Study The Bible

January 2, 2015 by Tricia Goyer 6 Comments

Bible Reading Plans for the New Year

Today’s post is brought to you by my friend Kara Chupp over at: http://karachupp.com/

I met Kara through The Better Mom where we both are contributors, and we are so like-minded about many things … including adopting kiddos.

Kara shares wonderful info on Bible Reading plans. (Key word on “plans.”) I know you will be blessed!

“Careful planning is part of what makes a person wise and productive.
Not to plan is considered foolish and dangerous.
This is true even though the Proverbs teach that we do not know what the future may bring.

‘A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps’ (Proverbs 16:9).
The fact that the Lord is ultimately in control of the future does not mean we shouldn’t plan.
It means we should commit our work to the Lord and trust him to establish our plans according to his loving purposes…He (God) planned for our joy; we ought to plan for His glory.” ~ John Piper

I am convinced that not much happens without a plan, so I’m sitting down to look at our Bible reading options for this upcoming year.

In the past we’ve gone through many different outlines and recently have been enjoying writing out different passages. But the new year offers a great opportunity for a fresh start and a solid attempt to daily read through the Bible.

Some available options:

Crossway offers ten different ESV reading plans (each available in multiple formats).

Several years ago we went through Ransom Fellowship’s Read Through the Bible Plan for Shirkers and Slackers.

The M’Cheyne reading plan includes reading through the Old Testament once and the New Testament and Psalms twice.

Ligonier Ministries also offers several free, printable Bible reading plans. Last year we completed their 5X5X5 which has you reading through the New Testament 5 days a week. It’s a great one to start with if you’ve never consistently read the Bible or if like me, you appreciate a slower pace and time to focus on a passage or book of the Bible.

Bible Gateway offers many subscription options as well (for free), including the daily audio Bible.

If you’re just getting started reading the Bible, one of Back to the Bible’s Challenges might be the way to go. They offer several options (21 day, 90 day, 6 months & 1 year challenges).

The Navigators’ Book-at-a-Time plan will take you through the entire Bible in a year with 25 readings per month (which allows for several “catch up days” if needed).

Daily Devotionals:

I also really enjoy going through some sort of daily devotional.
In past years I’ve worked my way through:

A Year with C. S. Lewis

Streams in the Desert: 366 Daily Devotional Readings

365 Days with Wilberforce (this whole series is really good)

And this year, I can’t wait to start reading Paul Tripp’s new book– New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional

And it’s always fun to start a new devotional with our kiddos as well. A few of our past favorites include:

Long Story Short: Ten-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God

Mighty Acts of God: A Family Bible Story Book

One Year of Dinner Table Devotions and Discussion Starters: 365 Opportunities to Grow Closer to God as a Family

Big Truths for Little Kids: Teaching Your Children to Live for God

God’s Names (Children Desiring God)

The Gospel Story Bible: Discovering Jesus in the Old and New Testaments

We haven’t settled on our plan yet for 2015 and I’d love to hear what you have been encouraged by in the past or what ideas you have for this next year…

May God bless our desire to be intentional about spending time with Him in His Word this next year!

With Love,
Kara

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July 2, 2014 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

Bible Study Brainstorm: 7 Ideas for Busy Moms

Do you need a Bible Study Brainstorm in this season? I completely understand and I’m here to help! These 7 ideas will help you make time for pouring God’s Word into your parched soul. Be blessed, Mom!

Bible Study Brainstorm:

7 Ideas for Busy Moms

There being sixteen years between babies, I had forgotten a lot. Right after I adopted my younger children a couple years ago I began to remember. I remembered that I can’t even take a shower without peace, let alone get an hour of Bible Study prayer and journaling that I was used to.

If you want time to study God’s Word but don’t find it possible with little ones…

Here are 7 ideas for spending time with God.

1. Have Scripture emailed to you.

For many years I read through the Bible on a reading plan. Here are some plans that get emailed to you. You can chose to read the whole Bible through the year, but I’d recommend starting with the New Testament first. Also, if you get behind, don’t let the emails pile up. Delete the old ones and get back on track. It’s about reading God’s Word and spending time with Jesus … no guilt allowed!

2. Keep a Bible open on the kitchen counter.

Yes, it might acquire spaghetti sauce stains, but I don’t think Jesus will mind. If it’s there and open you can read God’s Word and whisper thoughts and prayers to Him as the bread is toasting or the pasta is boiling. God’s ears are attuned to kitchen prayers just as much as ones whispered on your knees in a quiet morning.

3. Watch Christian sermons on YouTube.

Some of my favorites are videos of Francis Chan and Beth Moore. They are wonderful teachers who bring God’s Word to life! I’ve pulled them up on my computer while I’m folding clothes instead of turning on TV shows–much more uplifting!

4. Keep a devotional book in your bathroom.

One of my favorites is Nothing is Impossible by Women of Faith. I’ve discovered I can read a devotion and meditate on the Bible Scripture verse it in the time it takes to blow dry my hair.

Get more Bible in your day: Keep a devotional book in your bathroom. @TriciaGoyer

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5. Have a Bible Study time with your kids.

For years I used Keys for Kids. It’s online and it’s FREE. The best part is the kids loved it and they kept me accountable!

6. Ask your husband to be your Bible reading partner.

Many years ago John and I started reading the Bible together before he goes to work. We read though the Bible, but we don’t try to stick to a Bible reading plan. (Tried that and it just stressed us out!) Instead, we just keep a bookmark in the Bible and pick up where we left off last time. We each take a turn reading a chapter out loud if we have time. If not we split a chapter and each read half. We don’t stress if we can’t get it in, but we enjoy it when we do. It also gives us great topics of conversation throughout the day.

