If you followed my fall series and follow me on Instagram, you know that I started co-leading a Bible study. From that, I felt led to create a spring series to go alongside it – “The Godly Woman.” This series goes deeper into discipleship than the five-week fall series, expanding into ten weeks of studying the Word while still incorporating key lessons from before.
It also introduces my newest adventure – The Godly Woman Diaries – where I share my faith beyond the study, right here on my blog. 🙂
This week, I cover the Authority of the Word and How to Study It.
Do you ever look at the Bible and don’t know where to begin?
I would say that is most people who come to the Word. It’s hard to come to a book that was written over 2000 years ago and understand the time period, the phrases, the stories, and the culture. But the Bible is always relevant. The more you read it, the more you’ll see how useful it is to not just give you wisdom but guide your prayers, your dreams, and the trajectory of your life until you go to heaven.
Authority of the Word
First, let’s talk about authority. People don’t naturally love authority. If you see someone struggling in life, they often feel they deserve more credit than they are being given because they believe they need more authority over their life. However, no matter what human authorities exist, no matter what someone tells you to do, if it doesn’t align with the truth of the word, there’s going to be a problem. Because first and foremost, if you believe in Jesus Christ, God has the final authority of your life. Where do you find his authority? In His word.
In our readings, you’ll walk through that authority. Let’s start with some of my favorite verses in all of scripture – John 1:1-5. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” What does this mean for us?
It means God has existed and His word has existed for all time. God’s word is the most powerful source in heaven and earth. Period. Everything exists because of him. That is why the Word has such authority over our life and can help us conquer our sins in such finality if we allow it to permeate our hearts and change us.
Matthew 5:17-20: It talks about how Jesus came to fulfill the law. What does this mean?
The law is in Leviticus and discusses all the regulations the Israelites had to adhere to be considered “clean”. Now we have Jesus so we can be cleaned by having faith in Him through the forgiveness on the cross. Within this, we know that Jesus came and established a new covenant. However, those verses tell us that the entire Bible has authority over our life and that “not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” The law is now fulfilled through Christ and therefore the whole Bible is relevant for our life.
2 Peter 1:19-21: Many people like to believe that since the scripture was written by humans that it could have mistakes and that when it was pulled together into the Bible that maybe things shouldn’t be there or things should be included. So what does this mean for us?
It debunks this theory completely, particularly verse 20 where it tells us that “no prophecy of scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things.” I’m sure there will still be people who don’t believe in the authority of the word in that way. Usually, this is to be validated for some area of their life that they have not submitted to God’s word. People will do anything to be validated for living in sin because sin is hard to face for all of us. One thing I like to think of to the argument about the Bible’s books and things being added or omitted is that God is in charge of that too. God is in charge of everything. “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it” Psalm 24:1. God was in the room with those who pulled the Bible together and with those who tried to preach a false gospel according to their flesh.
Hebrews 4:12-13: shows us that the Word has power to change us and is active and alive, sharper than a double edged sword. When I first came to the Word again I was watching a preacher online and listening and taking notes on his sermons. In just two weeks of coming to the word, God kept pointing out “false prophet” to me until I figured out the person I was watching was a false prophet. I share this to only encourage you that if you ever question whether something is from God, ask Him, and He will reveal the truth. Your heart just has to be tender enough to hear Him and obey Him. God also sometimes will point out your sin and take his sword (the word of God according to Ephesians 6) to refine you. He will help you conquer sin through Jesus’ blood on the cross.
How to Read the Bible Without a Devotional
I grew up in the church and went to Catholic school until 7th grade. But I didn’t truly start studying my Bible until 4 years ago during a personal trial in my life. There were many people who gave me advice on how to study it.
There are a handful of ways you can read it: by book, with a guided devotional, topical, and my favorite way – by praying over it and then flipping open to where God wants me to land. People have told me not to study it that way many times. But it has proven effective in my life and I tout it above all else. I have however done all the ways and all are beneficial and have their uses. But I will tell you that while those people do know the Word, the Bible is technically a book. As long as you are reading it daily and seeking the Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul before you open its pages to prepare your heart, you’re doing it right. Don’t allow others to control how you come to the Word. Just come.
Now, I’m going to give you a tool I use when I study the word of God. This requires no devotional at all and it’s easy enough for a child because my son does it – he’s 9.
Open Page Method:
- Open to a chapter of the Bible.
- Read through the word and write down verse(s) that stand out to you or that you don’t understand.
- Pray over those verses for a few minutes and allow your mind to mediate on what God could be telling you.
- Now ask yourself these questions:
- “Where do I see Jesus in this chapter?”
- “What situation is God calling to my heart and mind right now as I read these verses?”
- “What is God asking me to do about it?”
- “How can I surrender and obey God’s instructions?”
- “Is there a part of the word I don’t understand?” If so, look it up in a reliable source to learn more and write down helpful tips.
Check out the short video below to reference!
That is it. It’s simple and asks those 5 questions. My son obviously cannot look it up so he will ask me for tips on it and I will guide him through it. Over time, as you ask those questions and write them down, you’ll start having conversations with God about His word and get to know Him and His voice better.
Journaling
I keep journals and enjoy getting new ones at times so much that I will have longer conversations with God to get to use a fresh one. Ha! So if you do have a journal, I recommend answering those questions in it for yourself and learning the word in that simplistic manner.
Homework: Is there an area of God’s word that you are struggling to believe? Why or why not? Find support in the word versus your thoughts to debunk it. Practice one time this week how to study the word in that simple format.
Example:
(Your Thought) I don’t know that God is faithful to forgive my sins. I’ve messed up so badly and don’t see how He could ever forgive me.
(God’s Word) 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins to purify us from all unrighteousness.”
I pray today as you read these short verses in the authority of God’s word, that he moves in your life. I pray He touches your spirit and calls you unto himself to believe more deeply, knowing His word has the power and authority to change every aspect of your life. I pray He gives you the grace to study harder and get to know him more deeply.