Jacob Robertson

Matt Smethurst, lead editor of the Gospel Coalition, tells a story that goes like this:

Ever heard the parable about the man who, in order to discern God’s will for his life, would open his Bible and read whichever verse he saw first?

One day, as he was going through a difficult time with his family, he sought the Lord’s guidance. Opening his Bible, he pointed to a random verse. His finger rested on Matthew 27:5: “Then Judas went away and hanged himself.” Puzzled by these directions, but still hungry for a word from God, he called a “do-over” and flipped to another page. His eyes settled on Luke 10:37: “Go and do likewise.” Flustered but chalking it up to coincidence, the man decided to give his method one last chance. Saying a quick prayer, he flipped the page and placed his finger on John 13:27. There, staring up at him, was a command from Jesus: “What you are about to do, do quickly.”

Matt Smethurst, Lead Editor of the Gospel Coalition

While this is a humorous example, do we not do this sometime? Many believers (and certainly non-believers) view the Bible as extensive, confusing, or boring. We sometimes do not know where to start. I think we both overthink and undervalue the act of studying Scripture. We place so much emphasis on “getting a word from God” or application that we miss God altogether. Trevin Wax, Vice President of Research & Resource Development at the North American Mission Board, writes “Go to the Bible looking for God. Find Him, and application will follow. But go looking for application, and you may miss both.”

A recent LifeWay Research study found that less than 20 percent of churchgoers read the Bible everyday. The study focused on “Bible engagement” where LifeWay Research surveyed more than 2,900 Protestant churchgoers and found that while 90 percent “desire to please and honor Jesus in all I do,” only 19 percent personally read the Bible every day. The numbers are startling, but they are not surprising. Consistency in Bible study and quiet time is difficult, especially with the amount of media and other distractions we are inundated with. Let’s not kid ourselves.

So, how do I start reading and studying the Bible consistently? The believer’s quiet time is essential to spiritual growth and development. Show me a Christian who does not spend intentional time with God and I will show you a lukewarm Christian. We should seek to spend time with God to adore Him, to behold Him, to hear what He has to say to us through scripture, and to respond in prayer as God renews and transforms us (Rom. 12:2). Developing a quiet time requires, first, a heart that desires to spend time with God. Ask Him to fill your heart with a passion to know Him better. Next, developing a quiet time takes intentionality, structure, and patience. It’s been said before that habits do not form until after thirty days of consecutive practice. Forming a habit of spending an intentional time with God each day will take time to develop. It will not happen overnight. You may miss some days. And that’s okay. The goal here should not be to check a quiet time off a list but to know God more intimately and to respond in obedience.

The transformed and renewed mind is the mind saturated with and controlled by the Word of God.

John MacArthur, Pastor & Teacher at Grace Community Church

Quiet Time Fundamentals

The three fundamentals of a quiet time are time (obviously), Scripture, and prayer. If the ultimate goal of a quiet time is spending time and getting to know God then these components make sense. How do we get to know someone? We spend time with them and talk to them. What is one way that God speaks to our hearts? Through His scripture. He won’t speak to our ears but He will speak to our heart. How do we communicate with God? Through prayer.

Honor God with your Time

We see often in Scripture how God commands us to put Him first. Placing God as number one in our lives means that in every decision we make, we involve Him. When God is part of our family, our work, our relationships, our possessions, and specifically our quiet time, that is when He is most honored. And in our quiet time, we demonstrate our love and dedication to Him.

Ephesians 5:15-16 says, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.”

Pick a Time That Works for Your Schedule

We all live crazy and hectic lives. An extra 30 minutes of sleep in the morning might as well be a whole night of sleep. Everyone has different lives and schedules. It’s important, however, that we don’t wedge our quiet time in a gap in our day. We want to demonstrate to God the importance of spending time with him and carve out intentional time with Him. Obviously, there are times where it’s simply not possible. And during those times, a moment with God during the workday is just what we need to do. Be all of this as it may, I find it important, in fact, crucial to do a quiet time in the morning. Why? What is the most important meal of the day? Breakfast. When we eat a healthy breakfast, this nourishment fuels our energy for the day. The same principle applies to spending time with God. When we are connected to him and receive spiritual nourishment for the day in the morning, we now have the spiritual energy we need to not just survive the day but thrive throughout the day. 

Scripture

First, find a Bible that you can read. The only Bible you need is the one you are going to read. Pick a translation that is readable but also reliable. I prefer the ESV because of its balanced approach to the academic reader but also the lay-person. Combine your Scripture reading with a commentary that can expound upon what you are reading. One of the primary goals in studying the Bible is to exegete (accurately interpreting the text) the Scriptures and not commit eisegesis (the interpretation of a text by reading into it one’s own ideas). Exegesis should be the goal, and eisegesis should be avoided. Utilizing those much smarter than us and relying on their scholarship is one of the ways of performing proper exegesis. Theologians such as John MacArthur, Warren Wiersbe, and R.C. Sproul are reliable and easy to understand.

The scriptures have the authority to inform our experiences, but our experiences do not have the authority to inform the scriptures.

Garrett Kell, Pastor at Del Ray Baptist Church in Alexandria, VA

Second, ask crucial questions. I’ll never forget sitting in the small living room of a pastor’s home in Ashville, North Carolina listening to him explain to me how to actually study the Bible. He told me to ask these four questions after I read a passage of Scripture: 1) What does this verse say about God? 2) What does this verse say about man? 3) Is there a sin to avoid? 4) Is there a promise to keep? Asking these four crucial questions provided so much structure to my quiet time. I encourage you to answer these questions after reading a passage or verse of Scripture.

Third, Scripture mapping is a practice that I have used for years. All this really means is developing some symbols that can be placed above certain words to bring emphasis to them. For example, I use a triangle symbol to represent the Trinity and place it over the name of God every time I see His name written. The Holy Spirit could have a dove symbol. This practice is to keep you engaged in reading Scripture.

Final Thoughts

Studying the Bible does not have to be difficult. God has provided us with this divinely inspired book for a reason. He would not have given it to us and commanded us to read it, if it were not possible or accessible to do so. I fear that as generations come and go, and we dive further into the world of instantaneous gratification, we grow further away from the practices that aid in studying Scripture. Allow these words from David Helm to encourage you and direct your next steps as you seek to obediently study Scripture in 2022:

The only necessary key to understanding the Bible is to approach it with a humble and contrite heart softened by the Holy Spirit, ready to listen to what God says, and just as ready to obey him.

David Helm, Author of Expositional Preaching