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Big Audio Bible Sale

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The website Christianaudio.com is in the middle of their twice-yearly sale, where a large number of books are available for $7.49, no membership required. They have included many audio Bibles in this sale, with the result that these Bibles are for sale at a steep discount. (My favorite audio Bible, the ESV Hear the Word Audio Bible, normally sells for $28.98.)

If you’re interested in listening to the Bible, and you’d like the flexibility of taking the audio with you (as opposed to simply streaming it), this is a great opportunity. At this time of year, you might consider an audio Bible gift for a friend or family member.

Check it out!

The Best Ways to Listen to the Bible

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farmer

anonymous (2012), public domain

God has given us amazing access to his word. In the west, we have thousands of options to buy a printed Bible for a reasonable sum. If you prefer to read the Bible electronically, there are dozens of free avenues on your phone, tablet, or computer.

And we have not exhausted God’s generosity! We have many audio versions of the Bible available. Today I’ll point out three of the best ways I’ve found to listen to the Bible.

Why Listen to the Bible?

Having a personal, physical copy of the Bible is a recent phenomenon. The printing press (15th century) brought books to the masses, and before this Christians had to listen to the Scriptures as they were read aloud. For the original audience of the Bible, listening was their only access to God’s word.

Listening to the Bible is a wonderful convenience. It’s a great way to use your time while exercising, commuting, doing the dishes, or folding the laundry. You might even consider an audio Bible to help your preschoolers have devotions.

Listen for Free

If you have a smartphone, tablet, or computer, free audio Bible options abound. I will highlight the best two services I have used; feel free to suggest others in the comments! (I use Android devices, and the web-based versions of these services are great as well. I suggest looking into the Apple versions too, though I cannot vouch for them personally.)

  • The Bible App (YouVersion) — This is probably the most popular Bible application available. It offers 49 English translations of the Bible for reading, and 12 of these have an audio version. I’m partial to the ESV and NASB, but you could also listen to the NIV, the NLT, or the Message (among others). The Bible App offers reading plans and the ability to make notes and highlights in the text. This app has a strong social component, so it is easy to share what you’re reading and learning with friends.
  • Bible Gateway — This is my go-to Bible application. It also offers many (40) written English translations of the Bible along with nine audio versions. I like the parallel Bible feature, where you can compare two translations of the same passage side by side. There are other study tools available within this app, like Bible dictionaries and commentaries.

Both of these applications are free. Both suggest you make an account, but all the functionality I’ve described is available without signing up.

One Low-Cost Way to Listen

Free audio Bibles are great. The price is right, and you can change translations with the flick of a finger. But when I listen to the Bible, I’m usually looking elsewhere.

Does it sound crazy to pay for something which I could get for free? Hear me out. The Bible apps mentioned above rely on streaming technology, which requires a continuous internet connection. I’m not always connected to the internet, so having the digital files themselves means I’m never without my audio Bible. Also, I’m not dependent on the audio streaming technology when I want to listen. (I had a problem with The Bible App’s audio last year.)

Finally, if you own the files, you can adjust the playback speed. This is a common trick for fans of audiobooks, but most music players on phones and tablets allow you to speed up any track. On the other hand, if you’re enterprising and good with technology, you can remove silence and speed up the audio yourself using free audio editing software like Audacity. Without much trouble, I’ve been able to cut the run time of my audio Bible from 75 hours down to around 54 hours.

I use the ESV Hear the Word audio Bible, read by David Cochran Heath. You can find it for $28.98 at christianaudio.com (non-member price) and for $29.99 at christianbook.com.

I’m sure there are many other worthy audio Bibles you could purchase. If you’re shopping, be sure to check two details. You probably want to avoid dramatized audio Bibles, and you definitely want to avoid any Bible that is abridged.

Happy listening!

Behold the Power of the Church Resource Table

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How does a visitor to your church know what you value? The sermon and other elements of the worship service are a huge clue. He’ll notice the friendliness (or coldness) of the congregation as well. But outside of the worship and the people, your church’s resource table may be the most important pointer he’ll get.

In some churches, the resource table is a footnote. It’s another flat surface that collects dust, styrofoam cups, and out-of-date signup sheets. But we miss an enormous opportunity to guide our congregation and inform visitors if we ignore it.

Why Your Church Should Have a Resource Table

The resource table is a place where your church takes a stand. With these recommendations and pointers, you say: We think these materials will help you love and glorify God.

