Servant Leadership

It can be difficult to make time to read the Bible, and it can also be tough to understand some of the things the Bible has to say. But the good news is, God has not left us alone in studying His Word. He provides Christians with the Holy Spirit to help deepen our understanding of the gospel as we dig into the Bible (John 14:26; 2 Timothy 3:14-16). As you seek to learn through studying the Bible, here are some tips to get you started:

First, read Bible passages slowly to get the messages they are sharing. Don’t feel like you have to rush through what you’re reading. Instead, take your time. There is no rule about the amount of chapters or verses you need to read in a day. Instead of trying to read a lot, try to get a lot out of what you read. Even if you only get through a couple of verses, going slowly will help you learn more than speeding through the reading will.

Second, do some research. If you’re not sure what a certain passage is trying to say, do some searching. Look for other versions of the same passage and see how things are worded in them. Read commentaries on the passage that is confusing you. Look into a variety of sources and see what they have to say about what you’re reading—and, of course, always be discerning about what or who you trust in your research.

Third, don’t do it alone! Be part of a local church body that loves Jesus and that preaches His Word. And, if you’re stuck on a certain passage, talk to trusted Christians in your life to see if they have answers for you. Have them read the passage with you and talk together about what it means.

As you study the Bible, the Holy Spirit will help you understand more and more deeply God’s message of good news: salvation from sin and death through Jesus Christ, our only Savior. He will enable you to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ†(2 Peter 3:18) • Emily Acker

• Reread today’s Bible passages. Why is it so important that the whole Bible points to Jesus?

• What questions do you have about the Bible? Who are trusted Christians in your life you can bring those questions to?

Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. Romans 15:4 (NLT)

Read Verses:

Mark 9:30-37; 10:35-35; John 10:11