Bible Basics

We stop treating Bible reading like a box to check and learn three simple ways to slow down and understand a passage. We test each method on Philippians 4:6-7 so you can choose what fits your season and actually helps you pray and grow. 
• Why slowing down turns reading into real study 
• Three approaches that work for beginners and longtime readers 
• Following a Bible person to learn who they are and what their life shows about God 
• The SOAP method for quick daily reflection using Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer 
• The inductive three-question method to keep context first and application last 
• Why Paul’s setting changes how Philippians 4 lands 
So you want to try it this week? Keep it small. Just pick one passage, use one method.

SOURCES:

• Richard Fuhr Jr. and Andreas Köstenberger, "Inductive Bible Study" (B&H, 2016)
• Debra Haddix, "Journaling for the Soul" (Warner Press, 2018)
• Debra Haddix, "Soul Nourishment" (Warner Press, 2018)
• Lawrence Richards and Gary Bredfeldt, "Creative Bible Teaching" (Moody Publishers, 2020)
• Got Questions Ministries, "What Is Inductive Bible Study?" (gotquestions.org)

RELATED EPISODES:

• Grasping God's Word: How to Study the Bible    https://youtu.be/LtrtxMu2nqA
• Navigating Bible Study with the S.O.A.P. Method: 1 Corinthians 10:13 https://youtu.be/uGM4oO8xF8k 
• Top Tools for Enhanced Bible Study: Extra-Biblical Resources https://youtu.be/NJ5t_ia1MzE 
• Bible Study Tools That Actually Help https://youtu.be/LtrtxMu2nqA

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Want to live with more purpose and intention?  Check out my book, Life Planning God's Way: A Guide to Living with Purpose and Intention. It's a practical, faith-friendly guide to goal-setting and building a life that reflects what God has placed in your heart.

Grab your copy on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0h7uLiwL

Have questions about what it means to follow Jesus?
Whether you’re just starting your faith journey or exploring what the Bible teaches, we’d love to walk with you. God’s invitation is real, personal, and full of grace.

💬 Reach out to Jacqui at [email protected]
📖 Talk to a trusted Christian in your life
🏠 Or visit a Bible-believing church near you

You are not alone. God’s Word is alive, and He is still drawing people to Himself today. Don’t hesitate to take the next step.

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Feel free to contact us at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you!

Note: All scripture references are from the NIV translation unless otherwise indicated.

We get practical about Bible study tools that clarify confusing words, places, and customs without replacing slow, prayerful reading. We share a simple rhythm for using study Bibles, dictionaries, commentaries, and digital apps in a way that keeps Scripture at the center.
• why we get stuck when the Bible feels far from modern life
• using the Bible itself first by reading context and tracing repeated themes
• what a study Bible adds and how to avoid reading notes too soon
• how a Bible dictionary strengthens key terms like Passover
• what commentaries are and how to treat them as help, not authority
• choosing commentaries that match your level and returning to the text to check
• using digital Bible apps for audio, search, and translation comparison without distraction
• a simple study rhythm: pray, read, notice, use a tool, come back to Scripture
• two reflection questions on where you get stuck and which one tool to try next

Digital Resources 

• YouVersion Bible App  
• Bible Gateway  
• Blue Letter Bible 
• Olive Tree Bible App 
• Logos Bible Study App - Free version 

 Related Episode

 Top Tools for Enhanced Bible Study: Extra Biblical Resources 

References

Deane, A. (2009). Learn to study the Bible: Forty different step-by-step methods to help you discover, apply, and enjoy God’s Word. Xulon Press.

Jenkins, D. (2021). You’ve decided to study the Bible—now what? Bible Study Magazine, 13(6), 32.

Sri, E. (2009). The Bible compass: A Catholic’s guide to navigating the Scriptures. Ascension Press.

Strong, K., & Martin, S. (2019). Back roads to belonging: Unexpected paths to finding your place and your people. Revell.

Study tools: Resources for deeper Bible study. (2019). Bible Study Magazine, 11(6), 47.

We'd love to hear from you - Click Here to Text Us a Message.

Want to live with more purpose and intention?  Check out my book, Life Planning God's Way: A Guide to Living with Purpose and Intention. It's a practical, faith-friendly guide to goal-setting and building a life that reflects what God has placed in your heart.

Grab your copy on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0h7uLiwL

Have questions about what it means to follow Jesus?
Whether you’re just starting your faith journey or exploring what the Bible teaches, we’d love to walk with you. God’s invitation is real, personal, and full of grace.

