{"id":4383,"date":"2019-01-31T09:03:47","date_gmt":"2019-01-31T15:03:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/?p=4383"},"modified":"2019-03-14T11:08:56","modified_gmt":"2019-03-14T16:08:56","slug":"how-to-get-the-most-out-of-reading-your-bible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/2019\/01\/31\/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-reading-your-bible\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Get The Most Out Of Reading Your Bible"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Cody Phillips<\/strong><\/p>\n

Reading is hard. I said it. Sounds silly to say, I mean, I\u2019m writing an article hoping people read it. So, maybe it\u2019s not \u201chard,\u201d but it can be a nuisance. Karen Prior, an English professor at Liberty University, states in her book On Reading Well<\/em> that \u201c24% of adults have not read a book in the last year…only 46% of adults have only read one book in the last year.\u201d After I asked some friends about this, the stats hold up. One main reason they gave for not reading was, \u201cI can get more out of a movie or a TV show.\u201d Touch\u00e9.<\/p>\n

For a movie maniac like myself – I can\u2019t argue with this. I love movies, and I will get a lot out of a movie. In comparison to a book, movies and tv shows are short, sweet, and concise. As disciples of Christ this poses a problem. God gave us His word through a book and not a Netflix Original series. So, how do we get the most out of reading our Bible? The same way we get the most out of movies and tv.<\/p>\n

Be Faithful To It<\/strong><\/p>\n

Every now and then a show comes around on my Netflix feed that automatically takes priority. I stop every other show that I have been dabbling in because The Crown<\/em> just dropped the latest season. Don\u2019t act like you don\u2019t do the same.<\/p>\n

Our spiritual aptitude and attitude relies on our spiritual disciplines. Any priority you have in your life has a plan to remain a priority. What is your strategy? The good news is that our desire is there, but we sometimes lack in planning and prioritizing.<\/p>\n

Be faithful to the discipline of Bible reading. Whether it\u2019s the first thing you do when you wake up or the last thing you do before you go to bed. We can\u2019t expect to get anything out of it if we treat it like the show that\u2019s constantly playing on Netflix. It deserves our attention and affection. Find your best time, when you can concentrate and have the least number of distractions. For me, it\u2019s first thing in the morning. The house is quiet, and no one else is up. If I start in on projects or reading the news, I never get to reading the Bible.<\/p>\n

Be Faithful Through It<\/strong><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t just skim it but meditate on what the text is really saying. Find out who the author is and who they are writing to. Of all the choices, why do you think the author specifically chose this story or passage. See John 21:25, where each page and each passage has a purpose.<\/p>\n

After reading, in the back of my journal, I write the date and the passage I read. This way I don\u2019t have to try to remember where I left off the day before. Don\u2019t skip around or play Bible Roulette. Finish one book before going to another.<\/p>\n

One way to consistently read through the Bible is to find a reading plan on YouVersion. If you are keeping track of what you\u2019ve read, you\u2019ll eventually work through the whole Bible. Nothing is more discouraging than picking up the Bible and reading at random every day.<\/p>\n

Be Faithful To Tell It<\/strong><\/p>\n

I always enjoy a movie more when I can talk about it with people who have seen the same movie. I get the most out of it when I talk to the people who watched the movie with me. I remember staying up late with friends and family continuing to debate a good movie.<\/p>\n

The same is true with the Bible. If we want to get the most out of our Bible, then reading in community is key. Find a group of believers and read through scripture together. Discuss what you\u2019re learning through it. What God speaks to someone may be what a member in your group needs to hear. There’s a verse in 1 Timothy 4:13, \u201cUntil I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture…\u201d In this verse, Paul is instructing a young preacher named Timothy in the ways he can keep his congregation engaged.<\/p>\n

