Over the past few weeks, I've been receiving email after email from women who are wondering how to begin studying the Bible.

I share a lot of Bible study resources on my blog, but a few weeks ago I shared an episode on "Does my quiet time need to be first thing in the morning?" And I think that spurred on a lot of questions. 

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So my intention with this episode is to give you a complete beginner's guide to reading the Bible. We will cover the purpose and the methods.

So this episode is for you if: 1) You've never studied the bible on your own and want to know where to start, or 2) You've read the bible here or there but don't know if you are doing it correctly or how to go deeper or 3) You want to be able to help other study the bible for themselves as well. So hopefully all of you fall into one of these three categories.

WHY do we study the Bible?

Jesus commands us to love him and know him,

"And he said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." - Matthew 22:37

We are to be hearers and doers of His word:

"But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing." - James 1:25

God's Word is meant to sustain us in a way that food alone cannot: 

“Man shall not live by bread alone,

but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” - Matthew 4:4

To carry the food analogy farther, we are to CRAVE God's Word:

"Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—" - 1 Peter 2:2

To be true discipline of Christ:

"So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”" - John 8:31-32

We are to share this treasure with others:

"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

God's Word is profitable for everything,

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."

And we know that God's Word is powerful!

"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

HOW do we study the Bible? 

On some days, it feels like it would be great if God had left very clear instructions on HOW to study the Bible. But as I've grown, I've seen the beauty that God has given us the freedom to study God's word how it works best for us and our learning style. Now with that said, there are good practices to follow and some helpful tips. 

So let's do an overview of the different methods for studying the Bible and the pros or cons of each.

While there are different ways to explain these methods of reading/studying God's Word, I love how Jen Wilkin explains them in her book, Women of the Word. You can read about all 6 approaches here. 

The Personal Shopper Approach

The Xanax Approach