💬 Reach out to Jacqui at [email protected]
📖 Talk to a trusted Christian in your life
🏠 Or visit a Bible-believing church near you

You are not alone. God’s Word is alive, and He is still drawing people to Himself today. Don’t hesitate to take the next step.

Thank you for tuning in!
Bible Basics is now streaming in video on Youtube.  Please subscribe now!

Feel free to contact us at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you!

Note: All scripture references are from the NIV translation unless otherwise indicated.

We take one of the most quoted Bible verses and show how it changes when you read the lines around it. We break down four simple context questions that help us understand Scripture more clearly and apply it the way it was meant to be lived. 

• Philippians 4:13 as contentment in hardship, not a promise of winning 
• Scriptural context by reading the sentences, paragraph, and chapter around a verse 
• Historical context for understanding the prophets and Israel’s backstory 
• Cultural context through the shock and setting of the Good Samaritan 
• Literary context and genre using Psalm 23 as poetry and imagery 
• A simple weekly practice for slowing down, noticing more, and hearing God clearly 
• Why context protects us from misunderstanding and misapplying Scripture 
• Next episode: Tools that help, including study Bibles and Bible dictionaries 

Try this: Pick one passage, maybe a short story from one of the gospels, maybe a few verses from one of Paul’s letters, maybe a psalm. Read it once, then walk it through context using our four questions. 

SOURCES: 

• Doriani, D. M. (2001). Putting the truth to work: The theory and practice of biblical application. P&R Publishing.
• Helm, D. R. (2024). How can I begin to teach the Bible? Crossway.
• Marshall, I. H. (1980). How do we interpret the Bible today? Themelios, 5(2).
• Pace, R. S. (2018). Preaching by the book: Developing and delivering text-driven sermons (H. A. Thomas, Ed.). B&H Academic.
• Schultz, R. L. (2012). Out of context: How to avoid misinterpreting the Bible. Baker Books.
• Tumlinson, N. (1999). Teachers of good things: God is great. God is good. Let us thank him for our food. Christianity Magazine, 16(11).

RELATED EPISODES:

• Why the Bible Confused Me Until I Learned This One Thing  
• Genre Matters: Exploring the Different Writing Styles of the Bible  
• Context Matters: Understanding Post-Exile Prophets 
• Literary Context: How to Study the Bible  
• Historical / Cultural Context: How to Study the Bible  
• The Prophets: Messengers of God’s Word in the Bible – Pt 2 (Historical Context)  

We'd love to hear from you - Click Here to Text Us a Message.

Want to live with more purpose and intention?  Check out my book, Life Planning God's Way: A Guide to Living with Purpose and Intention. It's a practical, faith-friendly guide to goal-setting and building a life that reflects what God has placed in your heart.

Grab your copy on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0h7uLiwL

Have questions about what it means to follow Jesus?
Whether you’re just starting your faith journey or exploring what the Bible teaches, we’d love to walk with you. God’s invitation is real, personal, and full of grace.

💬 Reach out to Jacqui at [email protected]
📖 Talk to a trusted Christian in your life
🏠 Or visit a Bible-believing church near you

You are not alone. God’s Word is alive, and He is still drawing people to Himself today. Don’t hesitate to take the next step.

Thank you for tuning in!
Bible Basics is now streaming in video on Youtube.  Please subscribe now!

Feel free to contact us at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you!

Note: All scripture references are from the NIV translation unless otherwise indicated.

We show how one small shift in approach makes the Bible easier to understand: start by identifying genre and then read the passage the way it was written. We also walk through the Bible’s major types of writing so you can stop forcing meanings and start hearing what the authors are actually saying. 
• why genre changes meaning the way a simple text does 
• a simple rule for Bible interpretation: read it the way it was written 
• why Proverbs gives patterns for life rather than guaranteed outcomes 
• how biblical narrative teaches through real people and real events 
• how the law reveals God’s character in everyday life 
• how to read biblical poetry as imagery and emotion 
• what wisdom literature is doing in books like Job and Ecclesiastes 
• what prophecy includes and why it carries warning and hope 
• what the Gospels proclaim about Jesus 
• why epistles read like real letters to real churches 
• how apocalyptic literature uses symbols to communicate big truth 
• a practical habit: ask what kind of writing it is first 
Until then, keep reading, keep seeking, and keep growing in your faith.

RELATED EPISODE:

Genre Matters: Exploring the Different Writing Styles of the Bible

SOURCES:

Anyabwile, K. (2022). Literarily: How understanding Bible genres transforms Bible study. Moody Publishers.

Bible Study Magazine. (2019). Genres: What kind of passage is it? A quick guide to the Bible’s literary genres. Lexham Press; Faithlife.

Crossway. (2008). ESV Study Bible. Crossway.

