How Do I Read the Bible?!
What steps can I take to deeply understand a book of the Bible and apply its teachings meaningfully and intentionally to my life?
WHY
As my children would say, WHY?!
Why should we be intentional with reading the Bible?
1. Strengthens Your Relationship with God
The Bible is God's Word, a direct way He speaks to us. Being intentional allows you to draw closer to Him, better understand His character, and deepen your relationship.
"Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you." (James 4:8)
2. Provides Guidance for Life
The Bible contains wisdom and principles to navigate life's challenges, relationships, and decisions. Being purposeful in reading ensures you're equipped with God’s truth.
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105)
3. Transforms Your Mind
Regularly reading Scripture renews your mind, aligns your thoughts with God’s will, and helps you resist worldly pressures.
"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." (Romans 12:2)
4. Builds a Foundation of Truth
Intentionally reading helps you anchor your beliefs in Scripture, guarding against false teachings or cultural influences that conflict with God’s truth.
"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16)
5. Strengthens Faith and Encourages Obedience
Hearing God's promises and seeing His faithfulness in Scripture builds trust in Him. Intentional reading encourages living in obedience to His Word.
"Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." (Romans 10:17)
6. Prepares You for Spiritual Battles
The Bible is a spiritual weapon against the enemy. Being intentional equips you with Scripture to stand firm in your faith.
"Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:17)
7. Feeds Your Spiritual Growth
Just as food nourishes the body, God’s Word sustains and grows your spirit. Without it, spiritual growth stagnates.
"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4)
8. Enables You to Teach and Encourage Others
Intentional reading equips you to share God’s truth, disciple others, and provide encouragement in a way that aligns with His will.
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom." (Colossians 3:16)
9. Helps You Reflect Christ in Your Life
By meditating on Scripture, you begin to reflect Christ’s character in your thoughts, actions, and relationships.
"But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it... will be blessed in what they do."(James 1:25)
HOW
Another follow-up question they would ask, HOW?! *Because I am reading Romans next, below will be a step by step on what I do before reading every book in the Bible
Romans
1. Understand the Historical and Cultural Context
Author: Romans was written by Paul, an apostle who deeply understood Jewish law and Roman culture. Consider his background and mission to the Gentiles.
Audience: The church in Rome included both Jews and Gentiles, leading to discussions on the unity of the Gospel for all people.
Purpose: Romans addresses foundational Christian doctrines, such as justification, sanctification, and glorification, with a focus on God’s righteousness.
Historical Setting: Study the social, political, and religious climate of Rome around A.D. 57, when the letter was written.
Never Finished Resources:
Use a study Bible (e.g., ESV Study Bible or NIV Cultural Backgrounds Bible) for notes on historical context.
My favorite is the Blue Letter Study Bible. In the app, I explore original language and David Guzik commentary.
2. Familiarize Yourself with the Book's Structure
Romans is carefully crafted and builds its argument step-by-step. Understanding its structure helps you see how themes connect:
Chapters 1–3: The universal problem of sin and God's righteous judgment.
Chapters 4–5: Justification by faith through Jesus Christ.
Chapters 6–8: Sanctification and the work of the Holy Spirit.
Chapters 9–11: God’s sovereignty and the inclusion of Jews and Gentiles.
Chapters 12–16: Practical applications of the Gospel.
Never Finished Tip: Summarize each chapter after reading to ensure you grasp the key points.
3. Understand Key Doctrinal Themes
The Righteousness of God: How God reveals His righteousness through faith in Jesus (Romans 1:16–17).
Sin and Grace: Humanity’s sinfulness and the gift of grace through Christ.
Faith vs. Works: Justification by faith, not by works (Romans 3:28).
Christian Living: How believers live in light of God’s mercy (Romans 12–15).
SOAP
Start with Prayer
Begin by praying, asking God to guide you as you study His Word. (A guide for how to pray is provided below.)S - Read the Verse that Stirs Your Heart
Pay attention to the verse or passage that resonates deeply with your spirit. Trust that this is the Holy Spirit speaking to you.O - Explore the Context
Take time to understand the verse within its context. Meditate on it, observing its meaning and significance.O - Seek Commentary After Reflection
Only after spending quiet moments with the Holy Spirit should you refer to trusted commentaries to deepen your understanding.A - Ask for Application
Pray and ask God how to apply the truth of the verse to your life.P - Write a Prayer of Gratitude and Application
Conclude by writing a prayer, thanking God for His revelation and detailing how you’ll apply what you’ve learned.
