Ryan Higginbottom | Knowable Word

How to Apply the Bible in Community

March 23, 2015 By Ryan Higginbottom

Perhaps you nodded at the suggestion that Christians should apply the Bible in community. Agreement might fire the engines, but it doesn’t get you off the runway. How can our friendships grow so that Bible application is natural? How can we get this plane in the air?

Cliff Muller (2009), Creative Commons License

When talking about community, many Christians focus on accountability. But Christian friendship doesn’t start (or stop) there. Let me offer four resolutions toward developing helpful, God-glorifying relationships.

Resolve to Spend Time with People

To apply the Bible in community, you must be in community. This goes beyond becoming a member of a good church. You need to know other Christians and you need to be known by others. When Paul writes about the church using the metaphor of a human body (1 Cor 12:12–27), he emphasizes how the parts of the body need each another (1 Cor 12:21–22).

This need is more than a physical or social dependence. We are to bear each other’s burdens (Gal 6:2), forgive one another (Col 3:13), confess our sins to one another (James 5:16), love one another (Rom 12:10), and speak truth to one another (Eph 4:25).

These commands point us well beyond handshakes and saccharine smiles on Sunday mornings. We need to pursue deep, honest friendships with other Christians. Relationships with other sinners—though messy—are worth pursuing because God commands them and they are designed for our benefit.

Resolve to Ask Questions

My treasured friends, the ones who have had the greatest spiritual impact on me, are the ones who excel at asking questions. When they see me caught in a sinful pattern or spiraling downward in my thoughts, they adopt a holy refusal to leave me alone. They ask me questions to help me think through my behaviors, thoughts, and relationships in the light of the gospel. Such questions are uncomfortable, but they help uncover my sin and point me toward Jesus. Don’t you want to be this type of friend? I sure do!

The good news is that we can all become friends like this. Start with a tiny question: why? Why was that disappointing? Why did you enjoy that? Why did you respond to her that way? It seems like you’ve been withdrawing recently; why is that?

Answering why questions can reveal your true hopes, fears, joy, and motivation. Even if you are not a verbal processor, you may get powerful clarity by speaking some thought you’ve been storing in your head. Friends can expose wrong thinking, a bent character, and errant behavior by asking these simple questions.

Why questions are not the only questions to ask, of course. As your relationship grows and you see the your friends’ struggles and tendencies, you’ll learn additional questions. You will notice the parts of their lives they don’t like to discuss. You will see how they respond to disappointment and criticism. Soaked in the gospel, your questions may be just the signpost toward hope that your friends need.

Resolve to Talk About God

I’ve seen too many Christians leave faith as an assumed-but-not-discussed topic between them. We can do better.

As you grow closer to other believers, you should care deeply about their walk with God. Their Christian discipleship is one of the most important qualities about them. So ask!

Here are some helpful questions to ask your friends: What has God been teaching you lately? How have you seen God work in your life over the past month? What are you reading in the Bible? What are you learning? What fruit of the Spirit have you seen God growing in you? How are you different from the person you were a year ago? These questions are like salt in your relationships. Don’t empty the whole shaker at once! But if you sprinkle them into your conversations, your friendships will have a richer flavor.

Though conversations like these might not feel natural at first, press through the awkwardness. You might even take the opportunity to discuss what sort of friends you want to be.

Putting it Together

So talk about the Bible with your friends. Tell them what God has been teaching you and how you’ve been trying to apply it. Ask them the same.

And talk with your friends about your sin and areas of frequent discouragement. Tell them the ways you are struggling to trust God. Ask them the same.

Soon you will find that these discussions overlap. You’ll talk with someone about a passage of the Bible, and later in the month that same person will notice an area of your life that is begging for application of the same text. Applying the Bible in community isn’t one extra step to put at the end of your small group Bible study. It will happen naturally as you develop close, Christian friendships.

Resolve to Pray

Since our sin nature is opposed to these ideas of exposure, humility, and vulnerability, we need to pray! We must ask for God’s provision of good friends and for his help to be a good friend. By his Spirit, he needs to change us into people who embrace the faithful wounds of those who love us (Prov 27:6).