You might think your church doesn’t need a table at all. After all, you have a website. You have a presence on Facebook and Twitter. Isn’t a resource table terribly old-fashioned?

Of course it is, and that’s why you need it. The older saints at your church aren’t scrolling through your tweets. Further, your recommendation has more compulsive power when you can walk someone to a specific place and put material in their hands.

And don’t forget the visitor. The man who arrives at your building by invitation or providence will want to learn about your church. What do you value? Where do you stand? What is it like to be part of this body?

The church resource table is an opportunity to display and develop your church’s culture. Stock it with resources to help your people reach others and grow themselves.

What Should Be On The Resource Table

Stock your table with aids for the worship service. This includes pens, paper, sermon outlines, and children’s sermon resources. Consider a display about your current sermon series, including dates and texts, so people can read and study the passage ahead of time. Consider producing a few sermon CDs and pointing people to your online sermon home.

Even if you have Bibles in your pews, arrange a stack on the resource table. Make space in your budget for a need-one-take-one policy. Everyone should have a Bible.

Make it as easy as possible for people to join a Bible study in your church. Produce clear, attractive signs or flyers, and highlight the contact person for each opportunity. Small group Bible studies can be the heartbeat of a church, so we should do our best to help people get connected.

Visitors will want to know the theological waters they are entering, so the resource table is a good place for any confessional or doctrinal pamphlets. If possible, supply something short that can be taken by anyone.

Finally, consider books, magazines, and articles that would be especially helpful to younger Christians. Beware of cluttering the table, but if there’s room, gather the best material you can find and make it available to take or borrow. One of the most important skills to teach new Christians is how to study the Bible, so an excellent book on this topic or a free booklet containing the same principles would find a welcome home on the table.

Without solid preaching, good leadership, and vibrant small groups, a church resource table carries as much weight as a wet tissue. But as an aid to these essentials, good resources can help highlight, reinforce, and broadcast the culture you want to take root in your church.

Study the Bible to Get Massive Treasure

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If we’re honest, sometimes we don’t want to study the Bible. We know we should feel differently, but it’s the truth. At times we simply lack the motivation.

What are we supposed to do with that?

Petr Kratochvil, public domain

Petr Kratochvil, public domain

We All Want Treasure

Humans are treasure-seekers. Though we seek different treasure in different ways, we’re all on the hunt for meaning, significance, and happiness. And we can’t help but give our time to this pursuit.

We want to be respected and admired, so we put in long hours at work. We tweak our presentation over the weekend and answer email at the soccer game. We need people to know we’re on top of our game.

We want to belong, so we find people of similar interests. We stay up late for fantasy football, get up early for CrossFit, or zealously track our favorite celebrity on social media.

We want to be comfortable, so we agonize over the perfect house, neighborhood, and job. We research our decisions three times over so nothing is left to chance.

We’ve all done this. We latch onto something of great value, and in the pursuit of it we become single-minded, focused, and consumed. We target our love like a hawk tracks a field mouse.

God is Our Treasure

The Bible reveals that we were made for God. Despite our attempts to find value and pleasure elsewhere, he is the top prize in the universe.

This is why the “one thing” David wants is to gaze upon God’s beauty and inquire in his temple (Psalm 27:4). This is why Paul lost everything for the sake of Christ and considered it garbage so that he could “gain Christ” (Phil. 3:8).

God gives us good gifts, so the lesser riches we seek are not inherently bad. But they are nothing compared to God. Jesus came “that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). He is our great treasure.

How Do We Get This Treasure?

Anyone that is brought to God is brought by Jesus. A supernatural, spiritual work must take place inside us.

This transformation reorients our hearts. When we confess our pathetic treasure-seeking in light of the glory of God, he changes and purifies our desires.

Though Christians have experienced this once-for-all change, we still drift and search after other fulfillment. We still need reminders about what is most valuable, what is most fulfilling, and what is the best use of our time and resources. (See Matthew 6:19–21.)

Of course, God gives us this instruction in the Bible. This is where God warns us, encourages us, gives us hope, and convinces us of his unending love. In short, we find God, our supreme treasure, in the Bible.

You Do Not Lack Motivation

Sometimes I avoid the Bible because I forget what I’ll find there. The Bible isn’t just rules, stories, parables, and prophesies. In his word we encounter God himself.

