This is a good question... thank you
bobinfaith for asking it. As for me personally, I think I could use a
little lot more discipline when it comes to "how" I read/study... so I look forward to the advice that will be shared.
I enjoy reading and studying the Bible. And I do make use of other books in order to gain more understanding of culture, customs, history, events, and other background so I can better grasp a fuller context of what I read. I do tend to read a bit, then stop to do some research, cross-reference, check some commentaries, or look up some articles or sermons... then go back to continue reading. That's just what seems to work for me.
As far as applying what I read... it seems that I am best able to "get it" when I am challenged by something in life. For example if a person or situation is negative and I get angry about something... instead of feeding the emotion of anger, I will stop & focus on how/why I allowed myself to fall into the trap of letting this emotion affect me. I will try to find out what the scriptures have to say about it. I view these situations as growth because it allows me the opportunity to identify weaknesses in myself that need to be addressed. It does not matter if I "think" that I may be right and someone else is wrong... if I am allowing a negative response about
anything- then that is my problem, my flaw, my weakness.
If I find myself being critical of others in some way, that is a huge red flag to me... I have to stop those negative thoughts and look to God and find out what it is that I need to learn!
As far as group studies go, I do enjoy them. However, I sometimes have a hard time with the structured, "curriculum" type of workbook studying, but that's just me. I tend to get more personal benefit with a more in-depth type of study than what many of them offer.
Our church has Sunday school, and also a Wednesday night group study. We are able to go more in-depth with our group study because there is more individual input from the group members... so there is much more discussion. I really like studying the
Bible more than answering a workbook...lol I find that I spend more time reading, praying, and studying throughout the week for the Wednesday night group than I do for the "Sunday school" workbooks. So for me, the group study keeps me more engaged and allows me to have better study habits and learn better.
One thing we do at our house, is ALOT of reading. My husband and I both like to read... so we spend hours reading & studying together at home. We will spend the evenings/nights together, while he will read out loud to me. This is something that is very special to me and creates beautiful moments that I will dearly treasure forever. Both our dog and our cat will will even sit and listen while he reads!
(I can't say anything on teaching... as I do not "teach"... but my husband does.)
Siloam
The journal seems like a great idea, and one that I would like to try, (and have tried)... but one problem I have is that it's hard to me to "simplify"... what I mean is that everything in the Bible is just so connected to everything else.. like a spiderweb. (Or like the
Thompson Chain Reference.) It's like me trying to just single out one individual thread of the web, and none of the rest. I supposed that just means that keeping a journal may be something I NEED to do.
bobinfaith
Thanks again for the thread... I do need to improve my study habits/techniques, and look forward to more good advice & tips.