To The Bible Study Girl Who Needs New Ideas
Inside: Are you bored with your current way of studying the Bible? Are you by-passing Bible study time because it feels mundane? Ideas for creative bible study!
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How many of us begin the morning and set aside to spend time in God’s word, open our Bible, and then not know where to read?
We do an “eenie-meenie-miney moe” and read where our finger lands us.
We’ve been told how important God’s word is to us.
How our lives can be transformed, how our thoughts and behavior can be better when we spend time with God and yet, we become bored with what we’ve been doing.
We don’t feel like we’re hearing God, growing in faith, or even getting daily nourishment. The fact of the matter is, we’re bored with what we’ve been doing.
Here’s the truth, with anything in life. If we aren’t challenged, we will get bored.
If we’re not excited about doing something, there’s a high probability that we won’t take the time for it.
It becomes like schoolwork, we know we need to do it, but it isn’t enjoyable. We rush through it, but can’t wait to do something else.
This Bible Study Girl Needed a New Idea
I’ve asked myself this question a bunch of times.
What was I missing?
Why did some of my friends get excited to read their Bibles?
How was God speaking to them so obviously?
Why did I seem rattled by even some problems of life when my Bible-loving friends appeared stalwart and steadfast?
14 I have rejoiced in your laws
as much as in riches.
15 I will study your commandments
and reflect on your ways.
16 I will delight in your decrees
and not forget your word.
17 Be good to your servant,
that I may live and obey your word.
18 Open my eyes to see
the wonderful truths in your instructions.
19 I am only a foreigner in the land.
Don’t hide your commands from me!
20 I am always overwhelmed
with a desire for your regulations.
As we can gather from David, spending time learning God’s word makes our lives better. There are blessings and life within the words of God.
We need God’s help to keep us attentive to His word and give us the heart to want to learn more about God and grow in a relationship with Him.
The Change I Needed to Make
Here’s what I’ve decided.
It’s all in the approach: expect to hear from God and you will.
If we open our Bibles and know God will speak to us and share something with us that will help us…it makes a difference in the way we approach time with God.
Another important nugget of truth I’ve uncovered is: God doesn’t speak to me the same way He speaks to you.
I’ve been missing this for many years. I always said God doesn’t speak to me in an audible voice, so He must not want to talk to me.
Then I realized that He speaks to me through His word, devotionals, music,
The Questions I Ask Myself
When I begin my Bible study now, I try and ask myself these questions:
- What is God trying to teach me?
- Look at the big picture (how does it relate to the great big story of why Jesus came)
- What can I take away from the verses?
- Are their repeated words that I need to
fixate on ? - Why should I be studying this?
New Ideas for When You Need to Boost Your Bible Study time
If you scrooge the internet, you can find creative bible study ideas. These options can help you overcome boredom and begin to look at the Bible in different ways.
If you love to doodle and journal, this Growing in Joy Bible study might be a great option
Do you like putting things into categories and seeing how they interact with each other? This bible study from Embracing the Lovely would work.
If you like systematic methods for studying the Bible, Arabah Joy has a great Bible Study Methods course.
Or maybe you do better at watching videos? Rosilind Jukic Agape Bible Study has a few options for you as well.
Studying the Bible should never be a static thing. Some seasons we will grow in faith using a certain method and another season we might need to change it up and try something different.
The key is to keep growing in our faith and not grow stagnant.
When we realize that the word of God is:
12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible with Both Our Hearts and Our Minds
The Armor of GodThe Quest – Study Journal: An Excursion Toward Intimacy with GodMy Bible Study Journal: A Creative Christian Workbook: A Simple Guide To Journaling ScriptureFinding I AM – Bible Study Book: How Jesus Fully Satisfies the Cry of Your Heart
Great message. I use the First 5 app from Proverbs 31 and that starts my day in a positive way. 🙂
Amen! Yes.. I totally relate to this. It does help to remember the word is alive and the Spirit can bring new understanding and messages to us – even with the same old scripture we’ve read a thousand times.
Hebrews 4:12 is just what I was thinking of as I read your post too.
Hey, Julie. Full disclosure, I’m not a Bible Study Girl 🙂 BUT, I do study the Bible, and I know exactly the struggle you’re talking about. I’ve done a lot of different things myself, One-Year Bible, topical plans, Proverbs by date, etc. They’ve all been good.
The greatest lesson I’ve learned is what you shared above, God always wants to speak to me. The Bible is just one way. The Holy Spirit who lives in us can speak directly, through others, in sermons, in music and through a host of other means. And that’s good for me, because I get bored and stagnant when I only listen for God in the same old way. Good post!
Chip- thank you for confirming and providing wisdom!
You have some wonderful ideas to try and I really appreciate that you shared them. It is so easy to fall into a rut and get bored so it is important to try new ways to study the Bible.
Yvonne- yes, new ways are good for growth and to get that passion back!
Beautiful post! I love the options you recommend. I agree it’s our approach to Bible study that makes the difference. Sometimes I go through a slump. I read and read and feel like nothing is relating. I know in those times, I’m to persevere in my love relationship with God – I pray more and focus on one word rather than the whole passage. There are endless ways to study God’s word and be touched by His truth. Thank you for being real and resourceful! 🙂
Thank you, Marcie! I’ve gone through the same slumps!
I needed to read this, Julie! I love reading the Bible, but recently I finished with the Gospels and have been having trouble sinking my teeth into where to delve next. I was doing that eeny-meeny-miney-mo you mentioned! The other day I just asked God to steer me where He wanted me to jump in, not just to “go in order,” and he steered me to the psalms. I love your line, “It’s all in the approach: expect to hear from God and you will.” Thanks for the inspiration and the motivation to stay on this track!
Jessica- thank you!
Hi Julie. I like this statement: “God doesn’t speak to me the same way He speaks to you.” In our God-given uniqueness, we hear from Him in ways that match our hearts. What I have also discovered is that in fellowship and Bible study, we have different takeaways from the same Scripture. Even using the same words, God speaks to us differently. Because of what we individually bring to the table, God’s Word is rich with meaning.
Stephen- thank you for sharing your wisdom and experience!
“if we’re not challenged, we’ll get bored”, and I would say we don’t grow either. I’m not a girl and I was challenged by your post! 🙂 I’m struggling with finding time each day to be alone with the Lord. Your suggestions are very good and I will work through the 5 questions you listed. I feel that those could really be game changers!
Paul- I hope they are helpful to you!
Studying the Bible should never be a static thing…Yes! Hallelujah and Amen! Journaling and a reading plan I switch up help me with direction and focus. I’m amazed at how journaling helps me work through scripture more than reading alone. But I recognize as you said, God speaks to us all differently because our relarionship with Him is personal. Excellent post!
Thank you, Liz! I think switching it up is helpful and a great way to grow!
I love how you say it’s all in the approach. If we are rushed and stressed, reading the Bible may not mean as much as if we take time to pause, breathe, pray and be ready for God’s message. Great post. 🙂
Melissa- I’ve spent my life rushing through it…when I don’t have a time restraint I seem to learn more!
Love this post! We always tend to think God is speaking to others but not us. Great advice here!
Thank you, Nancy!
I’ve started my first read the Bible in a Year via Youversion in the app- it’s going to be a challenge for me because I love reading in my physical Bible. I want to stick to it so we shall see.
So true what you say about being bored. I really like to mix things up!
God bless you~ praying for you and your ministry!
Lillian- thank you!