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Five Misconceptions About Finding the Main Point

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This is a guest post by Brian Stenson and Lincoln Fitch, who serve with DiscipleMakers in eastern Pennsylvania. They share a love for good coffee, good books, and good Bible study.  Listen to their talk on Bible study from the DiscipleMakers Fall Conference here.

Finding the main point tends to be one of the most difficult skills to master when learning to study the Bible, in part because of believing one or more of the following five misconceptions.

1. Your Bible study is solely dependent on the quality of your main point

Perhaps you think your Bible study is not worthwhile without a solid main point. And certainly, understanding the main point of a passage is crucial to understanding God’s word.

Yet God’s words are living and active, sharper than a two-edged sword. The words that come from his mouth will not return to him empty.

This means that the God-breathed words in this book are not dependent on us. We definitely want to be careful and handle them faithfully, but the power in them is not from us but from God. This fact frees us from needing to have perfect main points.

If you’re tempted to cancel your Bible study because you’re not sure you’ve understood the main point, don’t! Trust in the power of God’s words.

2. The main point is a summary of the passage

A summary of the passage simply retells the facts. In contrast, the main point interprets what those facts mean.

For example, a summary of John 1:1-18 might be “Jesus is the Word, the life, the light, and the glory of God made flesh.” This statement communicates (summarizes) what the passage says. But to get the main point, we must ask what these things mean, and we’ll come up with something like, “God is making himself known through Jesus.”

Summaries of the passage can lead you to the main point. But don’t settle for a summary. Dig further to understand what the passage teaches about God.The Main point must answer the question: Why did the author write this?

3. Finding the main point is more of a science than an art

Finding the main point is not an exact science. There’s no formula that guarantees you a main point if you follow certain steps or ask certain questions.

Finding the main point is more of an art, where you use different tools to discover the author’s intentions. You put yourself in the author’s shoes.

And when we call Bible study an art, we’re speaking less of the art of creation and creativity, and more of the art of fine arts criticism. Or more specifically, the art of literary analysis. We’re not creating meaning, but simply uncovering the meaning already present in the text.

So don’t expect any series of steps to drop the main point into your lap. Rather, acquire the careful discernment required to understand the author’s intentions.

4. The main point is a precise phrase you’re looking to find

Don’t think of it as a treasure hunt for the right answer, nor as an encryption key to break a code.

James St. John (2015), Creative Commons

Think of it like a gem—one beautiful idea with many facets. You can come at the main point from different angles. Don’t put pressure on yourself to get the wording exactly right. There is no secret answer key of main points for the Bible.

And note: While there usually is no single, “right” main point for a passage, there can certainly be many wrong answers. For example, possible main point statements for John 1:1-18 could be:

  • God is making himself known through Jesus.
  • Jesus reveals God to the world.
  • Jesus is the God who created the world and now brings life to it.

But it would be incorrect to say the main point of John 1:1-18 is that “Jesus is the first created being” (poor observation) or that “Jesus was rejected by those who should have received him” (focusing on a sub-point of the passage’s argument).

5. Wise teachers should always agree about a passage’s main point

Because finding the main point is more art than science, and because the main point can have many facets from which to view it, we should expect some disagreement or differences in stating the main points. Commentators can state the main point differently, and yet still have a good understanding of the passage. Pastors can preach different sermons from the same passage and yet still be faithfully representing the passage.

So if you and your Bible study co-leader come up with similar main points, but you phrase them differently, don’t be surprised! As long as you’re looking at the same gem, it’s OK if you don’t frame the main point the same way.

Conclusion

The main point is not an observational summary but an interpretive statement. We’re looking in the text, not for a specific phrase, but for the author’s intention, which, like the facets of a gem, can be looked at from multiple directions.

Picture a miner digging down 20 feet and hitting copper. Though he isn’t thrilled, he figures it’s the best he can do. So he packs up and leaves, ignorant of the gold just a few feet further down. We’re like this when we study the Bible but don’t quite get to the author’s main point. And how much more valuable is the Lord’s word than gold?

So don’t give up! Keep digging to understand God’s word.

A Crucial Question to Help You Find the Main Point of a Bible Passage

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This is a guest post by Brian Stenson and Lincoln Fitch, who serve with DiscipleMakers in eastern Pennsylvania. They share a love for good coffee, good books, and good Bible study.  Listen to their talk on Bible study from the DiscipleMakers Fall Conference here.

