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In 2015, I hosted a podcast called Health Matters where I interviewed leading health experts. Believing that Bible study and prayer are to the spirit what healthy eating and exercise are to the body, I asked each expert for their “quick tip” on the four branches of Bible study, exercise, of healthy eating and prayer.
I share excerpts from interviews with leading health experts in Bible study.
1. Read slowly
“Read familiar passages slowly and carefully. you never know when the Holy Spirit will give you new insight.” ~Steph Beth Nickell
2. Make it balanced
“I love reading in my New Testament and will start a book and systematically read a chapter or two a day. And then I’ll go to the Old Testament and read a chapter or two in whatever book I’m in there. And I like to go a little bit into Proverbs and a little bit into Psalms and have that balance. But whatever you do, do it every day. If you haven’t read your Word, guess what it takes no time at all to go through Proverbs and read some proverbs. Do it consistently. Day by day. And make it balanced.” ~Rusty Nokes
3. Do it daily
“For Bible study, the quick tip is to do it every day. Be in the Word daily. With technology, we have apps that give us access to it all the time. We can have a Bible on our phone and we can receive devotions directly to us. So we have that access to do it every day. Being in the Word daily and studying God’s Word daily is my advice for studying the Bible.” ~Rachel Almstead
4. Select specific verses
“My quick tip is to find two or three Bible passages that address whatever problem you’re facing. Like anger or insecurity or maybe you are unhappy. Find those two or three passages and write them down and keep them with you so you can tell the truth about those things that are holding you back from living your life fully for Jesus.” ~Jennifer Waddle
5. Read verse by verse
“If anger or temper is your problem, look up every scripture that talks about it, memorize them, and learn what to do about them. Prepare them. Maybe even make a list of them and have them ready for them to look at. Bible study is more than just reading your Bible. You have to take your time. Others write Bible studies, but you can write your own. It’s verse by verse that you read slowly and look up what the words mean and then apply it to your life.” ~Brenda Wood
6. Show up
“About Bible study, I think it’s so true if you just have a routine of showing up, opening that Word and placing yourself before the Lord. He wants to bring things to our minds at certain times of the day, but if you don’t show up to class, you’re not really going to have been exposed to his class. And so when it comes time to be tested at different points, you’ll be at a more incomplete point because you weren’t there for the lecture. Some days we just have those days that go on and on, we barely have enough time to breathe, but showing up, even if it’s just 5 minutes, can really put yourself in a great spot for the Mr”. ~CJ Hitz
7. Choose a time
“For Bible study, every day, morning, noon or evening, just choose a time. Get comfortable, go into a room, close the door, turn off the TV and study and read this word. If you do it every day it’s like daily nuggets. It helps nourish the mind, body and spirit.” ~Renee Wiggins
8. Combine with another activity
“My advice for Bible study is to combine it with another activity. Find out what activity you would like to combine your Bible study with. And that can be anything. It doesn’t always have to be a very specific 15-20 minutes from the time of day. It can be combined with different things that you do in terms of being effective. So if you can combine it with another activity that you’re already going to do or are interested in doing, you can kill two birds with one stone.” ~John Hayden
9. Read the Gospels
“If you are a new Christian, I suggest you start with the life of Jesus. Learning about Jesus in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, learning how He lived, learning how He taught His disciples. You are just learning from this example if you are a beginner. If you are average, I would say you should study because we have a wealth of 66 books in the Bible.’ ~ Sabrina Memminger
10. Read it anytime
“Here’s one thing that I’ve heard many people teach and say, and that is that you should do your Bible reading first thing in the morning. And I’d like to give the listening woman some freedom out there. Because sometimes that doesn’t always work out. And many times it can condemn us when we think, well, I didn’t get it done in the morning, it won’t count if I haven’t done it first thing. I believe that God honors the Word whenever we have time to sit and invest in what it has to say to us. And this investment can be made morning, noon or night. He will always bless every year you spend with Him.” ~Lori Graves
