Archive for Bible 101

10 Dec 2009
Bible 101

Bible 101-Bible Reading Buddy

From the archives of Sunflower Faith
Originally posted on: March 13, 2008 with modifications to help bring up to date and make easier to read and understand
 
This was a 7 part series on “Bible 101″ that I had originally written when my blog was hosted on blogspot.com.

 

 

In the process of moving it over here, with prayers that this could be a blessing and encouragement to those who feel daunted about reading their bible and in light of reading “Becoming More than a Bible Study Girl”, I wanted to re-introduce these posts to you, Gentle Readers.

I would like to discuss why it helps to join either a bible study group (and I mean one that study’s THE bible and not about the bible or a topic inspired by the bible) and/or finding a good bible reading plan.

One of the best ways to read the bible is to either join a bible study group, or find a bible reading partner.
I’ve found that just having that accountablity helps because:
  • Having someone reading the bible with you, no matter where you are in your reading, helps keep you encourage.
  • A bible reading buddy or group, is a great source for information whenever you may have questions about a certain passage that you’ve come across or just want to share or talk about an insight that you have received in your reading.

There are many bible reading plans that are out there and personally I feel that the best motivator is to start it easy.

For example, Get a devotional bible that is broken down not in a date from, i.e. Jan 1, Jan 2, etc. etc. but rather by days of the week. There are bibles out there that is divided say, only by Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc. which provides a less intimidating, more user friendly method to reading the bible.

Bibleshared.com is one online, that I use just because it has the progress widget like the one that is on the right sidebar, and for those who are reading the bible for the entire year, this is a great visual reminder of our progression and helps provide that little extra oompth to read the bible each day.

 

Then there are other sites like crosswalk.com/bst/ where they have a bible reading plan that you can read at your leisure and not feel like you are just commited to a “Year plan”.

For the newbie starting out reading the bible, this is a VERY intimidating start and it helps to start out slowly.

Think of it like a marathon runner. You don’t just jump in and run the marathon. You start slowly. Maybe around the block. Then you stretch it out a little longer.

When you feel you are in the right shape for running a marathon…THEN you jump in and run the whole stretch.

No matter what…remember….DO what is comfortable and work with a plan that works FOR you.

Don’t feel obligated to have to read the ENTIRE bible right off. Do a “google” search and find a bible reading plan that fits with you.

If there are any reading plans that you have found or anyone who reads this post currently uses, please feel free to post it and I will add it to this list so hopefully, with God’s blessing, this could be of some help to someone out there.

No matter what…Don’t let reading the bible feel like a chore. Reading the bible is a blessing from God to YOU.

And what better what to get to know God but by taking the time to read HIS word.

And remember,why we should study and read the bible:
2Timothy 2:15
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2Timothy 4:2
Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
2Tmothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Sunflower Faith | No comments
03 Dec 2009
Bible • Bible 101

Bible 101-Meet Your Bible

From the archives of Sunflower Faith
Originally posted on: Februrary 29, 2008 with modifications to help bring up to date and make easier to read and understand
 

 

This was a 7 part series on “Bible 101″ that I had originally written when my blog was hosted on blogspot.com.

 

 

 

In the process of moving it over here, with prayers that this could be a blessing and encouragement to those who feel daunted about reading their bible and in light of reading “Becoming More than a Bible Study Girl”, I wanted to re-introduce these posts to you, Gentle Readers.

 

 

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This is a meme that was started at: Blogger Friend School;hosted by Nancy at The Kings Kreation – please stop by her site if you’d like to know more!

Instead of doing a linky, just place a comment with the link to your blog post so we can meet your bible!

Answer the questions on your post and feel free to post a picture of your bible as well!

  1. How old is your Bible?
  2. Why did you choose this Bible?
  3. Do you hightlight/mark passages?
  4. If so what is your system?
  5. Do you have notebooks to record things?
  6. If so how many and what do you record?
  7. Where is your favourite spot to read your Bible?
  8. Any thing special about your Bible you want to share?

Here’s Mine:

  1. How old is your Bible? Mine is relatively new, about 2 months old.

***Updated to add***

The bible I am currently using is now a year old and getting worn; It’s highlighted, filled with personal notes and prayers and has been cried over, cried holding onto, carried around in purses and backpacks and taken on vacations and on short trips and long trips.