In the Bible I see how to obey God, how to trust him, and how to love him. I learn that Jesus gave up his life for me and that the same power that raised him from the dead is working within me.

I read that my life is not to be protected or guarded at all cost. Rather, I find true life—that is, treasure—when I lose my life for others out of love for God.

Because we all want treasure we don’t need to produce motivation to study the Bible. We need to channel our natural desire and point it toward the most precious prize in the world, God himself.

Bible Study Is Not Complicated

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construction

anonymous (2008), public domain

Building a house is complicated. In addition to land and permits, you’ll need experienced workers, lots of tools, and blueprints.

Bible study, on the other hand, is not complicated. We need to think clearly here, because if studying the Bible seems involved and intimidating, we’ll never do it.

You Don’t Need Tons of Resources

Faithful, biblical resources are wonderful, and I thank God for them. But very few of them are essential.

You don’t need fifteen commentaries. You don’t need a study Bible, and you certainly don’t need three. You don’t need a Bible atlas, Bible dictionary, or concordance. You don’t need a million cross-references.

Don’t worry about the Greek. Don’t sweat the Hebrew. The church fathers need not enter the picture.

There’s no need for high-powered software. You don’t need a dedicated notebook, fancy pens, or special highlighters.

In order to study the Bible, you need blissfully few items: a Bible, a pen, and a blank sheet of paper (or some worksheets). That’s it.

Studying the Bible is as straightforward as taking a walk. Lace up your shoes, step out the door, and go.

You Don’t Need a Convoluted Process

There are scores of books available on interpreting the Bible, some of which are great. And you don’t need any of them.

Studying the Bible is simple; you can sit down and do it right now. The method we advocate uses three steps: observation, interpretation, and application. (We refer to this as the OIA method.)

As Peter has written, we didn’t invent OIA. In fact, we believe this is the best way to approach the Bible because it is at the heart of all communication. Here’s a brief illustration.

Imagine you’re driving on an unfamiliar highway. When you observe the highway sign with your exit number, you interpret this to mean that your destination is approaching. You apply this understanding by using your turn signal, changing lanes, and driving onto the exit.

Bible study can be boiled down to asking three questions. When observing, we ask, “What?” Among other things, we take note of repeated words, names, grammar, and the structure of the passage.

When interpreting, we ask, “Why?” We question our observations. Why did God promise to go with Moses (Ex. 3:12)? Why does Aaron perform the signs given to Moses (Ex. 4:30)? We try to answer these questions from the Bible and understand the author’s main point.

Finally, when applying, we ask, “So what?” From the main point of the passage, we seek the implications for us and the people we can influence. Good application should change the way we think, act, and love.

Getting Started

As you develop as a Bible student, you’ll probably want to consult some of the resources I mentioned above. God has given these to his church, and they can be tremendous aids for understanding and growth.

But starting with the Bible is easy. Pray for God’s help and wisdom. Find a quiet place, carve out 20 minutes, and dig in.

The Bible Is Not Boring

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camel1

anonymous (2014), public domain

The Bible is boring. Many people outside the church take this as given. For them, reading the Bible is like watching C-SPAN or counting blades of grass.

But, let’s be honest—Christians feel this way at times. And we’re unlikely to study a book we don’t find interesting.

We need to consider some important questions.

Is the Bible boring?

No, the Bible is not boring. Let’s not confuse a bored reader with a boring book.

The Bible is God’s word. If God is the creator and sustainer of every atom that exists; if he is infinitely holy, good, wise, and glorious; if he is the very definition of love; then everything about him must be interesting.

OK, so why does the Bible seem boring?

If God’s word seems boring, there’s either a problem with the reading or the reader.

For some, the Bible seems dull because they assume they know what it says. They think they’ve heard all the stories and learned all the rules. Instead of “living and active,” the Bible sounds repetitive and bland.

For others, the Bible appears boring because they read the text without engaging with it. We are meant to meditate upon the Bible, to read it with the expectation that God will meet with and change us.

Additionally, the Bible feels irrelevant if we forget who we are. We are created and corrupt. We depend on God both for life and salvation. When we lose our sense of ongoing need, we won’t be thrilled by God or what he’s done for us.

What should we do if the Bible seems boring?

