Want to Read Your Bible More This Year? Here Are a Few Tips to Kick Start Your New Habit

"There is dust enough on some of your Bibles to write the word 'damnation.'" We didn't say it; the prince of preachers, Charles Spurgeon, did. And for a good reason. Our Bibles are the primary way God communicates with us. Why shouldn't we make it a priority?

Alas, reading our Bibles isn't always the easiest habit to get into.

So, we at Elevate Community Church want to help. Here are a handful of our favorite methods for making reading your Bible a life-long habit. 

Concordance approach

What's concordance? A concordance is an alphabetical list of principal words used in a book or body of work. That means you can use a concordance to look up any word in the Bible and get all the verses that mention that word. 

For example, if you're interested in learning about miracles, look up that word in concordance, and you'll be given every passage and verse that deals with them. 

You can buy a physical concordance or hop online and a digital version like this one. 

"Margin" approach

You'll notice that study Bibles (like the John MacArthur Study Bible) have tiny numbers in the margins. Those are all cross-references. That means you can look up your favorite verse, find another related verse, and another. Suddenly, you've visited half a dozen places in the Bible and traveled back and forth across the New and Old Testaments. 

Meditation approach

When you think of meditation, you might picture a monk trying to empty his mind — we recommend a different kind of meditation. We're suggesting that you fill your brain with God's Word. 

Pick a verse, any verse. Stare at it. Study it. Pick it apart. Ask questions about it. 

Why that word and not another? Why is that verb tense and not another? What does that word mean in Greek? 

This strategy allows you to know small pieces of the Bible intimately, which ultimately helps you hang on to God's truth and promises. 

Subject approach 

Similar to the concordance approach is the subject approach. Instead of studying just a word, consider studying a whole subject. (think love, parenting, hope). A concordance or a simple Google search will help you find verses and passages about whichever topic you're interested in. 

Need approach

Take the subject approach one step further and study a need. Are you feeling anxious? Do you need reassurance? Search it up in your concordance or your favorite search engine, and then dive into the passages you find. 

Listening approach 

If you struggle to read your Bible or have a reading disorder, try listening to it. Before you think that this doesn't count, hear us out. Think back to the Old Testament (way before the printing press). How did people hear the Word of God? They listened. 

Jesus Himself frequented the temples and read Scripture aloud. 

There are lots of ways you can listen to the Bible. You download apps or find something on YouTube. Or, you can listen to your favorite pastors and Bible scholars. 

Study Bible approach 

Study Bibles also have extensive footnotes that accompany virtually every verse you read. So, make it a habit to read all the footnotes as you go. It'll help you work through the more challenging passages, and you might come out as a more thoughtful, knowledgeable believer. 

The bottom line

There are many ways to study the Bible, and it doesn't matter how you do it; all that matters is that you do it. Make a plan today, pick a strategy (or two or three), and make reading your Bible a priority today.