Beyond the Surface: 7 Tips to Get More Out of the Bible

Studying the Bible goes far beyond reading words on a page. It is about delving deep into God’s Word to uncover the guidance He has for us and applying those truths in our lives. Bible study is a great way to learn from God’s instruction manual, grow in faith and understand His plan for us.

Are you reaping the full benefits of Bible study? Do you approach it with excitement and view it as a wonderful opportunity to learn the mind of God? Do you enjoy reading about the lives of His faithful servants throughout history? Or do you find yourself doing it grudgingly or out of necessity?

If you find that your Bible study is not what it should be, understand that you are not alone. Others face similar challenges. Yet it does not have to be this way. Bible study can be exciting and rewarding!

The following seven tips will help you dive deeper into God’s Word and make your study time more meaningful and rewarding. Let’s explore how to move beyond the surface and truly engage with the Bible.

Taught Nowhere Else

The Bible is a Book like none other. The information it contains is alive (Heb. 4:12)! Although written long ago, it is as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago. There are large parts of it to which everyone can relate.

Why is the Bible so unique? Because it is the inspired Word of God. The original Author is not a human being—it is Almighty God!

The knowledge, understanding and wisdom of the scriptures is taught nowhere else. Schools and education systems created by man do not, and cannot, match what the Bible teaches.

God’s Word is an Instruction Manual from the Creator to show His people—His Creation—how to live lives full of joy, happiness and prosperity. It also provides timeless guidelines for difficult situations in which we may find ourselves. It not only gives clear understanding for what is going to happen in this world, but also why. Ultimately, the Bible provides teaching on how to qualify for the soon-coming Kingdom of God.

Those living God’s Way are in a constant battle against three strong enemies: Satan, self and society around us. These persistently work to prevent us from learning more of God’s Way. It should therefore come as no surprise that it can be difficult to find time in our day for Bible study.

Recognize the power of these foes. We must overcome them! Ultimately, they can separate us from God. By studying the Bible effectively, however, we can conquer them. Finding time in your day to learn more of God’s instruction to combat these enemies is an absolute must.

The following are seven tips that you can apply to bring order, excitement, purpose and rewards to your Bible study. Doing so daily will catapult you forward in all areas of your life.

(1) Make Sure God Is on Your Side

Admitting you need God’s help in your life is the first and most significant aspect to acknowledge as you prepare for Bible study. Jesus said “…without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

In prayer, prior to your study, ask God to help you learn more of His way of life. Ask Him for understanding and guidance on the topics you study. Explain to Him how you want His direction. Ask Him to help you identify areas in your life where you can improve.

God knows everything about us, even the number of hairs on our heads (Luke 12:7). Yet He does not always show us our weaknesses right away. We must seek Him and ask for His guidance. Seeing our problems becomes easier if we know what God expects of us. Knowing His expectations comes from reading and learning from His Word. The more we study, the more our prayer life will also improve.

The Creator says, “He that turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination” (Prov. 28:9).

God will not hear and respond to us if we are not prepared to hear and respond to His instruction. He will only be with us if we honestly seek to obey Him. Only then will He listen to and help us.

(2) Have Faith That God Will Answer

When you sincerely seek God’s will in your life, you should prepare to be answered and directed by Him. Remember, God said, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened” (Matt. 7:7-8).

Christians are to seek God’s Way, His purpose, and His will for their lives. God will respond to those genuinely seeking Him. Be earnestly ready for guidance by a gentle, loving Father who is more than willing to help you overcome.

Understand. Having faith is a crucial aspect of Bible study. Many people lack the necessary faith to know God will guide them or to implement the instruction He gives. The fruits of this are disappointment and despair. When we do not have faith, our Bible study can become a fruitless and vain exercise. Ask God for faith and really believe that He will increase it.

(3) Find a Convenient Time and Place to Study

Recognize that one of the three enemies—self—is not naturally interested in learning more about God. This will help you understand the importance of choosing a time and place to study where you will not be easily distracted. Once you lose your focus during your studies, it can be very difficult to regain it again. Ideally, you want to be in an environment where you can maintain concentration for longer periods of time.

Many have found that early in the morning or later in the evening are quieter times for study. The appropriate place is also important. Preferably, it is best to be alone in your room or a quiet place in your home. If this is not possible, consider a public library. Your school may also provide rooms for students to study outside of school hours.

