The Bible is a big book, and it's really old, and there are things in it that are hard to understand. Rumors abound. And so does false information. It can seem boring and confusing. But if you know some basic things about it, it gets WAAAAAAY easier to read and understand, AND much more enjoyable!

00:00 Intro & recap of Part 1

03:08 What you need to know about the Old & New Testaments

14:23 Genres of writing in the Bible (and why you need to know them!)

23:15 Prescriptive vs. descriptive (and why this matters SO MUCH!)

27:14 The books of the Bible are not in order!

31:13 Why you should ignore chapter & verse divisions (and headings!)

34:03 The Bible wasn't written in English

36:54 The Bible was written FOR us, but not TO us

39:17 Who gets to decide what the Bible means?

48:21 How do we know how to apply the Bible to our lives today?

24:25 Encouragement for this week

Why Should You Want to Study the Bible (Bible Study Basics Part 1)

https://youtu.be/P7P6UVlThPU

How to Understand the Old Testament Law

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuBirH5Rw3IhJinWrcTufY6

Overview of Hebrews

https://youtu.be/zq-Nx9bCBJ8?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHvbngIxNKt7fnkytLNO509g

How to Understand the Book of Proverbs Correctly

https://youtu.be/din8-ZzaVhY

Laura Zifer on Jeremiah 29:11

https://laurazpowell.org/blog//2019/08/prosperity-or-persecution-jeremiah-2911.html

Bible Study Basics Series on my blog (free printable in Part 3):

https://morethanthismess.com/2025/08/29/bible-study-basics-part-one/

https://morethanthismess.com/2025/09/01/bible-study-basics-part-two

https://morethanthismess.com/2025/09/04/bible-study-basics-part-three/

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The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee. This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain.

Have you ever felt like you could just leave the Bible study stuff to the "pros"? Have you ever felt overwhelmed when you thought about reading your Bible -- you didn't know where to start, or you felt too far behind? Have you ever wondered why you should read the Bible at all? I sure have! So I want to share what I've learned with you -- because you can and should read and study your Bible, and you can even enjoy it!

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro to this series

01:28 Intro to this episode: WHY we should study the Bible (quick answer)

02:01 What do we need to know about life?

04:44 Why should we trust what's in the Bible?

06:29 What is the Bible, really?

10:10 What does it mean that God inspired the Bible?

14:07 What about the copies we have today?

17:39 Remember this!

18:08 Things that often keep us from reading the Bible (and how to do it anyway)

23:32 Encouragement for if you feel intimidated or unsure where to start

Bible Study Basics Three-Part Blog Series (includes more links to resources)

(Listen or read at the blog):

https://morethanthismess.com/2025/08/29/bible-study-basics-part-one

Mike Winger: Evidence for the Bible

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuhA0RPKZFHVcjIMN_-F596

Mike Winger - Refuting Supposed Bible "Contradictions"

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi-tJmIiOS7NhiojK-X8Y96uZB_PhQ48I

Andrew Wilson “Unbreakable: What the Son of God Said About the Word of God”

https://a.co/d/4kZHjN3

Wes Huff: Is There Any Evidence for the Historicity of the Bible?

https://youtu.be/qYsBvzmdxQY?si=0cauJ9gFp99GYKJ_

How Archaeology Supports the Bible: A Conversation with Joel Kramer (Sean McDowell)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_k4noV95kk

J Warner Wallace - How Can the Bible Be Inerrant If It Contains Variants

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rl41qMLjHeY

Favorite Scriptures Playlist (Including 2 Timothy 3:16-17)

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jxFDeb7SEYsjG7jEI2bjbs7

My Blog:

https://morethanthismess.com/

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Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

I share a simple (and free) tool I use -- one that helps me have a good year no matter what.

Print the calendar at this blog post:

https://morethanthismess.com/2023/12/30/remember-what-god-has-done/

If you like alliterative points, here you go: Redefine (to align with reality!), refocus, reflect, record, revisit.

"Heaven" by Randy Alcorn

At his website: https://store.epm.org/category/heaven

On Amazon: https://a.co/d/eRKNlfd

Favorite Scriptures Playlist (Including 2 Corinthians 4)

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jxFDeb7SEYsjG7jEI2bjbs7

My Blog: https://morethanthismess.com/

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Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee. This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain.

Read chapter 24 of Luke with me! :) What joy: the tomb is empty! I love how Jesus explains to His disciples how all of the Old Testament points to Him -- and now they get it! And I love that none of them expected Him to rise from the dead. I mean, they weren't dumb; that's not something that happens! But God...and so Jesus gave them evidence, showing them His physical body and even eating in front of them. He is Risen, and offers us eternal life in Him! May we always remember -- especially as we celebrate His birth -- why He came, who He really is, and what He did for us!

