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Personal Devotions (General)

Certain of the Truth

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  • Mark Dever

It takes one who is certain about the truth of the gospel to die for the gospel. This article reflects on the importance of being reminded from Scripture of the treasures of salvation (e.g., 2 Peter 1:4-11).

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Don't Miss the Point: Questions to Ask While Reading Scripture

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  • Stephen J. Nichols

This article offers some questions to ask for learning and applying God's Word in personal devotions.

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The Problem with Bible Reading Plans (and What to Do about It)

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  • Joseph C. Harrod

This article mentions a problem with most Bible reading plans, that they train one to expect Bible reading to take a really long time. The author offers a new strategy, to prioritize larger units in your daily Bible reading habits. It points to a chart that shows the time it takes to read each book of the Bible, to illustrate that reading entire books of the Bible is well within our grasp.

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Did Not Our Hearts Burn?: Expository Reading (Part 1)

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  • Robert L. Plummer

This article provides direction on how to read and interpret the Bible faithfully. It explains that the first steps involve prayer, and reading the Bible as a book that points toward Christ.

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Private Worship Marks of a Healthy Church 6

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  • David P. Murray

This digital age presents unique problems and challenges that affect our spiritual life. This article discusses practical ways to develop healthy personal devotions in the face of these challenges.

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Enjoy Your Bible

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  • John Blanchard

Christians should enjoy reading the Bible, since through it we learn more about God.

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Ten Benefits of Reading the Bible (Part 1)

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  • John Piper

This article provides the first five of ten benefits of reading the Bible, which include the strengthening of faith, the sustaining of life, and the giving of hope.

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Three Steps to Studying the Bible

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  • C. Michael Patton

This article offers a practical guide to biblical interpretation, following a three-step process: consider what the text meant, what it means, and how it applies today.

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Understanding Scripture – Reading the Bible for Personal Application

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  • David Powlison

The author tries to guide us as modern readers of Scripture to read and understand the Bible, which was written to others in such a manner that it speaks to us.

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Understanding Scripture – Reading the Bible in Prayer and Communion with God

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  • John Piper

The purpose of reading and studying the Bible is communion with God.

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A Practical Method of Bible Study for Ordinary Christians

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  • Denis Haack

Do you find reading the Bible a challenge? After dealing with hindrances to Bible study, this article gives four practical skills for Bible reading: survey, observe, analyse, and respond.

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Should We Really Call It a "Quiet" Time?

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  • David Powlison

How do you pray when you are alone? Silently, or audibly? The author considers the designation "quiet time" in light of his study of the Psalms, and regards silent prayers as the exception in Scripture. He advocates instead for "noisy time."

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Regular Personal Bible Reading: Importance and Blessings

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  • Pieter van Huyssteen

Personal Bible reading is crucial to your spiritual health, in the same way that eating and drinking is crucial to your bodily health. Reading the Bible is a means God uses to sustain our spiritual life. The author discusses a practical approach to Bible reading, prayer, and meditation (personal devotions).

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You and Your Bible

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  • Martin VanderWal

For many young people, reading the Bible is challenging. How can we read the Bible in such a way that we benefit from it? The author of this article looks at the benefits of time management, organizing your life, and reading with a pen.

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In Awe of Thy Word

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  • Richard J. Smit

How should we approach reading the Bible, Bibly study, and devotions? What attitude should we have? Believing that the Bible is God's inspired word will create an attitude of awe. Christians should view God's word as governing every aspect of their life. The author looks at this awe from Psalm 119:161.

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The Joy of Searching the Scriptures

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  • Jack Sin

Bible reading should be a joyful activity, and can be so if we have the right attitude. This article highlights things that must shape our attitude in reading the Bible for our spiritual growth.

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Morning Devotions

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  • P. Groen

This article is about the importance of morning devotions.

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How Do You Read Your Bible?

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  • Peter G. Feenstra

The Lord speaks to us through his Word, so it is important that we know how to read the Bible.

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Inductive Bible Study

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  • Jeff B. Wreyford

Key to reading and understanding the Bible is mastering the inductive Bible study method. This article introduces three key steps to this method: observation, interpretation, and application.

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Seven Blessings of Studying Your Bible

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  • Paul David Tripp

Do you find reading the Bible and Bible study to be unexciting at times? This article lists seven blessings in studying the Bible.