Soft classical music and a glass of water can improve and sustain concentration, especially during extended study. Make an effort to find classical music with soft tones. This will help your awareness and also reduce background noise.

(4) Find a Topic

Choosing a topic to study can be confusing because there is so much in the Bible. Within a book almost three quarters of a million words long, there are many different subjects. Yet there are numerous ways to approach finding a topic.

Particular seasons in the year can encourage you to review God’s Holy Days. These yearly festivals are a reminder of God’s overall Plan for mankind and can help you stay focused. Certain difficult trials with your friends or family can also lead to study topics. Reading about how others in the Bible dealt with suffering and persecution can help you build endurance for your own trials.

You can also research prophecy, overcoming sin, tithing laws, and much more. Exploring different subjects in your Bible can often lead to a lifetime of study. You may find that you spend many hours on one subject alone!

Whatever topics you chose, finding a balanced approach to your Bible study is important. Variation in topics prevents staleness in your studies and challenges you to learn new things. It will help you to constantly bring excitement to studying God’s Word.

Remember to always be willing to ask for help from your parents or minister. They are both invaluable sources of knowledge.

(5) Use Resources

The current age in which we live provides us with many tools and aids to assist us with studying God’s Word. Different translations and study aids, such as a concordance and Bible dictionary, help reveal the meaning of scriptures. Software programs such as e-Sword or websites like Blue Letter Bible and Bible Hub provide these same tools in electronic form. They also allow you to accumulate dozens of scriptures instantly on a related matter. These programs are free and valuable.

Be mindful, however, of the doctrinal accuracy of resources. Use them primarily as a reference for Hebrew, Greek and English translations. The main goal of any resource is to help you better understand the intended meaning of a verse.

It is also a good idea to invest in a hardcopy concordance and Bible dictionary. These are great to have in book form—especially when the Internet is not readily available—and are excellent to use when searching for associated scriptures.

If English is not your first language, then consider buying a parallel Bible that places the original King James Version—the best translation—next to a translation in your particular language.

In addition, the Church’s website provides many articles, booklets, books, sermons and videos on nearly every biblical topic. You can even bookmark specific pieces of literature that you are studying so that you can pick up reading where you left off at a later time. Be sure to check them out!

An important article to read is “The Rules of Effective Bible Study.” It contains many other principles this article does not have room to cover.

(6) Make Your Notes Personal

As with the notes you take during Sabbath services, those you take during your Bible study are important as well. They both help reinforce what you are learning.

One effective way to take notes is to write them directly to yourself. Writing the notes in first person will allow them to carry more weight and can enhance your memory of a particular subject.

An example would be Matthew 19:19, in which Christ said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Instead of writing, “We should love our neighbors as ourselves,” to emphasize the importance of this verse you could write, “I should love my neighbor as myself.” Notice the difference in impact.

Use “I”, “me” and “myself” often in your notes. This helps to intensify and amplify the importance of the instruction and makes it easier to remember.

Also, feel free to write some of your personal feelings or circumstances in your notes when facing trials. This will be encouraging, especially if obstacles recur. You can revisit these notes later to help you. Be sure, however, to keep these notes in a safe place so that any confidential or sensitive information you record can only be seen by you.

(7) Develop a Filing System

The apostle Paul wrote, “Let all things be done decently and in order” (I Cor. 14:40). Bible study notes are no different. It will greatly benefit you if you date, file and categorize all your notes, including ones from sermons and sermonettes. A filing system will allow you to quickly revisit your previous observations should a situation require you to do so.

In his book The Life of Reason, famed thinker George Santayana said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

Keeping accurate notes of circumstances during trials, your mistakes, and helpful scriptural references will be priceless as you work to more fully live God’s Way. Your personal library of study notes will bring inspiration and confidence as you grow older.

Dive in

Studying the Bible is a precious opportunity that brings lasting rewards. By applying these tips, you will find joy and excitement in your Bible study, making it a highlight of your day. In addition, the good habits you build will ensure that you remain close to God. Embrace this opportunity and discover the incredible rewards that come from diving deep into the Book.

Yet you must fully apply yourself to get the most from God’s Word. In II Timothy 2:15, it says: “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Bible study requires a little elbow grease. Use all the tips in this article until they become a part of who you are. Yet the most important step is for you to start. Go dive in!