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1. Bible study = Success
This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. (Joshua 1:8)
Whatever it is we have to do, we must not neglect doing the one thing most needed. No man's position puts him above the law of God. He is to encourage himself with the promise and presence of God. Success GOD'S WAY is not from power, influence, or relentless desire. It is from reading and studying the Bible and obeying what God tells us in the Bible
2. Listen, learn, search, and obey
Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:31-32)
Christianity begins with belief
Being a Christian means constantly remaining in the word of Jesus. It involves constant listening to the word of Jesus. The Christian listens for the voice of Jesus and will make no decision until he has first heard what He has to say. It involves constant learning from Jesus. The disciple is a learner, that is what the Greek word means. All your you should be learning more and more about Jesus. It involves searching for the truth that the words of Jesus contain. To remain in the word of Jesus means to study and think about what he said until more and more of its meaning becomes ours. It involves constantly obeying the word of Jesus. The truth that Jesus brought is meant to be acted upon. Christianity comes from knowledge of the truth. To learn from Jesus is to learn the truth. The truth that Jesus brings shows us the real values of life.
Christianity results in freedom. It brings us freedom from fear. It brings freedom from self. It brings freedom from other people. It brings freedom from sin. What has knowing the truth set you free to do? What can be done for, or said to, someone who is honestly seeking God?
3. Study according to your personality
There are many methods of Bible study.
Observation. This is when you take one passage and completely "devour" it. Ask the 5 "w's" and 1 "h" of the passage. Learn everything possible from it. One problem, a great knowledge about a narrow part of scripture.
Topical. This is where you look up all the scriptures on any one idea. Generally you would run the "cross-references" of each scripture to see what the Bible says about itself. This is also where a concordance comes in handy.
The Book Method. This is basically a Bible book report. Outline chapters, define Bible terms. Look into context (when, where, to whom, any why was it written), list themes and key verses, list important teachings and doctrines.
Biography. A report of the lives of major Bible characters.
Verse-by-verse. Take a verse with a clear message. Read it in several versions. List the message, promise, or blessing of the verse.
4. Make it personal
You might find it helpful to purchase a wide-margin Bible. NIV, NKJV, New Living, NASB, and Contemporary English are excellent versions. Take notes on lessons and sermons in the margins of the Bible. Underline or highlight important verses. Write down personal/emotional reactions to the passage, lesson, or sermon. Write notes from your personal study (methods above) in the margins of the Bible.
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