The Gospel of Luke Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jweHJVfx3v92e-BHb3BY6qI

Favorite Scriptures Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jxFDeb7SEYsjG7jEI2bjbs7

Proverbs Chapter a Day Playlist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jw10rbK-jyXkOok4uVa_muJ&si=VeJdxHq9L8qzI94X

My website:

https://MoreThanThisMess.com

"Bible Study Basics" Blog Series: https://morethanthismess.com/2025/08/29/bible-study-basics-part-one/

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The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee. This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain.

Read chapter 23 of Luke with me. Jesus willingly lays down His life.

The Gospel of Luke Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jweHJVfx3v92e-BHb3BY6qI

Favorite Scriptures Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jxFDeb7SEYsjG7jEI2bjbs7

Proverbs Chapter a Day Playlist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jw10rbK-jyXkOok4uVa_muJ&si=VeJdxHq9L8qzI94X

My website:

https://MoreThanThisMess.com

"Bible Study Basics" Blog Series: https://morethanthismess.com/2025/08/29/bible-study-basics-part-one/

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The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee. This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain.

Read chapter 22 of Luke with me. Jesus knowingly and willingly moves toward the reason He was born: the cross.

The Gospel of Luke Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jweHJVfx3v92e-BHb3BY6qI

Favorite Scriptures Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jxFDeb7SEYsjG7jEI2bjbs7

Proverbs Chapter a Day Playlist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jw10rbK-jyXkOok4uVa_muJ&si=VeJdxHq9L8qzI94X

My website:

https://MoreThanThisMess.com

"Bible Study Basics" Blog Series: https://morethanthismess.com/2025/08/29/bible-study-basics-part-one/

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The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee. This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain.

Read chapter 21 of Luke with me! :) In this chapter, Jesus explains how God sees our giving, and then focuses on the future, tasking His disciples (and us!) with being watchful.

The Gospel of Luke Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jweHJVfx3v92e-BHb3BY6qI

Favorite Scriptures Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jxFDeb7SEYsjG7jEI2bjbs7

Proverbs Chapter a Day Playlist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jw10rbK-jyXkOok4uVa_muJ&si=VeJdxHq9L8qzI94X

My website:

https://MoreThanThisMess.com

"Bible Study Basics" Blog Series:* https://morethanthismess.com/2025/08/29/bible-study-basics-part-one/

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The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee. This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain.

Read chapter 20 of Luke with me! :) This is a fun chapter. Over and over, groups of people try to prove Jesus wrong or get Him in trouble -- and they fail miserably. Instead, Jesus points out how wrong they are and openly describes what they're really doing. Jesus showed grace to those who were willing to repent, but He never pulled punches with people who twisted God's words.

The Gospel of Luke Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jweHJVfx3v92e-BHb3BY6qI

Favorite Scriptures Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jxFDeb7SEYsjG7jEI2bjbs7

Proverbs Chapter a Day Playlist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jw10rbK-jyXkOok4uVa_muJ&si=VeJdxHq9L8qzI94X

My website:

https://MoreThanThisMess.com

"Bible Study Basics" Blog Series: https://morethanthismess.com/2025/08/29/bible-study-basics-part-one/

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The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee. This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain.

Read chapter 19 of Luke with me! :) Quite the range of topics in this chapter! The wee little man many of us sang about in Sunday School; another challenging parable ("...everyone who has will be given more; but the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him." If you've been confused by this, too, I have appreciated Mike Winger's explanation -- see the link below); Jesus enters Jerusalem on His way to the cross, weeps over her fate because the Israelites rejected His offer of salvation, and then rebukes those who have made the Temple into a den of thieves.

Mike Winger on the Parable of the Minas (Q15 of 20Q's Episode 93)

https://youtu.be/EVGsH270m7c?t=5196

The Gospel of Luke Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jweHJVfx3v92e-BHb3BY6qI

Favorite Scriptures Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jxFDeb7SEYsjG7jEI2bjbs7

Proverbs Chapter a Day Playlist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jw10rbK-jyXkOok4uVa_muJ&si=VeJdxHq9L8qzI94X

My website:

https://MoreThanThisMess.com

"Bible Study Basics" Blog Series: https://morethanthismess.com/2025/08/29/bible-study-basics-part-one/

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The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee. This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain.

Read chapter 18 of Luke with me! :) I find it so interesting that we repeatedly see people trying to keep others from coming to or calling out to Jesus. Sometimes it's the Pharisees (Lk 13: 14, etc), sometimes we aren't told exactly who (Lk 18: 39) and sometimes it's even His disciples (Lk 18: 15). They had different motivations -- maybe to keep power for themselves, or maybe to "protect" Jesus -- but it was always wrong. May we always only encourage people to come to Him!

The Gospel of Luke Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jweHJVfx3v92e-BHb3BY6qI

Favorite Scriptures Playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jxFDeb7SEYsjG7jEI2bjbs7

Proverbs Chapter a Day Playlist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADknl3H78jw10rbK-jyXkOok4uVa_muJ&si=VeJdxHq9L8qzI94X

My website:

https://MoreThanThisMess.com

"Bible Study Basics" Blog Series: https://morethanthismess.com/2025/08/29/bible-study-basics-part-one/

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The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee. This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain.