Episode Transcript
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Paula Behrens (00:00):
Hey friend, have
you ever opened your Bible and
felt like you were trying tofind your way through a maze,
unsure if you should start withthe Old or New Testament?
Or maybe you feel like you havemore questions than answers?
Well, if any of the aboveresonates, this episode is
designed especially for you.
Today, we're cutting throughthe overwhelm and building a
(00:21):
solid framework for reading theBible, one that will not only
bring new life to your quietmoments with God, but also
transform the way you go aboutreading and studying His Word.
When I first began my seminarywork while serving two church
congregations full-time,everyone assumed I had my daily
devotional time perfectlyorganized.
But, truth be told, there weremornings I could barely find
(00:44):
five minutes to catch my breath,let alone dive into deep
reflection.
One day, as I rushed out thedoor with mismatched shoes, I
realized that even in my chaosthere was a lesson Embracing
God's grace andself-forgiveness, I realized
that true success in mydevotional life requires
prioritizing my spiritualpractices.
(01:09):
Are you finding it challengingto maintain your spiritual
practices or yearning for a morepeaceful, God-aligned day?
I'm Paula, and I've been theretoo.
Balancing spiritual habits witha busy life can be difficult.
I longed for a deeperconnection with God but
struggled with consistency.
Then I found the perfectapproach.
If you seek simple ways todeepen your connection with God,
this podcast is for you.
(01:32):
Hey friend, I want to personallyinvite you to the Aroma of
Christ Coaching Hour.
This isn't just another Biblestudy or spiritual to-do list.
It's a deeply intentionalone-on-one session where you'll
create a devotional routine thatfits your life and reignites
your love for time with God, allwhile using your senses.
We'll partner together todesign a peaceful,
(01:52):
Christ-centered routine thathelps you breathe again
spiritually and emotionally.
You'll walk away with clarity,focus and a renewed connection
to the Holy Spirit.
Go right now to paulabehrens.
com/ coaching, that's PaulaBehrens B-E-H-R-E-N-S .
com/ coaching (no spaces) andbook your session.
(02:13):
It's time to stop trying tofigure it all out on your own
and start connecting with God ina way that finally feels like
rest.
Before we get started, I'd liketo give a shout out to DM
Reinhart who writes, Just loveall the strategies and tips.
You give a really great show.
I am so thankful for how youbreak everything down and give
(02:36):
examples, then connect youradvice to the Bible.
This is so needed.
Thank you so DMReinhart, lovethat review.
If you'd like to leave a review, we'd truly appreciate it.
On Apple Podcasts, simplyscroll down to the five-star
rating section and click onleave a review.
If you're using a PC, open theiTunes app and you'll find the
(02:57):
link near the top.
Share your thoughts with ustoday and your review could be
showcased on one of our upcomingepisodes.
All right, it's time to getstarted.
Grab your Bible, dust off yourjournal and cozy up to your
favorite beverage and let's divein.
Have you ever felt overwhelmedtrying to read the Bible, or
(03:19):
maybe wondering if it's reallyimportant for your life?
If that sounds familiar, you'renot alone.
Today's topic is all aboutbuilding faithful foundations,
learning not only why readingthe Bible matters, but also how
to study it in a way that willbe meaningful, transformative
and deeply rooted in truth.
So, whether you're a brand newbeliever, returning to your
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faith after a while away, orsomeone who just wants to go
deeper with God, you are in theright place.
Let's begin with the mostimportant question, why should
we read the Bible?
The Bible is not just a book.
It's the living, breathing Wordof God, a divine gift that
reveals who he is, what he hasdone and how we're called to
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live in response.
Second Timothy 3, verses 16through 17, tells us this, all
scripture is God breathed and isuseful for teaching, rebuking,
correcting and training inrighteousness, so that the
servant of God may be thoroughlyequipped for every good work.
In other words, scriptureequips us not just for some of
(04:28):
life, but for all of life.