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Personal Devotions

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  • Johan D. Tangelder

Though saved by grace, Christians have a responsibility to actively take part in what God has done for them in Christ. This article shows that personal devotions done through Bible reading, meditation and prayer are crucial for Christian growth.

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Four Ways to Read the Bible for Personal Application

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  • David Powlison

Are you looking for ways to read and apply the Scriptures to yourself? The article discusses four ways that can help you read the Bible for personal application.

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How God Wants You to Read the Bible

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  • Mike Brummel

How do you read the Bible? Not all people approach the Word of God with the attitude of hearing and obeying the Word of God. This article gives advice on how to read the Bible with an attitude that displays submission to God.

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A Simple Bible Reading Plan to Get Started

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  • Chuck Lawless

How can you start a Bible reading plan that will help you read through the Bible? This article explains eight things you can do.

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The Bible Is More Like a Library Than a Book

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  • Michael Horton

How should you go about reading the Bible? This article encourages you to start by seeing the Bible as a library rather than a book, since it was written by different authors, from different perspectives.

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How to Read a Book

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  • Michael Horton

Reading the Bible can be challenging. How should you go about Bible reading? You should start by seeing the Bible as a book. This awareness means that the grammatical and stylistic rules that went into composing the Bible books must be understood in order to interpret them.

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Five Things That Will Help You with Personal Devotions

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  • Leah Baugh

Do you struggle to be consistent in your personal devotions? Here are five things to help you improve.

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You Can't Just Read the Bible

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  • D. A. Carson

This article explains that when you read the Bible, you do so with presuppositions and theological categories. The author explains their place in reading the Bible.

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Ten Bible Books That You Can Read in Less Than Ninety Minutes

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  • Joseph C. Harrod

This article offers a perspective on reading books of the Bible that take between forty to ninety minutes to do so. It encourages focus for such personal devotions.

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The Secret for Reading Half of the Bible in Just Thirty Minutes

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  • Joseph C. Harrod

This article considers how to start the discipline of reading whole Bible books in one sitting, for personal devotions. It explains that half of the Bible's sixty-six books could be read in thirty minutes or less. Above all, it emphasizes that while finishing the day's reading exercise is important, it remains subordinate to the ultimate goal of fellowship with God in Bible reading.

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How to Read the Bible School of Theology Series: Lecture 6

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  • Sinclair B. Ferguson

This article is about how to read the Bible and practice personal Bible study.

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Four Strategies for Those Who've Quit Their Bible Reading Plan

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  • Scott Slayton

Have you ever started a Bible reading plan only to get bogged down part way through? This article offers four strategies to consider if you have quit such a plan. It suggests reading the Bible in large portions, in small portions, with repetition, and on a whim.

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Beware of Falling into "Sinkhole Syndrome"

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  • Donald S. Whitney

This article explains how it can happen that someone regards their devotional life over time as more of a burden than a blessing, with the end result that their life collapses into a sinkhole of sin. It stresses not to give up devotional time even when life becomes busier.

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The Gain-Weight Diet: God Will Transform Us by His Word, Our Daily Bread

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  • Jacob Shadwick

Two questions face Christians in their reading of the Bible. How can they understand it and apply it? This article shows that the answer is rooted in understanding the nature of God’s Word, the meaning of the passage, and the purpose of the passage. These are essential to Bible reading.

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Inducted into Grace No one can study for you, but the rewards are boundless

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  • Kay Arthur

What is the best way to study the Bible? This article recommendes the inductive Bible study method, which involves observation, interpretation and application.

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Did Not Our Hearts Burn?: Expository Reading (Part 2)

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  • Robert L. Plummer

This article outlines some principles for interpreting Scripture. It discusses the guideline of Scripture interpreting Scripture, and then encourages meditation on the Bible, as the way of obedience. It also encourages awareness of the genre of the Bible book you are reading.

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Three Reasons We Must Not Forget the Psalms

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  • Austin Gohn

The Psalms are relevant for our walk as disciples of Christ. This article explains that they validate our emotions, shape our imaginations, and teach us to pray.

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Biblical Meditation as Experiential Reading

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  • Jason Garwood

Experiential Christian living can only come as a result of experiential meditation. How? The article explains what biblical meditation is and how it leads to experiential Christian living.