Why We Need Community to Apply the Bible

March 9, 2015 By Ryan Higginbottom

Because it is so personal, application can be the most demanding part of Bible study. In observation and interpretation, we focus on the words and meaning of a passage of Scripture, and our distance from the study provides some cover. But application is dangerous because God calls us not just to think but to change. Applying the Bible is difficult.

Yet this difficulty doubles when we attempt application on our own. Like a solo mission on a battlefield or a five-on-one game of basketball, the odds of successful application spike when we engage without company. Relationships are messy and the cause of deep grief at times, yet God ministers grace to his children through other Christians. We need each other in order to faithfully apply the Bible.

Grayson Akerly (2013), Creative Commons License

Our Blindness

We need other people because we all have blind spots. We often see ourselves dimly, as in shadows. While we may identify obvious transgressions, there are subtle sins below the surface. Blind spots show up in each of the three spheres of our lives where we must apply the Bible.

Ephesians 4:22–24 gives three steps for change when applying the Bible to your head: Identify what you think, identify what God wants you to think instead, and start thinking God’s thoughts. But how do we identify what we think? Our minds and beliefs are far more complex and layered than we assume, and the lies we believe often hide behind solid truths. A willing friend can help unveil our thoughts.

When applying the Bible to our heart, we focus on character. We ponder what kind of person God wants us to be. We have previously considered some questions to give us traction in this task: In what ways are you relying on your performance? What are your greatest hopes?

But here’s the problem: How confident are you in your ability to answer these questions? Can you diagnose your character by yourself? Our true hopes and values may be slightly (or dramatically) different from what we state in polite company. When a brother or sister forces us to answer why questions, we unmask our hypocrisy.

Perhaps most obviously, we have blind spots in our behavior (applying the Bible to our hands). We might not realize how our words were harmful or how we ignored someone in need. We might not identify our conversation as gossip, our snacking as gluttony, or our “personal time” as selfish. Good friends can point out our overlooked sins.

If we ignore community when applying the Bible, we will miss aspects of our head, heart, and hands that need to change. But our blind spots are not the only reason we need other Christians in our lives to help with application.

Our Resistance

Because both the old man and the new man dwell within us, we always face a challenge when pursuing obedience to God. (See Galatians 5:16–17.) Our flesh likes inertia and dislikes change, especially if that change is brought about by faith. When applying the Bible to our lives, our flesh offers massive resistance.

Sometimes this resistance appears shortly after we resolve to change. Despite the conviction we feel and God’s call to repent, our flesh grabs a bullhorn and reminds us of the inconvenience of change. The old man offers dozens of reasons to delay or abandon this new obedience. One way to rob these protests of their power is to anticipate them with a friend.

But our flesh contends against our repentance over time as well. We’ve probably all experienced this: under the conviction of the Spirit you decide that change is needed, so you start off on a new course. You’re not walking perfectly, but by God’s grace you begin in the right direction. Over time that initial conviction of sin wears off, and you no longer connect the new behavior to the reason that inspired it. So the new behavior happens less and less frequently until it doesn’t happen at all. Sometimes we need friends to ask us about a repentance begun months ago.

If we ignore community when applying the Bible, we may lose momentum in our application and give up.

The “How”

Our blind spots and our resistance to change provide some reasons that Christians should apply the Bible in community. In my next post we’ll discuss how to apply the Bible in community.

Buying a Markup Bible

February 9, 2015 By Ryan Higginbottom

Are you convinced that you should consider using a markup Bible? Such a Bible is an ideal way to begin studying God’s word, as it gives you space to underline, circle, highlight, or write directly on the text of Scripture. A markup Bible frees you from the pressure to preserve the book you’re using and allows you to focus on God’s words.

Using a markup Bible may be as easy as taking one of your current Bibles (or some printouts from Bible Gateway) and applying ink to paper. For most people, there is no need to make another purchase.