Of course, in those days, few people knew how to read, meaning that unless someone read the Scriptures aloud they would never hear them. It’s vital not to underestimate the power that public Scripture reading still has for us today. Reading alongside other people guards us against distractions and provides us with fellowship. It’s a practice that God’s people have always done to remind themselves of who they are and what they are called for, and it’s still a powerful practice for us today.<\/p>\n

In conclusion, when it comes to our Bible reading: be faithful to it, through it, and to tell it. While Bible reading can be intimidating sometimes, the Holy Spirit will come and be our guide and encourager. Psalm 1 tells us that those who mediate on His word will bear fruit in every season. His word is timeless and never returns void.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"excerpt","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":4387,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,1],"tags":[940,979,16,990,991,941],"class_list":{"0":"post-4383","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-discipleship-ministries","8":"category-general","9":"tag-940","10":"tag-cody-phillips","11":"tag-discipleship","12":"tag-get-the-most-out-of-reading-your-bible","13":"tag-reading-your-bible","14":"tag-sound-doctrine","15":"entry"},"title_es":"C\u00f3mo sacar el m\u00e1ximo provecho de la lectura de su Biblia","content_es":"C\u00f3mo sacar el m\u00e1ximo provecho de la lectura de su Biblia<\/strong> Por Cody Phillips La<\/strong> lectura es dif\u00edcil. Lo dije. Suena tonto decir, quiero decir, estoy escribiendo un art\u00edculo con la esperanza de que la gente lo lea. Entonces, tal vez no sea \"dif\u00edcil\", pero puede ser una molestia. Karen Prior, profesora de ingl\u00e9s en Liberty University, afirma en su libro On Reading Well<\/em> que \u201cel 24% de los adultos no ha le\u00eddo un libro en el \u00faltimo a\u00f1o ... solo el 46% de los adultos solo ha le\u00eddo un libro en el \u00faltimo a\u00f1o. \"Despu\u00e9s de que pregunt\u00e9 a algunos amigos sobre esto, las estad\u00edsticas se mantienen. Una de las principales razones que dieron por no leer fue: \"Puedo sacar m\u00e1s provecho de una pel\u00edcula o un programa de televisi\u00f3n\". Touch\u00e9. Para una pel\u00edcula maniaca como yo, no puedo discutir esto. Me encantan las pel\u00edculas, y sacar\u00e9 mucho de una pel\u00edcula. En comparaci\u00f3n con un libro, las pel\u00edculas y los programas de televisi\u00f3n son cortos, dulces y concisos. Como disc\u00edpulos de Cristo esto plantea un problema. Dios nos dio su palabra a trav\u00e9s de un libro y no de una serie original de Netflix. Entonces, \u00bfc\u00f3mo sacamos el m\u00e1ximo provecho de la lectura de nuestra Biblia? De la misma forma sacamos el m\u00e1ximo partido al cine y la televisi\u00f3n. S\u00e9 fiel<\/strong> Cada vez que aparece un programa en mi feed de Netflix que autom\u00e1ticamente tiene prioridad. Detengo todos los otros shows en los que he estado incursionando porque The Crown<\/em> acaba de abandonar la \u00faltima temporada. No act\u00faes como si no hicieras lo mismo. Nuestra aptitud y actitud espiritual se basa en nuestras disciplinas espirituales. Cualquier prioridad que tenga en su vida tiene un plan para seguir siendo una prioridad. \u00bfCu\u00e1l es tu estrategia? La buena noticia es que nuestro deseo est\u00e1 ah\u00ed, pero a veces nos falta planificar y priorizar. S\u00e9 fiel a la disciplina de la lectura de la Biblia. Ya sea que sea lo primero que haga cuando se despierte o lo \u00faltimo que haga antes de irse a la cama. No podemos esperar obtener nada de eso si lo tratamos como el programa que se est\u00e1 reproduciendo constantemente en Netflix. Merece nuestra atenci\u00f3n y cari\u00f1o. Encuentre su