We’re roughly 2/3 of the way through Growth from A to Z, as we come to S – Scripture.

Reading the Bible

Let’s face it, many Christians today don’t know their Bibles very well.  And even if you’re one who does  — can we ever know the Bible too well?  Often we get caught up in thinking we have to do a lot of “study,” but really the best way to get to know the Scripture well is simply to read it — again and again.

There is no one best way to read the Bible.  Different approaches to reading the Bible may suit different people or different seasons of life.  Consider, too, switching up your approach simply for variety, as a different approach may provide you with a different perspective.  For instance, a reading plan that’s chronological may help you see things in a way you never have by reading from Genesis to Revelation.  Here are a few options:

• chronological reading plan [PDF]
• Horner reading plan [PDF] & my adaptation (This one is good because it puts different passages “side-by-side” each time.)
• 1-year reading plans
• 90-day reading plan
• 3-year reading plan [PDF] (This one is good if you want to take your time and savor it.)
• Bible reading chart (This one is good if you tend to get “behind” and then get discouraged.  Just pick up where you left off.)
• Reader’s Bible (This is a Bible laid out without verse separations, so it reads more like a “regular” book.)

Tips, “Tricks,” & Tools for Reading the Bible

Especially if you’ve read the Bible through before, and if you have trouble keeping focused, consider choosing a particular “theme” you’re watching for during a certain “pass” through the Bible.  I like to do this using a separate, inexpensive paperback to highlight/mark up for each one.

Jot down anything that jumps out at you.  (I also like to keep a running list in my journal of “things to study/look up.”  That way I don’t get sidetracked from my current reading.)

Are you having trouble keeping up with a whole reading plan?  Try out the Write the Word journals from Cultivate What Matters.  (See the video below.)  This offers a simple daily format where you copy a brief passage of Scripture and jot down what stands out to you from it.

Learn to Study the BibleFalling In Love with God’s Word: Discovering What God Always Intended Bible Study To BeThe Bible Recap: A One-Year Guide to Reading and Understanding the Entire Bible

Memorizing Scripture

Besides reading Scripture, it’s good to memorize Scripture, too.  In order to memorize verses in the first place, repetition is good.  I like to also incorporate as many senses as possible.  Say (or read) the verse aloud, so you’re both saying it and hearing it, and move around at the same time, so your body is moving.  Putting verses to music helps, too.  Review is the trickiest part.

This system at Simply Charlotte Mason is very helpful.  It uses a divided box of index cards and cycles through review of memorized verses in a progressively spread out manner.

AmazonBasics Heavy Weight Ruled Index Cards, White, 3×5-Inch, 100-CountOxford Index Card Guides with Laminated Tabs, Daily (1-31), 3Oxford Index Card Guides with Blank Tabs, 3 x 5 Inches, 1/5 Cut Tabs, Manila, 100 per Box (40352)Oceanstar Bamboo Recipe Box with Divider, NaturalVaultz Locking 3 x 5 Index Card Box, Tactical Black (VZ00315)Plastic Index Card Flip Top File Box Holds 3 x 5 Cards

If you’re looking for verses already set to music, we really like Seeds Family Worship.

Better still, internalize the Word. As Keith Ferrin points out, much of this will happen automatically if you simply read and re-read the same book or passage over time. (Don’t be misled by the title. It’s probably not quite what you think.)