Bill Smith (2014), Creative Commons License

But maybe you don’t have an extra Bible you’re able or willing to set aside for this purpose. This post is for people who are considering buying something new.

What a Markup Bible Should Not Be

In what follows you’ll find several qualities I value in a markup Bible. Allow me one negative suggestion first. Your markup Bible should not be a study Bible.

Judging by the supply, Christians in the U.S. love study Bibles. I think there is a place for a study Bible, but if you aren’t careful, using such a Bible can hamstring your personal study of the Scriptures (as Jen Wilkin so ably argued). So if you’re buying a markup Bible, don’t buy a study Bible. This will help you guard against the presumption that comes from trusting experts to interpret God’s word for you.

What a Markup Bible Need Not Be

Your markup Bible will get a lot of use—that’s the point!—so it will get messy. It will bear the signs of love. This means you won’t miss the genuine leather, the fancy page edges, or the gold-stamped monogram. While you don’t need to snap up the cheapest Bible you can find, you can safely steer away from the high-end Bible market.

Think of it this way. Your child loves to play outside, and you want him appropriately dressed. The clothes he wears will get stained, muddied, and utterly worn through. Will you shop for his play jeans at Target or Ralph Lauren?

What a Markup Bible Should Be

Of the dozens of features to consider, only a few top my list for a good markup Bible.

translation — A good translation is vital when studying the Bible closely and paying careful attention to words. Try to choose a Bible version that has a word-for-word translation philosophy.¹ Here are a few reliable Bible translations that I recommend for close study: New American Standard Bible (NASB), English Standard Version (ESV), and New King James Version (NKJV).
margins — In addition to underlining, circling, and drawing lines between words (these help me observe the text), I frequently write little interpretive questions in the margins of my markup Bible. What does that mean? Why did he write that? Why did he do/say that? So what?

For most Bibles, margin width is an afterthought. But some newer Bibles are made with oversized margins. These may be advertised as “Journaling Bibles” (see below), but those margins offer generous space for marking and annotating the text.
font size — Since a markup Bible is a tool for study and doesn’t need to slide into a purse or a pocket, be sure to buy a Bible with a readable font size. Thinline and pocket-sized Bibles are convenient and popular, but the font size sometimes makes me feel like Isaac in his latter days (Gen 27:1). Make sure you can see the words on the page comfortably so that you can interact with them.

While you might consider other features like cross-references or the color of the words of Jesus, searching for a good translation with a decent font size and generous margins should start you down the path to buying a useful markup Bible.

A Few Recommendations

Without further ado, here are some Bibles you may want to consider as you make a markup Bible purchase. (Prices listed were accurate on Feb 6, 2015 and may change. Unless noted, links direct you to Amazon.com.)

NASB Note-Taker’s Bible — Hard cover, 8-point font, wide margins for notes. It’s selling for $25.81 right now. (Buy it at Christianbook.com for $24.99.) You can also find a NKJV version at Amazon ($25.36) or CB ($24.99).
ESV Journaling Bible — This has a hard cover, 7.5-point font, ruled margins for notes, and an elastic strap (like a Moleskine journal), selling for $28.79. (Buy it at CB for $23.99 or at WTS for $22.79.)
ESV Single Column Journaling Bible — This is a variation on the previous item where the text of Scripture is set in a single column instead of the traditional two columns per page. It’s $30.98 at Amazon, $24.99 at CB, and $23.99 at WTS.
ESV Wide Margin Reference Bible — This has an imitation leather cover, 9-point font, and margins on the outside and center. (The previous three items just have wide margins on the outside of the pages, not near the binding.) It’s $40.44 at Amazon, $39.99 at CB, and $35.99 at WTS.
ESV Single Column Legacy Bible — This 9-point text is set in a single column with nice margins on the outside and bottom of the page. It comes in several (imitation leather) cover designs and colors. (I’m linking to the burgundy cover, which is the cheapest.) It’s $35.98 at Amazon, $29.99 at CB, and $29.99 at WTS.
Pew Bibles — Let’s mix it up for the final suggestions. None of these pew Bibles have wide margins. However, they’re significantly cheaper than the previous items and they have the Large Print option available. These are all hardcover.
- ESV Value Pew Bible — 8-point font, $10.64 at Amazon, $7.99 at CB, and $7.19 at WTS
- ESV Pew & Worship Bible — 9-point font, contains some responsive readings, $11.83 at Amazon, $9.99 at CB, and $9.59 at WTS (Buy the large-print version—12-point font—for $18.96 at Amazon, $15.99 at CB, or $14.99 at WTS.)
- NASB Pew Bible — 8-point font, $7.99 at Amazon, $7.49 at CB (Buy the large-print version—10-point font—for $11.66 at Amazon or $10.99 at CB.)
- NKJV Pew Bible — I cannot find the font size for this, even on the manufacturer’s page! It’s $10.67 at Amazon and $9.99 at CB. (The large-print version of this Bible is called “Giant Print,” and you can buy it for $13.37 at Amazon or $11.99 at CB.)