Why the Main Point Matters

Can you imagine pouring yourself into your study of a passage, only to discover you were missing the main idea?

I (Lincoln) had that experience a few months ago. After reviewing my notes for an upcoming sermon, my ministry supervisor asks me straight out: “What would you say is the main point of the passage?” And upon hearing my answer, he holds nothing back. “I don’t think that is the main point of the passage.” Though it is hard to hear this, I know he is right. I can’t even justify my proposed main point to myself. And now I feel like a total failure. Will I ever be able to understand or teach the Bible accurately?

While finding a text’s main point is not easy, it is crucial. Consider what happens if we teach the Scripture without grasping the main ideas. At the very least, the message (even if it has some real truth) doesn’t arise clearly from the page to stick in your listener’s hearts. At the worst, you could be working at cross-purposes with what God actually wants to communicate through the passage. But finding the main point empowers you to access the boundless power of God’s transformative word. Whether you lead Bible studies, teach and preach, or study the Bible on your own, finding the main point of a passage is foundational to understanding and communicating who God is.

A Crucial Question

If you’re familiar with OIA Bible study, you’ve probably experienced the challenge of finding the main point. After observing, you ask questions, especially “why” questions. You consider the context. You try to figure out the author’s intentions. But often, you feel stumped.

We find one particular question to be crucial when it’s time to identify the passage’s main point:

Why did the author write the passage this way?

ed_needs_a_bicycle (2012), Creative Commons

It’s not a flashy or revolutionary question, but it usually gets the job done. And it does so by causing us to examine a few more specific questions.

  • What gives the passage its shape?
  • What does the author emphasize?
  • How did the author get from beginning to end?
  • How does the structure of the larger section, and the book as a whole, help us see what the author is trying to get across in this passage?

For example, notice how the shape of John 6:60-71 reveals much about the author’s main point:

  • This relatively short passage concludes a long discourse between the Jews and Jesus. These final verses show the responses to Jesus’ teaching.
  • The passage begins with many disciples following Jesus but ends with few. John 6:66 says, “After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.” This statement serves as a turning point in the narrative.
  • This turning point raises the following questions: 1) “Why did so many people turn away?” and 2) “What was the difference between those who turned away and those who continued to follow Jesus?”
  • The disciples who turned away gave a reason: “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” (John 6:60). Jesus also knew they were grumbling and asked if they took offense at his words (John 6:61).
  • After many turned away, Jesus turns to the Twelve and asks if they want to go away as well (John 6:66). Peter explains their reason for staying: “You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:69-70).

Do you see how both groups of disciples comment on Jesus’ words? The first group turns away because they are challenged and offended by Jesus’ words. The second group keeps following because they hear Jesus’ words and receive them, knowing them to be the words of eternal life. This text reveals a lot about people by their response to Jesus’ words, and by the inherent contrast in the structure.

Here’s where we think John is going: People’s responses to Jesus’ words demonstrate whether they’ll follow him or fall away. There is our main point.

You could state the main point in many ways, but the passage clearly highlights both Jesus’ words and what we do with them. May the Lord help us to hear and love the words of eternal life found in the Scriptures!

Conclusion

Do you see why structure matters? The passage has a significant change (the number of people following Jesus) from beginning to end, which shows us the author’s intentions: to demonstrate the impact of our response to Jesus’ words. This insight arises from examining why the author wrote the passage this way.

Finding the main point of a passage is not easy, but it’s worth it. The main point is your front-row ticket to the revealed glory of God, and it will equip you to think and speak with clarity and power when you teach the word.

A Bible Reading Plan for Readers

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This is a great time to consider a new reading plan. While it requires discipline, it can also be great fun. The following article describes the speed-reading Bible plan I’ve followed since 2011. This article first appeared at The Gospel Coalition.

With the new year approaching, prepare yourself for the onslaught of Bible reading advice. “Slow down.” “Savor the Scripture.” “Whatever your plan, stick to it for the whole year.”

Such advice sounds good for those who prefer Peter Jackson to J. R. R. Tolkien or who would choose a locally anesthetized lobotomy over any sort of reading assignment. Non-readers show courageous faith when they commit to regular patterns of Bible reading at predictable intervals, and I laud their desire to draw closer to the Lord.

