Bible Study
Bible Study. The authoritative reference point for all discussion of spiritual matters is the Bible, the inspired Word of God.
Our Bible StudiesBible Study PlanThere are many ways to establish a Bible Study Plan. It is important that you do not create a plan which will become a burden to you: reading your Bible should be enjoyable. There are plans which will enable you to read the whole Bible in a year. If you have the time to do this, that’s great, but most people can only manage much smaller chunks than this. It is better to read a passage well and understand it, than to press ahead and become bored. A good starting point is a free booklet called “Our Daily Bread”. Click on the following link and you can order one, or contact us and we will send one to you. www.rbc.org Some handy hints for beginners
The Bible is split up into chapter and verse for easy reference. For example, if you wanted to find some words in the Gospel of Mark such as Mark chapter 6 verses 7 to 13, it would appear like this - Mark 6:7 – 13.
Read the Bible in small portions. Most modern Bibles split each chapter of the Bible into smaller sections with a heading over each one to give some guidance about its content. After you have read a small portion, think about what it means, and then in prayer ask God to reveal what He wants to teach you through that part of His Word.
Don’t start at the front and try and read through it. The Bible is not written from front to back according to a time line and it will confuse and frustrate you if you approach it this way. A basic Bible reading plan for beginners
Start with the Gospel of Mark. It is by far the simplest to read and highlights the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Using the New King James version, we would recommend the following; Day1 | Mark 1:1 – 8 | Day 2 | Mark 1:9 – 15 | Day 3 | Mark 1:16 – 2 | Day 4 | Mark 1:21 – 28 | Day 5 | Mark 1:29 – 34 | Day 6 | Mark 1:35 – 39 | Day 7 | Mark 1:40 – 45 |
After this first week, you will have started a certain rhythm and can proceed through the rest of the book of Mark in a similar fashion. I would then move to the book of Acts. This depicts the early Church and reveals how the Holy spirit works among God’s people. It is a very exciting book with lots of action. Again, read a small portion every day and let it begin to shape your life. The third and last book we recommend for beginners is Ephesians. This book explains what God is doing through Jesus Christ and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. It looks at things from God’s perspective and gives us a bigger picture of what we are involved in. Take this book slowly and let it inspire you. See our section below for on-line commentaries that help people understand the Bible. Reading plan for mature ChristiansMany Christians find great comfort, leadership and inspiration in the Scriptures and are familiar with many of the great themes, stories and people who dominate its pages. If you are used to reading the Bible books consecutively, or according to a structured plan, you might like to try an informal approach. For something deeper, and more challenging, try one of the following books. Read it through in small portions, and after each reading spend some time praying, asking God to challenge you with His Word. - Ecclesiastes
- Isaiah
- Romans
- Hebrews
These books (among others) explore the heart of God and lead us to a strong place of adoration and devotion. Ecclesiastes looks at the world in which we live – its pleasures and temptations – and is perfectly relevant to contemporary life. In Isaiah, we hear the pain in God’s heart because His people refuse to adore Him and live in holy love and obedience. We see both His hatred of sin and His love of people, and more importantly we see many references to the coming Messiah – Jesus. Romans and Hebrews explore His great plan of salvation, revealing God’s mind and purpose in the ministry of Jesus. These books explore theological foundations and stretch our ability to fathom all that God has achieved through the Gospel.
Bible OnlineAn easy way to access the Bible, including using a Concordance (like an index for every word of the Bible) is to use an online Bible. Click on the following links:
www.bible.com
http://bible.org
www.biblegateway.com
The Bible Society Our church supports this organisation, which is responsible for translating the Bible into many different languages. You can also hear the Bible from this website
www.biblesociety.com.au/ The Bible League Our church also supports the Bible League, which is involved in the placement of Bibles, as well as the training of ministers, Bible translation, evangelism, and support of Christians in countries where they are persecuted for their faith.
http://www.bibleleague.com.au
Bible CommentariesSometimes you need a little help understanding a passage in the Bible, particularly as some passages relate to customs that are no longer in our society. You are welcome to contact us for assistance. However, you might like to explore an online Bible Commentary such as the following:
www.biblegateway.com
www.ewordtoday.com
To obtain a BiblePlease contact us. We will be happy to provide you with a Bible. We also recommend the following bookshops, where the staff will assist you to purchase a version most suitable for your needs.
www.koorong.com.au
www.word.com.au Back to Activities
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