  1. Why did you choose this Bible?
  2. I use the NKJV Ultraslim-Large Print;I really wanted a streamlined bible that would be easy to put in a purse, totebag or backup and carry around; It’s not think and I love the NKJV because it retains the essence of the KJV bible and the large print just makes it easy on the eyes late at night when I’m tired but want to read without squinting.

***Updated***

At this time, I am currently using the NIV version, but I keep finding myself falling back to the NKJV; It’s something I feel comfortable with; Enjoy the language, feel it better conveys a verse. The bible I am using, the NIV, was a blessed gift from my husband and treasure for that and more than anything, just for the fact it’s God’s words.

  1. Do you hightlight/mark passages? Yes, I use dry highlighers, color pencils, post it notes
  2. If so what is your system? I use the different colors to breakdown by topics (salvation, marriage, personal, etc.)
  3. Do you have notebooks to record things? I have a printable template that is available here on the blog so I can print out and keep in my dayplanner, plus I use bibleshared.com

***updated to add***

I need to redo the template so it’s not currently available here on the blog, but I keep notes in my bible, on post it notes and on regular notebook paper.

  1. Where is your favourite spot to read your Bible? I utilize both online and I love to read late at night.

Sunflower Faith | No comments | Tags: ,
03 Dec 2009
Bible 101

Bible 101-What type of Bible to get

From the archives of Sunflower Faith
Originally posted on: Februrary 29, 2008 with modifications to help bring up to date and make easier to read and understand
 
This was a 7 part series on “Bible 101″ that I had originally written when my blog was hosted on blogspot.com.

 

In the process of moving it over here, with prayers that this could be a blessing and encouragement to those who feel daunted about reading their bible and in light of reading “Becoming More than a Bible Study Girl”, I wanted to re-introduce these posts to you, Gentle Readers.

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There are SO many debates and questions of which bible to use and honestly, it’s hard to say for sure which to use and which not to use.

I do know that as far as the “Message” bible goes, I wouldn’t advise anyone who is new to the bible to read it, since it’s more of a paraphrase of the bible and maybe it’s better geared more for the seasoned bible reader than just the lay reader.

Elise, over at Extravagant Grace, is doing a great series called, “Holy Habits” and recently posted a great post on “Finding a Bible” and I highly recommend going over there and checking her post out.

Not only does she does a GREAT job in breaking down what to look for a bible, but she has great insights in develop great habits to go with your bible.

Now for beginners, if you need an online/computer source:

  1. esword.net is a great start. You can download it to your home/laptop; It features commentaries, different versions of the bible and more
  2. bibleshared.com has a widget charting your bible reading progress; Currently available in NASB and KJV.

Yes, there’s a lot of options and if you google, “bible verse lookup”; Quite a bit do pop up.

As for specifically what type of bible itself to get….That’s really a personal preference.

There are several mainstays that are out there such as:

  1. NIV
  2. KJV
  3. NKJV
  4. NAS
  5. RSV

Eyes crossed yet? Lol!

I highly recommended to use a bible that YOU feel comfortable with.

Ask around. Check with your church, go to a christian book store, flip through a few and compare them. We are blessed that no matter where we go,be it online, at a grocery store or a bookstore, God’s word is available to use EVERYWHERE, and we really don’t have an excuse, NOT to read His word.

Sunflower Faith | No comments
27 Nov 2009
Bible 101

Bible Study 101-Resources to use

From the archives of Sunflower Faith
Originally posted on: Februrary 24, 2008 with modifications to help bring up to date and make easier to read and understand

 

This was a 7 part series on “Bible 101″ that I had originally written when my blog was hosted on blogspot.com.

In the process of moving it over here, with prayers that this could be a blessing and encouragement to those who feel daunted about reading their bible and in light of reading “Becoming More than a Bible Study Girl”, I wanted to re-introduce these posts to you, Gentle Readers.