Leland Francisco (2011), Creative Commons

Leland Francisco (2011), Creative Commons

But what about those of us who enjoy reading? Why limit ourselves to a few chapters (or a few verses) 10 minutes a day?

Perhaps you were one of the geniuses who devoured Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows within two weeks of its publication. Maybe a Kindle deal puts a spring in your step. You always have one or more books going, and you have to set boundaries so blogs don’t overrun your life.

You, like the non-readers mentioned above, love the Bible as God’s Word. And you think following Jesus is more than a passing fad. You love to read, and the Bible is a book.

Here’s my advice: Read the Bible.

Go for It

Just go for it. Read all of it. Read the Bible like you would watch the Olympics. Delightfully. Astoundingly. In large doses over a few weeks. As though your hope of world peace depends on it. With an eye to the spectacular drama.

I dare you to read the entire Bible this year, and to read it as fast as you can.

I’ve done it annually since 2011, and I plan to keep doing it. My practice has been to drop all recreational reading (fiction, non-fiction, magazines) on January 1, at which point I read nothing but the Bible until I’ve finished it. My goal is to finish more quickly than I finished the previous year, or by all means to beat the first day of spring. (After that point, I don’t set the Bible aside but reinstitute a more measured pace and reintroduce other books into my literary diet.)

For each year’s sprint, I’ve read a different translation. I’ve used a different reading sequence (chronological, historical, canonical). I use a mobile-compatible app—I like YouVersion—so I can read anywhere at any time and be able to pick up where I left off. For the last two years, I made use of the terrific ESV Reader’s Bible (Amazon | Westminster), which made the reading experience more attractive than ever. This year, I can’t wait to enjoy my speed-read with the hot new ESV Reader’s Bible, 6-volume set (Amazon | Westminster).

To be clear, the kind of reading I suggest is not mindless but voluminous, and for a season. The Bible expects us to read meditatively (Psalm 1:2, 119:97, etc.), and while meditation may involve a small chunk of text read at a slow pace, it doesn’t have to. Just as we can meditate on nibbles, so we can meditate on gobbles.

For example, upon reading Deuteronomy in one or two sittings I’m floored by the absolute necessity but innate impossibility of worshiping Yahweh as the only true God. This theme saturates the entire book, and for months after reading it I’m driven to meditate on both my need for a new heart and my hope of glory, Christ in me (Col 1:27).

Happier with Him

I don’t perform this annual romp through Scripture to make God any happier with me; I do it because it makes me happier with him. It does this in a number of ways.

1. It helps me grasp the overall story of the Bible. Though the Bible contains 66 books written by numerous human authors, it’s also one book with one divine author. The story begins well, declines quickly, and builds tension through the Old Testament. It climaxes in Jesus and resolves with much hope. Consuming the whole Bible in a short period keeps the big picture prominent.

2. It reminds me the Bible is a work of literature. All year long, I get plenty of time to analyze short passages of Scripture in detail. But for this short season, I loosen my literary inhibitions and succumb to the glory of the most influential book on the market. I saturate myself in the biblical text, frolicking through it like a well-fed dolphin in open water. I learn to see the Bible more as a collection of books than a collection of chapters, and the rhetorical intent of each human author comes alive.

3. It gets me through the difficult parts more easily. Ridiculing books like Leviticus and Chronicles is pretty hip these days. But with a speedy reading plan, they go by quickly and make more sense in light of the whole. Chronicles tells humanity’s epic tale from creation to Israel’s restoration from exile, and it empowers a new generation to rebuild the nation and re-engage with the Lord. Leviticus shows the wilderness generation how to draw near to God and live in community. A rapid reading plan helps us not to belabor the minutiae, so the “boring” parts of the Bible aren’t all that boring.

4. It heightens my anticipation for Christ. When I consume the Old Testament in large gulps, my spirits rise and fall with the fortunes of God’s people. And there’s more falling than rising, especially in the prophetic books, where oracle upon oracle yields darker condemnation and more violent opposition to the people’s social injustice, rebellion, and idolatry. But the promise of a dawning light pushes me on. When I finally hit the transition from “lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction” (Mal 4:6) to “the beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1)—I’m not exaggerating to say my heart sings. The four Gospels blaze pure light like a God-man on a mountaintop, and I delight anew in the hottest piece of work on the planet. There’s a reason it’s called “The Greatest Story Ever Told.”

