Happy 2022! 🎉
It’s a new year! Oftentimes, with a new year comes new goals. It’s also the perfect time to start (or re-start) a Bible reading plan. And I couldn’t think of a better blog post to kick things off than to talk about a few of my favorite Bible study tools. I’ll be sharing a few things that can help aid us in our Bible studying but it’s important to remember that these things are just tools. The Word of God is sufficient in itself. However, these things will definitely help in our understanding of the Scriptures, mark things we want to return to, and encourage us to dig deeper.
First off, I think it’s important to note why we study Scripture.
+ To know God better
+ Discernment + understanding
+ Comfort + conviction
+ To stay grounded in Truth
What are some other reasons you might list here? I would love for you to share them with me in the comments section below! God’s Word is a gift to us. It brings encouragement to our sometimes weary souls. In an ever-changing world that tells you to find and determine your own truth, it’s critically important that as believers we stay grounded in the Truth of God’s Word.
Now that we’ve talked a little bit about why we study Scripture, let’s look at a few of my favorite tools!
1. Study Bible — Maybe this one is a bit obvious, but I felt that it needed to be listed! A study Bible is a game changer. It’s full of information and is very helpful in giving context for specific text. Knowing the culture and context of a passage is very important in Bible study and this helps with that! I currently have the John MacArthur NKJV study Bible as well as the CSB note taking Bible from Hosanna Revival but there are a handful of options out there. If you are looking to dig deeper into your studying, a study Bible is a great place to start!
2. The Bible Handbook — This is a new tool for me and it’s already been so beneficial in my studying. As I start a new book in the Bible, I pull this out and it gives me an overview of that specific book. The information ranges from author and theme to a timeline and overview. It gives a key verse of the book along with detailed information of specific events. It’s also full of maps and graphics to help bring clarity. I purchased it from http://dailygrace.com on sale! It’s definitely a great tool to aid in studying the Bible. I love it so much I am gifting it to one of my readers! But more on that later.
3. Commentary — We often criticize technology and the negative effects of it. But in this case, I’m grateful for it! Having a commentary of the Bible is literally at our fingertips. There are apps and websites galore. Of course using desecration is important. I like Blue Letter Bible (website) http://blueletterbible.com and/or their app. From their website or app you can access many different commentaries as well as encyclopedias and access to the original Greek & Hebrew words!
4. Bible Highlighters — I don’t know about you, but I love highlighting Scripture when the Lord speaks to me through it. Maybe it’s a favorite verse or a note you want to mark. Highlighters specifically designed for Bibles don’t bleed through the pages! I’ve been using a set from Daily Grace but you can purchase them anywhere. Annnd they just might be a part of the giveaway too!
5. Journal or Notebook — It doesn’t have to be anything fancy! But this is a great tool to take notes, write out Scripture, and mark down all that the Lord is teaching you through your study. If you want to go digital, there are journaling & notebook apps!
Those are my top 5 study tools. You can use as many or as little tools as you’d like! Some others not mentioned are: tabs to mark places, sticky notes to note things, and pens specific for Bibles! What would you add to the list?
Studying Scripture is not only fulfilling for the believer but it is crucial. And to better equip you for Bible study – I thought it might be fun to do a giveaway with this post. All you have to do is 1) comment or 2) share this post (do both 1 and 2 for a double entry)! That’s it! If you do one of those things, you’ll be entered to win the giveaway which includes:
+ The Bible Handbook
+ Bible Highlighters
+ Bible tabs & sticky notes
+ Water tumbler that says “Give me Jesus”
+ Prayers for anxiety Scripture cards
+ Bookmark/ruler for underlining
* Everything included is pictured below. Entry for giveaway will end Sunday, January 30th and the winner will be notified!
Either way, I pray this post encourages you to dig deeper into God’s Word and that you feel better equipped as you do so.
Happy studying!
That She May Know 