How to Read the Bible 101Sample

The Walls: The Bible is meant to be read in passages and not just pieces.

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Review:

Reading the Bible isn’t always easy, but it’s totally worth it. Because when we read the Bible we are getting closer to Jesus so we can know Him better and learn how to live more like Him. That’s what the Bible is: a story that leads to Jesus and invites us to become like Him.

The foundation of reading the Bible wisely is the truth that Jesus is King. He’s the one the story is all about and everything we read points to Him and teaches us how to be more like Him. Just like a good roof, the idea that context is everything works to keep all the bad stuff from getting in. The first two walls that hold it all together are the Bible is God’s Word for us, but it wasn’t originally written to us, and the Bible is meant to be read literately and not just literally. All of these ideas work together to help us sit in the living room with Jesus so we can know Him better.

Now, onto the third wall of this house…

The Bible is meant to be read in passages and not just pieces.

If you want to read the Bible wisely, then don’t read a single Bible verse.

Wait, what? Isn’t this whole Plan about the importance of reading the Bible so we can learn more about Jesus?

Of course! That’s why it’s so important to not just read the Bible in pieces, a single verse at a time. Because when all we read is a single verse, we’re missing the context surrounding that verse that gives meaning to it. And context is everything. Without it, we often miss out on what that verse is really about. With it, we can better see how that verse is pointing us to Jesus and showing us how to become more like Him.

Before we get too far into this, let’s clear up some potential misconceptions: we are not suggesting it is never okay to read a single verse without the surrounding context. The Holy Spirit can and does work through pieces of the Bible all the time to bring us hope, encouragement, and correction when we need it. We are simply suggesting that if you only read the Bible in pieces, then you’re going to miss out on so much of what makes the Bible so beautiful and powerful.

Did you know that the Bible wasn’t originally written with verse numbers and chapters? From the time the books of the Bible were first written and for hundreds of years afterwards, it wasn’t even possible to read the Bible in pieces. Because like most books, each book of the Bible was written as one continuous narrative. It wasn’t until the 1500s when verses and chapters were added to the Bible to make it easier for people to find the different parts they were looking for. Having the verses and chapters listed out in our modern Bible is incredibly helpful, we just have to remember that the Bible was written, and is meant to be read, in passages and not just pieces.

So, if reading the Bible in pieces means just reading a single verse at a time, then what does it mean to read the Bible in passages?

While there isn’t a single definition of what a passage of Scripture is, our suggestion is to read an entire chapter when you’re reading the Bible. Not only will this lead to you reading more of the Bible than if you just read a single verse, but it will also give you more of the context so you can better understand what those specific verses mean and how they play into the big ideas the author is trying to communicate.

In addition to that, we would also recommend having your Bible (and/or Youversion Bible App) open when you are listening to a sermon so you can read the whole passage that your pastor may be sharing from when they quote a verse in their message.

These suggestions are just a few ways that you can become a wiser reader of the Bible. Because the Bible is meant to be read in passages and not just pieces.

Challenge: The next time you hear someone quote a verse in a message, or you read a verse somewhere, look it up in the Bible and read the rest of the chapter to see how that impacts the meaning of that verse!