If you like to read, you won’t find a better book than the Holy Bible, the unbreakable Scriptures, the sword of the Spirit, the living and abiding Word of God. Take it for a test drive this year, and see if you don’t have the time of your life.

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The Best Ways to Listen to the Bible

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farmer

anonymous (2012), public domain

God has given us amazing access to his word. In the west, we have thousands of options to buy a printed Bible for a reasonable sum. If you prefer to read the Bible electronically, there are dozens of free avenues on your phone, tablet, or computer.

And we have not exhausted God’s generosity! We have many audio versions of the Bible available. Today I’ll point out three of the best ways I’ve found to listen to the Bible.

Why Listen to the Bible?

Having a personal, physical copy of the Bible is a recent phenomenon. The printing press (15th century) brought books to the masses, and before this Christians had to listen to the Scriptures as they were read aloud. For the original audience of the Bible, listening was their only access to God’s word.

Listening to the Bible is a wonderful convenience. It’s a great way to use your time while exercising, commuting, doing the dishes, or folding the laundry. You might even consider an audio Bible to help your preschoolers have devotions.

Listen for Free

If you have a smartphone, tablet, or computer, free audio Bible options abound. I will highlight the best two services I have used; feel free to suggest others in the comments! (I use Android devices, and the web-based versions of these services are great as well. I suggest looking into the Apple versions too, though I cannot vouch for them personally.)

  • The Bible App (YouVersion) — This is probably the most popular Bible application available. It offers 49 English translations of the Bible for reading, and 12 of these have an audio version. I’m partial to the ESV and NASB, but you could also listen to the NIV, the NLT, or the Message (among others). The Bible App offers reading plans and the ability to make notes and highlights in the text. This app has a strong social component, so it is easy to share what you’re reading and learning with friends.
  • Bible Gateway — This is my go-to Bible application. It also offers many (40) written English translations of the Bible along with nine audio versions. I like the parallel Bible feature, where you can compare two translations of the same passage side by side. There are other study tools available within this app, like Bible dictionaries and commentaries.

Both of these applications are free. Both suggest you make an account, but all the functionality I’ve described is available without signing up.

One Low-Cost Way to Listen

Free audio Bibles are great. The price is right, and you can change translations with the flick of a finger. But when I listen to the Bible, I’m usually looking elsewhere.

Does it sound crazy to pay for something which I could get for free? Hear me out. The Bible apps mentioned above rely on streaming technology, which requires a continuous internet connection. I’m not always connected to the internet, so having the digital files themselves means I’m never without my audio Bible. Also, I’m not dependent on the audio streaming technology when I want to listen. (I had a problem with The Bible App’s audio last year.)

Finally, if you own the files, you can adjust the playback speed. This is a common trick for fans of audiobooks, but most music players on phones and tablets allow you to speed up any track. On the other hand, if you’re enterprising and good with technology, you can remove silence and speed up the audio yourself using free audio editing software like Audacity. Without much trouble, I’ve been able to cut the run time of my audio Bible from 75 hours down to around 54 hours.

I use the ESV Hear the Word audio Bible, read by David Cochran Heath. You can find it for $28.98 at christianaudio.com (non-member price) and for $29.99 at christianbook.com.

I’m sure there are many other worthy audio Bibles you could purchase. If you’re shopping, be sure to check two details. You probably want to avoid dramatized audio Bibles, and you definitely want to avoid any Bible that is abridged.

Happy listening!

Don’t Resist the Bible’s Repetition

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I like oatmeal. It’s a quick, healthy breakfast that’s reliably tasty. On a cool, fall morning, there aren’t many better ways to start the day.

anonymous (2014), public domain

anonymous (2014), public domain

But I can only eat so much oatmeal. After four or five days of the stuff, I long for variety. Eggs, toast, cereal—anything but the oatmeal.

You have probably experienced something similar outside the kitchen. You take an alternate route to work, embrace “casual Friday,” or ask your hair stylist for a change. Routines and patterns are helpful, but we occasionally long for a break.

Repetition in the Bible

Reading through certain books of the Bible can produce a similar effect. We see the same themes, the same lessons, the same exhortations. We wonder why God keeps hammering this one nail. Aren’t there other parts of the house that need work?

We’ve been studying Isaiah in my small group, and near the middle of the book I felt we were in a rut. Through Isaiah, God rebuked his people for their misplaced trust again and again. (Judah sought alliances with other nations instead of relying on God.) Just when I thought we’d move on, the same themes returned.

