All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

Most of us know and believe (at least to some extent) that the Bible is the Christian’s guide to life. God provided, along with the Holy Spirit, as what Paul calls “training in righteousness” (living according to our new identity while we are in this world).

“Isn’t the Holy Spirit enough,” you may ask? He certainly is enough–if we did not have the flesh to contend with. Because we are still in the process of crucifying the flesh, will still have to contend with it. This often results in mistaking our fleshly desires for the true voice of the Spirit (and vice versa). So, we need a standard by which to judge (1 John 4:1). The Scriptures provide that standard.

The question then becomes, “What must we do in order to allow the Scripture to train us in righteousness?”

Wait…. we have to “do” something? Actually, yes. The Lord doesn’t force-feed us. Rather, He exhorts and invites us. While the reading and study of Scripture is invaluable, we must undertake the practice. There is no substitute for personal engagement with the Word. Reading books and commentaries on the Bible is not enough. Listening to your favorite preachers is not enough. At the risk of repeating myself: There is no substitute for personal engagement with the Word.

When it comes to studying the Bible, there are some things to do and some things to avoid.

Be consistent.
Consistent reading of the Word will develop not only a habit, but will help us stay consistent in other areas of our lives. Keep in mind, though, that ‘consistency’ must not be mistaken for perfection or law. Regardless of what anyone tells you (even your preacher), there is no hard-and-fast-rule about what, when, or how much you ‘must’ read. Sometimes you may read or study a lot in an extended period, sometimes less. While it is a great idea to have a specific time and place set aside, keep in mind that you can read the Word anytime–especially with the technology of today!

Read methodically.
There are many who just open their Bible and decide what to read. This sort of haphazard approach is ineffective at best and dangerous at worst. Verses and passages lose their context. There’s the old story of a man who flipped his Bible open and read, “Judas went and hung himself” (Matt. 27:5). He flipped it open again and read, “Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:37). A third time he flipped it open and read, “What you are about to do, do quickly” (John 13:37). Surely the Lord did not intend the man to follow such instructions. But it illustrates the point.

“What should I read,” you might ask. It depends on where you are with your journey. If you are just starting out in faith, or you are not very familiar with the Bible, I generally advocate starting with John’s Gospel. Read it all the way through (perhaps twice) before moving on. Then read 1 John to learn about assurance of salvation. Then read Galatians. After that, it would be a good time to read a Gospel or two in order to learn more about the life of Christ.  There are many excellent reading plans out there. My own suggested reading plan for the New Testament is here.

After you are familiar with the Bible, consider adding topical studies to your reading, where you choose a subject and find out what the Bible has to say about it. Doing subject/topic studies will avoid the trap of “proof-texting” (using 1-2 verses to support a doctrine without considering other verses on the subject).

Engage with your reading.
What do I mean by “engage”? Engaging with Scripture means that we don’t just absorb material, we respond to it. If I am reading, for example, the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15), I should ask, “What does this teach me about myself, God, and what He has done for me?” Such reflection is valuable when written down in a notebook or journal. Another way to engage with Scripture is to pick something you read and meditate on it for the rest of the day. Turn it over in your head. Ask the Spirit to show you how you can apply it to your life to become more like Christ. The link above provides some information on keeping a reading notebook.

Engagement with Scripture simply means that I seek to apply Scripture to my life, to do the very things Paul talked about–reprove me (when I have strayed from the standard), correct me (set me on the right path), and train me (in what righteousness looks like). Having a head full of knowledge of the Bible is insufficient if it only stops with mental assent. We are to be “transformed by the renewing of our mind” (Rom. 12:2). So, we take what we learn, and cooperate with the Spirit as He applies it to our heart and life.

Don’t get trapped.
As we mentioned before, there are a few things to avoid when reading Scripture. These often result from misreading the text or misunderstanding the text or the Bible as a whole.

First, as we mentioned earlier, resist the temptation to allow the Bible to become simply “rules to follow.” There is so much more to Scripture than the rules. In fact, much of the “rules” people often quote were given specifically to Israel (like not boiling a young goat in the mother’s milk, not wearing garments made out of more than material, etc.). Along those lines, avoid the temptation to try and “obligate” God to do something. “God, I am doing what Your word says, now You keep Your end of the bargain.” Keep in mind that He is never under any obligation to us. (Of course, He invites us to pray in faith, to ask Him for things, but that’s not the same thing.)

Second, avoid the temptation to view the Bible primarily in your culture. It must first be read as it was written. The Bible was originally written by (primarily) Jews in a Middle Eastern cultural context–and they most certainly didn’t speak King James English. Not everything you read will translate accurately to our modern culture (see discussion above about goats and clothing). The goal of Bible study should be to take the principles and apply them to our lives. However, not every word applies directly to you (again, reference the discussion of goats and clothing above for examples).

Third, avoid the temptation to read the Bible through your preconceptions. As much as possible, let the text speak for itself, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The point of studying Scripture is to gain God’s perspective on life, not continue in ours. When you encounter a text that reads differently from what you expect or think, don’t try to make the text fit what you think. Ask the Holy Spirit for clarification and discernment.

Be real.
The goal of all of this, whether it be studying Scripture, prayer, meditation, etc., is to know God and His ways. It’s not to set a standard by which to judge other people. Will you struggle? At times. Will you get it wrong? Sometimes. Will you get it right? More and more! But again, avoid falling into legalism. Bible study is not a ‘have to,’ it’s a ‘get to.’ We learn of God’s heart and His amazing love for us. The Spirit then takes that message and applies it experientially to our heart as we meditate on the truths we have learned. The result is change–both inward and outward–and that is the goal, to be transformed into His image.