The Bible is a precious and powerful gift to us from God. It is a gift that we each need to put to work in our lives. Many of us have been taught since we were children that we are supposed to study the Bible. Many of us have done that in Sunday School classes and other adult education in our churches and home groups. But now that we don't get out as much as we used to, it can be a little harder to find the meaning of scripture that we found in discussion groups and formal classes. It may be harder, but it is certainly more than possible, to benefit from studying the Bible alone. The Bible Studies offered on this site can be used with others, but they are especially designed for you to use alone.

If you are studying alone, the following tips may help you.

Set aside at least 20 minutes for your study. This is a bare minimum. Any passage can be pondered quietly throughout the day and week.

Read the passage thoughtfully. Notice any sparks or questions that form in your mind as you read. If you have them, read the text again in others translations. Remember that translation is an inexact science. No two languages function in exactly the same way, so word for word translations are rare. Every translation is to some degree an interpretation. Reading several versions will help you see the places in each passage that are complex and multifaceted.

Jot down in a journal, or print out the Bible study and circle, the words that particularly catch you attention.

Ask yourself: "What is my immediate reaction to this text. " Write that down.

Read the background material and word studies supplied with the Bible study. If that whets your appetite for more, I recommend two Bible commentary series that are very good and readable for people with little or no previous Bible experience. The first is The Daily Study Bible Series. It is available in paperback for each book of the Bible. The Old Testament editor is John C. L. Gibson. The New Testament author is the beloved William Barclay. These commentaries are older but they are timeless and wonderful. For a solid and more contemporary series, there is a series called The Westminster Bible Companion. I use both of these resources, among others, to develop the studies provided on this site. You may order them online.

Think about the reflection questions at the end of each study. What other questions come to your mind?

Ask yourself how you would summarize the message of the text as it applies to your life today. Thank God in prayer for bringing you this insight and inspiration.

You might find it useful to print out the Bible studies and keep them in a spiral notebook so that you can refer to them later. More than anything, I hope that these studies will be prompts in your deepening relationship with God. As far as you can, don't allow yourself to think things like, "The Bible is too hard for me to understand." Or "I don't have the education to study the Bible." Or "I'm not worthy to study the Bible." None of those statements is true at all! The Bible is God's great gift of love for you and it can provide you with years of benefit no matter your background or experience!