Isaiah isn’t the only Biblical book with repetition. How should we handle it? Should we skip ahead, or does God really want us discussing the same ideas and applications over and over?

How to Handle Repetition

God doesn’t make mistakes, so if you’re interpreting the Bible correctly and finding recurring themes, they are there on purpose. Here are some principles to consider when you find yourself in a repetitive section of Scripture.

Resist the pull toward novelty. Though we crave variety and newness, we shouldn’t avoid what is familiar and reliable. Consider the folly in adjusting our interpretation of the Bible simply because we’re tired of what it says! As we submit to God, we must submit to what he says in his word, even if we think we’ve heard it before.

Revisit the lesson. God may have you in this section of the Bible because there are lessons you still haven’t learned. You may think you’ve graduated, but you don’t have your diploma. As you walk this familiar territory, remember that God is your loving father. Your growth as a Christian is good for you, and he’s working to bring it about.

Explore all possible applications. If you find your applications of the Bible to be similar, they may need to be more specific. There are scores of ways to apply the main point of a passage. Consider the inward and outward directions along with the spheres of head, heart, and hands. Pray and ask God to connect this familiar lesson to areas of your life and influence that need correction.

Press on. If you find yourself facing recurring main points and applications, don’t give up. The fact that God is bringing the same issues to you again is evidence of his love (Rom 2:4). Persevere in the walk and fight of faith. (See Gal 6:9 and 2 Thess 3:13.)

Better Than Oatmeal

Unlike oatmeal, studying the Bible is glorious. It’s one of the ways we “behold the glory of the Lord” and are transformed from one degree of glory to another (2 Cor 3:18). God shows us our need for a savior and his provision, in Jesus, of exactly what we need. He teaches us to rely on him and on nothing else.

We may be slow to learn, but God is patient. He doesn’t mind repeating himself, and we should thank him for it.

Don’t Cease Without Praying

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Prayer is one of the clearest acknowledgements from Christians that we depend on God. For every step, for every breath, for every word we speak in God’s name, we need the wisdom and strength that only God can provide. Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing.

At Knowable Word, we’ve described a time-tested method of studying the Bible. But don’t let the steps and descriptions lead you into self-reliance. You can follow the OIA method all you want—if you do not have the help and favor of God, it won’t do you a bit of good.

prayer

anonymous (2016), public domain

Pray for Understanding

The good news of the Bible is that, for Christians, God’s love doesn’t depend on our actions. God’s love relies on Jesus’s actions in our place.

And yet God wants us to pray. He uses our humble reliance on him in prayer to teach us and change us. We especially need this when we try to understand the Bible.

We should pray because we are blind. In our flesh, we cannot see what we should see in the Bible; we need God to open our eyes (Psalm 119:18).

We should pray because we are dim. Though we think ourselves smart, our natural minds cannot discern spiritual truths. The Holy Spirit helps us know the things given to us by God (1 Cor 2:10–16).

We should pray because we are distracted. We often find the world’s beeps and boops more delightful than God’s word. We need the Spirit to guide us into all truth (John 16:13).

We should pray because we are distant. We may observe the Bible carefully and interpret it accurately, but if we keep God’s word at arm’s length, we are wasting our time. We need God to incline our hearts to his testimonies (Psalm 119:36).

Observation and interpretation lead us to the main point of a Bible passage, and we need God’s help on every inch of the journey. Moving on from the main point, our need to pray only skyrockets.

Pray for Living

The hardest work of studying the Bible is application. In this third step, we listen to God’s call to change. Anyone who’s tried to change knows how powerless they are on their own.

We should pray because we are clueless. We are often oblivious to our sin. We are used to our patterns and hardened to their effects on others. We need God to show us the grievous ways in us (Psalm 139:23–24).

We should pray because we are resistant. We like our sin; it is comfortable and familiar. We need the Spirit to convict us (John 16:8).

We should pray because our growth is God’s work. God has no less than our complete sanctification in view (1 Thess 5:23).

We should pray because our growth is also our work. Because God is at work in us for his good pleasure, we must work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12–13).

We should pray because we need transformation. Christians are works in progress. We should ask God to show us our sin, grant us repentance, and, as we behold God’s glory, transform us from one degree of glory to another (2 Cor 3:18).

Pray and Pray Some More

Bible study calls for frequent prayer. Acknowledging God’s rule, his power, his goodness, and his love should be second nature.