mejor momento, cuando pueda concentrarse y tener la menor cantidad de distracciones. Para m\u00ed, es la primera hora de la ma\u00f1ana. La casa est\u00e1 en silencio, y nadie m\u00e1s est\u00e1 arriba. Si comienzo con proyectos o leyendo noticias, nunca puedo leer la Biblia. S\u00e9 fiel a trav\u00e9s de \u00e9l<\/strong> No solo lo hojees sino que medites en lo que realmente dice el texto. Averigua qui\u00e9n es el autor y a qui\u00e9n est\u00e1n escribiendo. De todas las opciones, \u00bfpor qu\u00e9 crees que el autor eligi\u00f3 espec\u00edficamente esta historia o pasaje? Vea Juan 21:25, donde cada p\u00e1gina y cada pasaje tienen un prop\u00f3sito. Despu\u00e9s de leer, al final de mi diario, escribo la fecha y el pasaje que le\u00ed. De esta manera no tengo que intentar recordar d\u00f3nde lo dej\u00e9 el d\u00eda anterior. No te saltes ni juegues a la ruleta b\u00edblica. Termina un libro antes de ir a otro. Una forma de leer constantemente la Biblia es encontrar un plan de lectura en YouVersion. Si est\u00e1 haciendo un seguimiento de lo que ha le\u00eddo, finalmente trabajar\u00e1 en toda la Biblia. Nada es m\u00e1s desalentador que recoger la Biblia y leer al azar todos los d\u00edas. S\u00e9 fiel para contarla<\/strong> Siempre disfruto m\u00e1s una pel\u00edcula cuando puedo hablar sobre ella con personas que han visto la misma pel\u00edcula. Aprovecho al m\u00e1ximo cuando hablo con las personas que vieron la pel\u00edcula conmigo. Recuerdo estar despierto hasta tarde con amigos y familiares que contin\u00faan debatiendo una buena pel\u00edcula. Lo mismo ocurre con la Biblia. Si queremos sacar el m\u00e1ximo provecho de nuestra Biblia, entonces leer en comunidad es clave. Encuentre un grupo de creyentes y lean juntos las Escrituras. Discute lo que est\u00e1s aprendiendo a trav\u00e9s de \u00e9l. Lo que Dios le habla a alguien puede ser lo que un miembro de su grupo necesita escuchar. Hay un vers\u00edculo en 1 Timoteo 4:13, \"Hasta que yo venga, ded\u00edquese a la lectura p\u00fablica de las Escrituras ...\" En este vers\u00edculo, Pablo instruye a un joven predicador llamado Timoteo sobre las maneras en que puede mantener a su congregaci\u00f3n comprometida. Por supuesto, en aquellos d\u00edas, pocas personas sab\u00edan leer, lo que significa que, a menos que alguien lea las Escrituras en voz alta, nunca las oir\u00edan. Es vital no subestimar el poder que la lectura p\u00fablica de las Escrituras todav\u00eda tiene para nosotros hoy. Leer al lado de otras personas nos protege de las distracciones y nos proporciona compa\u00f1erismo. Es una pr\u00e1ctica que el pueblo de Dios siempre ha hecho para recordar qui\u00e9nes son y para qu\u00e9 son llamados, y a\u00fan hoy es una pr\u00e1ctica poderosa para nosotros. En conclusi\u00f3n, cuando se trata de la lectura de nuestra Biblia: s\u00e9 fiel a ella, a trav\u00e9s de ella, y cu\u00e9ntala. Si bien la lectura de la Biblia puede ser intimidante a veces, el Esp\u00edritu Santo vendr\u00e1 y ser\u00e1 nuestra gu\u00eda y alentador. El Salmo 1 nos dice que aquellos que median en Su palabra fructificar\u00e1n en cada estaci\u00f3n. Su palabra es atemporal y nunca vuelve vac\u00eda.","author_name":"","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/01\/How-to-Get-the-Most-Out-of-Reading-Your-Bible.png","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4T9u2-18H","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4383","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4383"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4383\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4387"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4383"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4383"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4383"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}