Footnote

The other major translation philosophy is thought-for-thought, and most translations fall on the spectrum between the two. You can also go here (scroll down) to find a translation comparison chart and to see some verses in many different translations. ↩

Disclaimer: The Amazon and WTS links in this post are affiliate links, meaning that if you buy something after clicking through our link, we get a small percentage of the purchase price. It’s an easy and helpful way to support the site!

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Why You Should Consider a “Markup Bible”

January 26, 2015 By Ryan Higginbottom

Every scientist worth his safety goggles has a laboratory. Professional athletes have personal gyms. In the same way, if you’re serious about studying God’s word, you should consider using a markup Bible.

George Bannister (2008), Creative Commons License

Define Your Terms, Sir!

By a markup Bible I mean a Bible set aside for study. This is not a Bible for church or an heirloom to leave to your children. Like the gym or the lab, a markup Bible is an intense work environment. If you plan to be a lifelong student of God’s word, this Bible will contain your Spirit-guided efforts for years to come. But be warned: this book may end up unreadable.

When an expert chef pours himself into a special meal, he isn’t worried about the mayhem he creates along the way. At the end of the evening, there may be flour on the counter and batter on the cabinets. But the messes don’t matter if the dishes are delicious. A markup Bible is your chef’s kitchen, and the fare you prepare (by God’s grace) is a loving heart and obedient life which point to your Father in heaven (Matt 5:16).

What is the Advantage?

If you study the Bible using the Observation-Interpretation-Application (OIA) method, you must get your hands dirty. You need to grapple with the text again and again. What does it say? What does it mean? How should I change?

To answer these questions, you should interact with Scripture carefully and vigorously. You might do this in a notebook, in a word processing document, or even on a smart phone. I prefer to write, draw, underline, and circle directly on the Bible text. This helps me boomerang back to God’s word instead of getting caught in my own speculations.

To make applications personal and memorable, I often end my study times by writing in a notebook. But I move through the OIA stages more easily if I begin by marking up the relevant Bible passage.

Do I Need to Spend Money?

To be honest, you probably don’t need another Bible. Most first-world homes contain more Bibles than Bible students. Instead of a new purchase, consider converting one of your old or current Bibles into a markup Bible.

You may not need a separate Bible at all. I’ve often used print-outs from Bible Gateway for my initial studying and marking. Since printer ink and paper cost money, this approach is not free, but buying another book is not necessary.

However, as I have written before, when people enjoy their tools they are more likely to use them. Having a Bible devoted to markup and study may set this activity apart as special for you. For this same reason, some people designate a chair, notebook, or bench for the purpose of prayer. (If you are considering making a purchase, stay tuned for my next post.)

How Should I Use a Markup Bible?

J.A. Medders (2014), used by permission

Getting started with a markup Bible is easy. Make observation and interpretation notes in your Bible. Highlight and underline. Draw circles, boxes, and arrows. Locate repeated words and connectors. Use a color code, so that all repetitions of the same word share a color. Diagram the structure of the passage and tease out the main point. There is no single correct approach to follow, and each person will develop their own system of symbols and marks. (Note: a markup Bible doesn’t negate the usefulness of these OIA worksheets. I suggest using them to summarize and organize your thoughts after first marking up the passage.)