The Psalmist knew what it was like to seek God regarding his word. Let’s learn to pray in the same way.

Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love,
and teach me your statutes. (Psalm 119:124)

Behold the Power of the Church Resource Table

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How does a visitor to your church know what you value? The sermon and other elements of the worship service are a huge clue. He’ll notice the friendliness (or coldness) of the congregation as well. But outside of the worship and the people, your church’s resource table may be the most important pointer he’ll get.

In some churches, the resource table is a footnote. It’s another flat surface that collects dust, styrofoam cups, and out-of-date signup sheets. But we miss an enormous opportunity to guide our congregation and inform visitors if we ignore it.

Why Your Church Should Have a Resource Table

The resource table is a place where your church takes a stand. With these recommendations and pointers, you say: We think these materials will help you love and glorify God.

You might think your church doesn’t need a table at all. After all, you have a website. You have a presence on Facebook and Twitter. Isn’t a resource table terribly old-fashioned?

Of course it is, and that’s why you need it. The older saints at your church aren’t scrolling through your tweets. Further, your recommendation has more compulsive power when you can walk someone to a specific place and put material in their hands.

And don’t forget the visitor. The man who arrives at your building by invitation or providence will want to learn about your church. What do you value? Where do you stand? What is it like to be part of this body?

The church resource table is an opportunity to display and develop your church’s culture. Stock it with resources to help your people reach others and grow themselves.

What Should Be On The Resource Table

Stock your table with aids for the worship service. This includes pens, paper, sermon outlines, and children’s sermon resources. Consider a display about your current sermon series, including dates and texts, so people can read and study the passage ahead of time. Consider producing a few sermon CDs and pointing people to your online sermon home.

Even if you have Bibles in your pews, arrange a stack on the resource table. Make space in your budget for a need-one-take-one policy. Everyone should have a Bible.

Make it as easy as possible for people to join a Bible study in your church. Produce clear, attractive signs or flyers, and highlight the contact person for each opportunity. Small group Bible studies can be the heartbeat of a church, so we should do our best to help people get connected.

Visitors will want to know the theological waters they are entering, so the resource table is a good place for any confessional or doctrinal pamphlets. If possible, supply something short that can be taken by anyone.

Finally, consider books, magazines, and articles that would be especially helpful to younger Christians. Beware of cluttering the table, but if there’s room, gather the best material you can find and make it available to take or borrow. One of the most important skills to teach new Christians is how to study the Bible, so an excellent book on this topic or a free booklet containing the same principles would find a welcome home on the table.

Without solid preaching, good leadership, and vibrant small groups, a church resource table carries as much weight as a wet tissue. But as an aid to these essentials, good resources can help highlight, reinforce, and broadcast the culture you want to take root in your church.

Study the Bible to Get Massive Treasure

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If we’re honest, sometimes we don’t want to study the Bible. We know we should feel differently, but it’s the truth. At times we simply lack the motivation.

What are we supposed to do with that?

Petr Kratochvil, public domain

Petr Kratochvil, public domain

We All Want Treasure

Humans are treasure-seekers. Though we seek different treasure in different ways, we’re all on the hunt for meaning, significance, and happiness. And we can’t help but give our time to this pursuit.

We want to be respected and admired, so we put in long hours at work. We tweak our presentation over the weekend and answer email at the soccer game. We need people to know we’re on top of our game.

We want to belong, so we find people of similar interests. We stay up late for fantasy football, get up early for CrossFit, or zealously track our favorite celebrity on social media.

We want to be comfortable, so we agonize over the perfect house, neighborhood, and job. We research our decisions three times over so nothing is left to chance.

We’ve all done this. We latch onto something of great value, and in the pursuit of it we become single-minded, focused, and consumed. We target our love like a hawk tracks a field mouse.

God is Our Treasure

The Bible reveals that we were made for God. Despite our attempts to find value and pleasure elsewhere, he is the top prize in the universe.

This is why the “one thing” David wants is to gaze upon God’s beauty and inquire in his temple (Psalm 27:4). This is why Paul lost everything for the sake of Christ and considered it garbage so that he could “gain Christ” (Phil. 3:8).

God gives us good gifts, so the lesser riches we seek are not inherently bad. But they are nothing compared to God. Jesus came “that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). He is our great treasure.

How Do We Get This Treasure?