When we open our Bibles, we'renot just gaining knowledge, we
are being transformed.
Psalm 119, verse 105 says, yourword is a lamp for my feet and
a light on my path.
If your path feels dim rightnow, if you're looking for
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guidance, peace or answers,God's word has what you need.
One thing that can trip somepeople up is the Bibles'
structure.
It's not anything like a novelwhere one chapter builds on the
next.
No, the Bible is made up of 66different books written by
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different authors, and it hastwo main parts, the Old
Testament, which consists of 39books, and the New Testament,
that has 27 books.
Each book also falls into adifferent genre.
For example, the Psalms expressraw emotion and worship.
The Gospels tell the story ofJesus' life.
The Epistles offer practicalguidance for daily living.
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Understanding the Bibles'structure helps us read it more
accurately and apply it moredeeply.
So next time you open yourBible, take a moment to ask,
what kind of book am I readingtoday, what is its purpose and
who was the author writing to?
Okay, so let's talk translations.
There are so many differentversions of the Bible and
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choosing one can feeloverwhelming, but the good news
is this, they are all based onthe original text.
Just find one that's easy foryou to read and makes sense to
you.
Here are a few examples the NIV, the New International Version,
is easy to read and good forgeneral study.
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The ESV English StandardVersion is more literal than
some, but great for digging deep.
The NLT New Living Translationis a paraphrase in contemporary
English, more of athought-for-thought commentary,
and some find this one veryreadable.
I personally lean towards theNRSV New Revised Standard
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Version for its scholarlyapproach, which makes it
excellent for teaching.
It stays true to the originaltext, especially in terms of
inclusivity.
For example, when talking to amixed gender audience, it uses
brothers and sisters instead ofjust brothers, reflecting both
the Greek and the Hebrewaccurately while at the same
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time maintaining traditionallanguage when referring to God
as He or Father.
Each version conveys the sametruths with slightly different
wording, so choose a translationthat you will consistently read
.
That's the important thing isthat you will actually sit down
on a regular basis and read.
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You know, Bible study is somuch richer when we use the
right tools.
Here are a few.
There are study Bibles withnotes, maps and commentary.
Some people really enjoy those.
There are also concordances,which are helpful when you want
to find verses on specifictopics.
There are Bible dictionarieswhen you're looking to define
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certain terms or need a littlemore context.
And finally, there areCommentaries for deeper insight
and understanding.
And don't forget the digitaltools too, like the YouVersion
Bible app, biblegateway.
com, blueletterbible.
org and a newer app called Bible.
is.
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These tools won't replace theHoly Spirit's guidance, but they
will enhance it and help youwith your daily readings.
Okay, so let's get practical.
How can you actually begin aBible study or a Bible reading
habit that will stick?
Well, here are three simplesteps you might want to consider
.
One, set a goal.
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Pick a book or a theme toexplore.
Two, choose a plan.
Use a monthly or topical plan.
Three, create a routine, sametime, same place.
Consistency matters.
Or, I would personally advisethat you simply start with the
New Testament Gospels, Matthew,Mark, Luke and John.
Commit to reading a fewchapters each day and read
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through the New Testament andthen the Old Testament.
You will be surprised at howmuch light the New Testament
will shed on the Old, whichbegins with Genesis, Exodus,
Leviticus and Numbers.
Also, make your study spaceinviting.
Grab your journal and beginwith prayer, a prayer like, God
open my eyes to what you want meto see today.
(09:10):
And here's something that mightsurprise you.
Incorporating aromas likeessential oils can actually
enhance your focus and sense ofpeace.
Try diffusing lavender to helpyou calm your mind, or
frankincense to create a deepersense of reverence and
reflection.
Citrus oils like orange orlemon can energize and uplift
your spirit when you're feelingweary.
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The goal isn't to distract, butto set a tone of intentional
worship, engaging both heart andsenses as you spend time with
God.
Bible study is all about showingup consistently to meet with
God.