Woodbridge, N. (2016). Assessing the normative value of selected narratives from the book of Acts utilising the five hermeneutical principles of the INCUR model: How normative is Acts? Conspectus.

We'd love to hear from you - Click Here to Text Us a Message.

Want to live with more purpose and intention?  Check out my book, Life Planning God's Way: A Guide to Living with Purpose and Intention. It's a practical, faith-friendly guide to goal-setting and building a life that reflects what God has placed in your heart.

Grab your copy on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0h7uLiwL

Have questions about what it means to follow Jesus?
Whether you’re just starting your faith journey or exploring what the Bible teaches, we’d love to walk with you. God’s invitation is real, personal, and full of grace.

💬 Reach out to Jacqui at [email protected]
📖 Talk to a trusted Christian in your life
🏠 Or visit a Bible-believing church near you

You are not alone. God’s Word is alive, and He is still drawing people to Himself today. Don’t hesitate to take the next step.

Thank you for tuning in!
Bible Basics is now streaming in video on Youtube.  Please subscribe now!

Feel free to contact us at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you!

Note: All scripture references are from the NIV translation unless otherwise indicated.

We break down why there are dozens of English Bible translations and why that variety does not mean the Bible keeps changing. We explain what translators actually do, where differences come from, and how to pick a Bible version that helps you read with confidence. 
• the Bible’s original languages: Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek 
• why every English Bible is a translation 
• how manuscript choices shape a translation before wording begins 
• why most major translations come from teams of scholars 
• word for word vs thought for thought as a spectrum, not a fight 
• quick guide to KJV, NASB, ESV, NIV, and NLT 
• why The Message is better as a companion than a primary Bible 
• comparing John 3:16 across translations to see the difference 
• why reading more than one translation can add clarity and texture 
• why the front matter in your Bible is worth reading once 
Try this today. Download a free app called UVersion, also known as the Bible app. Find any verse you’re curious about. Tap on it. At the bottom of the screen, you’ll see an option that says compare. Tap that. Start with the ESV and the NLT. And if you already have a translation you love, drop it in the comments. I’d love to know what you’re reading.

SOURCES:

• Ferrin, K. (2025.). James Scripture Journey: A 40-day Bible Study Through the Book of James.
• Fee, G. D., & Strauss, M. L. (2022). How to Choose a Translation for All its Worth. Zondervan.
• Fee, G. D., & Stuart, D. (2014). How to Read the Bible for all its Worth (4th ed.). Zondervan.
• MacArthur, J. (Ed.). (2010). The MacArthur Study Bible: New International Version. Thomas Nelson.
• Meade, J. D., & Gurry, P. J. (2022). Scribes and Scripture: The Amazing Story of How we Got the Bible. Crossway.
• Wildsmith, T. (2022). Bible Translations for Everyone: A Guide to Choosing a Bible Version. Zondervan.

RELATED EPISODES:

Why if My Bible Different Than Yours? A Guide to Understanding Translations

We'd love to hear from you - Click Here to Text Us a Message.

Want to live with more purpose and intention?  Check out my book, Life Planning God's Way: A Guide to Living with Purpose and Intention. It's a practical, faith-friendly guide to goal-setting and building a life that reflects what God has placed in your heart.

Grab your copy on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0h7uLiwL

Have questions about what it means to follow Jesus?
Whether you’re just starting your faith journey or exploring what the Bible teaches, we’d love to walk with you. God’s invitation is real, personal, and full of grace.

💬 Reach out to Jacqui at [email protected]
📖 Talk to a trusted Christian in your life
🏠 Or visit a Bible-believing church near you

You are not alone. God’s Word is alive, and He is still drawing people to Himself today. Don’t hesitate to take the next step.

Thank you for tuning in!
Bible Basics is now streaming in video on Youtube.  Please subscribe now!

Feel free to contact us at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you!

Note: All scripture references are from the NIV translation unless otherwise indicated.

We answer the question behind a lot of private doubt: who decided what belongs in the Bible and how those writings became one book. We explain why Christians say the canon was recognized over time across diverse churches rather than chosen by a single person. 
• defining “canon” as the official collection of Scripture 
• why recognition differs from selection and what Christians mean by authority 
• how the Old Testament is already established before Jesus 
• how New Testament writings begin circulating around 50 AD 
• the three patterns that guide trust: consistency, apostolic connection, widespread use 
• why early disagreement actually strengthens confidence in the final list 
• how fourth-century confirmation reflects what communities already practice 
Until then, keep reading, keep seeking, and keep growing in your faith.