Anyone that is brought to God is brought by Jesus. A supernatural, spiritual work must take place inside us.

This transformation reorients our hearts. When we confess our pathetic treasure-seeking in light of the glory of God, he changes and purifies our desires.

Though Christians have experienced this once-for-all change, we still drift and search after other fulfillment. We still need reminders about what is most valuable, what is most fulfilling, and what is the best use of our time and resources. (See Matthew 6:19–21.)

Of course, God gives us this instruction in the Bible. This is where God warns us, encourages us, gives us hope, and convinces us of his unending love. In short, we find God, our supreme treasure, in the Bible.

You Do Not Lack Motivation

Sometimes I avoid the Bible because I forget what I’ll find there. The Bible isn’t just rules, stories, parables, and prophesies. In his word we encounter God himself.

In the Bible I see how to obey God, how to trust him, and how to love him. I learn that Jesus gave up his life for me and that the same power that raised him from the dead is working within me.

I read that my life is not to be protected or guarded at all cost. Rather, I find true life—that is, treasure—when I lose my life for others out of love for God.

Because we all want treasure we don’t need to produce motivation to study the Bible. We need to channel our natural desire and point it toward the most precious prize in the world, God himself.

Bible Study Is Not Complicated

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anonymous (2008), public domain

Building a house is complicated. In addition to land and permits, you’ll need experienced workers, lots of tools, and blueprints.

Bible study, on the other hand, is not complicated. We need to think clearly here, because if studying the Bible seems involved and intimidating, we’ll never do it.

You Don’t Need Tons of Resources

Faithful, biblical resources are wonderful, and I thank God for them. But very few of them are essential.

You don’t need fifteen commentaries. You don’t need a study Bible, and you certainly don’t need three. You don’t need a Bible atlas, Bible dictionary, or concordance. You don’t need a million cross-references.

Don’t worry about the Greek. Don’t sweat the Hebrew. The church fathers need not enter the picture.

There’s no need for high-powered software. You don’t need a dedicated notebook, fancy pens, or special highlighters.

In order to study the Bible, you need blissfully few items: a Bible, a pen, and a blank sheet of paper (or some worksheets). That’s it.

Studying the Bible is as straightforward as taking a walk. Lace up your shoes, step out the door, and go.

You Don’t Need a Convoluted Process

There are scores of books available on interpreting the Bible, some of which are great. And you don’t need any of them.

Studying the Bible is simple; you can sit down and do it right now. The method we advocate uses three steps: observation, interpretation, and application. (We refer to this as the OIA method.)

As Peter has written, we didn’t invent OIA. In fact, we believe this is the best way to approach the Bible because it is at the heart of all communication. Here’s a brief illustration.

Imagine you’re driving on an unfamiliar highway. When you observe the highway sign with your exit number, you interpret this to mean that your destination is approaching. You apply this understanding by using your turn signal, changing lanes, and driving onto the exit.

Bible study can be boiled down to asking three questions. When observing, we ask, “What?” Among other things, we take note of repeated words, names, grammar, and the structure of the passage.

When interpreting, we ask, “Why?” We question our observations. Why did God promise to go with Moses (Ex. 3:12)? Why does Aaron perform the signs given to Moses (Ex. 4:30)? We try to answer these questions from the Bible and understand the author’s main point.

Finally, when applying, we ask, “So what?” From the main point of the passage, we seek the implications for us and the people we can influence. Good application should change the way we think, act, and love.

Getting Started

As you develop as a Bible student, you’ll probably want to consult some of the resources I mentioned above. God has given these to his church, and they can be tremendous aids for understanding and growth.

But starting with the Bible is easy. Pray for God’s help and wisdom. Find a quiet place, carve out 20 minutes, and dig in.

5 Times to Use Your Cross-References

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Last week I wrote about how cross-references often cause us to flap our wings without achieving liftoff. They certainly keep us busy, but often at the cost of missing the point of the text at hand. This week I’d like to explain some pertinent and helpful uses for cross-references.

In writing this list, I want to clarify that cross-references are sometimes a necessary part of Bible study. In many cases, failing to check the cross-references may leave you with poor interpretation. However, keep in mind that cross-referencing is not always a necessary part of Bible study. If you leave your passage behind like a solitary child in a grocery store, you should always have good reason to do so. And typically the only compelling reason for such behavior is if you’ll be right back after grabbing an emergency item from the car or service desk.