So I mean, how should you studythe Bible?
Well, here are three powerfulmethods.
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The first one is calledinductive study.
That's where you observe,interpret and apply what you're
reading.
The second is called topicalstudy.
You would actually pick out atheme across the scriptures and
then read and compare whatyou've learned.
The third is a character study,where you can learn from
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various different people in theBible.
Or you can just do as I'vedone, commit to reading through
the Bible cover to cover everyyear.
I love to start, as I saidearlier, with the New Testament,
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John,read through the whole New
Testament, which actually is awhole lot shorter than the Old,
and then go back and read theOld Testament.
Interpreting scripture well isessential too.
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Always consider context.
Don't just pull a verse out andrun with it.
Look at the full picture.
Read the verses before andafter.
Take Philippians 4.13, forexample, which says I can do all
things through Christ, whostrengthens me.
Paul wrote this verse fromprison, so more than likely he
was talking about contentment,not superpowers.
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Context will always bring moreclarity into your reading.
Next, recognize figurativelanguage, like when Jesus said,
I am the vine, you are thebranches.
Those who abide in me will bearmuch fruit.
That's a metaphor for spiritualconnection.
We are not actually branchesand he is not actually a vine,
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but he's using that as ametaphor.
Finally, always invite the HolySpirit to guide you.
Ask God to give you wisdom asyou read.
I personally love to spend fiveminutes each morning just
listening for the guidance ofthe Holy Spirit.
Some days I hear so much, otherdays I just soak in the peace
as I rest in God's presence.
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We are also to be doers of God'sword not just hearers, but
doers, as James points out.
So as you read, ask yourself,what truth do I need to apply
today?
How does what I'm reading shapemy relationships or my attitude
?
And write it down.
Journaling will also help youtrack your growth and see how
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God is working in your life overtime.
Application is wheretransformation will happen.
As you grow more confident, digdeeper.
Try word studies andcross-referencing.
Join a Bible study group.
Read the Bible chronologically.
That's interesting.
Just keep learning, keepshowing up.
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Bible study is a lifelongjourney.
Look at it that way.
Building faithful foundationsdoesn't happen overnight either,
but it does happen, oneintentional moment at a time.
God's word is a treasure fullof wisdom, love, guidance and
truth.
It's not just a discipline,it's a relationship with the
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living God.
Okay, let's close with a prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father, we thankyou for the gift of your word
and for the desire you've placedin our hearts to know you more.
As we embark on this journey ofstudying your Word, we pray for
your guidance, wisdom andunderstanding.
Help us to approach scripturewith humility, openness and a
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hunger for your truth.
May your Word take root in ourhearts and bear fruit in our
lives, drawing us closer to youand transforming us into the
image of Christ.
It is in his precious and holyname that we ask these things
Amen.
(13:35):
Thank you for tuning in todayand remember, just like setting
biblical boundaries, it's okayto say no to things that don't
serve you well, like that thirdpiece of cake at the church
potluck.
If you've enjoyed this episode,we would truly appreciate it if
you would take just a fewmoments to follow the show and
leave a review.
Also, prayerfully considerinvesting just one hour to
(13:58):
deepen your faith and nurtureyour spiritual growth.
In your Aroma of Christ coaching hour, you will discover
how to craft a personalizeddevotional routine that will fit
perfectly into your busyschedule, incorporate essential
oils into your spiritualpractices, create an
easy-to-follow tracking plan forconsistency and learn tried and
true strategies to experienceyour quiet time with God not
(14:22):
just as a routine, but as ajoyful journey.
Schedule your call now atpaulabehrens.
com/ coaching.
That's Paula BehrensB-E-H-R-E-N-S .
com/coaching (no spaces).
Be sure to check the show notesfor all the links.
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Join us next week as wecontinue to discover how to live
on purpose in Christ.
Until then, keep leaning intoHim and walking in His wisdom.
See you next time.