Unique Ways to Deepen Your Bible Study

I would love to be the person who wakes up at 6:00 AM and spends the first 30 minutes of the day with my Bible and a cup of coffee. 

Here’s the thing – I wake up at 6:00 AM, but I spend the first 30 minutes of my day making breakfast and lunch because there are people in my home who need to eat that day (and also get out the door to work!) Also….I really truly put my pants on BACKWARDS this morning. 

That early morning, Pinterest perfect quiet time routine simply isn’t happening these days. 

Bible reading plans are great, and I highly recommend challenging yourself to read through the entire Bible. But sometimes something a bit more unconventional may help you dive deeper into your studies and connect with God even on your busiest days. 

Here are four ways you can interact with your Bible beyond a traditional reading plan. Or, if you prefer, you can watch our video on this.

Make Some Art

Now don’t tune out on me just because I said the word “art”. You don’t have to be able to paint with watercolors or hand write beautiful calligraphy in order to create art in your Bible. I used the Dayspring Illustrating Bible and some scrapbooking materials like a Cricut or Cuttlebug machine to make simple spreads featuring my favorite verses. 

This gives you a way to visually express what parts of a passage were meaningful to you. There is no wrong way to do this: drawing, painting, making a photo collage, copying the text in bright colors, or making a scrapbook spread. One of my favorite things about this method of diving into your Bible is that you’re left with a beautiful memory book of all the passages you’ve studied. 

Become A Scribe 

A scribe was someone who copied the Bible. Their job was SO IMPORTANT especially before the invention of the printing press where Bibles could be mass produced. Thankfully the responsibility of preserving the text of scripture isn’t dependent on my imperfect, handwritten copies of it. But writing out passages is still a great way to connect with the Word. 

You can download our free printable pack which has one key passage from each book of the Bible. If you go at a pace of one passage per day, you’ll know something from every book of the Bible in around 2 months! Copying the text by hand engages more of your senses and can help you find themes and patterns you would’ve otherwise overlooked. Click above to get our Bible Snapshot Printable Pack sent to you completely free! 

Walk and Listen 

This is my favorite way to spend my “quiet time”. I’m bad at sitting still. I’m not an avid reader. And the truth is, sometimes it’s hard to find time in the middle of a busy day to slow down and read several chapters of scripture. 

Most days my Bible reading consists of sticking in my airpods and listening to the Bible on audio or to a sermon on podcast. I go on walks, wash dishes, clean my room, sometimes even shower or drive while I listen. It keeps my hands and feet busy moving while my mind is being filled with God’s word. If you’re having a hard time getting your Bible reading into your busy schedule, I highly recommend giving this a try. Here are a few podcasts you could start with: 

• The Book of Mark – this is a recorded Bible study of the book of Mark. You get to listen in on this small group’s Bible study as they dive into this gospel :
• Northwest Church of Christ Podcast – One of my personal favorite speakers is Andy Cantrell. He’s had some powerful sermons, especially in the midst of this super hard year.
• Digging Deeper by Appian Media – Fun fact! This podcast is produced by our very own videographer. It will take you through some of the archeology behind the Bible. https://podcasts.appianmedia.org/
  

CREATE A SCRIBBLE BIBLE

Like I said earlier, I’m not the best at sitting down to read. And when I do stop to read, I have a hard time slowing down. I’m a fast reader, and it’s all too easy for Bible reading to become something to “check off the list” as done for the day. And, like laundry or dishes, I sometimes try and get it done as quickly as possible. 

Keep some colorful pens with you while you read and give yourself permission to write all over the text. It helps me so much when I slow down to write out the connections that I’m finding. It forces me to stop long enough to form a coherent thought, but I can still move at a pace that is comfortable for me. Just writing out what comes to mind as I read makes a huge difference in my own comprehension and personal application. 

Several of you probably have your eye on that ultra wide margin Bible in the pictures above. I know!! I’d never seen anything like it. It’s Dayspring’s Illustrating Bible and it was designed for those who love to make art in their Bible. They currently have a CSB version that you can find here, but they’ll be coming out with an NIV version!! You can click here to join the waitlist to be notified when the NIV Bible comes out. 

But don’t fall into the trap of thinking you have to have the perfect tools before you can dive into God’s word. Open up your Bible, or pop in some headphones, and connect with your Bible today in whatever way that works for you!

Oh! And one more thing! The NIV Illustrating Bible is on pre-sale through August 30th, 2020. That means you can score an awesome deal!! All pre-orders will include a grab bag of $75 worth of Bible journaling supplies. Order 2 Bibles? Get 2 grab bags! I know the holidays are a ways away, but these would make amazing Christmas gifts! You can pre-order by clicking here.