There is some information so vital to the Christian life that if you do not know it you cannot become a mature Christian.
If you rely only on Sunday sermons and occasional input from blog posts, YouTube videos, or simple internet Bible studies…if there is no overall game plan to hit all the vital subject areas, there is almost no chance that you will grow in your Christian walk.
Living the Christian life is not a hobby, it’s a vocation. It’s not something you can dabble in and be successful. Half-hearted measures always yield half-hearted results. Instead, it’s something you must immerse yourself in. No one grows in their Christian walk by accident. Somewhere along the line, there must be a decision to pay a necessary price to grow.
How the Brain Works
The brain works in such a way that what you can learn today depends on what you learned yesterday. And what you can learn tomorrow depends on what you learned today.
It’s like going up stair steps. If you don’t take steps two, three, and four you can’t get to seven, eight, and nine. That’s the way it is with the Bible. If you want an advanced knowledge of Scripture, you must first have a complete, basic knowledge of Scripture. You don’t need a Masters degree in theology, but you do need a foundational understanding.
The Challenge of Time
At the same time, I understand that it is not easy. You may work long hours, or have a preschooler at home, or finishing an online degree. It can be a tremendous challenge in today’s culture and economy to carve out the time needed to grow as a Christian.
However, there is always time to do the will of God. There are some key things you can do to initiate a lifetime of spiritual growth. If you do carve out the time, you want a great return on your investment; I understand.
Where to Start
There are four simple steps to mastering the Bible so well that the Bible masters you.
- Read the Bible. If you read the Bible just five minutes a day. In a year, you will have read the Bible over 30 hours! Think of it. Imagine how much your knowledge of the Bible would increase reading it for 30 hours…and at the painless pace of five minutes a day! To start, set the timer on your phone for five minutes and begin with Matthew. Read through to Revelation at the rate of five minutes a day. Don’t worry about what you don’t understand. Just look for things you do understand.
- Study the Bible. We all need teachers. Don’t try to do this by yourself. Bible studies with gifted teachers are invaluable. Find a church offering Sunday School or Bible studies. Books make great teachers, as well. Regular, modest investments of time in this area can pay rich dividends.
- Memorize the Bible. In your reading and studying, pick one verse or brief passage that speaks deeply to you and memorize it so well that you can say it as fast as an auctioneer. Take as long at you need, but stick with it. When you have that one down, pick another.
- Meditate on the Bible. After you have it deeply memorized, at least once a day, recite the memorized verse(s), driving its truth more and more deeply into your soul. You can do this while driving or shaving or standing in line.
These simple steps are not excessively time consuming, but they will give you a foundation for a lifetime of spiritual growth. Start today.
If you’ve ever confused the ark of the covenant with the ark of Noah, or Jericho with Jeroboam, Max Anders’ classic book, 30 Days to Understanding the Bible, is for you. In just fifteen minutes a day, you’ll learn the Bible’s key people, events, and doctrines to get more out of God’s Word.
About the Author:
Dr. Max Anders is the author of over 25 books included 30 Days to Understanding the Bible. He has taught on the college and seminary level and is a veteran pastor. Max was also one of the original team members with Walk Thru the Bible Ministries. He provides resources and discipleship strategies at MaxAnders.com to help people grow spiritually.