A markup Bible eliminates the need to preserve the book you are studying. You don’t have to treat it gingerly. Focus on the words of God instead.

3 Gifts to Encourage Bible Study

December 15, 2014 By Ryan Higginbottom

People buy Christmas gifts for different reasons. Parents choose a special toy to bless their child with genuine delight as they play. A wife selects socks for her husband because she is tired of seeing him pad around the house with a big toe peeking through his threadbares. A teenage boy purchases a gift card for his older brother because, well, he needs to get him something.

FutUndBeidl (2012), Creative Commons License

Gifts With a Purpose

A courageous few will buy a gift to encourage a behavior or habit in a friend, in a loved one, or in themselves. Gym memberships, spiral planners, and alarm clocks may all fall into this category.

Perhaps you know someone you’d like to encourage in the Christian life. There’s no better way to grow as a Christian than reading and studying the Bible. Here are three gift ideas to consider if you want to encourage Bible study. (Be sure to read all the way to the end, because you will see a gift idea that requires you to spend exactly $0.)

A Bible — Perhaps this is obvious, but it is difficult to study the Bible without a Bible. Though there are an abundance of Bible resources available in online and mobile formats, some people prefer to have a hard copy in their hands. Also, some may be reluctant to write in or mark up a Bible that has sentimental value. So why not give a Bible expressly for the purpose of Bible study, and with this give your friend permission to dig into the Good Book with ink and graphite?

There are thousands of Bibles available online. I won’t give a specific recommendation (though commenters should feel free), but consider these factors as you make a purchase: pick a good translation (ask a trusted friend or pastor, or ask me in the comments), make sure the font is large enough for comfortable reading, and consider how much space is available in the margins. (I realize there is much more I could write about how to choose a good Bible to study. Look for an upcoming post discussing just that!)

Bonus suggestions — Here are some smaller, stocking-friendly suggestions that pair nicely with the gift of a Bible: a notebook or special pen for Bible study notes, colored pencils for marking up the Bible, or fun post-it notes to mark out significant passages or hold longer personal commentary. None of these are necessary for personal Bible study, of course, but I’ve found that when people enjoy the tools they are using, they are more likely to pursue the related activity.
A book — For most Christians, lack of personal Bible study is not due to the absence of a Bible. Far too many Christians have dusty, unopened Bibles propping up other books on their shelves. These Christians need to be persuaded that personal Bible study is necessary and that personal Bible study is doable. We should not leave Bible study to the professionals — to preachers and authors of commentaries. God intended his word to be read, known, and studied by all his children. In fact, this is how he delights in making himself known to us!

If only someone had written a book as an introduction to a solid method of Bible study! If that book taught readers the Observation-Interpretation-Application method of Bible study, such a recommendation would be even more appropriate on this blog. If only such a book were widely available and inexpensive! If only such a book had easy-to-find cover art — we could put it in the sidebar of every page on this blog!

(Two notes: I must point out that this recommendation is not being written by Peter. He is far too modest to claim that his book is outstanding, so I’m doing it—not because he wants me to, but because I really think it is great. Second, there are other fine books written to instruct readers in Bible study. The point here is to find a trustworthy book that points people back to the Bible and equips them to study the Bible on their own.)
An invitation — Perhaps you want to give a gift but your budget doesn’t have much room this year. Or maybe you just want to give the most personal gift on this list. Consider inviting a friend to study the Bible with you! I’m not speaking of starting a Bible study group (though we have resources to help you with that). What if you simply met with a friend once every week or two to study a portion of Scripture? Pick a book of the Bible together, set aside an hour, and dig in! This could be a low-stress way to sharpen your own Bible study skills, encourage your friend in solid Bible study methods, and deepen your friendship, all at the same time.

Any one of these gifts, given in the right spirit and within the right relationship, could provide just the spark that a friend needs to know God better. What suggestions do you have for gifts that encourage Bible study?

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