Example:
“Thank you, God, for showing me I should pursue You more. I am fully equipped and empowered to follow You wholeheartedly.”Finally, always finish your SOAP by answering this question: What does this passage teach about God? This will help keep your heart aligned not on observations but on understanding God.
5. Read with a Theological Framework
Romans is deeply theological, so understand the broad themes of:
God's sovereignty (Romans 8:28–39; 9–11).
The role of the law and grace (Romans 6–7).
Eschatology: The hope of future glory (Romans 8:18–25).
Study systematic theology alongside Romans (e.g., Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology).
6. Read Slowly and Meditatively
Romans contains dense and complex arguments. Take your time to reflect on smaller sections and let them sink in.
I journal my SOAP and have been sending them to the same group for ten years every day.
7. Engage with a Community
Join a Bible study group or discuss Romans with trusted Christian mentors who are farther along in their faith.
Listen to trusted pastors or theologians preach on Romans (e.g., John Piper, Tim Keller, or Martyn Lloyd-Jones).
8. Pray for Wisdom and Application
This is my favorite part! Do this FIRST!
Confession
Prayer: “God, I confess my sins before You. Cleanse me of all unrighteousness and prepare my heart to receive Your Word with humility and purity.”
1 John 1:9 (NIV): "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV): "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
Ask and declare with expectations: Wisdom, Knowledge, and Understanding. Increase Faith, Trust, and Zeal.
Prayer: “God, grant me wisdom, understanding, and insight into Your Word. Deepen my faith and ignite a passion to know You more.”
James 1:5 (NIV): "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."
Proverbs 2:6-8 (NIV): "For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones."
Hebrews 11:6 (NIV): "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
God, Let Any Knowledge I Gain Serve to Help Me Love You and Others More, and Not Puff Me Up.
Prayer: “Father, let everything I learn draw me closer to You and enable me to love others better, avoiding pride or self-glorification.”
1 Corinthians 8:1 (NIV): "But knowledge puffs up while love builds up."
Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV): "Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’"
Habakkuk 2:14 (NIV): "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea."
God, Help Me See Something New About You I’ve Never Seen Before.
Prayer: “Lord, open my eyes to see fresh truths about Your character and works. Let me grow in awe and reverence for who You are.”
Psalm 119:18 (NIV): "Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law."
Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV): "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."
Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV): "‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’
God, Correct Any Lies I Believe About You or Anything I Misunderstand.
Prayer: “God, reveal and correct any false beliefs or misunderstandings I have about You. Guide me into Your truth.”
John 8:32 (NIV): "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV): "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
Psalm 25:5 (NIV): "Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long."
God, Direct My Steps According to Your Word.
Prayer: “Father, align my life and actions with Your Word. Direct my decisions and keep me on the path of righteousness.”
Proverbs 16:9 (NIV): "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps."
Psalm 119:105 (NIV): "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path."
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
God, I Give Up My Right to Have My Way. You Have Everything I Need and More.
Prayer: “Lord, I surrender my desires and plans to You. Help me to trust that You are more than enough for me.” (caveat: there are many days I have had to wake up and say, “I Trust you” out loud 50x every morning!”
Matthew 6:33 (NIV): "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Psalm 23:1 (NIV): "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing."
Luke 22:42 (NIV): "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."
The more I pursue God, the more intentional and confident I have become. I have much to learn, but doing the things above, consistently and humbly, has supercharged my faith! As a result, my faith and confidence in His will, His plan for my life, and His presence have been steadfast and unexplainable peaceful! I have been content despite the storms — this year only: the birth of my third daughter on Father’s Day, missing the central part of my job, a storm with nieces going into DFCS and my sister (their mom) being hurt (which hurt me), sudden death of earthly father, sudden stage four cancer diagnoses to friend, loss of job.
There will be storms, but in the storm, we can always dwell and thrive because of the presence of a Sovereign and Loving Father.
God intentionally wove the universe into existence and, even more so, lovingly and deliberately knit you.