7. Join a Bible Study.

I know, I know this can be a challenge, but it can also be a great joy. In the past, I’ve joined Bible Study Fellowship. They provide great studies and have an amazing children’s program. Not only do the moms get to hear God’s Word, but the children do too. There is weekly homework that takes 15-20 minutes a day on average. I fit this in by waking up earlier than normal or by asking my husband to watch the kids for a few minutes. It’s hard for him to say no when I tell him I need to study the Bible!

If you’re looking for an online study, check out Good Morning Girls. Good Morning Girls exists to inspire, encourage and equip women all over the world to get into God’s Word through their online community. Good Morning Girls has multiple online Bible studies, resources and videos created with YOU in mind and all for FREE!

Those are some things I’ve done. Now … what about you? What are your favorite ways to study the Bible?

August 22, 2013 by Tricia Goyer 13 Comments

How to Study the Bible- Plus a Free Printable

Today Tricia Goyer shares some tips on how to study your bible. May these tips encourage you in your time with the Lord, along with the free printable!

I love studying the Bible. I’m perfectly happy to have a stack of study books by my side. I could spend hours a day reading God’s Word and allowing it to carry me through its passages.

Of course, I’m a mom of six, including three little ones who usually never “sleep in” after 6:00 a.m. I don’t have time to spend hours a day in God’s Word. Instead, I’ve discovered a few tricks of “going deep” into a topical Bible study . . . quickly!

Pick a topic that resonates with your heart.

Right now I’m under yet another book deadline. It’s a gift (love writing), and a struggle (dislike babysitters, quick dinners, and inner tension that comes with deadlines). It’s days like this when doubts swirl around my heart. “Maybe this book isn’t going to come together” or “You’re hiring a baby sitter . . . again? Some mom you are.” I know these voices of doubt aren’t from God. I need HIS TRUTH to speak to my heart.

BibleHub it.

One of my favorite online tools is BibleHub.com. One of the search features is “topical” (second search field). I type in the word Doubt in press enter.

Read the first Scripture.

The first Scripture first that came up was Matthew 14:31:

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Right away this speaks to my heart. A prayer escapes my lips, “Lord, give me faith and not doubt.”

Read the context.

Bible Hub provides the context for the Scripture verse. (The “context” means verses before and after the key Scripture.) Reading the verse in context reminds me that the verses we cling to didn’t just come from thin air, but God was doing something for someone.

The verses we cling to didn’t just come from thin air, but God was doing something for someone.

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In this case, Peter had a few doubts when he found himself walking on water!

But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. (Matthew 14:30-32).

These verses remind me that in frightening situations, Jesus is there. And even when I feel myself sinking, Jesus stretches out His hand. It’s my job to stretch out mine and take a hold of them. Jesus wants me to have faith, not doubt. And Jesus is perfectly capable of calming the storm! But . . . it’s the storm that causes me to reach out to Jesus. (<—— Great takeaway for today!)

Apply the Scripture.

As I think through these verses, I realize I am in a “storm” but Jesus is there. I also consider what I’m paying attention to: is it the worries that are pounding me or Jesus’ outstretched hand? I picture myself stretching out my hand to Him.

Read cross-references.

BibleHub.com provides a list of cross-references that go with my chosen Scripture verse. Here are a few:

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you–you of little faith? Matthew 6:30

He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. Matthew 8:26

Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? Matthew 16:8

Read additional Scripture on the same theme.

In addition to cross-references, BibleHub.com also provides the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, which connects Bible verses with “keywords” in my chosen Scripture verse. Here are a few that stand out to me:

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life. You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes; with your right hand, you save me. Psalm 138:7

So he went to her, took her hand, and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. Mark 1:31

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20

But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. James 1:6

Are you encouraged by those Scripture verses and God’s messages of truth? I am!

As I study God’s Word, my heart is transformed.

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I start praising God, asking for more faith to blow away my doubts!

If time allows, here are three more things that I do:

1. Read through additional Bible translations.

I love how God’s Word is captured in various ways. Young’s Literal Translation puts it this way:

And immediately Jesus, having stretched forth the hand, laid hold of him, and saith to him, ‘Little faith! for what didst thou waver?’

Take away: Doubt causes us to waver from the truths that we know.

2. Read a commentary.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary is one of my favorites. (It’s also on BibleHub!) I love this nugget:

Christ bade Peter come, not only that he might walk upon the water, and so know his Lord’s power, but that he might know his own weakness. And the Lord often lets his servants have their choice, to humble and prove them, and to show the greatness of his power and grace. (Matthew Henry’s Commentary on Matthew 14:31)

Take away: The “storms of life” come (including deadlines) so that I will be reminded of my weaknesses and I will turn to Jesus.

3. Share the truth.

When I read God’s Word and it impacts my heart, I share it with others. I share it through a blog. I share it in conversations. And sometimes these messages manage to make it into the books I write.

I’m so thankful for resources like BibleHub that makes Bible study easy . . . and yes, the kids are now awake. Time to go!

Enjoy this printable to help your time with the Lord:

Download the Printable

Heart Happy: Staying Centered in God’s Love Through Chaotic Circumstances takes readers on a journey to discover where their true strength, peace, and joy come from—the Lord—no matter what life offers up. Tricia Goyer—author, podcast host, volunteer, homeschooling mom of ten children, and caregiver to her grandma—understands what it’s like to be pulled in different directions with the longing and intention to do all things well. In the midst of chaotic circumstances (which all of us face), she’s found uncomplicated but effective practices for nourishing the soul—because everything stems from the heart.

Preorder Heart Happy by Tricia Goyer.

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