First, we should acknowledge our need for God’s help. Even redeemed people need God’s Spirit to desire what is of supreme value. In other words, we should pray. (Read what John Piper suggests you pray when the Bible seems boring.)

Next, don’t confuse difficult with boring. The Bible is hard to understand in some places, but that doesn’t make it dull. In fact, like your backyard garden, Bible study is often most rewarding when it makes you sweat.

Further, not every Bible passage should be studied in the same way. A physics textbook is not a detective novel, and Proverbs is not Revelation. While you might spend several days looking carefully at the first ten verses of Ephesians 1, you won’t treat 1 Chronicles 1 the same way.

Some of the hardest parts of the Bible are the genealogies, the construction of the tabernacle, and the apportionment of the promised land to the tribes. Ask yourself, why did God include these chapters? What purpose do they serve? (This short article at Desiring God tackles Joshua 13–21 and the apportionment of the land.) We must do our best to read the Bible in context and seek the author’s intention in each passage.

Finally, when the Bible seems stale we might be tempted to import excitement. Maybe we’ll use a flashy study guide or dig around for some never-before-seen insight. If we chase ideas that are new or novel because we are afraid the Bible won’t hold our interest, we need to get back to the basics of Bible study.

Observe the text carefully. Ask questions, think about the author’s train of thought, and look for the main point. Connect the passage to the big story of the Bible, the gospel of Jesus Christ. And, with God’s help, apply the passage to yourself.

The goal of Bible study is the worship of God which spills over into all of life. As God transforms you, it might be uncomfortable, stretching, or disruptive. It will all be very good. But it certainly won’t be boring!

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Feature the Bible in Corporate Worship

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anonymous, public domain

anonymous, public domain

What role does the Bible play in weekly, corporate worship? What role should it play?

When discussing worship, it’s easy to get stuck in controversy. Some of those conversations may be worthy, but today I offer a simple proposal: We should feature the Bible during our corporate worship services.

Why Feature the Bible?

By “feature” the Bible, I mean use it everywhere possible. I suggest this for two reasons.

First, worship elements recorded in the Bible use the Scriptures. From reading and explaining the law (Neh 8:1–8) to sermons (Acts 2:14–36, Acts 3:11–26, Acts 7:2–53, etc.) to testimony (Acts 26:4–29) to sacrament (1 Cor 11:23–26) to singing (Eph 5:18, Col 3:16), we see God’s word all over the place.

Second, consider the alternative. If the Bible is not the dominant voice during worship, we default to the voices of men. Even casual readers of the Bible should hesitate to prefer man’s words to God’s. The Scriptures are a corrective, a true north. Though we fill our minds with nonsense and lies, the Bible teaches and reminds us what is true. In particular, the Scriptures tell us what God is like and why we should worship him.

How Does This Promote Bible Study?

This post falls in a series on Bible-study culture within the church. We help ordinary people learn how to study the Bible when the gatherings and relationships of our churches are chock-full of Bible study.

As a church features the Bible in corporate worship, the congregation becomes familiar with it. They hear it, say it, and sing it. The Bible becomes more accessible. People taste the truth and hunger for more. The same Scriptures that abound on Sunday morning then spill over into personal and small group Bible study.

How to Feature the Bible During Worship

There are at least five occasions within the worship service where the Bible can take center stage.

1. Read and Hear the Bible

Your pastor probably reads a passage from the Bible before preaching his sermon. But we should read and hear the Bible frequently as we worship.

Because we forget so often, we need to be reminded who God is, what he requires, and what he has done for his people through Jesus Christ. The words of Scripture teach us, reprove us, correct us, and train us in righteousness. They equip us for every good work. (2 Tim 3:16–17)

God’s people need to say and hear God’s word. Worship leaders should include solo readings, unison readings, and responsive readings throughout the service.

2. Preach the Bible

The Bible should be the starting point for every sermon ever preached. We ignore the Bible and rely on the wisdom, storytelling, or cleverness of man to our own peril.

I’ve written previously on preaching and listening to sermons. Check out these three posts for a deeper dive.

3. Pray the Bible

Let the Bible fuel corporate prayer. This doesn’t have to be perfunctory or predictable, but it does require preparation.

When I lead prayer, I use the familar ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) structure, and I choose portions of the Bible appropriate for each section. I do not read these Bible verses to the congregation, but I pray them to God. Each unit of prayer has this form: “God, you said this, so we praise you/confess/thank you/ask you for this in response.” (For a guide to praying this way in personal devotions, I recommend The Heart of God, by Kenneth Boa.)