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Something Greater Than Disney

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  • Jeremy Writebol

Is your Bible reading leading you to Jesus? This article explains that the centre of the Bible is Jesus, and thus reading the Bible should lead you to him. There are three questions you can ask yourself when reading the Scriptures in order to keep Christ central.

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Why You Don’t Read Your Bible (and How to Start)

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  • Grayson Pope

Though Christians know that Bible reading is essential to their growth, many do not do so. This article considers why, and then shows how you can start reading the Bible.

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Rejoicing at Thy Word

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  • Richard J. Smit

Though a true believer knows that God’s Word should stir up rejoicing from within him, he also knows that this is not always the case. This article shows that sin can take away the joy of reading the Bible. It also shows how our attitude is crucial to reading the Bible. By rediscovering this joy, devotion time, Bible study and preaching will always be a delight.

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A Light in the Dark Places

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  • Zach Barnhart

Is Scripture memorization important? This article explains the need for, importance of, and benefits of memorizing scripture.

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Break Free from Bite-Sized Bible Study

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  • Zach Barnhart

How can you improve your Bible reading? This article suggests three things that will help create time for Bible reading.

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Interpreting the Bible in Three Simple Steps

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  • Vern S. Poythress

For the sake of personal or corporate Bible study, this article offers a three-step approach to studying the Bible. It involves asking three kinds of questions of a text—first observation, then elucidation, and finally application.

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Ten Benefits of Reading the Bible (Part 2)

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  • John Piper

This article provides the last five of ten benefits of reading the Bible: the Word is the key to answered prayer, the source of wisdom, warnings, and lasting joy, and the armour for defeating the devil.

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Personal Devotions

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  • Daniel Kleyn

This article looks at the importance of Bible reading, meditation, and prayer in doing personal devotions.

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The Quiet Time

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  • Stephen Rees

This article provides some counsel on how to establish and maintain daily personal devotions.

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A Great Reward

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  • Tim Challies

Personal devotions should be characterized by rejoicing in Scripture, because God's Word is precious, pleasurable, protective, and profitable, as we read in Psalm 19.

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3 Keys to A Powerful Prayer Life

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  • Tim Challies

A quiet hour and quiet heart are what you need for a life of powerful prayer. This article explains.

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One Very Good Reason to Read Your Bible

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  • Tim Challies

Bible reading is not for your benefit only. Do you know that reading the Bible can be a way of serving others? The article explains.

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Simple Ways to Spark a Lukewarm Devotional Life

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  • Tim Challies

Are your personal devotions full of ups and downs? Are you thinking of ways to give them some new life? This article explains ways to do so.

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Profitable Ways of Reading the Bible

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  • J. C. Ryle

Are you battling with your Bible reading? This article gives eight suggestions for a profitable Bible reading.

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Reading the Bible for Personal Devotion

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  • Dave Jenkins

Bible reading for personal devotions is important. This article offers seven tips for nurturing your daily devotions and eight motivations for reading the Bible for personal devotions.

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The Morning Watch

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  • Robin Arnaud

Daily devotions should not just be a Bible study, and should not be a religious duty. What must it be? This article answers this question by giving practical ways of conducting personal devotions.

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Practical Advice with Regard to Scripture

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  • William MacLeod

This article shows that the Christian can spiritually grow through keeping a devotional time, meditation, private prayer, family devotions, and corporate worship.

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The Role of the Bible in the Life of the Christian

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  • William MacLeod

This article highlights the role of the Bible in knowing God, living the Christian life, guidance, training for service, worship, and prayer.

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Devoted Devotions

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  • Jenny Waldron

This article shows how to do devotions in such a way that time can be devoted to Christ.

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On Seeking God

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  • Maurice Roberts

This article shows how one can motivate himself to practice regular personal devotions.

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Rejoicing At Thy Word

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  • Richard J. Smit

This article on Psalm 119:162 ties in with the article In Awe of Thy Word. Here the author discusses rejoicing in the word. Sin can sometimes take away the joy of reading the Bible. This article shows that our attitude toward Bible study and devotions is crucial to developing this joy and delight.

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Benefit From Your Bible 2

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  • Theophilus

Taking notes during Bible reading can be a beneficial personal Bible study practice. This article shows how this can be done by working through Psalm 114.

