The Rigors and Joys of Bible Study
There is, perhaps, nothing I do in life that is as rigorous both mentally and emotionally as Bible study. It requires focused attention to the Scriptures—-to the individual words, phrases, paragraphs, chapters, and books. As I study I find my mind challenged to understand each writer’s intent and meaning, and then to put down what I have discovered in a way which is understandable and applicable to the lives of those I teach each Sunday. After a lengthy time of Bible study, I find myself in need of rest because of the rigors of thinking through and meditating on the text.
It is also difficult emotionally because the Word challenges me in my own life. I have to evaluate my own actions and inactions and determine what changes I need to make in my own life so that I live a more Christ-centered life.
But there is no greater joy than the joy of Bible study, for in the Word I find refreshing, living water for my dry soul and strong encouragement for my spiritual weakness. There is no other book that comforts me, edifies me, reproves me, convicts me, and teaches me than the Bible. It is the center and focus of my ministry because in it I find the words that bring life and light to my heart and the hearts of others.
In my Bible study, there are several resources which I find to be most helpful. I always go to my Logos Bible Software and open it to passage I am studying. I find the exegetical guide extremely enlightening because I always want to go back to the meaning of the original languages in order to gain a better understanding of what the original writer was communicating to his readers. The passage guide is also helpful because I can quickly link to the commentaries on the passage and see what some of the great Bible teachers of yesterday and today have found as they looked deeply into the text. And they often include helpful information that helps me apply in practical ways what the passage is teaching.
In addition to my Logos Bible Software, I also use certain websites in my Bible study. Two which are particularly helpful to me are www.bible.org, and www.gracechurch.org/sfellowship. Both sites provide extensive information on the text of Scripture and other theological issues that I can use to develop my sermon or lesson. The second site listed is the Shepherd’s Fellowship site which requires a paid membership, but my church provides it for the pastors and elders to use, and I so much appreciate its generosity in doing so, because when I am able to find the right illustration or the best explanation of a particular text or issue, I am able to more effectively communicate God’s truth to those for whom I have spiritual oversight.
The time I spend in Bible study is the most precious time of my week. It is difficult; it is demanding; it is time-consuming. But despite the rigors of laboring in the Word, there is no greater joy than to dig in and mine out those gems of spiritual truth that our great God has given us in the Scriptures. That is what God has called each of us to do, and I so very much appreciate how much Logos and others have done to make that process simpler and more enjoyable.