SOURCES:

Barry, J. D., & Van Noord, R. (2016). Canon, timeline of formation of. In J. D. Barry et al. (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Lexham Press.

Bird, M. F. (2016). Seven Things I Wish Christians knew about the Bible. Zondervan.

MacArthur, J. (Ed.). (2010). The MacArthur Study Bible: New International Version. Thomas Nelson.

Raquel, S. T. (2016). Canon, Old Testament. In J. D. Barry et al. (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Lexham Press.

Youngblood, R. F., Bruce, F. F., & Harrison, R. K. (Eds.). (1995). Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Thomas Nelson.

RELATED EPISODES:

The Formation of the Biblical Canon: Inspired and Complete

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Want to live with more purpose and intention?  Check out my book, Life Planning God's Way: A Guide to Living with Purpose and Intention. It's a practical, faith-friendly guide to goal-setting and building a life that reflects what God has placed in your heart.

Grab your copy on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0h7uLiwL

Have questions about what it means to follow Jesus?
Whether you’re just starting your faith journey or exploring what the Bible teaches, we’d love to walk with you. God’s invitation is real, personal, and full of grace.

💬 Reach out to Jacqui at [email protected]
📖 Talk to a trusted Christian in your life
🏠 Or visit a Bible-believing church near you

You are not alone. God’s Word is alive, and He is still drawing people to Himself today. Don’t hesitate to take the next step.

Thank you for tuning in!
Bible Basics is now streaming in video on Youtube.  Please subscribe now!

Feel free to contact us at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you!

Note: All scripture references are from the NIV translation unless otherwise indicated.

We pull back the curtain on how the Bible comes to us through real human writers across centuries and cultures, without losing its claim to be God’s Word. We explain what “God-breathed” means, why the Bible still sounds deeply human, and how that should change the way we read.
• the Bible written by many human authors across time and place 
• the range of authors and genres shaping Scripture’s voice 
• key New Testament writers like Luke, Paul, and John 
• original languages including Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek 
• how words were spoken, recorded, copied, and shared 
• why Christians call Scripture God’s Word and “God-breathed” 
• practical reading guidance: slow down and read in context 
Until then, keep reading, keep seeking, and keep growing in your faith.

Sources:

• Aaron, D. (2012). Understanding your Bible in 15 Minutes a Day. Bethany House.
• Dockery, D. S. (Ed.). (1992). Holman Bible Handbook. Holman Bible Publishers.
• Got Questions Ministries. (2013). Got questions? Bible Questions Answered. Logos Bible Software.
• Gromacki, R. G. (1974). New Testament Survey. Baker Academic.
• MacArthur, J. (Ed.). (2011). The MacArthur study Bible (NIV). Thomas Nelson.
• Sawyer, J. F. A. (2009). Authorship. In A Concise Dictionary of the Bible and its Reception (pp. 28–29). Westminster John Knox Press.

We'd love to hear from you - Click Here to Text Us a Message.

Want to live with more purpose and intention?  Check out my book, Life Planning God's Way: A Guide to Living with Purpose and Intention. It's a practical, faith-friendly guide to goal-setting and building a life that reflects what God has placed in your heart.

Grab your copy on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0h7uLiwL

Have questions about what it means to follow Jesus?
Whether you’re just starting your faith journey or exploring what the Bible teaches, we’d love to walk with you. God’s invitation is real, personal, and full of grace.

💬 Reach out to Jacqui at [email protected]
📖 Talk to a trusted Christian in your life
🏠 Or visit a Bible-believing church near you

You are not alone. God’s Word is alive, and He is still drawing people to Himself today. Don’t hesitate to take the next step.

Thank you for tuning in!
Bible Basics is now streaming in video on Youtube.  Please subscribe now!

Feel free to contact us at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you!

Note: All scripture references are from the NIV translation unless otherwise indicated.

We step back and trace the Bible as one unified story rather than 66 disconnected books. We walk through five key movements that make Scripture easier to read and help us see how God restores what was broken. 
• why the Bible can feel overwhelming and how a single storyline brings clarity 
• creation in Genesis and what it means to bear God’s image 
• the fall in Genesis 3 as a trust breakdown that brings shame and separation 
• God’s promise through Abraham and the blessing of the nations 
• God’s covenant people and the promise of a king from David’s line 
• redemption in Jesus as the fulfillment of the long-awaited promises 
• restoration in Revelation as everything made new with God present again 
Keep reading, keep seeking, and keep growing in your faith.

We'd love to hear from you - Click Here to Text Us a Message.

Want to live with more purpose and intention?  Check out my book, Life Planning God's Way: A Guide to Living with Purpose and Intention. It's a practical, faith-friendly guide to goal-setting and building a life that reflects what God has placed in your heart.

