The Bible is a big, thick book and studying it can seem overwhelming at first.  Many people want to study the Bible, but may not know where or how to start.  The first place to start is just to commit to reading your Bible every day.  Once you get into that habit, then you can explore some of your deeper study options.  The most effective way to study or learn anything is to combine your personality, learning style, and lifestyle.  Here are some ideas to help get you started with studying the bible.

1.    Use a System
In the same way that it’s easier to follow a recipe, road map, or the instructions that come along with Christmas gifts labeled “some assembly required,” studying the Bible can seem a lot less daunting if you have a plan of attack.  Find a system that has realistic goals, whether that it’s buying a study guide for a particular topic, using a guide that outlines reading through the Bible in a year, or picking a particular book and doing an in-depth study.

2.    Begin to Study
Once you choose a system, the next step is to follow the guide.  Beginning to study the Bible will probably be harder to do than picking a system in Step 1, so try to find ways to personalize it, make it more enjoyable, and keep it from becoming tedious.  Writing in the margins, journaling thoughts, and writing down questions are great ways to help hold your attention.  Curiosity driven research, looking up the answers to your questions later, is also a great way to better remember and learn what you’re studying.

If the ideas in Step 2 aren’t enough to hold your interest and you’re still looking for ways to make studying the Bible fresh, look for ways to add variety while still staying true to the plan you originally came up with in Step 1.  Try using a couple of different versions of the Bible, using a concordance to clarify key words, following cross-references in a Study Bible, or searching for sermons or articles that relate to what you’re studying.

3.    Memorizing and Meditating
Meditating, reading aloud portions of the bible to yourself, and reminding yourself throughout the day of verses of scriptures that you’ve discovered are a great ways to memorize parts of the Bible.  Also, try strategically placed note cards with written scripture or burn audio files onto a CD.  As you do these things, try to imagine what your life will be like when the words of God are hidden in your heart and drawn to the surface of your life by the Holy Spirit.