“After you have read this letter, pass it on to the church at Laodicea so they can read it, too. And you should read the letter I wrote to them” (Colossians 4:16).
When someone asks you what kind of a Bible you read, tell them you can only read an opened Bible! Bible reading is a major factor in Christian growth.
Here are some ways to get more out of your Bible reading:
- READ EXTENSIVELY – Read through the Bible. Read through a book of the Bible. Get the whole counsel of God’s Word.
- READ INTENSIVELY – Read a single Bible book over and over again. Read it in as many translations as you can get ahold of. You’ll find great reward in mastering even a small part of God’s Word, and you’ll find that it masters you.R. A. Torrey used to say that he made it a rule to read enough of the Bible to enable him to turn one page of the Bible every twenty-four hours.
- READ DEFENSIVELY – By this I mean, watch for the concentration robbers. They’ll try to wreck your time in God’s Word, but don’t be discouraged by them. Here’s a simple way to handle distractions:
1. Keep a notepad to write things that you think of that you should do. Read aloud.
2. You’ll be surprised how much this will help you get more out of the Word and you’ll remember it better because you’re getting input, not just from your eyes, but also from your ears. - READ CAREFULLY – Read for the whole context. Read enough to develop the continuity of thought. Sometimes that means you read a few more verses, other times you’ll need to read the whole chapter.
It’s exciting to see God develop a hunger in your heart for His Word!
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Pastor Mark Martin
Calvary Community Church