Grab your copy on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0h7uLiwL

Have questions about what it means to follow Jesus?
Whether you’re just starting your faith journey or exploring what the Bible teaches, we’d love to walk with you. God’s invitation is real, personal, and full of grace.

💬 Reach out to Jacqui at [email protected]
📖 Talk to a trusted Christian in your life
🏠 Or visit a Bible-believing church near you

You are not alone. God’s Word is alive, and He is still drawing people to Himself today. Don’t hesitate to take the next step.

Thank you for tuning in!
Bible Basics is now streaming in video on Youtube.  Please subscribe now!

Feel free to contact us at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you!

Note: All scripture references are from the NIV translation unless otherwise indicated.

We tackle the awkward moment when someone calls out a Bible verse and you’re not sure where to turn, then we show a simple system that makes every reference findable. We break down the Bible’s layout, explain chapters and verses, and give you a short practice plan to build real confidence.
• the Bible as a collection of 66 books and how the table of contents helps
• Old Testament and New Testament basics and why organization matters
• books grouped by genre rather than timeline
• Bible references as an address: book, chapter, verse
• how to read dashes and commas in references
• why 1 John differs from John and how numbered books work
• common book abbreviations and where to check them
• chapters and verses added later as navigation tools, not inspired text
So here's your practice for this week. Look up these four references: Genesis 1, 1, Psalm 23, 1, Matthew 1, 1, and again John 3, 16. Just practice finding them.

Related Episodes:

Navigation the Bible: Tips for Understanding Scripture References

Sources:

Christopher R. Smith, “What They Don’t Tell You in Church: Chapters & Verses,” Bible Study Magazine: July–August 2009, ed. John D. Barry (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2009), 46.

John McRay, “Bible, Canon of The,” in Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, Baker Reference Library (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1996), 60.

We'd love to hear from you - Click Here to Text Us a Message.

Want to live with more purpose and intention?  Check out my book, Life Planning God's Way: A Guide to Living with Purpose and Intention. It's a practical, faith-friendly guide to goal-setting and building a life that reflects what God has placed in your heart.

Grab your copy on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0h7uLiwL

Have questions about what it means to follow Jesus?
Whether you’re just starting your faith journey or exploring what the Bible teaches, we’d love to walk with you. God’s invitation is real, personal, and full of grace.

💬 Reach out to Jacqui at [email protected]
📖 Talk to a trusted Christian in your life
🏠 Or visit a Bible-believing church near you

You are not alone. God’s Word is alive, and He is still drawing people to Himself today. Don’t hesitate to take the next step.

Thank you for tuning in!
Bible Basics is now streaming in video on Youtube.  Please subscribe now!

Feel free to contact us at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you!

Note: All scripture references are from the NIV translation unless otherwise indicated.

We reset the pace and rebuild our foundation for reading Scripture with clarity and confidence. We explain why the Bible matters, what it is, how it was written, and how its many books tell one unified story.

• reasons Christians read the Bible as God’s word
• the Bible as a library of sixty-six books
• authors, time span, and original languages
• inspiration as God-breathed through human voices
• the grand narrative: creation, fall, promise, redemption, restoration
• a simple orientation exercise using the table of contents
• preview of how the Bible is organized next

Until next time, keep reading, keep seeking, and keep growing in your faith

RELATED EPISODE:

An Introduction to the Bible: What it is and Why it Matters

SOURCES:

• MacArthur, J. (Ed.). (2011). The MacArthur Study Bible: New International Version. Thomas Nelson.
• Goldsworthy, G. (2018). The Story Retold: A Biblical-theological Introduction to the New Testament. IVP Academic.

We'd love to hear from you - Click Here to Text Us a Message.

Want to live with more purpose and intention?  Check out my book, Life Planning God's Way: A Guide to Living with Purpose and Intention. It's a practical, faith-friendly guide to goal-setting and building a life that reflects what God has placed in your heart.

Grab your copy on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0h7uLiwL

Have questions about what it means to follow Jesus?
Whether you’re just starting your faith journey or exploring what the Bible teaches, we’d love to walk with you. God’s invitation is real, personal, and full of grace.

💬 Reach out to Jacqui at [email protected]
📖 Talk to a trusted Christian in your life
🏠 Or visit a Bible-believing church near you

You are not alone. God’s Word is alive, and He is still drawing people to Himself today. Don’t hesitate to take the next step.

Thank you for tuning in!
Bible Basics is now streaming in video on Youtube.  Please subscribe now!

Feel free to contact us at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you!

Note: All scripture references are from the NIV translation unless otherwise indicated.