Engaging with the Bible: Start Small, Stay Consistent
Summary
In our journey of learning how to study the Bible, today’s focus is simple yet profound: just do it. Engaging with God's Word is not about finding the easiest path but about finding a method that genuinely works for you. Whether it's listening to an audiobook, reading a verse a day, or diving into a devotional, the key is to start somewhere and remain consistent. Just like physical exercise, spiritual growth requires effort and persistence. It’s not about the quantity of scripture you read but the quality of your engagement with it.
The story of my family’s attempt at a push-up routine serves as a metaphor for our spiritual discipline. Initially, we were enthusiastic, but over time, interest waned, and we stopped. Similarly, our spiritual journey requires consistent effort. It’s not about setting unrealistic goals but about making small, meaningful steps towards a deeper relationship with Jesus.
Consistency in reading the Bible is crucial. It doesn’t mean you have to read for a set amount of time every day, but rather that you find a rhythm that works for you. For some, like Karen, it might mean reading a few chapters in the morning. For others, it might be a verse or two throughout the day. The important thing is to make it a habit, just like any other discipline in life.
Starting with the Gospel of John is a great way to begin. It’s accessible and provides a clear picture of who Jesus is. Whether it takes you six months or a few days to read through it, the goal is to engage with the Word and let it speak to you.
Finally, remember that studying the Bible is not just about gaining knowledge but about spending time with God. It’s easy to get caught up in doing all the right Christian activities without actually connecting with God personally. Make space for His Word in your life, and let it transform you from the inside out.
Key Takeaways:
- Start Small and Be Consistent: Just like physical exercise, spiritual growth requires starting small and being consistent. Whether it's a verse a day or a chapter a week, the key is to make it a habit. Over time, this consistency will lead to spiritual strength and growth. [02:34]
- Find What Works for You: There is no one-size-fits-all approach to studying the Bible. Whether it's listening to an audiobook, reading devotionals, or using a Bible app, find a method that resonates with you and stick with it. The important thing is to engage with God's Word regularly. [04:42]
- Quality Over Quantity: It's not about how much scripture you read but how deeply you engage with it. Take time to absorb and reflect on what you read, even if it's just a few verses. Let the Word speak to you and transform your life. [06:58]
- Purposeful Reading: Approach the Bible with a purpose. Whether it's understanding a particular story or seeking guidance for a specific situation, having a purpose in your reading can make it more meaningful and impactful. [10:53]
- Make Space for God’s Word: Amidst all the Christian activities, ensure you are spending personal time with God through His Word. It's easy to learn about God without actually spending time with Him. Make space for His Word in your life and let it transform you. [15:40]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:34] - Start Small and Be Consistent
- [04:42] - Find What Works for You
- [06:58] - Quality Over Quantity
- [10:53] - Purposeful Reading
- [12:50] - Relating to Biblical Characters
- [15:40] - Make Space for God’s Word
- [17:56] - Reading 2 John
- [20:40] - Discussion on 2 John
- [22:11] - Love as the Greatest Commandment
- [24:38] - Setting Realistic Goals
- [26:00] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- John 3:16
- 2 John 1
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Observation Questions:
1. What metaphor did the pastor use to illustrate the importance of consistency in spiritual discipline? How does this metaphor relate to our spiritual journey? [04:42]
2. According to the sermon, what are some different methods people use to engage with the Bible? [02:34]
3. In 2 John 1, what is the main commandment that John emphasizes to the recipients of his letter? [17:56]
4. How does the pastor describe the process of forming habits, both in physical exercise and in spiritual practices? [06:58]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the metaphor of physical exercise help us understand the importance of spiritual consistency and growth? [04:42]
2. Why might the Gospel of John be recommended as a starting point for someone new to reading the Bible? What makes it accessible? [10:53]
3. In the context of the sermon, what does it mean to prioritize "quality over quantity" when engaging with Scripture? [06:58]
4. How does the pastor's story about his family's exercise routine illustrate the challenges of maintaining spiritual disciplines? [04:42]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current Bible reading habits. What small, consistent step can you take this week to engage more deeply with Scripture? [06:58]
2. Identify a method of Bible study that resonates with you. How can you incorporate this method into your daily routine to ensure regular engagement with God's Word? [02:34]
3. Consider the metaphor of physical exercise used in the sermon. What are some practical ways you can apply this metaphor to strengthen your spiritual discipline? [04:42]
4. The sermon emphasizes the importance of making space for God's Word in our lives. What specific changes can you make in your schedule to prioritize personal time with God? [15:40]
5. Reflect on the commandment to love one another as discussed in 2 John 1. How can you actively demonstrate this love in your community this week? [17:56]
6. Think about a time when you were more focused on Christian activities than on personal time with God. What steps can you take to ensure your relationship with God remains personal and transformative? [15:40]
7. The pastor mentioned the importance of having a purpose when reading the Bible. What specific purpose or question can guide your next Bible study session? [10:53]
Devotional
Day 1: Consistent Spiritual Habits Lead to Growth
Engaging with God's Word is akin to embarking on a journey of spiritual fitness. Just as physical exercise requires regularity and dedication, so does spiritual growth. The key is to start small and be consistent, whether it's reading a verse a day or a chapter a week. Over time, these small, consistent efforts will lead to spiritual strength and growth. It's not about setting unrealistic goals but about making meaningful steps towards a deeper relationship with Jesus. [02:34]
"Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." (Romans 12:11-12, ESV)
Reflection: What small, consistent habit can you start today to deepen your relationship with God?
