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4 Ideas to Improve Biblical Literacy

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Scott Slayton has four ideas to help you develop a robust biblical literacy. He writes:

Most Christians do not know the basics of the biblical storyline, basic facts about the Bible’s major characters, or the texts on which our most foundational doctrines are built. Many Christians try to have in-depth discussions about ethics and the relationship between Christianity and the government without knowing even the most basic facts about Scripture. It’s like trying to solve an equation when you don’t know that 2+2=4.

His suggestions are:

  1. Repeated reading
  2. Daily reading
  3. Scripture memory
  4. Supplemental reading

These suggestions may sound straightforward, but we have a hard time implementing such reading habits! Slayton explains what it could look like for you.

Check it out!

How to Understand Genealogies

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If you’ve been persuaded not to skip the Bible’s genealogies, you might still wonder what to do with them. And Scott Slayton has just the help you need. In his article “How Do I Deal with the Genealogies?” he offers three suggestions:

  1. How does it fit within the author’s narrative?
  2. How does it fulfill the promises of God?
  3. What glimmers of grace do we see in it?

Questions 2 and 3 are useful in helping us to reflect on the theological benefit of any genealogy, but I find question 1 most helpful when working through a book. Remember that the genealogy is not a waste of words. It’s not as though the author had nothing useful to say, and so he decided to throw in a list of names. No, the author is making a case for something; he’s trying to move his audience to action. And the genealogy helps advance his agenda. We must observe the genealogy carefully to uncover what that agenda is.

Though Slayton addresses his article to pastors, his suggestions are just as fitting for any teacher or student of the Scripture.

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Hone Your Ability to Focus on the Bible

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If we can’t focus on anything, we won’t be able to focus when it’s time to read the Bible. Along those lines, Scott Slayton has a few suggestions well worth considering:

  1. Shut out distractions.
  2. Read actively.
  3. Read in a consistent place and at a consistent time.
  4. Hone your concentration in other areas.

Slayton fleshes out these principles in his blog post. They sound like simple principles, but in his blog post, Slayton presents some challenging applications that are worth considering.

Check it out!