My wife Kathy is famous in our world for her momisms. She has some very predictable sayings that are snippets of her wisdom and practical parenting that have been proven true again and again:
- Feelings are fickle and can’t be trusted.
- You need to drink more water… no, I said more water.
- God’s got this.
- Stop looking for it and it’ll turn up.
She was almost never wrong.
As a preacher I know I have several of those generic responses that have served me well over the years. Things like these:
- We will pray about that.
- God is good… all the time.
- Everybody say everybody.
- Read your Bible.
There is something about that last statement though, something that needs to be investigated. I really believe that if you will become a committed Bible student it will change your life. And, when I see so many Christian lives unchanged I must confront one of two facts. 1) Either I am wrong about the effectiveness of the Bible, or 2) someone’s not really reading their Bible. Thankfully, in this case even science is on my side.
The Center of Bible Engagement compiled the research findings by Arnold Cole and Pamela Caudill Ovwigho into a report called “Understanding the Bible Engagement Challenge: Scientific Evidence for the Power of 4” (https://research.lifeway.com/2021/04/30/the-key-to-life-changing-biblical-engagement/)
It surveyed 40,000 people (that’s a lot for a study) between the ages of 8 and 80 and they found that those who studied their Bible at least four days a week had some amazing results:
- Feeling lonely drops 30%
- Anger issues drop 32%
- Bitterness in relationships drops 40%
- Alcoholism drops 57%
- Sex outside of marriage drops 68%
- Feeling spiritually stagnant drops 60%
- Viewing pornography drops 61%
- Sharing your faith jumps 200%
- Discipling others jumps 230%
That is amazing! Apparently, “read your Bible” is solid advice and should be taken… ahem, yes, I am talking to you.
And, while I know that the number one reason people don’t read their bible is because they say they don’t know how, I have a great opportunity for you.
CrossPoint has been teaching the Reading It Right Bible study process for more than 10 years. You can learn it now and grow with it for a lifetime. Here is Reading It Right at a glance.
Imagine the Bible is a map that you are trying to read. There is a verse of Scripture that acts as a legends to the map to tell you how to read it:
“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 Timothy 3:16-17).
In the above passage there are four things the bible itself says that Scripture is “profitable” for, or useful for in your life. These can be used a four steps to Bible study. It says that you should read the bible for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.
We have created some common terminology surrounding these 4 steps and they are the framework for Reading It Right:
For teaching we use the word SUMMARIZE. The first step of Bible study is to take whatever you are reading and condense it down to its main thought, point or intention. To recreate the passage in a way that can be summarized in a nutshell.
For reproof we use the word EXPOSE. After we discover the main teaching of the Bible we ask ourselves what it reveals about our own life. We look for what is exposed as truth when you compare your life to the standards of Scripture.
For correction we use the word CHANGE. Based on what was exposed in the previous step there needs to be an adjustment. This is not a generic “I should be more like Jesus,” but a specific, measurable, immediate response to line your life up with the teaching from the Bible.
For training in righteousness we use the word PREPARE. The truth is that whatever God has taught, exposed and changed in you is just the beginning! It is one step that is leading to a place of more maturity and spiritual responsibility. You need to discover what this change may be preparing you for in the future.
As you study the Bible, here are some questions you can ask yourself to follow the steps of Reading It Right.
SUMMARIZE - (teach) What is the Bible saying? How can I summarize this passage in one, or two sentences?
EXPOSE - (reproof) What is the Bible saying about my life? What does this passage expose concerning the way I live?
CHANGE - (correct) What specific action should I take? What should I start, or stop doing today?
PREPARE - (train) If I make this change, God’s Word is getting me ready for what? For what future is God’s Word trying to prepare me?
If you practice this method of study it will become more and more natural. It will turn you into a lifelong learner and allow you to study the Bible with no other resources than a Bible and a journal for recording your Reading It Right steps.
If you’d like more information or would like additional resources go to ReadingItRight.com