4. Sing the Bible

Our singing during corporate worship should be based on the Bible.

If what we sing should be true, we must rely on the Bible. The lyrics of our songs should be taken from or inspired by Scripture. The pastors or elders of the church should oversee all musical choices so the congregation is singing what is true and good and beautiful, and not just the latest Jesus-is-my-boyfriend number from the radio.

5. See the Bible

The Protestant church has traditionally recognized two sacraments: baptism and the Lord’s supper. These are signs and seals of the covenant that God makes and keeps with his people.

However frequently these sacraments are celebrated, the Bible should be present. The sacraments are not dusty liturgical elements to be endured; they are ways God engages our senses to remind us what is true. As we see and feel and taste the sacraments, we should hear the words from the Bible reminding us of their meaning.

Conclusion

It might seem that I’m recommending a worship service full of Scripture. That you might not hear or sing or say much of anything besides the Bible. That you’ll get so full of the Bible it will be oozing from your pores when you leave the building.

Now you’ve got it.

This article on the 9 Marks website was very helpful in preparing this post.

Disclaimer: The link to Amazon in this post is an affiliate link, meaning that we will receive a small percentage of any purchase you make on Amazon if you make that purchase after clicking through this link.

When to Leave Your Small Group

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My daughters love the park. The open, green spaces, the playground equipment, the swirl of exuberant children—they love it all. There’s nothing quite like snagging a colorful, squeak-free swing on a sunny day.

Since my family loves good parks, we know lousy ones when we see them. The equipment is rusty, the grass is too long, the seesaws are catawampus. In these situations, we don’t need a traffic cop to tell us to move along.

Jacqueline Schmid (2015), Public Domain

Jacqueline Schmid (2015), Public Domain

Knowing when to leave your small group Bible study can be a lot harder. You probably started in your group with high hopes—you were eager to form strong relationships built on studying the Bible. But a trusted recipe doesn’t guarantee perfect brownies. Even well-intentioned Bible studies can disappoint you.

Should you stay or should you go? How do you know when it’s a good time to look for another Bible study group?

Remember the Purpose

By attending a small group Bible study, you should have the chance to serve others and be blessed yourself. You can grow in your understanding of the Bible and your love for God, and you can point your friends in the same direction. In an ideal group, you’ll leave each week strengthened, refreshed, and full of gospel-fueled hope about the future.

When your experience in a small group doesn’t match your expectations, it’s good to remember why the group gathers. What’s the purpose of this Bible study anyway?

I’ve written before about the benefits of attending a small group. But for the purposes of this article, we need to revisit the three questions to ask when joining a small group: Where can I study the Bible? Where can I serve? Where can I learn? Returning to these questions can help you decide whether to keep fishing or pack up your tackle.

Ask the Three Questions

Joining a Bible study group involves a level of commitment; you’re not signing papers at the bank, but you also don’t want to flit from group to group like an over-caffeinated hummingbird. Leaving a Bible study is a big step, so you should weigh your reasons carefully.

Where can I study the Bible? If your group has deserted the Bible, it’s time to rethink your participation. Book groups and reading groups have their place and can be valuable, but a Christian’s life needs a large dose of the Bible.

Where can I serve? Can you contribute to the Bible study discussion? Can you talk with others privately and draw them into deeper conversation? Can you help some group members learn how to study the Bible through your example or encouragement? Do you have any opportunity to challenge, cheer, or bear the burdens of friends in your group? Do you see avenues for service opening up?

Where can I learn? Do you engage with the Bible? Does your leader ask questions and encourage the group to interact? Are you spurred on to seek the Lord through his Word? Or do you sense that a barrier was placed between you and the Bible?

A Sobering Decision

No small group is perfect. Be sure to set a reasonable standard for your Bible study and be as patient with your friends as you’d like them to be with you. Try to work for the good of the group, praying and making suggestions as you find opportunity. But when it looks like the door to serving others and growing yourself is closed, it might be time to find a new group.

Help! I Have a Bad Bible Study Leader!

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A great Bible study can be transformative. You see God, your sin, and your Savior clearly. You grieve over your offenses but marvel at God’s love for you in Jesus. You leave refreshed and hopeful about the future. A meeting like this can turn your week around.

