Falling in love with the Bible

And why imperfect approaches are a fine goal

Earlier this week, I was reminded of one of the more frustrating “motivational” quotes I know: “Perfect practice makes perfect.”

It was really just a tongue-in-cheek comment. Lately, I’ve been working on learning the basics of tennis and happened to hit a few decent forehand strokes while hitting with some friends. 

I’m still very much a newbie at tennis, and sports that require me to hit, catch, or throw a ball don’t necessarily come naturally to me, so it was extra rewarding for me to realize that the practice sessions I’ve been putting in for the last three weeks or so seem to be paying off. 

But, don’t get me wrong—those sessions are far from perfect. You see, my goal isn’t to compete on the USTA Pro Circuit. As a self-proclaimed serial hobbyist, all I’m trying to do is become adept enough to maintain a rally without shanking the ball onto another court. 

I think that’s why the concept of “perfect practice” gets under my skin just a little. For one thing, I would get bored of something instantly if I was able to do it perfectly. The challenge, the learning—that’s what makes these hobbies worthwhile! 

I also think the desire to do things perfectly gives a really good excuse to quit before you’ve even begun. As we all know, I’m in rehabilitation for chronic perfectionism, so I tend to be sensitive to anything that can trigger those less-than-desirable tendencies. 

This attitude becomes particularly sinister when it escapes the realm of hobbies and instead discourages us from doing the truly important things, like following through on our commitments to spiritual disciplines. 

Here’s a scenario you’re probably familiar with: You get inspired and set a goal to start doing something that’s going to make your life better, like exercising more or waking up early. But, it’s Thursday…why start a new habit at the end of the week? “I’ll save it until Monday,” you tell yourself…until Monday rolls around and you forget, or the weather isn’t conducive, or the passion has simply faded. 

I’m familiar with this pattern because I’ve been there too. That’s why I want to talk about some of the potential pitfalls with this week’s spiritual discipline, reading scripture, and share some resources that have helped me instantiate the habit. 

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Simply setting a goal to read the Bible more is a fantastic start. In fact, the American Bible Society reports that less than one quarter of Americans use the Bible once a week outside of a church service. 

Though I obviously wish that number were far higher, I can find some sympathy for the 75%. 

The Bible is a peculiar book. It’s an extremely long document written by dozens of authors over a period of hundreds of years. While much of the subject matter is familiar for people who have spent considerable time in church, a lot of it isn’t really discussed from the pulpit or in Sunday School. And, the culture of the original writers and readers couldn’t be more different from the world inhabited by readers of today. 

It’s an overwhelming prospect. But if I’ve learned one thing after years of spending consistent, intentional time with this book, it’s that it’s also full of complex stories, interesting characters, and thought-provoking wisdom that will impact the way you think, the way you live, and the way you interact with the world around you, if you’ll let it. 

In May of this year, I shared my quickstart guide to Bible study. Today, I’ll get a bit more specific with suggestions that will help you fall in love with the Bible, whether you’ve already read every page or you’re getting to know it for yourself for the first time. 

1. Choose a format

The Bible is the best-selling book of all time, so it’s likely that you have at least one—if not several—hanging around your house. If you don’t, though, there are plenty of other ways to engage with scripture that are just as effective. 

Probably half of my Bible reading happens on my iPhone, and there are countless free Bible reading apps available on any device you may have. A couple I recommend: 

• Logos Bible Study App: This is an incredible Bible study resource that more people need to know about. A free account gives you access to dozens of valuable resources, including multiple translations of the Bible, devotionals, study Bibles, dictionaries, and other readings. There are even audio Bibles available in-app. 

• Read Scripture App: Developed by BibleProject, this app is the best for continuous reading. Each book includes BibleProject video introductions that discuss the themes and patterns to look out for as you read. The interface is minimalistic, with verse numbers and other notations removed for more streamlined reading. 

I find that my attention span is a bit too short for audio books, but listening to the Bible on audio is also a viable option if you think that might work for you. Many Bible apps have audio versions, and there are also lots of podcasts and YouTube channels that offer the same thing. 

A note on translations: I don’t have super strong opinions about Bible translation beyond suggesting you read what you have and what you prefer. I really like the English Standard Version (ESV) for my personal reading, and the New International Version (NIV) is also extremely readable. This is another place where the functionality of Bible apps is unmatched—often, I like to compare different translations of confusing verses to gain clarity, as different translations take different approaches to communicating the meaning of the original language. 

2. Choose a place to start

If you’re a BibleProject listener like me, you’ll know that many of the design patterns that appear throughout scripture show up for the first time in Genesis. The narratives on the first few pages of the Bible are key to unlocking many of the themes that continue to show up throughout the rest of the book. 

So, it seems natural to start with Genesis—but you don’t have to. At 50 chapters, it is a sprawling account of the creation of the world and the foundation of Israel, detailing the stories of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and others. A fascinating and intriguing story, yes, but at times overwhelming in its scope. Start there if you want, but if you don’t, here are my suggestions for easier on-ramps: 

Old Testament:

• 1 Samuel: How Israel got its first king and the beginning of David’s story

• Esther: A fascinating story about the faithfulness of a few Jews in a foreign land

• Hosea: Prophetic poetry detailing the Lord’s love for unfaithful Israel

New Testament:

• John: Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection told from the perspective of a beloved disciple who wanted others to know of his divinity

• Romans: The definitive statement on the central theology of Christianity

• Hebrews: One of my personal favorite books to study, an encouraging letter that establishes Christ’s supremacy with plenty of OT context

3. Take note of your thoughts 

You’re not required to write anything down for your Bible study to “count.” But, I find that jotting down my thoughts in a journal (or even in the Notes app on my phone) helps me remember what I’ve read. 

I’ve developed a basic format for Bible note taking that has been extremely effective for me. First, I write a quick summary of what I read. Then, I take a moment to make note of any observations I made while reading or transcribe any verses/phrases that stood out to me. Finally, I write my reflections on the scripture before closing with a prayer. 

I don’t do this every single night, but it’s certainly a useful way for me to reinforce what I’ve read, even—especially—when I don’t quite understand it. 

Here’s a template that you can use to jot down your own notes and observations as you read:

Bible Study Note Template

12.7KB ∙ PDF file

Download

A 1-page PDF that you can use to jot down your notes and observations while studying the Bible

Download

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The truly exciting thing about the Bible is that it truly contains a lifetime of learning. No matter how many times I return to familiar passages of scripture, I always find myself walking away with a deeper understanding of the word and a more complete picture of the Creator. The Bible is the best way to understand God’s character and learn who he is and what he wills for the world, and it’s waiting for you to dive in.

Now, LMK:

What are you reading right now? I just finished 1 Corinthians and am diving into 2 Corinthians this week. Let me know in the comments!

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