11. Get a Bible app
“I think it’s very important to read our Bibles every day. You know the Bible even says we are supposed to look at it day, night, every day. At least morning, noon and night. The best advice I have is to have a Bible app. I have a Bible app on my phone, so every morning when I wake up, or every night before I go to bed, or if I have time throughout the day, I can read a few verses and meditate on them. And that’s quick, it’s easy. Most of us always have our phones with us so we don’t have excuses, oh I left my Bible there or whatever. It is always with us and always accessible. If you just do a small amount every day, I think it’s very encouraging.” ~Summer Breskov
12. Meditate on a verse
“My favorite scripture has always been Hebrews 11:1 about faith being the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Precisely because faith is so important in everyday life. Whether you choose that verse that you meditate on, it’s kind of your mantra, or every day, every week, take some time to study the Word so that it keeps you anchored, keeps you positive.” ~Nicole Swiner
13. Do the first thing
“Do the first thing even before you train. I do it within the first 15 minutes of waking up. I have my scriptures aside. I have my driver. I don’t turn anything on. I don’t turn on my computer, the TV. I don’t even wash my face first. I do my Bible study first and it sets the tone for the rest of my day.” ~Liz Faison
14. Search for topics
“So for Bible study, what I like to do is look up specific topics related to health or around an area that I might be struggling with. Notice if it’s a self-esteem challenge you’re dealing with. Is it an anger issue you’re dealing with with your health that’s causing you to eat? Is it also laziness? If it’s laziness, say so. Take some time and search the scriptures and study what God’s word says about those specific areas that cause you to be overwhelmed. Even look up the word overwhelmed. What does the Bible say about this? And then use it to serve you as you go about your day.” ~Cathy Morenzie
15. Use a cult
“One of the things I do for Bible study is I’ll use a devotional. I’ll look for topics that align with what I’m feeling or experiencing at the time. And I will look for scriptures that align with this cult. Every devotional writer generally gives you a basic scripture or a foundational scripture, but when you start studying and searching, you stumble upon other scriptures that also align with that.” ~Aggelos Barino
16. Make a plan
“We believe that Bible study and prayer will come naturally because we should want to do these things. And yet like exercise, whether we want it and whether we know it’s beneficial or not, if we’re not going to put in the time and if we don’t make a plan probably not going to happen. So that’s my advice, make a plan and stick with it.” ~Kimberly Rae
17. Keep it simple
“Keep it simple. We can overcomplicate everything, including our Bible study. And really this for you and God and your Bible together. There are a million different Bible studies out there that we can use or participate in. They are excellent. But don’t think you have to have a study to get close to God and get into His word. Keep it simple. It doesn’t have to be a long time. It may be five minutes in the morning before the children wake up. Every moment is a good moment in your Bible.” ~Casey Sollock
18. Make it personal
“Personal relevance Bible study is so important because when you are in a time with God, it gives you guidance for that day. It gives you guidance for your life. Sometimes you sit quietly with Him. It involves a lot of listening. So enjoy this time with God as a way of developing a relationship with Him.” ~Linda Williams
19. Know the Father
“Every time you approach the Word of God make it your heart’s desire to truly meet the Author. You don’t study the Bible to learn more. Knowledge puffs up but love builds up. So when I come to study the Bible, to study the Word of God I come know the FatherI come to know God. And I seek a meeting. Whether it is a new awareness, or anything else, I will know Him more. I don’t come to the Bible to get a good sermon or to teach someone something (although those are good things), my main passion is to come to the Bible to meet my Creator.” ~Adam Luckey
20. Join a group
“I am part of the big team. I like all team stuff. I like to share with other people. So what I would do would be to call your parish, your church and talk to the religious education person and ask, “Do you have any groups running right now? Could we start a group?’ Just find somewhere you can connect. Find another group to join or create a new group. Connect with your church and ask what they would have for you.” ~Julie Indl
