are no (or few) distractions – no music, no background conversations, nothing that might overshadow the voice of God speaking to me. However, for other people, quiet may include soft background music, candles, or other methods of quieting themselves. Everyone must discover their quiet which brings them into fellowship with Scripture and with God.
In addition to a quiet place for study, we must set aside time. To dive deep into God’s Word, expecting to hear him speak we cannot be rushed. If your life and schedule are similar to mine, we are constantly moving from one activity to another. To enter a time of study requires intentionally setting aside the outside world to be present in the moment. For me, this is most often just spending those first few moments sitting in silence, attempting to empty my mind of all other thoughts. After a few minutes, I’m ready to approach Scripture.
Armed with my pen, notebook, and computer I am ready to open my Bible and focus on being transformed by what is before me.
In his book, Celebration of Discipline, Richard J. Foster tells us there are four steps in going deep into Scripture in order to be changed by it.
The first step is repetition. Reading a passage over and over, becoming familiar with what is written until it is part of our memory sets us on a path to be able to recall passages. It also is the foundation for moving on to making Scripture part of our very core being.
Next comes a time of concentration. When we center our minds on the passage we are reading we are drawn deeper into the passage and begin to discover God’s character in new or different ways.
The third step, as a natural outcome of concentration, is comprehension. This is when we may have the “ah-ha” moment as the text becomes real to us and we see or experience God in a new or different way.
The final step is reflection. This is the point in which we discover the significance of what we have studied. This is when we ask the question, “Based on what I’ve just read and studied, how does it impact my life and what changes do I need to make?”
Diving deep into Scripture requires humility. If I’m willing to invest in truly understanding what it says I must be humble enough to accept that as a result I will be called to change a part of who I am.
From Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, we learn of God’s great love for all He has created and His desire to redeem each and every part of that creation. It is filled with stories of people who have won at living for God, those who have lost because they did not, and those who returned after falling away from Him. It is a guide that will never lead us away from living an eternal life, but only if we dive in and discover all it has to offer.
Beginning today, how will you approach and spend your time in Scripture?
