1. To 160 th Ave Church of Christ 160thavechurch.c om

2. A Few Critical Questions: “Have you read the Bible?” “Are you reading the Bible?” The word of God is our nourishment (Matt. 4) “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hos. 4:6) We need to be reminded (2 Pet. 1:12-15) A Friendly Reminder: READ THE BIBLE!

3. BETTER BIBLE READING

4. Fundamental Reading (Tips): Read in an orderly fashion – Stick with a plan/Have a plan – Topical studies – Read through entire books – Have a schedule (daily reading) – A good place to start: gospels/acts Read to Understand (Neh 8:1-4) – Be focused/attentive – Limit distractions – Use aids Study Bibles Introduction material Keep Reading!!!! – Like exercise (a million ways that work and work well) – Experience will make it better and easier – Find out what works for you audio

5. Make Application Find the “so what” in the passage for you – The Bible was written to specific groups of people – The Bible was written to us There are truth and applications that we need to make. All of it! 1 Cor. 10:6-13 – If we do not allow God’s word to change us then what does it matter. James 1:21-25 Josiah (2 Kings 22:3-10) – The book of the covenant did not have his name in it! – Josiah reads and inquires of God and makes reforms.

6. Find out what God is trying to say It is good to read passages based on what you want to hear/what you want to know – Doctrine – Problems – Questions – Encouragement. God’s word contains everything we need – 2 Tim. 3:16-17 Don’t only look for what you want to know about God but what God wants you to know about Him. – What is God trying to tell me in this passage? – This will help me read in context – This will help me not skip anything.

7. Leave out assumptions We can be blinded by preconceived expectations and understandings. – Pharisees struggled with this greatly (they had their minds already made up!) – We need to be receptive as those upon hearing the news of Cornelius. (Acts 11:1-18; 15:1-18) Reading the Bible through a scope or a foregone conclusion, can very quickly change someone’s understanding of the text. – Examples; Calvinism, Faith only, etc.

8. Leave out assumptions Difficult to do – We all have preconceived understandings – We all have background knowledge and experience – This is very easily something we are all guilty of We know how important this is and desire this from other denominations, we need to demand this of self. – Be honest with the text and check preconceived expectations at the door.