So in what situations are cross-references appropriate?

1. When your passage is quoted by or alluded to by another passage.

The Holy Spirit did not leave us without direction on how to read the Scriptures. Each instance of divinely inspired interpretation of another passage should be for us as a tent-peg firmly driven into the temple. A clear example: Matthew 1:22 shows that Isaiah 7:14 is about something bigger than the prophet’s own wife and child (Isaiah 8:1-4). A less clear, but no less compelling, example: In Acts 7:25, Stephen definitively reveals Moses’ intentions in killing the Egyptian (Ex 2:11-12). This fact should do away with our common condemnation of Moses as a young, brash, and insecure young man foolishly committing an impulsive murder.

2. When your passage quotes or alludes to another passage.

This point is same as the first but in reverse. When your passage has a clear quote or allusion, don’t skim lazily past it. Look it up and study it in context! Connect that chain.

Simon Lutz (2013), Creative Commons

Simon Lutz (2013), Creative Commons

For example, too many people propagate the notion that Jesus told parables to confuse people, all because they read the words quoted from Isaiah 6 (Matt 13:14-15, Mark 4:12) without exploring their context. Isaiah’s larger point has to do with idolatry blinding the eyes of those who persistently cling to it. As G.K. Beale marvelously put it, we become what we worship. Jesus came not to speak confusion, but to speak with utmost clarity—a clarity that would open many blind eyes, while simultaneously driving committed idolaters deeper into their idolatry.

Allusions can be difficult to pick up on unless we continue devouring large portions of Scripture in our reading, getting more familiar over time with the language and ideas. Recently I was studying Psalm 106 with a small group, and we were struck by how much Psalm 106:20 sounds like Romans 1:23. They are so close that it can’t be mere coincidence. Thus our study of Psalm 106 in context gave us deeper understanding of the point Paul appropriates for his purposes in Romans 1.

3. When an earlier passage holds crucial context.

I’m studying Mark 15:1-20, where Jesus is called King of the Jews but not treated in a kingly manner. I must go back to Mark 10:32-34 to see that things are playing out exactly as this king intended.

Or I’m studying Joshua 24, and there appears a sudden reference to Joseph’s bones. I must go back to Exodus 13:19 and Genesis 50:25 for context.

4. When a later passage offers a crucial explanation.

Over the last 2 months, I’ve read Exodus 6 times to prepare for preaching through the book. As I read, I’ve tried to make sense of the tabernacle sections in Ex 25-31 and Ex 35-39.

One question I had was why the order of instructions (Ex 25-31) differs from the order of production (Ex 35-39). And while I don’t have a great answer yet, pursuing that question led to another one: Why are the census tax (Ex 30:11-16) and priestly ordination service (Ex 29:1-46) the only sets of instructions not repeated in the production chapters? Especially when the production chapters repeat the phrase that Moses did all the things exactly as the LORD had commanded him (Ex 39:1, 5, 7, etc.)?

As for the census tax, this brought my attention to the incident where David takes a census but doesn’t collect the tax (2 Sam 24, 1 Chr 21). Suddenly, another mystery unlocks for me: why David’s census was so egregious in God’s sight.1 And why the resulting plague is stopped when David purchases the land later used to build the temple. It’s all connected to Moses’ census tax to support the building of the tabernacle.

As for the priestly ordination service, I didn’t get an answer until I kept reading into Leviticus. The service does take place, word for word, in Leviticus 8. According to the structure of Exodus, I would expect it between Exodus 40:3 and Exodus 40:34. But Moses pulls it out of there and delays it until after the instructions for sacrifices (Lev 1-7). Again, I don’t have a crystal clear answer about why Moses did this, but the later text (Lev 8) highlights for me how important those instructions will be when I come to teach them in Ex 29. They are important enough to warrant a delay before we see them fulfilled.

5. When another passage illumines otherwise unknown historical or cultural background.

For example, our generation has no idea what it means to cut an animal in half and pass between the pieces. So no Bible study of Genesis 15 can be complete without first referring to Jeremiah 34:18-20 to clue us in.

 

As with most tools, the blessings or curses come not from the tool itself but from how we use it. I could use a blow dryer on an extension cord to defrost my windshield; but why would I want to? Likewise, let’s make great use of cross-references.

1My colleague Mark Fodale made this point in a talk years ago, and I’m now appreciating the depth of his insight.

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