Ideas for a 30 Minute Bible Study
Some people manage to devote several hours every day to Bible study. While that is an admirable ability, many of us have schedules that permit little, if any, time for serious contemplation of holy scripture. If you find yourself short on time, but filled with a desire to study God's word, try a 30-minute Bible study once or twice a week.
1 Prayer
Begin your Bible study time with a short prayer, which helps you quiet your mind and regain a sense of peace. Pray some of your favorite prayers, or simply speak to God from your heart. Ask God to help you gain meaning from your Bible studies, understand what you read and retain the meaning of the scriptures after you close your Bible and return to daily life. Breathe slowly and quietly while you pray, to create a sense of relaxation in your body, as well as your mind. End your session with prayer. Thank God for his assistance, and ask him to bless the rest of your day.
2 Old Testament
The Old Testament encompasses many inspiring stories to encourage Christians. Take 10 minutes to include a short reading from it in your 30-minute Bible study program. The Old Testament contains the beloved stories many of us learned as children. David and his coat of many colors, Noah and the flood, the burning bush and Samson and Delilah are just a few of the stories you may want to reread as an adult and look at in a new light.
3 New Testament
The New Testament focuses on the life of Jesus, his miracles and his teachings. It also gives us much information about the disciples and their lives as well. Include a 10-minute reading from the New Testament to complement your Bible study period. Read and be encouraged by the miracles Jesus performed during his time on earth, such as the loaves and the fishes, raising Lazarus from the dead, walking on water and calming the storm at sea. Gain inspiration from what Jesus did when he was on earth and what he continues to do in your life now.
4 Additional Information
Since the Bible is translated from languages that were in place 2,000 years ago, it often helps to consult additional material to aid you in your understanding or what you read. Use a concordance (an alphabetical listing of words and phrases found in the Bible), a Bible dictionary to delve further into the meaning of words and phrases you find and a biblical encyclopedia to gain further insight into the characters, customs, traditions and places mentioned in the holy scriptures. Fill your remaining time with the use of these resources.
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