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Benefit From Your Bible

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  • Theophilus

Working from James 1:19-21, this article provides an example of making notes on a scripture passage for the benefit of personal Bible study.

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Suggestions for Personal Bible Reading

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  • Andrew Rowell

At times reading your Bible can be challenging. This article shares some suggestions for reading the Bible in a way that your devotions can be profitable.

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The Sinkhole Syndrome

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  • Donald S. Whitney

This article highlights the importance of maintaining personal devotions and communion with God.

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Why Memorize Scripture?

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  • John Piper

In this article, the author introduces six reasons why Scripture memorization is essential to the Christian life.

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Eating without Feeding

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  • Robert H. Bray

How do you master the twin challenge of maintaining times of prayer and personal Bible study? This article suggests it is helpful to approach the reading and studying the Scriptures as if you were about to have a meal, in order to get the most out of the bread of life.

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Five Ways to Read More of the Bible

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  • J. A. Medders

Are you looking for ways that can help you study more of the Word of God? Our daily programs can be packed with activities, and we end up having little time to read the Bible. The article suggests at least five ways that can help improve your Bible reading in your busy weekly schedule.

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When Studying the Bible, Don't Follow Your Heart

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  • Jen Wilkin

Many people make the mistake of allowing their hearts or emotions to guide them when studying the Word. This article argues that you must rather allow the transformed mind to lead your heart in your study of the Bible.

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How to Pray When You're Struggling to Understand the Bible

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  • Jen Wilkin

Prayer plays a supremely essential part of our study of the Bible. It is difficult to hear what God says in Scripture if you do not pray. The article provides a helpful guide for productive Bible study, especiall in cases where you are struggling to understand the Bible.

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The Two Big Questions in Bible Application

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  • Silverio Gonzalez

Bible application is a challenge. This article provides two big questions you can ask in order to apply a text well.

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Four Tips for Reading the Bible When It's Difficult

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  • Michael Horton

Reading the Bible is at times difficult. This article provides four considerations for keeping in mind in your Bible reading.

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Good Bible Study … and Jesus

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  • Mitchell C. Dick

If the Bible is all about Christ, then a good Bible study is one that focuses on Christ. This is what the article argues for.

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Reading and Searching the Scriptures

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  • Thomas Boston

Bible reading is essential to the growth of every Christian. This article gives nine guidelines for fruitful Bible reading.

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Profiting from the Puritans for Devotional Reading

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  • Joel R. Beeke

This article makes the case for using the Puritans for devotional reading, as their literature addresses the mind, conscience, and heart.

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Reading and Studying the Scriptures

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  • Geoffrey Thomas

This article shares some plans that can be used for Bible reading and shows that the aim should always be to know God.

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Our Need of Scripture

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  • J. I. Packer

Why do we need to read the Bible? This article uses Psalm 119:105 for the justification for Bible reading.

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No More Dark Trails

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  • Bob Burridge

To experience the truth of Psalm 119:105, God's word must be prayerfully studied in devotions to receive understanding.

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Love the Word

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  • Keith Ives

While it should be natural that believer loves the word of God, this is often not the case. Believers need to change their perspective on the Bible. Only when believers' lives are shaped by God's truth are they be able to be of great benefit to this world.

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The Bible and Spirituality

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  • John Grayston

The decline in familiarity with Scripture in churches is a growing cause for concern. Grayston analyzes the reasons for this trend. He places the evangelical "quiet time" in its historical context, and suggests ways in which personal engagement with Scripture might be recovered and encouraged.

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The Bible Is Not a Code Book

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  • Michael Horton

Reading the Bible can be challenging. How should you go about it? This article calls us to realize that the Bible is not a code book but a story with Christ at the centre.

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Two-Year Bible Reading Plan

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  • Stephen Witmer

Struggling to read your Bible is structured way? This article is a Bible reading plan for two years.

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52 Week Bible Reading Plan

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  • Unknown

Struggling to read your Bible is structured way? This article is a Bible reading plan for one year.

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Search the Scriptures - John

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  • Charles H. Spurgeon

During Bible reading, Christians should have the attitude of someone looking for precious stones. From the scriptures one more precious gems is revealed - Jesus Christ.

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Worldlings make gold their god, saints make God their gold. Matthew Henry
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