 

Resources to consider (and as always…seek first the Word of God and in prayer for discernment for anything you use to study His word):

  • Strong’s Dictionary (English, Hebrew, Greek) was also suggested as well, Thank you Becki for that suggestion!
  • I had received a suggestion at one time, from “Burg” who suggested the following:Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible.
  • My MIL had suggested (and happy to hear from anyone else that may have used this) is,Strong’s Concise Concordance And Vine’s Concise Dictionary Of The Bible Two Bible Reference Classics In One Handy Volume (Hardcover).
  • John MacArthur,”The MacArthur Bible Handbook: The Ultimate Book-by-Book Survey of the Bible (Nelson, 2003)
  • bible-history.com/ (click on “search” and type the place or person you’re studying)

  • Crosswalk.com has some useful bible study tools

  • e-sword is a GREAT and free downloadable bible software with your choices of dictionaires, commentaries and bibles
  • bibleshared.com is a new site that is great for keeping/sharing online notes, it has a great bible reading progress chart (see mine on the sidebar) and more.

Please feel free to add any other resources via the comments, that you feel would be helpful to others seeking to get more out of their bible reading time.

 

Sunflower Faith | No comments
19 Nov 2009
"Christian Life" • Bible • Bible 101

Bible 101-Studying Your Bible

From the archives of Sunflower Faith-Originally posted on February 22, 2008

This was a 7 part series on “Bible 101″ that I had originally written when my blog was hosted on blogspot.com. In the process of moving it over here, with prayers that this could be a blessing and encouragement to those who feel daunted about reading their bible and in light of reading “Becoming More than a Bible Study Girl”, I wanted to re-introduce these posts to you, Gentle Readers.

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When you do a “google” search, it’s easy to come up with some really great, and useful tips on how to study the bible. For instance, at Biblestudy.org, there is a great tip here, on how to use different colors (always use either color pencils or DRY highlighters to mark your bible to prevent bleeding through) to mark and highlight passages in your bible.

We can go on and on, on what to use to study and read the bible, but I’m going to try to keep it short and simple.

First off.

  • The Bible- There is no way around it. If you are going to study the bible, what better source, than the direct source. No books about the bible is going to be just as effective as going to the bible itself. Keep in mind, the biggest reason is, books about the bible are written by men, who can be imperfect, so always consult the bible first and foremost and use anything and everything else as…well…a guide, not the absolute truth.
As to versions….Use what version is comfortable to you.

John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. (KJV)

2 Timothy 3:16,1716. All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17. That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (KJV)

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (KJV)

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (KJV)

  • Pens and Markers -This is a interesting topic. Some people don’t like marking in the bible; Some do. This is really up to you with what YOU feel more comfortable doing.For those who do want to mark in your bible with a pen,Soulde Saenz has a great blog article called,”What to Use for Writing in Your Bible,“. I highly recommend you reading this article as he talks about pens that will be effective in writing in your bible, no matter how thick or thin the paper is and what pen won’t bleed through to the other side of your bible.As for markers…I always go with either dry highlighters that you can find with ease at your local Christian bookstore or even order online from the christian online bookstores.Even Amazon carries them! They are highly recommend for their ease, they don’t bleed through, they don’t smear and they are bible-friendly. Another great way to mark your bible are colored pencils….Make sure no matter what you use…You keep it in a place WITH your bible.

Need a guide to highlighting/marking your bible? There are several great resources that are a great help; Some which I recommend are the following:

To make it even easier, based on “How to Mark Your Bible” by Keeping the Home, what I did was create a printable “key” to paste (I use rubber cement since it comes off if needed) in my bible.

  • Prayer- Always always start with prayer! It does help because it gives you the opportunity to talk to God and to ask Him to help you understand what you are about to read and if there is anything, HE, feels, you need to glean from your studies.
  • Notebook- This can be anything…your computer, your blog, your dayplanner, a simple notebook…There is no end to how you keep your notes.

If you do use a ringed dayplanner, here’s one that can be used for either a 5.5 x 8.5 planner, either 3 ring, 6 ring or 7 ring.

Bible Study Note Template

Great Sources for Using the Bible: Tools must have

God Bless You, Gentle Reader as you read God’s word!

*Coming next week on Bible 101-”Books to Aid in Your Study”*

     

Sunflower Faith | 2 comments | Tags: , , , ,
 
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