Bible Study: Where do I begin?

“I don’t know where to start.”

The statement was made in a matter of fact fashion. But I heard the undercurrent. I could not mistake the cry nor ignore the anguish. This morning during my quiet time they echoed into my own heart’s cry to the Father. I was moved by your words. Moved enough to take action.

My remembrance filled with thoughts from Luke 1:1-4. A physician takes action. His mission: to bring certaintanty to one man. “That you might know the certainty.” Luke writes to Theophilus. He was obviously moved by one person’s cry as well. This morning the two statements intersect in my own thought process. Luke, in response to Theophilus’ need, chose to write. So have I. Why? So you can be certain of the starting point.

We gathered for a luncheon after Sunday morning service. The topic quickly turned to the Word of God. Hunger was apparent, both natural and spiritual. We sat masking our eagerness to eat under the guise of socially accepted behaviour as the aroma reached us from the kitchen. We silently strained to monitor our impatience. The growl from our stomachs, however, exposed the truth. Regardles of our bridled tongues each of us knew inwardly we were ravenous. It didn’t matter where we started. We wanted to know WHEN do we start. The where will follow at the table.

Our readiness to partake of this Southern cooking at its best was strikingly similar to a deeper more silent growl from the depths of our bellies. “Teach me to study the Word.” That hunger became more intense and more recognizable as we fellowshiped together around table. We soon became full to overflowing from the mouth watering morsels. The undercurrant, however, was unmistakable. “I’m not going to be fuly satisfied until I study the Word for myself.”

I’m encouraged this morning as I pick up my pen and glide across the blank page. Like Luke I’ve chosen to write to someone who needs more than what they have. Theophilus needed a letter. A letter from someone who could satisfy his silent hunger. He needed that information on paper so he could fellowship at the table of certainty. That’s my desire as well this mornign as I rise to the challenge of passing on to you the answer to that knawing question, “Where do I start?”

Let’s start with the cry. When I get really quiet allowing the words to replay I hear something in addition to what’s actually spoken. I hear the almost restrained low-level panic of someone keenly aware of a deficiet in their life. Someone who is crying out for truth. At the same time there’s an obvious twinge of “I’m alone in this. I don’t have a teacher.”

Well, I have good news for you on all counts. For starters, “I’ve been there.” Knowing I needed to study the Word I approached a leader in my church some thrity years ago. “How do I study the Word?” The reply came like a brick wall, “You just study.” Like everyone was born with this fully operationally study skill except me. I wanted help. I knew I needed help but my cry was ignored. At least in the ears of the one I had hoped would mentor me.

Perhaps that’s why I can’t ignore the inner cry I heard in your words yesterday at lunch. It caused me to remember my own cry, the anguish and the sense of abandonment I felt when I heard those words, “just study”. Is this what we say to a first grader? Do we tell them just study with out some form of understanding? Of course not.

I can not remain quiet to your cry nor ignore your statement. I must write and answer the real question embedded in your words. “Who will teach me?” Sometimes we’re afraid to ask the question openly because we’re convinced we have some learning disability that disqualifies us from being accepted in a normal class setting, whatever normal may be. So we hide behind the curtain afraid to ask for a teacher for fear they’ll condemn us for wanting to be taught. Like we were some how passed over or excluded from the class everyone else took.

Let me ease your mind. You’ve not been passed over nor excluded. There is a teacher standing by to instruct you. I’m quite certain you’ve been introduced to this person before. Perhaps your introduction didn’t include a complete resume of qualifications and work history. For those of us who have sat under his tutelage we no longer refer to him as a teacher. We don’t even call him a good teacher although he is. He’s not even a great teacher. He is The Great Teacher. And guess what? He’s conducting classes near you, like right along side you. His mission statement can be summed up with single focus. He is sent to teach you.

According to John’s gospel the Great Teacher has a responsibility. He’s been given a job, commissioned from heaven and assigned to you. His job description is written. Here’s what you can expect Him to do for you.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. Jn 16:13-15

Now that’s good news! The Holy Spirit is under a divine mandate to walk along side you, show you where to start and, if that’s not enough,, he’s responsible for getting you into the truth. What does that mean to you? “Relax, The Lord takes care of you.” (Ps 116:7 NCV) He is responsible. He is your guide. He is your teacher. Doesn’t that lift the burden from your back? I thought it would. What happens now? It’s simple. Just sign up for the course and let the word speak.

Just like any other course you just have to show up for class. Let Him know you are submitting to his leadership and allow Him to answer your questions and prepare you for the tests.

I have found some basic exercises profitable in positioning myself to be taught. For starters,I use a read the Bible through in a year system. When I begin my devotional time I read a section of the Old, a portion of the News, a measured dose of hte Psalms and a sprinking for Proverbs. That becomes my daily vitamin pack to make sure I get some basics. I use The One Year Bible published by Tyndale. I rotate the translations yearly. This gives me an overview. As I’m reading I make note of any passage that may jump out as the text I study. Let me make this point clear. My daily reading selection may or may not be the content I study. This portion of my devotional time is for intake. My study time is much more structured and requires a greater degree of focus and intensity.

In my next letter I’ll introduce you to some other Bible Study tools and give you a little kick start to get you to the banqueting table for fresh baked bread.
Feel free to leave you comments or ask a question by using the comment button below. I’m looking forward to sharing with you more and watching you glean from the rich storehouse of God’s Word.