October 15, 2025
Hello Friends,
Often times, on my way home from Lowville, I listen to a radio program called “Adventures in Odyssey”. It’s a radio theater program centered on Christianity. Admittedly, it’s geared towards kids, that’s probably why it works for me. The show teaches life lessons on various topics such as trust, honesty, and faith. I used to listen to it with my sons in the car and now I listen to it by myself, or with Jo. While I don’t agree with everything they offer, most of the time there is value in their lessons. It’s a simple show, but I like it.
In a recent episode there was a girl who was trying to figure out how to study the bible. She struggled to copy one of the lead character’s habits but could not make it work. She then tried to duplicate one of her friends regimens to no avail. After a conversation with the “mentor” character in the show, she realized that there was no set way to study the bible. The interaction and relationship with God through the bible are as individual and unique as each person who picks up the book and opens it.
Some people start at genesis and feel they must go book by book, chapter by chapter, in order from Genesis to Revelation without deviating. (Have fun in the begats) Other people hit the new testament first. Then others just open it up and start reading wherever their finger lands. Still others might hear of a book or a character in the bible and start there. I am sure that there are many other ways that people approach the bible.
What I’m trying to emphasize is exactly what the girl in “Adventures in Odyssey” learned, there is no “one correct” way to study the bible. It may take some trial and error to find the method that works best for you. How are you best receiving it? How are you best retaining it? How is it enhancing your life?
There also might be a version of the bible that you comprehend better than others. King James might not fit your style and be hard for you to read while the New International Version (NIV) or the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) might be more comfortable texts. It may seem odd that there are so many versions of the bible, but they are made available that way so that everyone can receive God’s message of love and caring.
As you read, don’t let it bother you if there is something that does not make sense or that you might not understand right away, there are biblical scholars who debate those types of issues today just as they have for millennia. Those moments of questioning also lead to excellent conversations later on amongst other members of our family.
And please don’t get hung up on verse numbers and their specific meanings. All too often verses are taken out of context because people don’t pay attention to what came before a verse or what comes after. Keep in mind that the numbering of the verses was only put in the bible in the 1500s. The writers of the scriptures did not insert numbers in their works. In fact, the writers never anticipated that what they wrote would be gathered into a book called the Holy Bible.
As for me, I often like to be inspired by a life event or situation and then see how the bible relates to it. If nothing comes up, I pick a book and slowly read through it. I am reading Daniel right now. But that’s just me. The important thing is that when you study the bible you do it in a way that helps you develop a relationship with God, your own unique relationship. And how special is that?
Find YOUR way my friends,
Greg