Adriaen Brouwer's The Bitter Tonic (1636-38), public domain

Adriaen Brouwer’s The Bitter Tonic (1636-38), public domain

Because a Bible study has such potential, we can feel cheated when it falls flat. It’s like that slice of pizza you thought was stuffed with sausage but was swimming with anchovies instead. The unpleasant taste lingers.

A Bible study can turn sour because of disruptions, the group’s size, a chaotic setting, or recent events in the life of a group member. Sometimes we must play the unfavorable hand that God’s providence deals. But what if your Bible study leader is to blame for the spoiled meeting?

A Bad Leader

A Bible study leader could fall short in many ways. Maybe he favors lecture over discussion and misses out on the benefits of small group interaction. Or he asks questions but doesn’t care about the answers. Perhaps he shuts down conversations or silences people, leaving no room for differing views or sharing. Worst of all, he might misuse or misunderstand the Bible.

How do you react to a leader like this? Should you pack your bags and look for greener pastures?

Have A Conversation

Instead of jumping ship, ponder this: Might God have a job here for you? If the leader is young, inexperienced, or without a mentor, he might be aching for a friend to pass wisdom along. If you see the problems, by sticking around you may help your group study the Bible.

If you’re up for the challenge, there’s one obvious, uncomfortable task ahead of you: Have a conversation with your leader.

It’s possible that your friend has chosen a leadership style or strategy that makes your small group study unpleasant. But it’s much more likely that he doesn’t understand his effect. Your discussion may be a catalyst for his repentance (in case of moral failure) or training (in case of ignorance).

Of course, it’s also possible that the conversation will not go well, that he will explain away your observations and discount your concerns. Pray that God would use your words in the future if he doesn’t seem to be using them in the present.

Six Pointers

I’m avoiding specific guidelines on the content of this conversation because it may go in any of a hundred directions. Collect your thoughts and your recommendations before you meet, and if you need pointers for studying the Bible or leading a small group, this blog has some resources to consider.

As for your posture in this conversation and afterward, I have six brief suggestions.

  • Ask others first — Check with other members of your small group—are they seeing the same problems? If not, perhaps you need recalibration.
  • Pray — Bring this matter to God ahead of time, and if your friend is receptive, pray during your meeting. (And afterward too!)
  • Be humble — You are no better than your friend, and any insights you have are God-given.
  • Be a friend — This news may be difficult to hear, so be sympathetic and offer support for the future. Avoid all scolding.
  • Offer hope — Remind your friend of God’s long-term, enduring love and his committment to change us by the Spirit.
  • Look ahead — It’s unrealistic to expect overnight change, so ask your friend for permission to give small-group feedback down the road.

3 Tips for Bad Bible Study, Part 1

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Has your time in the Word been too powerful lately? Want to get rid of that nagging feeling of peace you get when you trust the God you encounter in the Scriptures? If so, you need to make some adjustments to your approach to the Bible. In this brief series of posts we’ll consider three surefire ways to make Bible reading boring and irrelevant again. Today we’ll cover tip #1:

1. Assume you already know what the text says.

This is a tip you can put into practice in your very next Bible study meeting or quiet time. It’s all about your attitude. If you sit down with a heart attitude that says, “I need to hear what God has to say to me today,” then your efforts toward making Bible study an empty ritual will go right down the drain.

Instead, begin by congratulating yourself for what you already know about the particular text in front of you. If you’ve actually read the text before, you’re golden. Doesn’t matter how long ago you read it. Just take whatever you happen to remember about it as proof that all you need is a quick refresher rather than the full experience of diving into the text.

If it’s your first time reading the text, don’t give up yet. There are many other sources of knowledge you might draw on: sermons you’ve heard, Sunday school stories, VeggieTales episodes, etc. Any of these provides a sufficient centerpiece for your expertise. If you’re in a group and others seem to doubt the profundity of what you’re saying, just talk louder and wave your hands more.

If it turns out that you truly know nothing about the text, then it must be an obscure chapter that nobody really cares about anyway, right?

No matter what you do, don’t read the text the way you would a book that contains vital truth addressing your greatest needs and desires. Don’t let yourself start looking for details or ideas in the text which you haven’t considered before. Remember, you don’t need to look because you already know it. Keep assuming you know it, and you’ll find that before long your Bible reading will be as bland and ineffective as you could ever want.