Day 2: Personalize Your Bible Study Approach
There is no one-size-fits-all method for studying the Bible. Each person is unique, and so is their journey with God. Whether it's listening to an audiobook, reading devotionals, or using a Bible app, find a method that resonates with you and stick with it. The important thing is to engage with God's Word regularly, allowing it to speak into your life in a way that is meaningful and transformative. [04:42]
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." (Colossians 3:16, ESV)
Reflection: What method of engaging with the Bible feels most natural and effective for you, and how can you incorporate it into your daily routine?
Day 3: Depth Over Breadth in Scripture Engagement
When it comes to studying the Bible, the focus should be on the quality of engagement rather than the quantity of scripture read. Taking time to absorb and reflect on even a few verses can lead to profound insights and personal transformation. It's about allowing the Word to speak to you deeply and letting it shape your life from the inside out. [06:58]
"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12, ESV)
Reflection: How can you create space in your day to deeply reflect on a small portion of scripture, allowing it to impact your heart and mind?
Day 4: Purposeful Engagement with Scripture
Approaching the Bible with a clear purpose can make your study more meaningful and impactful. Whether it's understanding a particular story or seeking guidance for a specific situation, having a purpose in your reading can help you connect more deeply with God's Word. This intentionality can lead to a more profound understanding and application of scripture in your life. [10:53]
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105, ESV)
Reflection: What specific purpose or question can you bring to your Bible reading today to make it more relevant and impactful for your current life situation?
Day 5: Prioritizing Personal Time with God
In the midst of all the Christian activities and responsibilities, it's crucial to prioritize personal time with God through His Word. It's easy to get caught up in doing all the right things without actually connecting with God personally. Make space for His Word in your life, allowing it to transform you and deepen your relationship with Him. [15:40]
"But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." (Matthew 6:6, ESV)
Reflection: How can you intentionally carve out time in your day to spend personal, uninterrupted time with God, allowing His Word to speak into your life?
Quotes
What I do mean by that is sometimes I listen to the audio book. Sometimes I'm driving and I can listen to full multiple chapters and I can gain some knowledge from that. Sometimes it's the devotionals that we're going through. Sometimes it's the verse of the day. Sometimes I was listening to a podcast, there's an app called pray.com, I've never actually looked at, but evidently Darth Vader can read you scripture if you want. [00:01:07] (28 seconds)
When you get into the Word, the consistency of it is so important. Does that mean you have to get in the Bible every single day at 9 o'clock in the morning and you have to spend 45 minutes, otherwise you're not doing it right? No. Because what works for you may not work for somebody else. [00:05:49] (18 seconds)
She gets up early in the morning, and she reads two chapters, and if she feels like going to another spot, she'll read another chapter. Great. What she also talks about is she lived her life a very long time before she felt the Holy Spirit say to her, you need to read scripture. It wasn't from the beginning of time that she became a Christian that all of a sudden she was just reading through three chapters a day and everything was great. It's a slow process and you have to start somewhere. [00:06:26] (32 seconds)
To form habits takes time and it takes effort. In order to grow, this is what Joe was asking me over the week, in order to grow, sometimes, almost always, you have to have a little bit of pain and endurance that is involved with that. You have to dig deep, and even though I don't like to read very much, it's so important for me and my walk with Jesus to read the words that he wrote. [00:08:04] (35 seconds)
And if you read one or two or five or six verses of the Gospel of John, and that took you six months to read through, that is awesome. And if you have read through the Gospel of John a hundred times, and you can read through it in two days or one sitting, that is awesome. As long as there is some consumption of the Word of God. [00:09:03] (28 seconds)
One of my favorite things that communicators and preachers are able to do at times is take the stories of the Bible, your Jonas, your Josephs, your Jesus even, your Paul, your Peters, yourfreiers. And to take those people from being the old character drawn on a cartoon map, wearing the old clothes, to, you know what? If Jesus was walking today, there would be Peters around him. [00:11:56] (28 seconds)
And this woman talked how she was saved in the 90s, and then she became more consistent with her faith. She was working in the church. She was checking all of the right boxes of what a Christian does. She only listened to K-Love, or I listened to Spotify. She only listened to Christian music. She listened to sermons all the time. She was listening to podcasts. She was going to church on a regular basis. She was doing all these things. And then the Holy Spirit convicted her and said, you're learning all of the things about God. [00:13:39] (39 seconds)
You're spending all of your time in learning the knowledge of who God is, but you're not spending time with God. You're doing all the right church things, all the ways in which we try to connect each other to Christ. But she wasn't spending time with the Word on her own. It was always somebody else's interpretation. It was always somebody else's information. It was always somebody else's Word. She was not making space for the Word of God to be in her life. [00:14:18] (34 seconds)
I encourage you to mark up your Bible, to underline, to circle, to highlight. In the Bible app, you can highlight verses. Oftentimes, I come back to a verse that's like, oh, I highlighted that three years ago. Something spoke to me there. At the end of the day, in some way, shape, or form, find what works for you, dig through the, I did push-ups for a week and a half, and then I've kind of let it go because it wasn't there. [00:15:43] (31 seconds)
Sometimes you look at the mountain to climb and if your goal is to get to the summit, you may never start. Create realistic goals that I want to gain a piece of knowledge today from God's Word. Lord, that I want to get myself into His Word in the smallest way possible. And then I'm going to grow. And sometimes it's going to be real uncomfortable and I'm not going to understand what I'm reading and I'm going to have to read through it four times just to gain something. [00:24:15] (32 seconds)
As we read through your Scripture, help us to prepare our hearts and our minds for worship through your Word, to gain something from your Word that we can put into our lives. Teaching us through your stories, through the people that you've used all throughout Scripture, that I can be sharpened, that I can grow into a deeper relationship with you. Sometimes it's not going to be the most enjoyable. Give me the courage to work through that. Help me to see you in your word today. In your name, amen. [00:25:35] (47 seconds)
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