Read the Bible to Get to Know Jesus

So you want to get to know Jesus, but you’re wondering, “Where do I start?” Great question!

Start with prayer (talk to Jesus as if he’s right there with you…because he is and he hears you…really!).

But prayer really comes alive when you join it with reading your Bible.

You can’t have a close relationship with someone you never talk to. It’s impossible. God’s word—the Bible—is the primary way he speaks to us. Reading your Bible and praying is the absolute best way to discover how to follow Jesus on a daily basis. If you want to know more about God and his promises, reading the Bible is your next step.

You can download the YouVersion bible app for free for your phone or tablet. We also have hard copies of the Bible for free. Just ask one of our staff.

Then start reading. Start with 10 minutes a day.

We suggest starting with The Gospel of John and then reading Romans.

 

Going Deeper

There are typically two approaches to daily Bible-reading: wanting to know Jesus in the details of the Bible and wanting to know Jesus through the big story of scripture

Wanting to know Jesus in the details of the Bible involves slow, thoughtful reading that focuses on smaller portions of scripture and includes deeper study of passages and verses. This is the approach in most Sunday morning services, Small Groups, classes, and Bible studies. Wanting to know Jesus through the big story of scripture comes through faster reading of larger portions such as reading the entire Bible in one year.

Followers of Jesus grow through a healthy balance of both. We should seek to be familiar with the whole story of the Bible and we should go deeper into smaller passages. We also need to learn how to apply what we’re learning to our lives. We suggest using the SOAP method below.

 

Use S.O.A.P.

If you really want to get the most out of your Bible reading, we recommend using the SOAP method. It’s really quite simple and you can use it alongside any Bible reading plan. You simply read whatever chapter or verses for the day and then follow the steps below.

SScripture: From your Bible reading, write down whatever verse/s or phrase/s stuck out to you.

OObservations: Write down your what you see happening in the scripture you wrote down. This could include who is writing or saying the words, who it was written or said to, what is happening, or what caught your attention.

AApplication: This is where it gets personal. Write down what you think God is saying to you through this scripture. Ask yourself the following questions: What is God saying to me today? How can I apply in my life what I just read? What changes do I need to make? Is there any action I need to take?

PPrayer: Talk to Jesus about what he’s showing you in the Bible. Share your hopes and dreams, as well as your fears and failures. Ask Jesus for forgiveness if he’s revealed any sin in your life, and ask him to help you change. Thank him for who he is and what he’s done for you.

Just as we need to wash physically each day, we should also spend time with Jesus every day, so use SOAP!