Will you try this?

When it comes to reading the Bible, it can be overwhelming. Where do I start? What if I don’t understand it? How can I learn something that will help me in the “real world”?

These are all great questions, and they’re all from real people. So this week I want to take a little time and give you a few tips on getting the most out of your time with Jesus in His Word (Every Day With Jesus).

While there are some things that are hard to understand, there is PLENTY that is clear and easy to understand. If you’re new to the Bible, start with Matthew (the first book in the New Testament). The first several verses are a bunch of names. So, when you come to something like that, don’t worry about pronouncing everything correctly. Just keep reading until you get to the point of all those names. By the way, JESUS is the point in Matthew 1.

If you heard this weekend’s message, you know I said to find ONE verse that really jumps out to you.

So here’s TIP #1: Start with Prayer! Ask God to guide you and speak to you. Tell Him you want to spend time with Him and learn. As you read, watch for God to get your attention with one particular verse. When you’re done reading, go back to that verse and ask these questions:

Is there a…

• Sin to CONFESS?
• Promise to CLAIM?
• Attitude to CHANGE?
• Command to OBEY?
• Example to FOLLOW?
• Prayer to PRAY?
• Error to AVOID?
• Truth to BELIEVE?
• Something to THANK GOD FOR?

“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” (Hebrews 4:12 NLT)