Engaging with the Bible
Additional resources
Example of using 3Rs (Psalm 23)
First, read through the passage and note what it is saying. Do not feel that you must take in all that is in the passage. Maybe there is one verse or idea that stands out for you or that you would like to focus on. Let’s imagine it is the first verse – “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
Next, reflect on that verse. Do a deep dive into what it says. Spend some time to examine and think about it. Ask questions about it. For example, what does it mean that the Lord is my shepherd? How does a shepherd treat their sheep? How does a shepherd feel about their sheep? What does it mean to not want? How is not wanting linked to the fact that the Lord is my shepherd?
These are just examples. You may have all sorts of questions that come to mind. But as you can see, it is just to dive a bit more deeply into what the passage is saying. And not just what it is saying in terms of the facts in front of me. But how do these facts help me to see and know God.
As you take time to reflect, this will often lead to an emotional response. For example, how does it make me feel to know that the Lord is my shepherd? How does it make me feel to think that if the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want? You may like to note the feelings that rise to the surface and how that affects your relationship with God.
And finally, take some time to respond to what you have read. Is there a response to what you have learned and how you feel? To thank God? To surrender to God? To be less anxious about the future? To see and use your money differently? Or your time? Again, these are just examples. There is no right answer. The point is what God may be saying to you as you meet with Him.
This is simply an example of how you can approach a Bible passage using the 3 Rs method. If you feel it may be useful, try using it when you come to other passages.
Additional Bible reading tools
Bible reading plans
If you are looking for a way to be systematic in your Bible reading, there are reading plans that can help you. They can take you through all of the Bible in one year or part of the Bible in a year. Plans are available in apps such as:
1. Youversion – has many Bible reading plans. For example the Discipleship Journal Reading Plan will take you through the whole Bible in one year (about 15 mins/day), or NT, PS, PRO in One Year which will take you through the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs in one year (about 5 mins/day). It has many translations including Chinese.
2. Bible in One Year – This app has several readings for each day with a small commentary and as its name suggests, covers the whole Bible in one year. But if you don’t have time, you can just do one or two readings each day. You can do it in English or Chinese.
3. Lectio 365 – This app guides you through a devotional time with a passage, prayers and a small commentary.
Additional Bible practices
There are a number of additional practices that people have found helpful to engage with the Bible.
Bible study is a practice that goes a bit deeper than reading. It can deepen our relationship with God by taking a bit more time to study a particular passage, book, topic or theme of the Bible. If you have a particular interest in a book or topic, you can study the Bible on your own. But you will almost certainly get more out of Bible study by doing it in a small group or with another person. Many churches have small groups where people get together to do this. Consider joining a group as a way to do this.
People use different methods to study the Bible such as:
2. OICA (Observation, Interpretation, Context, Application)
3. 4Rs – Read, Reflect, Respond, Rest (Navigators)
To learn more, talk to your mentor.
Meditation is also another excellent practice. In the Christian tradition, meditation is deeply reflecting on a smaller passage of scripture, taking time to chew over it and let it sink deep into our hearts. Spending a concentrated amount of time on one passage can be a powerful way for God’s Spirit to work in us.
Memorisation of scripture has been a powerful practice for disciples as a way of reflecting on God’s word when it is not available whether that be in prison or in the middle of the night. It is also helpful when sharing and encouraging others by being able to remember where a particular passage is or bringing it to mind.
You can start by memorising verses that you find particularly encouraging or you may like to try memorising a book of the Bible (unless you are feeling ambitious, maybe a shorter one!). Remember Me is an app that you can use to store and review verses. You can create your own collection of verses. Or you can use an existing collection such as the Practical Discipleship collection that contains key verses for each of the ten program topics.
Journaling is simply writing down learnings and reflections from Bible reading in a notebook or on a device. By recording their reflections, many people find it helps them to process what they are reading more deeply as well as being a way to record the things that God has taught them.
Reading books, exploring websites and listening to podcasts of sermons or talks can also be very helpful in deepening our understanding of the Bible and growing in our relationship with God.
Formal training and study can also help to deepen our knowledge of the Bible and of God. The depth of the study will depend on our available time and what skills and knowledge is helpful or necessary for our ministry. Suitable courses can be explored on-line (for example, PTC (Preliminary Theological Certificate) at Moore College in Sydney and by talking with people in your church.
Books
Knowing God - J.I. Packer
This book was written in the 1970s, but it is hard to go past as a recommended book for this topic. It has sold over 1.5 million copies and been translated into a dozen languages including Chinese. It is not a short book, but it is well worth taking the time to read. It is hard to find another book that deals with the topic so well.
The Knowledge of the Holy – A.W. Tozer
This book was written in the 1960s but is such a classic that it is still in print. It is much shorter than Packer’s book, Knowing God explores the attributes of God in a style that it is helpful in deepening our understanding of who God is and what he is like but devotional in tone. He doesn’t just inform our minds but inspires us to follow and pursue God with all our heart. (available in Chinese)
One-To-One Bible Reading - David Helm
This book provides a very practical and simple guide to how to study the Bible with another Christian.
On-line resources
Knowing God Personally, Thomas Tarrantson, June 2016 (CS Lewis Institute)
Questions for reflection
1. What is my identity in Christ? How does my identity affect the way that I think and act?
2. How does the way a person sees their relationship with God affect the way they live as a Christian? For example, if someone is uncertain of God’s love or forgiveness, sees God as a harsh parent waiting to punish them for doing something wrong or feels God has too many things going on to take much interest in them. How do you think you see God’s relationship with you?
Quotes for reflection
What do you think about these quotes about knowing God? Are they helpful? Are they saying what the Bible says?
Knowing God
“I have come to believe that God’s love is the central message of Christianity, that living the kingdom life must be born out of an active response to a deep knowing of one’s place as a much-loved daughter or son of the Author of Life.”
Nathan Foster, The Making of an Ordinary Saint
“You must never lose track of keeping first things first. To love God and know him. Out of this focus on Him follows much prayer, thought, meditation and then action. Keeping the first thing first will put all of your works in the right proportion.”
Catherine Doherty, (1896 - 1985), Christian social activist
"If Christianity is essentially about learning doctrines about God and adhering to behavioral codes, most of these young people will not remain Christian into their twenties. But if Christianity is essentially about experiencing the living God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, these young people can be led into a holy mystery that will last a lifetime."
Brian Zahnd, When Everything's on Fire: Faith Forged from the Ashes
Engaging with the Bible
“The Bible is not an end in itself, but a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying knowledge of God, that they may enter into Him, that they may delight in His Presence, may taste and know the inner sweetness of the very God Himself in the core and center of their hearts.”
A.W. Tozer - The Pursuit of God
“Perhaps the gut issue is not how much theology we have studied or how much Scripture we have memorized. All that really matters is this: Have you experienced the furious longing of God?”
Brennan Manning, The Furious Longing of God
“Bible study can be largely an intellectual exercise that leaves the life unchanged. There is of necessity an intellectual component in this pursuit, but it is fruitful only if it results in increased likeness to Christ”.
“Practices such as reading Scripture and praying are important — not because they prove how spiritual we are — but because God can use them to lead us into life.”
Header Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash