How To Get More Out Of Reading The Bible

Last week we looked at several tips that I’ve found helpful in becoming more consistent in my Bible reading. I feel it is crucial to my spiritual growth to take in God’s Word in its entirety at least once per year. But I’ve found that when I read through it that fast, I miss some important stuff. Today I want to examine one of the methods that I use for a more in-depth reading and application of the Bible.

Panning For Gold

I call it the Golden Nugget Approach to Bible reading.

Just a quick word of warning before I explain: if you are a very organized person, this approach may not work for you. If you like to see daily progress, this might leave you wanting. That said, I feel that this approach works pretty well at digging out truth from the Bible to apply to my daily life.

Here’s how I approach the Golden Nugget Bible reading system:

  • First of all, I read through a book in this manner. I don’t suggest jumping around every day from passage to passage. Pick a book and work your way through it.
  • I keep a notebook or journal handy, to write down what I feel God is saying to me.
  • I pray, asking God to reveal his truth to me today.
  • I begin reading from my selected book. I read until I see something that I feel God is pointing out to me. I write that down in my journal. I continue reading until I’ve found three things that God has pointed out to me. Sometimes that happens within a verse or two. Other times, it may take most of the chapter, or more. That’s ok.
  • Why three? Because I can remember three. Sure, I could write down five, ten or twenty things. But if God has shown me those things, I assume that he wants me to learn something from them that day. If I listed ten things, I’d forget some of them, and possibly miss out on God doing something amazing concerning one of those areas, or teaching me something important. Three are easy to remember.
  • Next, I watch. God pointed those things out to me for a reason. And so I watch to see what he wishes me to learn about those areas.
  • And the next day, before I read again, I review what I learned and write it in my journal. This helps me keep a track record of my spiritual growth. I can look back at any point and see what God taught me, and how I grew from it.
  • After that, I pray, and begin again.

Using this method, it can take a while to read through the Bible, even years. It frequently takes me several weeks to get through a short book, such as 1 Thessalonians. So I use this system in conjunction with a yearly, or semi-yearly reading plan. That way, I can expose myself to every verse of God’s Word frequently, but at the same time, grow from what I read.

What do you find to be helpful in applying God’s Word and growing from what you read? Do you have a system?

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Category: Spiritual Growth

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6 thoughts on “How To Get More Out Of Reading The Bible”

  1. Jeff, to be honest, those are some really good ideas. I might start utilizing something like that.

    For me, it's all about regularity. If I consistently get up before the rest of the house gets up to spend time, more than likely I'm going to do the same next week. I also like to start in prayer, just asking God that I'm "open and willing to hear from Him".

  2. Thanks! Glad that I could help.

    I agree with your comment on regularity too. The more consistent I am, the more likely I am to stay that way.

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

  3. Hello Jeff,

    Sorry to be late commenting on a post over 3 years after it was made but I only very recently discovered your blog. I came across it when looking for different approaches to making notes in a bible, and then again with your comments on the Grant Horner Bible reading plan. My wife and I have commenced using the Horner BRP (which I’m thoroughly enjoying) and I’m reading through some of your other posts. I find this post on your Golden Nugget approach to be very helpful – that we are open to what God wants to show or teach that day but not trying to remember too much.

    Thanks for your blog.

    Regards, Gary

    • Glad it could help you! I still use this approach very effectively. And, no problem on the timing of the comment. Any time is a good time to carry on the discussion! Thanks!

  4. So once i come accross the 3rd insight, i am done with it for the day? Then pick up where i left off the next day and repeat the process is that correct?

    • That’s the idea. Sometimes, I will get my three insights in just a few verses. Other times, it takes a little more. The reason I say three insights is this: three things are easier to remember than half a dozen or ten or more. That way I recognize it when God teaches me something about those three things.

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