Before considering different ways of studying the Bible it is a fantastic idea to get the big picture first. How can we do this?

One of the greatest benefits you will get by studying the Bible completely through is you'll see how God relates to individuals over an extended period of time. I tell folks to reserve judgement about what they read, rather than to be impatient when they come across components that are hard to understand. Things become a good deal clearer if the Bible is taken as a whole.

This is the exact way Jesus did it appeared to the guys on the road to Emmaus after He'd been crucified, and had risen from the dead. The Scriptures say,"And beginning at Moses and the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself." Luke 24:27

It follows that Jesus, rather than turning to a few"proof texts" to explain the events which had happened in Jerusalem to Cleopas and his friend - took them on a extensive tour during the total Bible.



Add in"all the prophets" and you've got most of the Old Testament (that the NT had not been written yet). That really is stating Jesus gave a Bible study on a certain topic (His birth, life, death and resurrection) which took Him through most of the Bible which was in existence at that time.

TAKEAWAY TIP # 1: A fantastic way to go through the Bible - whether you have read it or not - would be to receive a chronological, one-year Bible. This sort of Bible makes it a lot simpler to browse through because it's broken down into daily readings. That's the 1-year part.

Additionally, by acquiring one that is chronological it takes the events from begin to finish in the sequence in which they happened. Many people are not aware that the Bible is not compiled in the specific sequence in which the events occurred. Jezus comes as near as possible to exact order, with some speculation regarding the specific time of certain books, e.g., Job.

The next thing which makes it easier is that the translations. There are two variations of a Chronological, 1 Year Bible. They're the New Living Translation (NLT) and the New International Version (NIV). I much prefer the New Living Translation cause it reads as a narrative and makes it really easy to stay with this. I've gone through the NLT twice this way and thoroughly enjoyed it every time.



# 2) Get the Right Mindset

Another aspect of"Getting the Big Picture" is getting the right mindset before beginning your study. Doing this takes a comprehension of what makes the Bible different from another publication - so let us look at that.

Listed below are a few interesting facts about the Bible that make it unlike any other publication in history:

To begin with, the Bible claims to have been motivated by our Creator - think about that!!! (more on this below)

It had been written over a span of 1500 years
It'd 40 distinct writers
The authors were from 19 different occupations
It includes history, poetry, play, & prophecy - all telling the same story from start to finish
The Bible tells us who we are, i.e., where we came from; why we're here; and where we are going
Unlike other books of antiquity the Bible records the authentic record of it is heroes and it is nation. It is honest about their defeats when they occur and it openly discloses the flaws of it's heroes.



Before going on I'd love to elaborate on the first point I made above - the promise of inspiration.

The Bible claims that it had been motivated by God, i.e., the person who made us. As Opposed to take it for granted wrap your mind around that for another then ask your self -

Q. What if that is accurate? Imagine if the Bible is a communicating to us from our Creator? Would not that have profound implications?

A. I think it would.

Below are a few fascinating quotes I've taken from Isaiah chapters 45 & 46. What is great about them is they claim to be God Himself speaking to us in the first person. Did you catch this? God Himself speaking! The Bible, many times in Isaiah chapters 40-46, is full of unbelievable claims. It asserts our Creator is speaking. I have gleaned just a few to give you a sample of what is stated in these chapters:

"So says the Lord who made you, And formed you from the womb, who will help you." Isa 44:2

"I am the Lord, and there's not any other; There's no God besides Me." Isa 45:5

"I've made the earth, And made man on it. I - My hands - stretched out the heavens, and all their host I have commanded." Isa 45:12

For that I am God, and there is not any other. I have sworn by Myself; The term has gone from my mouth in righteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee will bow, and every tongue shall confess." Isa 45:22,23

TAKEAWAY TIP #2: We lead busy lives and it's really simple to treat the Bible as a normal book, or to view its reading or study as a routine task we've obligated ourselves to do. So here's a hint... Before you start get the right mindset.

Stop and think about the book you're about to open. Before you open it, say a brief prayer to God and ask Him to guide you on your understanding. Use God's Word as the focal point of your prayer.

Ask Him to achieve on your life just what He wants His word to achieve, and to prosper His word in your own life for the exact purpose for which He sent it. That's the way you make the Word the focal point of your prayers. You are praying for that which He said from the text to happen in your lifetime.

So one way you can do a topical research through Scripture would be to compile a listing of texts referring to your subject.



Apart from all of the great Scripture you'll be learning and implementing on your life this can help keep you from feeling daily Bible study is overly regular.

# 3) Get Objections Out of the Way

Sometimes when I mention studying the Bible people will raise objections. Here's a few of them, which I will follow after with hints on to cope with them:

The Bible's too intimidating
It does not make sense to me
No one knows what's right, that's why there's so many Distinct denominations
The Bible is not relevant to our culture today
and many more

Write down any thoughts you are having that can affect you in a negative way, then think them through. For example, here is a few answers to the objections listed above.

"The Bible's overly intimidating". That's OK! We feel intimidated about a great deal of things we do when we are first getting started. Can you feel frustrated the very first time you drove a vehicle? Needed to provide a speech in college? Asked a woman out on a date (or agreed to one if you are a gal)?

"It doesn't make sense to me". Hmmm. Did chemistry make sense the first time you attended? Or algebra? Or a foreign language you learned? Certainly not! The Bible is similar to everything else. The more you spend time with it the more sense it will begin making for you.

"No one knows what's right, that's why there's a lot of distinct denominations." You are correct, there are a lot of denominations. But you don't need to join them all. Nor do you need perfect comprehension. What is more significant than that's having a ideal heart and a ideal spirit. Just concentrate on what exactly does seem right, and stack the odds in your favor by going on the weight of evidence.

As an example. Let us say I wish to know what happens when someone dies. I can choose a Bible concordance (essentially an index) and follow my subject via all Scripture. If I find 30 texts on my topic, and 24 of them are saying one thing, but 6 of these seem to be saying something else, I could go by the weight of evidence and feel secure with the 24, and use them to try to better understand what the other 6 are stating in their circumstance.

One reason behind so many denominations is people not using the burden of evidence to invent a philosophy, but going on maybe 1-6 texts on a subject while being ignorant of ignoring everything else.

"The Bible isn't relevant to our culture now." Really? When was it ever relevant? Just joking (type of) but think about it like this - there always has been, and always will be, a tension between the ways of God and the culture . The Bible says, "Come out from among them and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean thing". 2 Cor. 6:17. 2:11 And,"do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your head" Rom 12:2 While cultures are unique principles will always remain the same. As will the tension between the church and the world (as it is for the individual - see Gal 5:17"For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit contrary to the flesh")