How to Study the Bible.

Some people have asked me how to get the most out of their Bible study. Here are the essentials.

1. Pick a book and read all of it. Don't get stuck on a single chapter or verse before you've surveyed the horizon. Always work from whole to part and back to whole again. Read it and then Read it again.
2. Take Notes (mental or otherwise). Ask questions. What happens in chapter 1, chapter 2 and so on? Note any patterns, topics and or themes. Write your questions and observations down. You might want to throw out the modern chapter divisions and outline the book yourself.
3. Connect the Dots. Answer your questions with a regard to the whole book. Don't ask, "What does this chapter or verse mean to me? before you've asked, "How does this verse fit into the book?