zoe08

I would really like for my fiance and I to start doing some Bible studies together, like once a week, but neither one of us really know where to start or what to do. Are there any kind of Bible study books or something we could get to go by?

faithful_believers

http://www.biblestudy.org/


how to study the bible and enjoy it
By Skip Heitzig
ISBN 1-59328-002-5
http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/The_Connection/
http://www.connectiononline.org/teachinglibrary.htm
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How to study the BIBLE
By Kay Arthur
ISBN 0-85476-563-8

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This one has nothing to do with the BIBLE but boy, it's one hell of book. Very tiny book but the content will definately change the way you approach your PRAYERS in future. It surely changed my way of thinking, my way of praying, my way of communication with GOD and I'm reaping the rewards:

Too BUSY not to PRAY - slowing down to be with GOD-
by Bill Hybels
ISBN 0-85110-896-2

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Try this fantastic LINK below:
http://ww2.intouch.org/site/c.7nKFIS.../InTouchTV.htm


Take care and may GOD bless you

Regards,
KEN

Pastor Gary

Zoe - a large number of Bible teachers recommend the following studies and resources:

A "Companion Bible" as referenced by E.W. Bullinger ( A King James Version with margin references to word usage, time lines and data.)

A "Strong's Exhaustive Complete Concordance of the Bible"

and a "Smith's Bible Dictionary". (for quick reference items such as locations and a bio on people).

Read the King James Version as contained in the Companion Bible and use the Concordance to locate original word meanings in the scrolls and manuscripts that were used to translate the King James Version from Hebrew, Aramaic, Chaldean and Greek. Once you get used to the research procedure it goes very smoothly. Good luck and have a good time in studying God's Message to us - The Bible.

epistemaniac

I would add my agreement to the idea that if you want to start doing some bible studies together, the first logical step, it seems to me, is to try and learn how best to interpret the Bible... thus, you may want to get a a few basic books on the study of hermeneutics, eg the science and art of biblical interpretation.... you could get Max Anders' 30 Days to Understanding the Bible, or Knowing Scripture by RC Sproul, or Fee and Stuart's How To Read the Bible for All It's Worth..... once you know how to intrerpret the Bible properly, then any direction you take in getting studies to help you study this or that individual book, or a given topic will be aided by your foundation in hermeneutics....

blessings,
Ken

Boanerges

Zoe08 the greatest interperter of the bible is God's Holy Spirit and if you ask Him He will teach you God's Word- get on a personel level with Him- Jesus said He would be our teacher!
Some useful tools are the above mentioned Stong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible and for a dictionary I reccomend Vines Expository Dictionary of the New Testament which not only gives you the various meanings of a word but which particular meaning fits which verse.
I like to use E-Sword- it is a freeware program with 50+ bible translations, 16dictionairies, 19 sets of commentairies , over 50 books and tons more- this is what I prepare weekly bible studies with and is an awesome tool containing more literature than most Pastors libraries. ITtis available for download in part or full @ http://www.e-sword.net/downloads.html

epistemaniac

it is important to see the 2 sides of this post by Boanerges.... yes... the Holy Spirit is present in every believer... but, He is also present in all other believers, thus we can learn from them in the books written by persons who also possess (or are possessed by) the Holy Spirit... Stong, Vine, as well the books on hermeneutics I mentioned... these are all written by persons who (as far as we know) were and are Christians who have the Holy Spirit... and we must remember that the Holy Spirit has specifically given teachers to the church.... so often people (not that Boanerges is one such person) want to try and teach (a self consciously chosen word) others that they just need their Bible and the Holy Spirit.... but what these same persons fail to realize that here they are.... teaching others that they don't need teachers!!!! lol!!! how ironic is this.... if such persons really believed what they try and teach others, they would simply shut up, and not teach anyone anything, including teaching others that everyone just needs the Holy Spirit and the Bible and that’s it. For presumably, if this were really the case, then these persons should have not said or written a single word attempting to teach anyone this teaching or doctrine for the Holy Spirit should, supposedly, teach these persons that they need only the Holy Spirit and the Bible by the Holy Spirit and the Bible, they certainly would not need some teacher to come along and teach them that they need only the Holy Spirit and the Bible, they should, according to this thought, already know this being taught by the Bible and the Holy Spirit ! lol...

I would like to also add my agreement regarding esword... its an awesome program....!

blessings,
Ken

Boanerges

Heh Brother Ken - The Holy Spirit is freely bestowed on all who follow Jesus-I never implied we don't need to learn from other brothers and sisters - I personally love to read and learn from some of God's awesome people and their writings- I only want to remind my friends here that:
2Co 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

Any Word of God interpeted without the Spirit if God can and will result in religious bondage as we can plainly see demonstrated throughout history.

Theophilus

First I want to commend you on your effort to deliberatly study the bible. And in the fact that you are wanting to do it together. Developing a good pattern of study is valuable and a blessing to a marriage.
There are two basic ways to study the bible. Three if your adventurous enough to do a combination of the two.

The first is linear. That is from front to back, in order. Simple and direct many find it best suited to their nature and need.

The second is topical. Much more complicated in that it takes a good word search program or topical referanced bible or most effective both. The advantage of topical over linear is that one can study subjects relevent to their questions and lives at a particular time.

Either way I suggest you pick up a bible that gives a break down and brief discription of the structure of the bible and it's books. It is good to start out with an overveiw and knowledge of its structure. This is valuable information in studying as it gives an understanding of were to find what your looking for(when studying topically) and helps in understanding (when studying liear).
An understanding of the New and Old testements relationships is helpful in either manner of study.
I suggest (since your enguaged) that you study the Topics of marriage, husbands and wives. This is probibly the most relevent to you and your fiance at this time. It is good to know what God expects in marriage and the responcibilties of husbands and wives in the marriage.
I wish to add that every responce here has a great deal of merit.
And repeat Boanerges recomondation of the E-Sword program. It can be down loaded free and/or received on a CD for a donation. It has been a God sent for me for several years now in my study and walk.

Blessing in His name
Cliff

epistemaniac

oh... no.... I never meant that you were saying this.... thats why I included the line in my post that said (not that Boanerges is one such person)

sorry if this is what you thought I was saying about you personally.... I was just speaking generally about the sort of person who says "its just my bible and me, I don't need anyone else"... that kind of thing.... you have elsewhere recommended the writings of Nee, so I know this doesn't apply to you.....

blessings,
Ken

Boanerges

No problems here brother Ken- I love you in Jesus name!